Never searched before but would like to find out more about Minns, County Durham

[MacBraveheart]

Hello reader.

 I am a complete novice (this is me:  ) and have managed to find quite a lot out about my own family (however they are in Germany!) but am drawing major blanks with that of my husband.

I can go back only as far as an Stephen Minns (husband's paternal greatgrandfather) who married a Florence MacGregor Mackay and was father to Ernest Minns, now deceased in Ushaw Moor.

My mother-in-law indicated to me that there may have been a number of relatives from the Cambridgeshire area but I am really grasping at straws here!

I would dearly like to be able to tell our daughter where her family is from and would appreciate any tips for taking this search further or any information anyone here already has about the Minns family.

Thank you all!  I am glad I found this place.

[sjsbc]

Hi,

Welcome to Rootschat,

First, it would help if we had some dates to work on,

When was Ernest Minns born, even a really rough guess would help.  When were his parents married.

Do you know of any brothers or sisters?

One of the best places to start looking, if family knowledge takes you back that far is the census.  Do you know which census the individuals may be found on?

Hopefully with a bit mor information someone will be able to help you

Sue

[Boongie Pam]

Hiya,

And a very warm welcome to Rootschat 

I hope we can help you.

It's always the slowest bit getting started.  It's not so easy to get recent info since we can't see the census.

But if between you and the older members of your husbands family you draw up what you know get a couple of certificates sourced and ordered (marriages are usually a good economical start) when you get back to 1901 then online source become a boon.

Macgregor and Mackay good Scottish names    If you find yourself in researching Scottish ancestors then the bible of all sites is Scotlandspeople.  There's some info on this thread to get you started if you need it.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,24468.0.html

For more specific help if you give us some rough dates we may be able to help further.

Best of luck,
Pam
 

[MacBraveheart]

Hello you angels!  Yes, it is daunting.  I am sensing a bit of internet shyness from my relatives (my mother-in-law is fine but she too is not too good on the net...)

Thanks for responding and I should have added the dates I DO have:

Stephen Minns (unknown) and Florence MacGregor Mackay (birth is ALSO unknown) had two sons of which Ernest Minns, the elder, was born 26.3.1917 and passed away in 1989.  Ernest married a Lillian Thornton born 30.12.1920.

The other brother was an Alan but that is pretty much all I know.

Sadly not many elderly relatives survive or have the right knowledge.  I feel quite daunted by it all.

[Boongie Pam]

Hiya,

Don't feel daunted.  Feel excited!   

You've come to the right place.  So let's get cracking.

Can I confirm - is there two Ernests or one?  You have Ernest born in 1917 marrying in 1920 and dying in 1989?  Is the date of marriage wrong?

Do you have sight of the marriage certificate of Ernest and Lillian?  If you have a date I thought you might?  If not we need to find the reference number from 1837 online ( I presume they were married in England?).

http://www.1837online.com/Trace2web/

1837online is a pay per session site so I'm hoping some very kind soul could look up for you - does anyone have a spare credit or two?

Since paying for a session when you first start could be a waste if you don't need to use the rest of your credits.

Ernest and Lillian's marriage cert will let you know both their father's names.  That will place you squarely on the 1901 census and then we can get firing with census info.

You need that confirmation so that the census info you get is definitely yours.

Minns is not that common a name so we should do quite well.

Pam
 

[Boongie Pam]

Because I've ground to a halt on my tree I'm itching to help 

I did some searches on Freebmd and this is what I get for Stephen Minns on the indexes...

Minns, Stephen 1842 June Births Houghton le Spring Co. Durham
Minns, Stephen 1878 March Births Durham (1837-1938) Co. Durham
Minns, Stephen 1908 June Births Durham (1837-1938) Co. Durham

Minns, Stephen 1854 March Marriages Norwich Norfolk
Minns, Stephen 1879 December Marriages Sunderland Co. Durham Tyne and Wear
Minns, Stephen 1901 March Marriages Durham (1837-1938) Co. Durham (married Lavinia Rome - confirmed on 1901 census)

MINNS, Stephen 1844 September Deaths Norwich Norfolk

This online resource does not really cover post 1901 dates and isn't complete.

Let us know the Ernest date confirmations.

Cheers,
Pam
 

[Fifer]

Hi Mac

Sorry for butting in here my Husband says there are minns were he comes from(Easington lane )Durham.on the 1891 there is a Stephen Minns age 13 in Easington Lane.

But also interested in your Hartshorne as my husbands grandmother is a Harthsorne  from Houghton le Spring I have alot of Info on hartshornes from Houghton le me know if there is a connection.



Fifer

[Fifer]

Just found this for you as well


Marriages Dec 1910
~~~~~~~~
 
Mackay  Florence M    Durham  10a 721   
Minns  Stephen     Durham  10a 721   
Stoddart  Thomas     Durham  10a 721   



Hope this helps they have to be on the 1901 census for durham

Fifer

[Boongie Pam]

The only Stephen Minns I can find is married to Lavinia Rome (or Room as per census).  It maybe the same man if Florence was a second marriage?

For Florence Mackay
There is a 12 yr old  in Sunderland, Durham (father = James)

a 17 yr old one in Westgate, Durham (father = William)

an 11 yr old visitor in South Moor, Durham

And others from around the UK. 

I think you need to order the certificate Fifer has found the reference for this should tell you if Stephen is a widower and confirm both Florence and Stephen's father's names.

Waiting for that certificate will be horrendous!

Pam