Methodist/Non-Conformist Records in Medomsley/Shotley Area circa 1760

[The Duke]

Am researching for elderly father-in-law,whose family were strongly Methodist  and were from the Shotley Bridge/Medomsley area prior to 1841...does anybody know how best to access pre 1841 Methodist records from this area and perhaps where they would be likely to have worshipped.The Durham Records Office website seems to imply they have no records prior to 1840.

[Helen K]

Hi

Durham County Record Office may have what you're after.

http://www.durham.gov.uk/recordoffice/usp.nsf/pws/Durham+Record+Office+-+Our+Holdings+-+Family+History

Regards

Helen K


Sorry, you've looked there!  How about Tyne and Wear Archives?

http://www.tyneandweararchives.org.uk/

[JenB]

Shotley Bridge Wesleyan Methodist and Primitive Methodist Circuits Baptisms for 1810-1851 are available at Durham Records Online http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/newsearch.php . This is a pay per view site.

Jennifer

[JenB]

You might also like to take a look at this: http://www.revivalnortheast.co.uk/
a rather wordy but fascinating account of Primitive Methodism in the North-east published about 1900. Chapter 4: 'The Derwent Way - A Revelation' covers Shotley Bridge and surrounding area.

Jennifer

[mim]

Hi,

Have you looked at the IGI? Some of my Shotley Bridge Methodist ancestors are listed on the IGI as being baptised at Hexham in the early 1800s.

mim

[The Vicars Wife]

Hi Duke

I have found during my research that a lot of my Methodists... pre 1840.... were actually baptised in C of E Churches.... just because there were no Methodist Churches around at that time...  or rather not a lot of Methodist Churches....

It just might be an idea to check the C of E.....

The Vicars Wife

[JenB]

Hello again Duke.
I have to agree with what the Vicar's Wife says.
My late grandmother (born 1892) was a life-long Methodist, originally a Primitive. She always maintained that her family had been Methodist for generations past.
However, investigation into her family tree has shown that whether or not this was the case (and I've found little evidence to corroborate it) the vast majority of her forbears had been baptised and married in the Church of England. Moreover, between about 1800 and 1840 some of them had been baptised in the Roman Catholic Church (at Minsteracres in Northumberland).
So I would suggest that you cast the net as wide as possible to start with.
Best wishes
Jennifer

[jen_maxsgirl]

Hi
I've found the same thing with possible non-conformists and Minsteractres.

my present research is Surtees and Usher families, especially a Mary Surtees born bet 1700 abd 1713.  I have her marriage in 1732 but there are at least 5 possibilities for baptisms.  She marries Robert Elrington at Bywell St Peter but there are connections with Shotley and Minsteracres.  I think they lived at Unthank.

Any information about any Mary Surtees in this region would be appreciated.