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There is this marriage >>>>Ralph Chapman 1861 Apr-May-Jun Chester Le Street Durham Ann Charlton 1861 Apr-May-Jun Chester Le Street Durham >>>>Hannah Harker 1861 Apr-May-Jun Chester Le Street Durham John Ritchie 1861 Apr-May-Jun Chester Le Street I doubt if this is the same Ralph Chapman.

Well done, Kath! I would say you're 100% correct. So many sad stories in this hobby! Margaret Update, I was talking about previous message re: baby Ralph. Now it looks like previous wife wasn't Hannah Harker? She was Isabella.

Also this one >>>>Ralph Chapman 1858 Jan-Feb-Mar Tynemouth Northumberland Alice Farrow 1858 Jan-Feb-Mar Tynemouth Northumberland >>>>Isabella Leadbitter 1858 Jan-Feb-Mar Tynemouth Northumberland Matthew Smith 1858 Jan-Feb-Mar (Illegible)

I was just wondering if Ralph could have been married 3 times???? You would need the marriage certificate to Hannah Harker to see if he was a bachelor or widower. Did you get the name Hannah Harker from a birth certificate? If so, whose? Kath. x

You're right Margaret - I have so many babies dying before their first birthday in my ancestors familes. We even found that my husband had a baby brother who was born 1 year before hubby, who only lived 12 hours and had the same name as my hubby (which made him feel slightly weird). Hubby probably wouldn't have been born if this little one had lived. He was 2 months premature so in this day and age he would probably have lived. So sad. Kath. x

thank you kath, i think that is the birth. i have just been in contact with another member whose husbands line comes through ralph and she graciously gave access to her tree, it shows his birth place as choppington. however i may have gotten confused with ralph born in 1831 marriages-- he was married to hannah joyce but his first wife and ralph-- 1861,s mother is called isabella. sorry for the confusion. dawn

That's alright Dawn. Can we forget about Hannah Harker now then? Kath. x

Now that's interesting Andrea! It can't be that first marriage to Hannah Harker. Baby Ralph was 3 months old on census day, April 7. I take that back, anything's possible in this game. It's just more likely that he married Isabella in 1858.

Wonder if this is Isabella in the 1851 census. She is a pauper in Workhouse along with a 5 year old Elizabeth Leadbitter and lots of others:- Isabella Leadbitter abt 1835 Northd, Gosforth Ponteland Northumberland Kath. x

Dawn, I think you did what we've all done at one time or another. Well I know I did. You found Ralph on a census with a wife Hannah and went back and found the marriage of Ralph & Hannah Harker, right place, right time and said 'Bingo, that's it!' Been there, done that! Margaret

i think i am living up to my name today, i shouldn't do things when i'm tired. if i was blonde like my daughter i could blame it on a blonde moment. i would again like to thank everyone for their help it is much appreciated. dawn