John Errington - Oxhill publican

[Elliven]

Does anyone have any information on the wife and children of John Errington who was a publican at The Ox Inn (sometimes mentioned as The Bull Inn) at Oxhill.  The only mention I have been able to find is Henry Smith (later Errington) aged about 34 in 1891 who seems to be his illegitimate son and was living with him at the time of the Census.  At this time John Errington was about 63 and widowed.  They did not live in the pub but in a terraced house just along the street.

This might be explained by the fact that the pub was being demolished and completely rebuilt in the 1890s.

John Errington retired, aged 79, in 1907.  I have hit a complete brick wall in trying to find any information on his wife and legitimate children.  Many thanks

[ShaunJ]

In the 1871 census of Ox Hill he is already a widower and has children Sarah 16, Henry 14, Elizabeth 8, John 6, Jane A 3, Arabella 1. His mother Elizabeth aged 66 is also there.  All listed as born Lanchester.

[Elliven]

Thank you ShaunJ

I did not find this entry but with his youngest child being only 1 year old, it looks like his wife may have died in childbirth.  Or perhaps in an epidemic like Flu or Scarlet Fever.

[Tickettyboo]

More than one John Errington in the baptism records born around the right time/area

The John you are looking for died on 4th Oct 1910, as confirmed

Durham Chronicle 17 Feb 1911, page 7 col 4

Local Wills
Mr JOHN ERRINGTON
Mr John Errington of Mayo House, Stanley, late of the Ox Inn, Oxhill, who died on 4th Oct last, aged 83 years, left estate of the gross value of £19,461 14s of which the net personalty has been sworn at £12,778 14s 7d

His will was proved at Durham 1 February and the named executors were Frederick Smith agent, George Foster builder and John Dixon innkeeper.

£1.50 will get you the will  and grant of admin via https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

 Hopefully the will may name children/grandchildren which will give some definite info to track back and find out who he married and names of any children

Boo

[Elliven]

Tickettyboo,

Brilliant!  That is definitely the man.  The first named executor was his grandson and John Dixon is likely to be the man who took over the pub when he retired.  He was a very successful man the spending power of that estate would be huge today!

[Tickettyboo]

In the 1871 census of Ox Hill he is already a widower and has children Sarah 16, Henry 14, Elizabeth 8, John 6, Jane A 3, Arabella 1. His mother Elizabeth aged 66 is also there.  All listed as born Lanchester.

I've just looked at the image for that census and the youngest child was Isabella, not Arabella (which explains why I can't find a birth for an Arabella Errington)

Boo

[Elliven]

Previous information suggests that Henry (the second child) was born Henry Smith (illegitimate?) but by the age of 44 he was using the name Henry Errington although HIS son was still called Frederick Smith when he was an executor of John Errington's will.

[Tickettyboo]

NB this is not writ in stone, just possibilities that I see in the records. Without seeing certificates / parish records I can't be sure, but think its worth investigating

looking at the list of children on that 1871 census ShaunJ found for you all of whom are said to have been born in Lanchester
Piece 4956, folio 49, page 10 and seeing what is in the GRO births to try to ascertain a MMN
 Durham Reg District included Kyo (in Lanchester Parish) and a blank MMN indicates a single mother

Sarah , born c1855 - no likely Sarah Errington, but there is a Sarah Smith, MMN blank Q1 1855 Durham
Henry, born c1857, no likely Henry Errington, but there is a Henry Smith, MMN blank Q4 1857 Durham
Elizabeth, born c1863, a possible in Durham for Errington Q2 mmn Elliott  plus one possible for Smith MMN blank Q3 1863
John born c1865,2 possibles for John Errington, Q3 1865 Durham MMN Watson, Q4 1865 Durham MMN Smith and 1 John Smith, MMN blank Q2 1865
 Jane A, born c 1868, Jane Ann Errington,  Q2 1868 Durham MMN Smith
Isabella b c1870,  FreeBMD has an Isabella Errington Q2 1870 Durham, MMN Smith, GRO has no first name for this child, but has a MMN of Smith and Durham Registrars births search has a Baby Girl Errington in 1870

Difficult to say but possibilities are
they  married c 1863-1868
didn't marry at all and whoever registered the later births either fibbed and said they were married or weren't aware they weren't

taking the first possibility & looking for marriages for a John Errington to a lady called Smith 1863 - 1871
the only possible I can find (but others may have more success) is
Q1 1865, Gateshead John Errington and Jane Smith on the same page in the register

and there is a death for a Jane Errington in Q2 1870, Durham, age 36

[AlanBoyd]

That 1870 death.

Burials, Lanchester District - Record Number: 1217264.2
Location: Tanfield, County Durham
Church: St. Margaret
Denomination: Anglican
11 Jul 1870 Jane Errington, of Marley Hill, age: 33

Marley Hill is a little to the west of Gateshead.

I previously found this as the only possible Errington death for Isabella’s mother, but couldn’t find any other connection.