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The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland is lifting its paywall for a few days:
http://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/news/oxford-dictionary-family-names-free-access-until-21-may?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=WHOD&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2014%2F05%2F20_306476_Who%20Do%20You%20Think%20You%20Are%3F_Newsletters

Northumberland Archives have announced that they will be closing their study centres from 20th March until further notice due to COVID-19
https://www.northumberlandarchives.com/

This is a bit of a longshot, but nothing to lose by trying.

Has anyone "lost" a Robert Fitton who was born in the Oldham area in the 1850s and disappeared without trace some time before 1891?

My reason for asking is that my great grandfather Robert Webb appeared out of thin air as a pitman in Northumberland in the 1891 census claiming to be from Oldham and aged 42. He fibbed a lot on subsequent records (1901 census, 1911 census, 2 marriages) giving no consistent information about his age. Taking those into account and the age on his death certificate he may have been born any time between 1849 and 1861. Using his death cert, where he was not there to do the fibbing, would suggest he was born 1857. His marriage certificates give his father as Edmund Webb, stone mason, deceased. I have not been able to pin him down in my searches on Webb over the last few years. Have tested out several theories, including illegitimate births to single Webb women.

DNA evidence is now pointing to the probability that one of his parents was a Fitton. I have several matches now with Fitton ancestors in Oldham, Shaw, Royton, Crompton and surrounding areas and am trying to tie the families together to see where he might fit in. It is not an easy name to research as there are many of them and names repeat through all branches. Since he named a son Edmund I am inclined to think that maybe he didn't fib about his father's first name.

Other names that are coming up repeatedly among my Oldham matches include Brierley, Bardsley, Kershaw, Taylor, Sladen and Haworth, but I can see from those I have investigated so far that these families are fairly intertwined.

So, if you have a Robert Fitton in your tree who disappeared off the censuses before 1891 and you cannot find a burial for him perhaps he could be my mystery man. Let me know and maybe we can join the dots and fill some gaps in both of our trees.

Lynda

I am struggling to find a baptism for my 6th great grandmother Margaret Brewhouse. She married Thomas Brown on 21 July 1765 at Felton, Northumberland.

Children:

• Isabel Brown bapt 1766 at Felton
• Anne Brown bapt 1766 at Felton
• William Brown bapt 13 June 1767 at Felton
• Mary Brown bapt Feb 1769 at Felton. Married Joseph Hutchinson in 1791 at Felton.
• Jane Brown bapt 1 Oct 1770 at Felton

There are also indications that the surname Brewhouse may be interchangeable with Brewis or Bruce. Based on date of marriage, I am estimating birth to be before 1747. Can anyone help me to find an appropriate baptism for Margaret? 

My 5th great grandfather John Stavers married Dorothy Charlton in 1780 at Woodhorn, Northumberland.

Children:

• Anne Stavers bapt 12 May 1782, Woodhorn
• John Stavers bapt 20 Jul 1783, Woodhorn. Murdered in Guam in 1824, buried Rotherhithe 1827
• Peter Stavers bapt 2 Dec 1784 t Woodhorn. Died 1876 Blyth
• Dorothy Stavers bapt 1786 at Woodhorn
• George Stavers bapt 22 Jun 1788 at Woodhorn
• Elizabeth Stavers bapt 20 Sep 1790 at Woodhorn. Died 1791.

Based on the marriage date, I am estimating John's birth to be before 1762 and am looking for his baptism. The Stavers were seafaring folks, so it is possible that he may not have been born in Northumberland. Perhaps not even English.