1861 Census Spennymoor

[PeterRyan]

Hi

Can someone please have a look for the following family in the 1861 census. Two of the children were born in Spennymoor in 1860/1 and 1863 so this would have to be the area to look.  In 1851 they were in Wolsingham and 1871 in Middlesbrough.

Nicholas DOWNING 41
Mary 42
John 19
Phoebe 18
Robert 15
Elizabeth 14
Nicholas 10

Thanks
 Peter

[Helen K]

Hi Peter

Here's your entry:

RG9/3739  Folio 39  Page 35  Sch 172
9 (no street address), Tudhoe

DOWNING

Nicholas Head Mar 41 Cast Iron Founder DUR Coundon
Mary Wife Mar 42 DUR Wolsington
Robert W Son 15 Cast Iron Founder DUR Shildon
Elizabeth Dau 14 Scholar DUR Shildon
Nicholas Son 10 Cast Iron Founder DUR Wolsington
Mary A Dau 9 Scholar DUR Wolsington
Jane A Dau 6 Scholar DUR Crook
John 11m DUR Spenny Moor

Regards

Helen K

[PeterRyan]

Helen

Many thanks, this information has gone a long way in solving, or perhaps complicating, the mystery of my GGGrandfather's birth. In every census from 1901 back to 1871 he has been called Thomas and the ages in each census led me to believe he would have been born in 1860, but no amount of searching has turned up his birth. The 1861 census has a John aged 11 mths which I feel sure is my Thomas, trouble is I don't seem to be able to find his birth either and just to complicate things a little further, my Thomas's marriage certificate has his Father down as Thomas, not Nicholas.
If anyone reading this has access to the parish records for this area and feel inclined to look for a John/Thomas/? Downing born abt May 1860 it may help solve the mystery. I will start a new thread for this request.

Thanks again Helen, any suggestions always welcome.

Peter

[Helen K]

Hi Peter

I stopped searching when I found your entry and there were certainly no other DOWNING families before Nicholas's entry.

I'll go back and finish the rest of the piece just in case there's another family lurking there!

I'll get back to you.

Helen K

[Helen K]

Hi Peter

I'm glad you questioned that entry and gave a little more info.

You are right about Thomas, sorry I misread it.

On closer examination the 11 month old is Tom (not Thomas), so hopefully this is your family.

The marriage cert is still a puzzle tho' isn't it ?

Regards

Helen K

[PeterRyan]

Helen
I'm sure this is the family I'm looking for. Thanks for rechecking. As for the marriage certificate, it's not the first one i've come across that lists a different first name for the father. If I can find his birth certificate it might shed some light.

Thanks again
Peter