Elizabeth Sherlock/Dial born 1849 in Durham

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Background: Robert Dial and Isabella Sherlock (Shawlock), who married 16 September 1850 in Brancepeth, Durham, are my great-great-grandparents. Their return for the 1851 census shows that they lived at 86 New Row, Willington, Durham. Robert is listed as being 22 and a coal miner. Isabella (maiden name Sherlock) is listed as 20 with no occupation and born in Hebburn. Also listed as living at this address with them is Elizabeth Dial (place of birth Berry Edge) aged 2, which would mean she was born before they married. Elizabeth’s entry has dau (daughter) as her status.

The only possibly connected entry I can find in the GRO records is an Elizabeth Sherlock being born in 1849 (Reference: 1849 M Quarter in Durham and Lanchester Volume 24 Page 73 - mother’s maiden name not given). Between 1851 and 1860 Peter and Isabella had three more children: Peter (b. 1851), Mary Ann/Margaret (died1854) and Margaret (d. 1856). I think it’s incredibly unlikely that two Robert Dials who were married to women with the same name would have lived in the same street in Willington (or anywhere for that matter).

Robert, Isabella and Peter (but not Elizabeth) emigrated to Australia on the Arabia in 1860 (passenger list sighted and cross-checked). I have done multiple searches of GRO, Durham Records Online etc, but can find nothing about Elizabeth Dial. There is a Mary Sherlock who is listed in the GRO records as having died aged 16 in 1865 (Reference: 1865 M Quarter in Durham Volume 10A Page 170) but I think it’s unlikely that she was connected to Robert and Isabella.

Question: Is there anyone who can help me to fill in the gaps with this puzzle? It seems plausible that Elizabeth was Robert and Isabella’s child, but there are virtually no records of her after 1851.

All information and corrections most welcome!

Peter

[CaroleW]

Buy a pdf copy of Elizabeth Sherlock's 1849 birth cert which will show if her mother was Isabella

Unlikely any fathers name will be shown and I think it's probably unlikely she was Peter's biological daughter   

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Yes, I have ordered it, but the lockdown has dramatically slowed down the GRO response times. I am hoping to get it in a week or so. When I do I'll post the details.

Thanks.

[trish1120]

Yes the Cert is the way to go.

Do you have Isabellas Parents Marriage?:

Its on FreeREG 13 May 1826 Christ Church, Tynemouth, Northumberland

Roberts Parents Marriage is on FreeREG also 13 Jul 1822 Tynemouth

[Kloumann]

There was a Margaret Dial born 1850, also Berry Edge, on 1851 census living with a Snowdon family. No relationship listed. Any connection you think? A Sarah Dial, age 25 could be her mother.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGJR-FRL

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Thanks Trish. I will look them up.

Interesting idea, Kloumann. I doubt that there's a direct connection as Robert didn't have a sister of that name. Sarah might have been a daughter or closer relative of Michael Dial who was killed in a mining explosion at West Rainton on 3 November 1823. It's a long shot, but possible.

I will post the details when I get the pdf from the GRO.

Thanks again.

Peter

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Elizabeth Sherlock birth details as follows:

District: Durham and Lanchester.

Registrar's District: Lanchester.

1849 BIRTHS in the District of Lanchester in the County of Durham.

No. 326

When Born: Thirty first of December 1848 (91 High Conside, Conside & Knitsley). Conside is an old name for Consett.

Name: Elizabeth.

Sex: Girl.

Name and Surname of Father: Blank.

Name and Maiden Surname of Mother: Isabella Sherlock.

Rank or Profession of Father: Blank.

Signature, Description, and Residence of Informant: X The mark of Isabella Sherlock. Mother. 91 High Conside, Conside & Knitsley.

When Registered: Ninth January 1849.

Signature of Registrar: William Walton Thompson. Registrar.

Baptismal Name if added after Registration of Birth: Blank.


It seems obvious that Elizabeth was illegitimate. What bothers me is that I can't find any reference to this Elizabeth Dial after 1851. I've done numerous searches of the GRO records using different spelling for Elizabeth, Sherlock and Dial, but there is absolutely nothing. The passenger records for their arrival in Australia on the Arabia on 24 October 1860 does not have her name, and there is no other child of around 11 or 12 listed on that voyage.

