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I have been trying to find the birth of Mary Ann Duffy whom it states on census in England was born in Berwick on Tweed. I don't know if Berwick was part of Scotland then or not...... Mary Ann Duffy married in Durham on 26th November 1866 aged 21, her fathers name was Patrick Duffy, he was from Ireland. Betty

Thanks Reg so is there no way of finding this birth then? Also was Berwick on Tweed in Scotland or England at that time?? Just trying to find the family on the 1871 census on Scotlands People. Betty

Birth registration wasn't compulsory unitl 1875 Reg

Perhaps you could look for a baptism/christening? It would mean searching through all the different books from the different parishes unless you could narrow down a religion. Then of course there's the problem of you being in Dundee and the records being in Berwick or Edinburgh... Mhairi

Hi Mhairi, I am just about to search the census on Scotlands People 1851 census but every census after her marriage in 1866 just says born in Berwick On Tweed. Also on every census her age changes, not 10 years like everyone else but it goes up and down all the time. Betty p.s. Nice to hear from you again Mhairi

Oh Mhairi they were Roman Catholic. Betty

Hi Mhairi How can this be?? I just searched the 1851 census for a Mary Ann Duffy but nothing has come up for her, how strange. According to her marriage certificate she would have been born in 1845 if she was aged 21 in November 1866. Anyway I checked for any Mary Ann Duffy in Scotland between 2 and 10 years of age and there is none. How can that be? any suggestions anyone?? Betty

Betty Berwick is a place which can never decide whether it is in England or Scotland, lol. It is in England, for administrative purposes, but was historically included in the county of Berwickshire, which is Scottish. The old town is/was Scottish, but the boundary has been moved to make it part of England, lol. I was there less than three weeks ago - it is a charming place, and the 'old town' is very old indeed, with subterranean passages which were used for...what??? Sorry - not helping you. Even less help is when I tell you that Berwick does not have a parish, so I really don't know where you would look for church records. OC

Hi OC, Yes I know about Berwick, had this debate on GR before about this but I can't find this Mary Ann Duffy birth anywhere in Scotland, Ok they didn't have to register the birth but she is also not on the 1851 census either. Thats why I was wondering if Berwick would come under England in the 1850's although Mary Ann Duffy always say she was born in Berwick on Tweed or Berwick Scotland on later census in England. Lost with this birth or finding her in a Scottish census with her parents and siblings. Betty

Duffy is an Irish name do you think she could have lied about her place of birth? Georgina.

The only Roman Catholic church in the area was Our Blessed Lady and St Cuthbert. The baptism records for this church (1793-1946) can be found either at Berwick on Tweed Records Office, or at the Northumberland Collections. (There are also marriage records for the same church.) OC

Hi Georgina. Yes I know this Duffy family came from Ireland to Scotland, later somehow Mary Ann ended up in Durham working in a paper mill before she was married. Betty

Hi, Should also have said parents married in Ireland too. Betty

Hi all, Is there anyway someone could check the English 1861 or 1871 census and see if Mary Ann Duffy and her family are in England, would be the Durham area I think. Mary Ann was born about 1845 father Patrick Duffy. Sorry I don't have Ancestry!! Betty

There is ONE baptism, for a Mary Duffy, father Patrick, mother Maria Conaughton??? in Ireland, on the IGI. OC

Curioius....there IS a Mary Duffy, baptised at St Cuthberts, in Berwick, but much too early - 1830, and the father is wrong. She could hardly have knocked 15 years off her age, but how odd - she is the only Duffy to be baptised there! Of course, she may have been BORN in Berwick, but taken back to Ireland to be baptised. OC

Hi OC, I saw that but as I don't have Mary Ann's mothers name I can't tell if this is her parents or not, this is why I am trying to find them in the 1851 and 1861 census first. Her parents names would help. Betty

Hi again OC, I know its all very strange thats why I can't find her birth, these are the only Mary Ann Duffy's in the 1851 census anywhere in Scotland. No Year Surname Forename Sex Age District City/County GROS Data Image Extract 1 1851 DUFFY MARY ANN F 12 BLAIRGOWRIE /PERTH 2 1851 DUFFY MARY ANN F 60 GORBALS GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 3 1851 DUFFY MARY ANN F 22 GORBALS GLASGOW CITY/LANARK 4 4 1851 DUFFY MARY ANN F 0 EDINBURGH EDINBURGH CITY/MIDLOTHIAN 5 1851 DUFFY MARY ANN F 17 TRANENT /EAST LOTHIAN

This is the 1871 census in England after Mary Ann Duffy married. As you can see Mary Ann says she is 27 years of age but when she married in 1866 she said she was 21 years old. Every census is her age is always wrong more and more out with each census. This one isn't bad really but the later census are really out. Name: Thomas Collins Age: 30 Estimated birth year: abt 1841 Relation: Head Spouse's name: Mary A Gender: Male Where born: Ireland Civil parish: Benfieldside Ecclesiastical parish: Benfieldside Town: Benfieldside OR Black Hill County/Island: Durham Country: England Street address: Occupation: Condition as to marriage: Disability: View image Registration district: Durham Sub-registration district: Lanchester ED, institution, or vessel: 2 Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 193 Household Members: Name Age Mary A Collins 27 Peter Collins 2 Phillip Collins 8 months Thomas Collins 30 Catherine Galagher 25 John Galagher 27 Patrick Galagher 3 Ellen McCabe 56 Margaret Tracy 22

That Catherine isn't her sister, is she??? (If so, I've cracked it!) OC