Genealogy Chat

Hi Stan, Another puzzle is how did I Post three messages yesterday morning all the same. I remember when I clicked add message that it was very slow so I refreshed it. Oh well, maybe these computers do have minds of their own. The English and Scottishwere always at war and the Border Counties must have swung too and fro over the years. I have enjoyed you history and geography lessons. I did not know that freebdm and Ancestry were the same or that LDS did not have deaths, being new to this game thanks for that info it should same me time looking for something that is not there. Regards Anne-Marie

Hi, Anne-Marie The death entry was from 1837online. FreeBMD has not done all that period yet, and Ancestry's free data is copied from FreeBMD after they have done it, so far as I can tell. LDS contains very few deaths. As you knew that date of death, I assumed, no doubt wrongly, that you had seen the certificate, but as you hadn't given an age at death, I just wanted to check whether my guess about birthplace might be plausible. By the way, Berwick upon Tweed officially became part of England quite late on. Berwickshire is in Scotland. There is the famous case of war being declared on behalf of England, Scotland and Berwick upon Tweed, but the peace signed on behalf of England and Scotland. Maybe someone will remember with which country Berwick is still at war! Regards Stan

Stan, Just looked up the death of Alexander that you gave but unable to locate it. Where did you find it. I have tried freebdm, LDS and Ancestry free search. Thanks Anne-Marie

Hi John, Looking forward to the outcome of your visit. Anne-Marie

Hi Stan, Thank you for all your info. I know that Alexander was a Presbyterian minister as I have just recieved Thomas's birth cert. It indeed would be heplful to have the earlier census info. Interestingly I have now come across someone else that was born in Berwick Scotland and I know for sure that Berwick is in Northumberland. Maybe all the confusion is because they are the Border counties. I did not know that Felton was on the Borders until writing on the tips board. As a Geordie living in New Zealand for 30 years I am now learning a little about the wider North East area. I will make a point to visit these places next year on my trip to the UK. Anne-Marie

I'll hopefully get to Morpeth before Christmas and let you know the outcome then! Stan's reply looks pretty good though.

Hi Anne-Marie West Thirston is on the south bank of the river Coquet, and Felton on the north bank, at opposite ends of the bridge. I would suggest that Felton, Scotland, must be a mistake, and that you will find your answers in Felton, Northumberland. Since writing this, I was struck by the possibility that a man named Alexander might be a Scotsman. On checking IGI for Scotland, I found Alexander Hoy, christened 1 Nov 1795, Stitchel, Roxburgh, Scotland, son of William Hoy and Rachel Lermont. There was no other plausible entry - Roxburgh is the closest of the possibles to the English border - and there was no-one of the name from England. Alexander's death (Oct-Dec 1869, Morpeth 10b 202) gives his age as 75, which would give a birth date of 1794, reasonably compatible with the christening in 1795 (or they might have got his age wrong by a year). I wonder whether Alexander was a Minister in a Presbyterian Church, rather than a Scotsman from the Episcopalian Church in the Church of England? The Census for 1851 or 1861, or his death certificate, might confirm my suppositions. Regards Stan

Hi John, thank you for your kind offer. Thomas Binney Hoy b. 20/05/1849 birth cert says West Thirston. 1881 census says born Felton Northumberland. His father Rev. Alexander Hoy d.26/12/19/1869 Felton Scotland. Married Henrietta Brown 21/04/1835 in Felton Northumberland I do not expect you to search everyone just to give you an idea how confusing it is. Many thanks Anne-Marie

I drive past Felton several times a week. It's just off the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick. If you give me some more details about Thomas I'll try to look him up on earlier censuses when I next go to the CRO in Morpeth.

Hi Maz, Just been looking at other sites again and wondered if Felton is on the Northumberland border as most of my family come from the Northumberland area. Thanks for your help. Anne-Marie

From the road atlas of Britain and Ireland there are 3 Feltons! Herefordshire, Nth Somerset and Northumberland. There is also a Felton Butler in Shropshire. Northumberland is obviously near Scotland - perhaps the person who recorded it went by the accent! Maz. XX

Hi everyone, Got a problem with the where abouts of Felton. In the 1881 census of Thomas Binney Hoy it says Northumberland but when I found Father's wedding it says Felton Scotland. Any idea's where to look for place names. Thanks Anne-Marie