Find Ancestors

Am finding out tonight if I can access the records regularly and what I can access. Once I find out will start a new topic for any new lookups. Lookups already requested I will do first and post the results on this topic (so you know where to find them). DON'T POST ANY NEW LOOKUPS ON HERE!!!!!! THEY WILL BE IGNORED!!!! See below before posting!

As many people who need Northumberland lookups know the main record office closed last autumn and won't open again until September of this year (if all goes to plan!). In the meantime one of the places people are encouraged to go look up records happens to be my local library which I happen to live very close to! Anyway, I was hoping to do an evening class over the next few months but I've been told it's cancelled and so now have a lot of free time on my hands. Therefore I'm willing to go book a machine at the library and do lookups to give me something to do! As I have to book a machine in advance I need to know if theres any interest in me doing this. No point booking if I have nothing to look up as none of my ancestors are from Northumberland! I understand that the library has Anglican and Non-conformist registers that were in the Morpeth Records Office. It also has census returns for all of Northumberland. So please, let me know if you'd be interested in lookups and if so I'll sort out booking a machine :)

If you get enough requests to make it worthwhile (I'm sure you will), I'd appreciate a lookup for the christening of Martha Evans Coates, possibly in West Moor. Her DOB was 30/11/1906, but that is all I know, I fear. Hope it isn't too vague. Many thanks for your extremely generous offer. Regards Reg

Reg, After getting over the dissapointment of not being able to continue learning sugarcraft I realised that I could at least do something to help people on this board! It keeps the boredom at bay and gets me out the house :) Ah well, at least I can now decorate christmas cakes, complete with holly, ivy and pine cones (all made by hand)!

Hi Sarah Which local library is now housing the records - I thought I might have to travel to Berwick. Regards Cheryl

Berwick Records office is still operating as normal with all their usual records, usual opening times etc as far as I'm aware (I was in contact with them recently over a map enquiry I'd had through work). Some of the Morpeth Records office stuff is now in Morpeth library, which kind of makes sense! However most of their collections are not accessible at all during the move because they're... well being moved :)

Hello Sarah, Great offer, thanks for offering it!! Can you possibly look up for me the birth/baptism of Alexander White born ,1798/1800 in the Norham (or maybe surrounding) area??. If you happen to find any siblings to Alexander, or any further info on his parents then that would great. Regards, Marcus

Just adding to this thread so that I can find it easily later, when I've had time to look through my records to see if there is anything I need from Northumberland at the moment. Thanks for your very generous offer. Kath. x

Do you know if this has actual Parish registers (fiche or whatever) -not transcripts -for Elsdon, Holystone & Alwinton? Would appreciate some look-ups if you have access to these please - I'll post separately if you let me know if they are available.

I think we can definitely say there is some interest! Will phone them up on Monday to book a machine and get back to you when I know.

Hi Sarah,are you able to look up deaths for Berwick Northumberland? If you are, could you please see if you can find the death of Mary Weatherhead her youngest child was born in 1846 but on the 1851 census her husband was a widower. If you are unable to look,thankyou for your kind offer anyway. I hope your classes soon start again for you!! Regards Sheila

Sheila, I'll have a try. I think they do have GRO indexes so I'll try those first. Don't think my classes are going to start anytime soon. Not enough of us to make it viable so it's fully cancelled :( Ah well, gives me more time to help with family history lookups.

Thankyou very much Sarah and good luck. Sheila

Thanks Sarah I am only 17miles from Morpeth and 63 from Berwick, didn't know they were transferring some to the library. Regards Cheryl

Hi Sarah, I would love to find out more about my Marshall family from Tynemouth, North Shields, Newcastle. Robert Marshall born 1785 in Tynemouth married to a lady called Ann born 1791 in Tynemouth, they had at least one child Margaret Marshall born 1830 in North Shields. Robert was a mariner in Tynemouth and the last address I have for them was in 1861 at 66 Brewery Bank, Tynemouth living next door to Margaret and her family. Any information you find will be gratefully received. Many thanks, Fern.

Sarah Thank you for your kind offer. According to 1881 Census Robert Rogers was born about 1831 Bedlington Northumberland His wife Mary Besom was born about 1832 Wallsend Could you check for their births and possible marriage please Thanks again Isobel

Isobel - I don't think they have any Newcastle records and Wallsend is in Newcastle area. I'll look for the other one.

Hi Sarah, thanks for the offer - very kind!! I don't have any relatives from this area but one - Alexander Mackenzie - sailed out of either Newcastle or Sunderland in the 1860's. He was skipper of a boat called the 'Ocean Child' which sank with all hands (including himself) in 1863. I wonder if you would be able to find any reference to this?? Kind regards, William

William - I doubt they will hold these records as I know only a few bits and pieces have been give to the library to cover the temp closure of the record office, such as parish and census records. I also don't know if the Northumberland record office would have that information to start with. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't hold any SUnderland records and I'm not sure if they hold Newcastle records either.

Sarah I did not realise Wallsend was Newcastle I was going with 1881 census which said Northumberland. Thanks for pointing this out Isobel