Forbes Family prior 1810

[dione]

I am trying to find the marriage and births of:

George Forbes and his wife Eleanor Craggs.

1841 Census -Stamford ,Embleton.
George Forbes age 50 Ag Laborer
Eleanor  wife    age 55
Mary                        15
Jane                        14
Thomas                   11

Have Forbes on all census to 1901.

Information from Bamburgh Parish reg.1810

Birth James Forbes 11/2/1810 2nd child and son -parents George Forbes of Fowberry husbandman native of Hartburn in the parish of Hartburn by his wife Eleanor Craggs native of Chatton.

Hope this info is helpful.

[Michael Dixon]

dione,

So where have you already looked for their marriage and baptisms ?

What religious denomination were they ?

Michael Dixon
Newcastle

[dione]

Hi Micheal,

I have checked for their marriage and baptism in the following:

Chatton Parish registers
Bamburgh    "       "
Hartburn       "        "
Embleton,Rennington and Rock Parish registers.

I have no idea what their religion was. I have only checked C of E.

George and Eleanor had 11 children. I can't find the birth of their first born but I have found all others. The birth place for all the children is given as Bamburgh.

I estimate George Forbes birth as being approx 1788 and Eleanor as approx 1786.

Hope this is a help.

Dione.

[jora]

Belford West Street Presbyterian register has the baptism of John son of George & Eleanor Forbes of Belford town & parish, born 23 November 1807, baptised 25 December 1807.

[dione]

Many thanks for that great piece of information.

Regards Dione.

[Michael Dixon]

Dione,

That was a tasty bit of info provided by Jora. So a Presbyterian baptism indicates their chosen religion !

Now onto the marriage laws of England ( and Wales).

The ONLY legal way to marry was in a "Parish" church
(Church of England/Anglican).

( Jewish folk and Quakers were except from this legislation)

So Presbyterians ( and other "non-conformists") had the choice of ..
a) just not marrying, b) marrying in the "Church of England", or
c) marrying outside of England - e.g. Scotland.

This restrictive legislation was withdrawn fro July 1837, when marriages were allowed in any place of worship or a Register Office.


So it would appear that you have exhausted the possible C of E venues for their marriage.... that leaves "no marriage" or Scotland !

Google for "irreglar marriages", "cross-border marriages",
"Lamberton Toll" , Coldstream Bridge",


Michael Dixon
Newcastle

[dione]

Hi Micheal,

I hadn't had a look in the Belford reg.before I would presume that Jora would have had a look for the marriage or births when discovering the birth of John Forbes.I am a little curious as to why one child is baptised in a Presbyterian church when all the other children were baptised C of  E.

Regards Dione.

[jora]

There are no marriages recorded in the Belford Presbyterian registers, as Michael explained it was only legal to marry in the Church of England.

If George & Eleanor married in the area of Chatton/Belford, you ought to check Belford Parish registers first. You have checked Bamburgh so I think you should also check Lowick, Wooler, Kyloe and Doddington as outside chances, maybe even Holy Island and Chillingham.

If they went to Scotland and married in a Presbyterian church there, try Mordington and Coldstream registers.

However, I am afraid the most likely probability is that they married irregularly at Lamberton Toll or Coldstream Bridge or any of the other places where marriages took place on the border, in which case your chances of finding a record is minimal!

You have now found out what a minefield you have wandered into here!

Happy hunting,

Jora

[dione]

Hi Jora,

I seem to step from one mine field to another with my family research. I will most certainly take on board all you have given me to think about. Trouble is I live on a farm in a rural area of Victoria, Australia and it takes me quite a while to be able to get to the Genealogy place in Melbourne to which I belong and is about a 3 hour drive for me.

I am not overly concerned as to whether George and Eleanor were married or not it was just a means for me to find out who their parents were as I have no idea.Also I want to know their birth dates.

Thank you so very much for all your help and advise.

Regards Dione.