RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Elliven on Monday 25 September 17 15:35 BST (UK)
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This gentleman died on 11th May 1807 at Shield Row "in the cock pit during the fighting" according to the Newcastle Courant of 16th May 1807. No further information except that he was 49 years old and from Durham. Shield Row is a small village on the outskirts of Stanley (known then as West Stanley) and about 10 miles from Durham. Does anyone have any further information on him?
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freeReg can be an excellent source of information. https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/new
This must be him: William Ditchburn, buried 13th May 1807, age 49, abode Tanfield*. Bachelor, late a woolcomber of St Andrew Auckland .Parish.Died 11 May
Bishops transcripts: http://www.rootschat.com/links/01kry/ which actually states that he was a native of St Andrew Auckland.
* I think that in this case you could probably assume that Tanfield was the parish within which he died, rather than his abode, as it seems pretty clear that he lived in Durham
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According to his Probate Bond http://www.rootschat.com/links/01krz/ he was 'late of the parish of St Nicholas, Durham'. He had a brother George and a sister, Jane.
The report in the Tyne Mercury, Northumberland and Durham and Cumberland Gazette, 19th May 1807, states that he was a 'wool and worsted' dealer. He had set off from Durham in the morning, reached Shield Row where he was seized by a fit and expired within the hour.
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I have searched for William Ditchburn and the earliest press report to appear is 1819. Am I doing something wrong?
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If you are using the newspaper search on Findmypast, just enter Shield Row in the 'what else' panel and limit the search to 1807. That brings up the Newcastle Courant and Tyne Mercury reports for that year.
The reason you are getting no result when searching William Ditchburn is that the results are based on optical scanning of the original: this has resulted in Ditchburn becoming Oitchhurn and Ditcisburn . This is why you have to be so flexible in the search terms you use.
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Thank you for the benefit of your experience. I have now found the article