The only possibilities I can see is that the child died but there was some sort of error in recording it, or that she was either adopted out or given to the biological father. Both possibilities seem inconceivable as I know from other family records that they were a very religious family. A third possibility is that Elizabeth could have been disabled and "hidden' from the community and the authorities (again, probably unlikely).

Anyone able to shed light on this puzzle, please?

Thanks for your help.

Peter

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Additional:

The 1871 Teesdale District Census recorded the following:

Family Number: 56441.7
Middleton-in-Teesdale, Seed Hill (RG10/4947 folio 45)
Elizabeth Sherlock, head, widowed, 50, Retired Innkeeper, born Swaledale, Yorkshire
Margaret Sherlock, daughter, 22, born Raby, County Durham
Elizabeth Sherlock, daughter, 22, born Raby, County Durham
Frederick M. Sherlock, son, 13, Scholar, born Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham.
(Source: Durham Records Online)

I am sure that this is not the Elizabeth I am seeking. The birth year would match, but Raby is almost 50 kilometres from Consett, where The Elizabeth I'm seeking was born. The 1851 census also records her living as the two-year-old daughter of Robert and Isabella at 86 Willington New Row. Robert and Isabella had emigrated to Australia in 1860.

Advice from Durham Records Online suggests that quite a number of deaths in the 1850s were not recorded either because of poor record keeping or because there was a fee for having one recorded. The best suggestion was to ask for a search of the Crook St Catherine records, but that could be fiendishly expensive.

I'm looking for some creative solutions if anyone can help.

Thanks again,
                    Peter

[Peter L. Mitchell]

Hello folks.

After a lot of searching, amazing help from you people and the purchase of several certificates I can now sketch out what I think is a fairly accurate history for Elizabeth.

Birth:

District: Durham and Lanchester.
Registrar's District: Lanchester.
1849 BIRTHS in the District of Lanchester in the County of Durham.
No. 326
When Born: Thirty first of December 1848 (91 High Conside, Conside & Knitsley). Conside is an old name for Consett.
Name: Elizabeth.
Sex: Girl.
Name and Surname of Father: Blank.
Name and Maiden Surname of Mother: Isabella Sherlock.
Rank or Profession of Father: Blank.
Signature, Description, and Residence of Informant: X The mark of Isabella Sherlock. Mother. 91 High Conside, Conside & Knitsley.
When Registered: Ninth January 1849.
Signature of Registrar: William Walton Thompson. Registrar.
Baptismal Name if added after Registration of Birth: Blank.

16 September 1850:
Robert Dial and Isabella Sherlock married at Brancepeth Parish Church (Church of England) after banns. Residence at time of marriage: Willington New Row.

1851 Census:
Robert, Isabella and Elizabeth living at 86 Willington New Row. Elizabeth recorded as daughter aged two years.

24 October 1860 Robert, Isabella and Peter (son aged nine) arrive in Melbourne on Arabia. Elizabeth not on passenger list.

1861 Census:

Elizabeth aged 12 years working as a servant in the household of her aunt and uncle, Mary and Thomas Halliday, at 15 California Row, Seaham, Durham. Elizabeth is recorded as niece.

1871 Census:

Unable to locate copy.

29 June 1874:

Elizabeth Halliday Dial married James Bainbridge at Saint Augustine (Roman Catholic) Chapel, Paradise Row, Darlington by certificate. Elizabeth’s father recorded as Robert Dial (Coal Miner). Residence at time of marriage: Lawrence Street, Darlington.

25 September 1876: Sarah Annie Bainbridge born at Upper Victoria Street, Darlington. Mother recorded as Lizzie Bainbridge formerly Dial

12 December 1879: Robert Bainbridge born at 3 Louisa Street, Darlington. Mother recorded as Elizabeth Halliday Bainbridge formerly Dial.

22 December 1879: Robert Bainbridge died of convulsions (certified) at 3 Louisa Street, Darlington.

1881 Census:
Unable to locate copy with Elizabeth’s name on it.

23 June 1882: Sarah Annie Bainbridge died of Scarlatina (Scarlet Fever; 14 days duration of illness) at 3 Louisa Street, Darlington.

28 July 1893: James Bainbridge died of pneumonia syncope at Lucks Square, Darlington, aged 43 years.

17 July 1894: Elizabeth Bainbridge (widow of James Bainbridge) died of carcinoma of stomach; marasmus at 2 Lucks Square, Darlington, aged 43 years.