I had a good firkle round very early this morning when the birds were determined that I wasn't going to continue sleeping so I gave up.
I was bemused that Robert Stott was not to be found in 1861 in Tanfield (or anywhere else at first) though he died in 1864 and was buried at Tanfield
Ann Stott (nee Blaxton) died 24 Oct 1856
Marriage Licence dated 14 Nov 1857 for Robert Stott, widower of Tanfield to marry Ann Carter, widow of St John's Parish Newcastle (image available on Family Search)
1861 census Piece 3822/folio 23/page 4
Nags Head Inn, Cloth Market, Newcastle
Robert Stott, head, age 50, Innkeeper, born Stamfordham
Ann Stott, wife, age 49, born Northumberland
Elizabeth A Carter, daughter age 27, born Gateshead
Maria Carter, daughter, age 18, born Gateshead
Elizabeth Brown, mother in law, age 73, born Beverley, Yorkshire
Newcastle Chronicle 20 Feb 1864
Deaths
Cloth Market, 16th inst., aged 53, Mr Robert Stott, late of Tanfield
Burial Register Tanfield, 19 Feb 1864 Robert Stott,of Newcastle aged 53
Oddly there is a probate calendar entry for a 'Thomas' Stott , of the Nags Head Inn Newcastle, Innkeeper who died 16 Feb 1864 admin granted to Ann Stott of the Nag's Head, widow the relict of the deceased.
Can't explain the name change at the moment :-(
His widow continued to run the Nag's Head and is listed as the Innkeeper there in the 1871 census, she died in 1879 in Newcastle
Meanwhile in Tanfield
Marriage Licence Obtained by Robert Handcock 11th Dec 1858 to marry Elizabeth Stott, at Tanfield (image available on Family Search)
1861 census Tanfield Piece 3729/folio 72/page 60
Robert Handcock, 25 Innkeeper, born Dipton
Elizabeth Handcock, wife, 22 born Tanfield
Ann Handcock, daughter, born Tanfield
Isabella Stott, sister in law, 17 born Tanfield
Margaret Rantor, cousin, 21, born Tanfield
and that finally led me to the attached (only the first paragraph as it goes on for almost 2 columns detailing all the toasts), which I think may tell you what you wanted to know in the first place.
Durham Chronicle 29 July 1859 page 7
Boo