Can anyone help?

[Christa]

Hitting my head off a brick wall - can anyone help me get started? My grandparents are buried in West Herrington Churchyard (was Co.Durham, now Sunderland) the church is long gone and I can't locate records - Durham insist they are stored at Houghton and Houghton insist they are in Durham. My grandparents were Robert Davison Cook died 1955, Christina (nee Keane) died 1945 aged 54 years, they had one son, John born 4 March 1911. No certificates remain and no family members to question. Would there be such a thing as a map of the graveyard as my great grandparents are also buried there, William Cook, his wife possibly Margaret. Have tried various avenues but can't find any trace but admit to not being very computer literate. I am visiting the NE soon and would love to have a start so any help would be veery welcome indeed

[MarkJ]

There is a booklet of inscriptions available for a small sum plus postage-

http://www.mymarras.co.uk/pages/local%20history%20books.htm

Number 9 is the one for West Herrington.

That may be of some use to you - especially if you may have other family there.

Also spotted several fiches for the churchyard for sale - but without a fiche reader, you would be better off with the booklet I expect.

[Davran]

Hi

If you look on FreeBMD you will find a birth for Robert Davison Cook Jun qtr 1885 Houghton-le-Spring Vol 10a p468. Also a birth for Christina Keen Mar qtr 1888 Houghton-le-Spring vol 10a p430. The marriage took place in Sep qtr 1909 Houghton-le-Spring vol10a p911. (You use the references when you send for 8You use the references when you send for certificates).

1891 census for W Herringtonn (Ref RG12/4115 Fol 105 p27)
2 Catherine Terrace (all children born W Herrington)
William Cook head mar 31 iron worker b Gateshead
Margaret wife 30 b Washington
Robert D 6
Elizabeth 4
William 2
Margaret 5m

I would guess that Davison was Robert's mother's maiden name.

Good luck and have fun!

[MarkJ]

Ah! I did look on FreeBMD, but using Keane - and found nothing. Good spot of detective work there :)

[Coneyman]

There is a booklet of inscriptions available for a small sum plus postage-

http://www.mymarras.co.uk/pages/local%20history%20books.htm

Number 9 is the one for West Herrington.

That may be of some use to you - especially if you may have other family there.

Also spotted several fiches for the churchyard for sale - but without a fiche reader, you would be better off with the booklet I expect.
Hi Mark,
Would there be one of the above for Surrey pls?
Thanx. Margaret.

[Christa]

Thank you Davran

This looks very possible, though the only names I recognise are Robert and William, only knew of one sister for Robert and I always thought that was Mary. I think it very possible that Robert's mother was Davison. There was quite a big family and it looks like it may be bigger than I thought.

Christa

[Christa]

Hi Mark

Thank you for that, I have contacted Andy to see if it is possible to buy one or two books other than from the internet. I am making a visit north soon and will be visiting the village so hope that will be possible though I've had no reply yet

Christa

[Christa]

Hi

I always thought my grandmother's name was Keen but I'm told it is spelled Keane on the gravestone. Will check that out when I'm in the area, but looks like I was correct!

Christa

[Wirral]

No certificates remain and no family members to question. Do you mean that the original birth/marriage /death certificates held by the family have been lost? You can get new copies from the government site at www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate (http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificate) The GRO (General Register Office for England & Wales) references can be obtained via a library that has the index on microfiche, or online.

[Christa]

I am making progress! I have found a Christina Davison who married a William Cook. Her brother was an iron worker - as was William - could be how they met. I am trying to locate Church records, the church was demolished 50 years ago and no one seems to know where the records are now. I've been told the Parish church in Durham City holds copies of all church records in Co.Durham but I don't know if that is correct, can't find out which church is actually the Parish church! Any ideas?

[martync]

Hi Christa,

The county records offices often have either the actual records or copies. There is an online search at:

http://www.durham.gov.uk/recordoffice/register.nsf/$$searchdcc

for Durham and if you can't find it most of the record offices are very helpful if you send an e-mail.

Good luck,
Martyn

[Christa]

Hi Martyn

Thanks for that but I've already tried Durham and they don't have the records - they sent me to Houghton who sent me to Durham. Think I must resign myself to them being lost! But if anyone has any ideas....

[Christa]

I am making progress, back to my great grandparents now and don't really want to go further until I have searched birth, death and marriage certs. Most relations are in the same area but a great grandmother was born in Scotland, since I've just moved south from Scotland I'm curious to know where she was born - is it possible to find out?

[Christa]

Hi Davran

Is there any chance you could find Robert Davison on the 1901 Census? It gives names of all his family. I did find it but for some reason can't get back there. Think it says Robert working as a farm worker.

I'd be very grateful - it will provide my missing link

Christina

[Davran]

Hi Christa


Robert was not living at home in 1901. He was a horseman on a farm in E Herrington (RG13/4694 Fol144 p17)

His family were still in E Herrington (RG13/4694 Fol115 p28):

William Cook 41 coal mine storeman b Gateshead
Margaret 40 b Workington
Children all b W Herrington
Elizabeth 14 apprentice millinery
William 12
Margaret 10
James R 4
Thomas A 1

Hope that helps.

[Christa]

Hi Davran

That's great, the first clue to what my granddad did for a living. Wonder which farm it was he worked at? Am visiting the area shortly, I know the house he was born in is now long gone, as was the house he lived in in later years, but I have an inkling I know which farm it was and it's still there. Also you've found my favourite uncle - last born of the family!!

Thank you for your help, on a tight budget so won't be renewing my subscriptions for a while but will get back into census records as soon as I can to find out more!

Christina