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My Great Grandparents names were John Nicholson and Catherine Dixon. They were married in 1933 and had 6 children, Mary, John, Catherine, Sheila, Maurine and William.

Whenever I ask my Grandma about them she seems to avoid any questions and its impossible to get answers out of her.

Would anyone be able to help me in finding John Nicholson's and Catherine Dixon's parents?

I know Catherine was born in 1912 and died in 1989, I also know John died within a year of Catherine, so either 1988 or 1990.

Thanks for any help in advance.

An idea of where your great grandparents lived would help.

Most likely Durham area

Could this be them in 1939 please?

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
Nicholson Household (2 People)
16 Ann Street Back , Felling U.D., Durham, England

Catherine Nicholson
DOB
26 Nov 1912
SEX
Female
OCCUPATION
Unpaid Domestic Duties
MARITAL STATUS
Married
SCHEDULE
56
SCHEDULE SUB NUMBER
2

John W Nicholson
DOB
17 Jul 1911
SEX
Male
OCCUPATION
General Labourer Brickwork
MARITAL STATUS
Married
SCHEDULE
56
SCHEDULE SUB NUMBER
1


2 closed records

The marriage certificate will name their fathers.

That is them, yes

You need the marriage certificate to be sure of the father's names and occupations.

Maybe?


First name(s) JOHN W
Last name NICHOLSON
Birth year 1911
Birth quarter 3
Registration month -
Mother's last name Wilson
District Gateshead
County Durham
Country England
Volume 10A
Page 1920
Record set England & Wales Births 1837-2006
Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
Subcategory Births & baptisms
Collections from Great Britain
© Findmypast

Where would I find the marriage certificate?

The GRO record for the marriage should be on FreeBMD

Use that ref then to order a copy of the certificate from

www.gro.gov .uk

Register ,free, and then follow the order form.
Use the details as listed on the record and tick the box that asks if the GRO ref is known and fill in the ref in the boxes that come up

Certs cost £9.25 inc p&p

There is a possible birth registered for Catherine in the March quarter 1913 with mother's maiden name Derrick. Do you know if your John and Catherine had any siblings please? This would help to narrow the search.


Maybe her parents marriage


Marriages Jun 1907 (>99%)
DERRICK Catherine Gateshead 10a 1770
DIXON William Gateshead 10a 1770


1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
14 Lennox St Heworth Lane Felling, Heworth, Durham, England

William Dixon Head Married Male Makers Helper 24 1887 Wardley Durham
Catherine Dixon Wife Married Female - 24 1887 Felling Shore Durham
William Dixon Son - Male - 3 1908 Heworth Durham
Mary Ann Dixon Daughter - Female - 0 1911 Heworth Durham



As well as Catherine, there was another daughter Elizabeth born after the 1911 census.

As Shirley said you would need their marriage certificate to confirm fathers- I did wonder if this had something to do with why your Gran was avoiding questions:

On the 1939 register, a few doors down from John and Catherine, there is a Robert Nicholson at number 22.

Nicholson Household 22 Ann Street , Felling U.D., Durham, England
Robert Nicholson 24 Jan 1892 Male General Labourer Heavy Worker Single
Isabel Hilton 10 Jun 1872 Female Unpaid House Duties Single
--------------------------------------------

Robert is listed as single, however- I believe he was widowed:

Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail - Tuesday 27 July 1937

FOUND DROWNED
Mrs Nicholson (49) married, of 22 Ann Street, East Stanley was found drowned in Beamish 'A' pit pond last night. Mrs Nicholson left home at about 1.30 yesterday afternoon. Later her hat, coat and shoes were discovered on the grass verge of the pond.
--------------------------------------------------

I think Mrs Nicholson's name was Mary.

Possible marriage:
Marriages Mar 1908
BARBER Thomas Alexander Gateshead 10a 1211
LOWE Charlotte Gateshead 10a 1211
NICHOLSON Robert Gateshead 10a 1211<<<<<<<<<
WILSON Mary Agnes Gateshead 10a 1211<<<<<<<<<

Note her maiden name Wilson- which fits with the birth of John post earlier.
----------------------------

Ah yes- the service record on Ancestry for Robert confirms he was married to Mary Agnes Wilson in January 1908. The following children are also listed on the record all born Felling Shore, Gateshead:

Martha 1907
John 1911
Robert 1913
Verdon 1916
-----------------------------------------------

Robert's age is out from the 1939 register, but this is them in 1911 shortly before John's birth:

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
Stoneygate Lane Felling Shore, Heworth, Durham, England

Robert Nicholson Head Married Male Ship Yard Riveter 27 1884 Bill Quay Durham CO
Mary Agnes Nicholson Wife Wife Female - 22 1889 Felling Shore Durham CO
Bertha Nicholson Daughter - Female - 3 1908 Felling Shore Durham CO

(I presume Bertha is the Martha listed on Robert's service record)

You're on the ball as usual AustinQ. I was just looking at that marriage.

I think you are right, there's often a reason that older people don't want the past to be dragged up. A different time and people were much more private.

Oh- hold on- I think I've made a mistake!!

Verdon- the child on the service record is actually Osmond Verdun Nicholson.

This looks like the family in 1939:

Nicholson Household (7 People) 7 Corrofell Gardens , Felling U.D., Durham, England

Robert Nicholson 29 Feb 1884 Male General Labourer (Special) Married
Mary A Nicholson 08 May 1888 Female At Home Married
Robert Nicholson 19 Jun 1913 Male Unemployed No Occupation Single
Osmond V Nicholson 20 Apr 1916 Male Unemployed Labourer Single
Miriam Goodfellow (Nicholson) 11 Apr 1919 Female Packer Single
Gavin (Chittich) Nicholson 05 Apr 1922 Male Labourer General Single
Closed record
Benham Nicholson 22 Dec 1928 Male At School At Home Single
--------------------------

So- not the 1892 Robert- need to think a bit more- back shortly

Robert Nicholson and Mary Agnes (nee Wilson) at 7 Corrofell Gardens in 1939 look to be the parents of John W Wilson born 1911.

But it's looking unlikely the Robert Nicholson at number 22 Ann Street was a direct relation. I now think that Robert was likely single- so who was the Mrs Nicholson of that address that was found drowned?

This is that Robert still with his mother in 1911:

1911 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
14 Anne Street Bill Quay Newcastle-On-Tyne, Heworth, Durham, England

Robert Nickelson Son Single Male Miner Down The Pit 19 1892 Wardley Colliery Durham
Bella Hilton Head Married Female - 34 1877 Sunderland Durham
Hannan Nickelson Daughter Single Female - 15 1896 Cramlington Northumberland
Lizzie Jane Nickelson Daughter Single Female At Service Housemaid 17 1894 Cramlington Northumberland
Thomas Nickelson Son - Male At School 12 1899 Cramlington Northumberland
Agnes Nickelson Daughter - Female At School 8 1903 Wardley Colliery Durham
William Hilton Son - Male - 3 1908 Bill Quay Durham

??????

Deaths Sep 1937 (>99%)
Nicholson Mary 49 Lanchester 10a 260

Sorry. I don't know too much about that side of the family, however I know most of the John and Catherines children and grandchildren were born in Felling/Bill Quay area so that most likely is them.

The man named Gavin in the 1939 record, it reads Gavin (Chittich) Nicholson, what does the name in brackets mean?

If you do buy the marriage certificate and let us know the names of John and Catherine's fathers and their occupations and who the witnesses were, come back and let us know and we can probably help you further if you need it.