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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Tickettyboo on Wednesday 28 November 18 18:39 GMT (UK)
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Background:
Thomas Weightman married Hannah Harwood, 16 September 1876 at Newcastle Register Office. He was 22, worked as a blacksmith, father: John Weightman, a shepherd.
They had two children: Mary Ann, born Q4 1876, Gateshead and John, born Q3 1878 Gateshead
31 Dec 1881 Hannah (a widow) married John Moore (a widower) at Gateshead Register Office.
Hannah remarried 31st Dec 1881 at Gateshead Register Office, to John Moore
I can find a death registration for a Thomas Weightman, age 23, Q4 1878, Rothbury
Morpeth Herald 14 Dec 1878
At Crag End, near Rothbury, 8th inst., aged 23 Thomas, youngest son of the late Mr John Weightman, deeply lamented.
likely death reg for the father, John, - Q4 1876, Rothbury age 53 and the probate calendar says he was late of Cragend , near Rothbury and his occupation was Shepherd.
So, if anyone can help to find a burial for Thomas and the burial record has his occupation as blacksmith then that will be the final box ticked.
I have looked but am failing.
Boo
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Happy to look at Rothbury burials on Wednesday to see if he's there
Christine
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Thank you Christine, the BTs are in Free Reg but they only go up to 1831.
If you have time to look I'd appreciate it.
Boo
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Hi Boo
I can confirm that Thomas was buried in Rothbury churchyard. His age is given as 23 and abode Crag End. Unfortunately, of course, there is no mention of parents or occupation on these standardised records. There are some monumental inscriptions at NDFHS and Newcastle library which might help but I don’t see mention of them being at Woodhorn. I could check next week if I’m there.
Christine
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Hi Christine
Many thanks for taking the time to look. I did think there was a good chance that other than age and where he was when he died there wouldn't be any other clues but it was worth a shot.
As this death registration is more or less the only show in town, I'll send for the death record .pdf. He's a twiglet so I'd rather not, but nosiness wins out over budget sometimes!
thanks again
Boo
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I could check out the monumental inscriptions that Christine mentions which are held at Newcastle library.
Will likely be able to do this at some point next week. :)
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If you have time RTL, that would be of interest,
though unless it mentions that he was a blacksmith, married and had two children and his wife and family returned to live in Gateshead it may not get me much further forward - everything is worth a shot though:-)
Boo
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I doubt you'll get all that on the death cert either whereas, if he has a headstone, it should say son of... or husband of... which would indicate whether he's your man or not
Christine
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No I know I won't get all that on a death cert, but wouldn't it be nice ? :-) and the MI (if there is one) WILL be of interest.
Best I can hope for on the death cert is (if it is the right man and he was actually living there rather than visiting) that maybe his wife was there too and registered the death or perhaps it said that his usual address was elsewhere.
Only one way for me to find out, now you have helped me by checking the burial register, and this one has me puzzled as I can't find any other likely registration for his death and the newspaper announcement does match the right man's Dad's name and occupation.
Will take a week for the .pdf to arrive, at least till then I still have some hope of sussing him :-)
Its the glimmer of hope that keeps me going, its always nice while it lasts !
Boo
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Newcastle has a number of MI books. Thanks to Christine for letting us know that they hold this one. I think will be able to call in next week at some point to check this out.
If there is a grave stone it may not record his occupation but it might give lots of other useful information which might help identification. I once came across a Northumberland MI for a twiglet which recorded the death also of his wife, some children and even father in law. It also recorded that one of his daughters had died in North Shields - quite a number of miles from the churchyard where that grave was. I was able to do much more research just from the info on that grave. I also saw a gravestone a few months back which recorded the accident which had led to the person's death. This was when I was looking for someone else .. but it just shows that sometimes gravestones provide so much useful information. :)
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Thanks RTL as I say I'd be interested if there is an MI to know what it says. I checked the super gravestone photos site and they do have about 10% of the existing headstones photographed but nothing yet for this surname.
My best ever info (so far) on a gravestone is one from Rosebank Cemetery in Edinburgh. I spent a good while on my hands and knees pouring water over the (now lying flat but thankfully face up) stone and very gently wiping the dirt from it to read it. It has info about oodles of the family and was amazingly useful.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01n53/
Boo
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Hi Boo,
I have just managed to make it to the Newcastle library after work before closing time. I found this memorial inscription In volume 17 In the section for All Saints, Rothbury, Northumberland held in the local studies.
'In affectionate remembrance of John Weightman who died at Crag End November 24th 1876 aged 56 years. Also of Thomas Weightman son of the above who died December 8th 1878 aged 23 years. Ann wife of the above who died at Prior's Close Co. Durham Dec 29th 1901 in her 92nd year.'
The grave you have shown on your previous post is the type will all dream of finding for an ancestor - loads of information there! :)
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thanks RTL, very kind of you to look for me.
Sadly still no clue as to whether its the same man but it was worth a shot and I appreciate your time and help, though if it isn't him Lord only knows where and when he died.
His wife and children are with her parents in Gateshead in 1881 and the census form didn't record her marital status - would have been good to see if it said married or widowed - he, he, or even separated which is always a possibility.
Her remarriage later in 1881 does declare her to be a widow though, but we all know that sometimes people told fibs.
Will wait and see what the death register entry says when it arrives next week. I'll report back!
and yes, that grave stone was wonderful !
Though the gardener mowing the grass thought I was some sort of crazy lady (an easy assumption to make). He mowed the some strip of grass about 5 times, watching closely to see what this odd woman was doing .
Okay so yellow marigolds aren't usual apparel for visiting a grave and people don't normally visit to pour water on the headstone and gently wipe it with a cloth:-) He eventually came over to enquire and I explained. I think he thought it was some sort of strange Satanic ritual! He was both relieved and very interested in just how much info was on there.
Boo
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You are welcome Boo. It was worth a try even though this wasn't able to resolve whether this is the person you are after.
Hopefully, the death registration might decide things - yes, please do let us know how things transpire.
That is a very interesting story about how you got all the information from that grave stone. It definitely sounds worth all the effort you went to in cleaning this up - when you uncovered such a result! :)
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I now have the death register entry from the GRO
Though it doesn't mention a wife or a 'usual address elsewhere' it does say this man was a blacksmith. His death was registered by his brother.
Added to that is the cause of death, which was pluerisy (3 months and 7 days) and acute tuberculosis (2 months). Given that, its quite possible that he went back to his parents in rural Northumberland which had cleaner, fresher air in the hope that would help.
On balance with the combination of his name, age, occupation, father's name and occupation I believe this is the record I was looking for.
Thanks to RTL and Christine for the help looking up records, its much appreciated.
Boo
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Wow, that was quick waiting time Boo!
I agree that this sounds plausible that in his situation he likely would have returned to Northumberland for the fresher, cleaner air.
I am glad to read that you now feel you have been able to pin point this man as the one, with all the evidence you now have. :)
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I ordered it on Wed evening, taking into account the weekend, the speed of the .pdf delivery is good.
The survey (I complete it each time I order a .pdf in the hope that they listen) has started asking if I would be interested in immediate online access when I order - errm .. YES please!
I also ask each time if they could please include marriages in the scheme. If we keep asking maybe someday they will get round to it.
Shy bairns get nowt :-)
Boo
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I think, on balance, you've found him.
As for the pdf - good to know. It makes me want to order one so I can add my requests to yours ;D
Online access would be brilliant and marriages, it goes without saying.
Christine