RootsChat.Com

The Durham and Northumberland probate records, 1527-1857, reference of which can be found at the Durham University site. The Northeast Inheritance database can be found on the site but I would like to see the original digital images.
The homepage of the NEI database states the project is "funded by a £274,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This grant of £274,500 is matched by contributions from Durham University and by the English Record Collections Society, amounting to a further £141,250". And "Access to both the catalogue and the digital images will be free and available worldwide"  on the Genealogical Society of Utah's website.
I have sent emails to both the pages' maintainers (no replies at all- and last updated Dec 2010) and the GSU (who say they don't know what I'm talking about..)  I have recently found references to the wills on the FamilySearch site but they are only available on film and I need to pay to access them at one of their Family History centres or affiliates here in Australia. The cost is reasonable but I would also have to drive an hour each way to access them only in business hours- not a good option I think when it is stated they would be freely available online.
I am wondering if any of the funding was given to the GSU to make them freely available online, and if so when will that happen?
What do you think?

Hi
can anyone identify the military uniforms which are worn in 2 portraits which are part of the National Trust collection at Cragside?
I believe I can identify the sitters but am having difficulty finding military information for one of them, and having little/no knowledge of the military of the time cannot be certain of the other.
I do not wish to post the images (copyright?), am I able to post links to the images?

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1230234

I think this is my 4th ggrandfather John Watson. He was born c1790 near Bamburgh, Northumberland. According to a family tree from Lord Armstrongs archives, Tyne and Wear he was 'in the army, settled in Ireland" which I already knew.
I know he had not enlisted in the army by 1804. He married in Ireland in Feb 1815, and remained there. Other family members think he was a Captain but the only references I have found of him say Lieutenant.

http://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/1230232

Could this be his brother Joseph Yelloly Watson 1793 Bamburgh-1818 India? I have the documents, his application as a cadet to the East India Company dated Jan 1812. He died in 1818 in India, an ensign of the Bengali Infantry. I thought this would be an army, but am thrown by the fact that he is painted with an anchor and ships in the background.

These 2 portraits seem to be part of a set of 5 portraits, all in the same or similar frames. I am sure I can identify the other 3 portraits from 2 family photographs and also personal (family history research) knowledge of the ages and occupations of the 4 Watson brothers and their cousin WH Watson who became Lord Armstrongs brother-in-law. The portraits of the parents of the 4 brothers do hang at Cragside and are identified as Dorothy Gillily (should read Yelloly) and William Watson.

If there are any clues in the portraits in could help further my research, particularly that of my John Watson.

Alison

I am looking for a record of the marriage of John Watson and Mary Moffatt at the Church of Ireland (St Munis?). I have the date 23 Feb 1815.
Marys father James Moffatt was the Rector at the time.

I am also looking for baptisms of any children of the couple, particularly James Samuel Watson. I have 1818 but cannot be certain about that.

Alison