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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Elliven on Wednesday 09 August 17 21:14 BST (UK)
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Can anybody please help with information on Margaret Ann Bell from Ebchester who was Landlady of the Station Hotel in that village in the early part of the 20th Century. I am interested in her parents names and her date of birth. I would also like to know whether Bell was her birth name or married name. Many thanks
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Are you able to narrow down the dates at all, like when she may have been born or any other information that might help?
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Unfortunately, I have no information on her whatsoever except a photograph of her standing outside the original pub which was burned down in 1948. I believe she was there much earlier than that and that she may be related to the Charlton family who were there until about 1902. The photo also shows North Eastern Breweries which ceased to trade early in the 1920s (I think)
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so have you taken a look on the 1939 for her? or the pub to see who was there?
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Yes, I have. She was not at the pub at that time but I have found her elsewhere on another document which suggests that she lived very close by in some now demolished cottages. Her husband was a platelayer on the railway and I am now inclined to think she was at the pub around the time of the First World War and just after.
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ok well concentrate on finding her hubby on a cencus then or even his death and a will, you need something that would give a clue to her age
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Yes, I have. She was not at the pub at that time but I have found her elsewhere on another document which suggests that she lived very close by in some now demolished cottages. Her husband was a platelayer on the railway and I am now inclined to think she was at the pub around the time of the First World War and just after.
So who was her husband?
JJ
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The Margaret Ann McKinney I found was born in 1880 and I am fairly sure this is the same woman
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To JJen and dawnkaren
She was married to Robert Bell and they lived in 52 Westwood, Ebchester. Robert was 40 and she was 31 in the 1911 census
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Did Margaret have a son called James Leslie Bell? If so then his birth record shows his mother's maiden name as McKinney.
JJ
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In 1914 the proprietor of the Station Hotel, Broom Hill was George Holden. So that's one year that can be ruled out.
In 1943 the licensee was John James.
JJ
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Births
Jun 1879
Margaret Ann McKinney
Lanchester 10a 335
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There is a marriage of Margaret Ann McKinney -
q3 1900, Lanchester
Vol 10a Page 545
On the same page in Robert Bell.
JJ
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1891 cencus
Margaret McKinney
Age:
11
Daughter
Birth Year:
1880
Father:
James McKinney
Mother:
Margaret McKinney
Lanchester, Durham, England
Medomsley
Residence Place:
Medomsley, Durham, England
James McKinney 46
Margaret McKinney 46
William McKinney 23
Andrew McKinney 18
Margaret McKinney 11
Mary E McKinney 9
Martha McKinney 6
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and now you fun and games really start as james is down as being born Ireland!
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some time between Andrew and Margaret being born is when they arrived in england
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ok so the 1901 has this
Andrew McKinney
Age:28
abt 1873
birth Place:
Tyrone, Ireland
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A free search of the 1939 records Margaret Ann Bell born 1881 living with James L Bell born 1908 in
Consett, Durham. No Robert with them.
My concern with all this research is if you have the correct Margaret Ann. What evidence do you have that Margaret Ann Bell's maiden name is McKinney?
JJ
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getting closer now to where they came from
Andrew M'Kinney
Date of Registration:
1872
Dungannon
Ireland
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bingo found the town Castlecaulfield
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dad was from Tynan, Armagh,, and mum from Ballygally, (ballygawley) Tyrone
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so sorry if I have "spoilt" the fun of finding them for you, I just got a bit excited at ever finding any conclusive evidence in Ireland for once!
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To JJen and dawnkaren.
A few things I should explain! Firstly, I am more familiar with researching buildings than people so my skill level here is a million miles behind yours. Secondly, I stop to get a bite to eat and come back to all this - which is really incredible! I am investigating a fire which destroyed a magnificent old building - three stories tall and substantially built in stone. In 1948 it was burned down, demolished and replaced very quickly with a brick building because it was a successful hotel at the railway station in a small village.
The village is a very small one and has become a dormitory for the well off. Few of the old families remain and nobody can remember the fire but one person was killed and I am having trouble finding out who died and how. I have the whole history from when it was built in 1870 to when it was destroyed in 1948 less odd details on licensees but NOTHING about the fire. All of this is vital background about the building and the people who were associated with it but it will also help with tracking families who might know those details. I am trying to find someone with a family connection who will know how the fire started and who died. But I am also trying to fid out about the people who lived in it to build up a picture of the village life.
The Margaret Ann McKinney connection had to be the right one because I refuse to believe that in such a tiny village two Margaret Anns would marry two Mr Bells at the same time!
People have told me that the fire never happened but there are little bits of information all over the place which say it did and suggest the date was March 1948 including one person, sadly now deceased, who witnessed the fire. If I can build up a picture of those who were there, I can give them personalities when I write the story - not just names. This will be written up for local history reasons; I am not being paid to do it.
So I would like to thank you both for all your wonderful help and I will now plod on and try to complete the list of (and lives of) licensees from 1870-1948 so that I will know which family to seek out for details of the fire so that I can finish the story. Incidentally, the replacement hotel is still doing well today only now it is called the Derwent Walk Inn and is beside a cycle track/nature walk instead of a railway line.
Thanks again
Elliven
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ok so the fire, do you know the date of this happening? have you enquired at any of the newspapers? surely they would have records? also have you checked on the land registry?
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The fire was in March (I think) but definitely in 1948. I have tried searching the British Newspaper records but come up with nothing. I intend to check at the County Records Office to look through the actual newspapers but I have to get an appointment first. I tried to check Fire Service records but they have not replied. I will also try the Police Occurrence Books when I get an appointment at the County Records Office. I had not thought of the Land Registry but when I worked there, only solicitors could check their records - but that was 1967-1970 so it might have changed. Worth a try!
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definitely can search the land registry nowadays, try contacting the local library, they should have some info on the fire and also contact the local newspapers
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I have contacted the regional newspapers but only 1 out of 3 have bothered to reply. I am going to Newcastle Central Library this week to check their papers for the period. The two local papers are both out of business so I have to wait for an appointment at the Durham County Records Office. I have just looked at the Land Registry Portal and it seems anyone can check these days! But they only do ownership information, plans and legal title - sadly not fire damage etc. But I don't give up easily!
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it might only show ownership, but that would give you somewhere to start from, I wonder if the fire brigade kept records??? esp of commercial properties
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surely something such as this would have been in the northern echo? contact the library at consett and see if they hold back copies of the papers
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All the papers are at the County Records Office and I am waiting for an appointment. Shouldn't be too long. I know the ownership of the Hotel and I have a few lines out in that direction
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they are also in the libraries in the area, and of course in darlington at their offices too