The Brown Forebears

Elizabeth Brown was born in 1848 at Widdrington, Northumberland, the eldest daughter of Robert and Isabel Brown (née Joisce). The Brown men were all farmers, but Robert spent sometime as the Widdrington baker. 

Elizabeth's baptism at Widdrington.

When Elizabeth was around the age of 21, she gave birth out of wedlock, to a baby girl named Alice. I don't think I will ever discover the identity of the father. Alice was certainly accepted by the wider family, as she was raised in the house of her grandparents. Interestingly, there was another granddaughter who lived in the household of Robert and Isabel Brown. Her name was Margaret who was born in around 1874. It could be that Elizabeth had another illegitimate daughter. 

Robert Brown died on Christmas Day 1881, and was buried with his parents in the family grave at Widdrington. Illegitimate Alice Brown was also laid to rest in the plot in 1884, when she died unexpectedly. 

Elizabeth Brown married James Bell at Morpeth in September 1876. James was a coal miner, born in New Hartley. Their child, Robert, was born the following year. 

In around the mid-1890s, James Bell became a greengrocer in Ulgham, close to Widdrington. He also found work as a rabbit catcher. Robert Bell was truly his father's son, as he also worked as a gardener and rabbit catcher. 

The Brown lineage.
Jane Mavin was my great-great-grandmother.

Elizabeth Brown was the second cousin of my great-great-grandmother, Jane Mavin. Jane was born in 1853 at Widdrington, so likely grew up knowing Elizabeth and her family. Their common ancestors were their great-grandparents, Anthony Brown and Margaret Marshall, a couple who raised their family in the small hamlet of Druridge, in the parish of Widdrington. 

Elizabeth Brown died in February 1938, a few weeks short of her 90th birthday. A rather unique obituary appeared in the Morpeth Herald in the week following her death. It read as follows;

"MRS. ELIZABETH BELL,

ULGHAM

Living in a district where changes are continually taking place there are not many individuals who may claim that their family has resided in one particular area for upwards of five centuries. Yet this unique record was revealed at the funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Bell, who passed away on Sunday, at the residence of her brother, "Hillcroft," within six or seven weeks of her 90th birthday. A member of the Brown family, particulars of their forefathers are traceable in Widdrington parish records for almost 500 years, and many an interesting account of old customs and practices were recounted by the deceased lady as her friends gathered round a homely fireside on a winter's night. A search into the past a few years ago revealed the fact that one of her forebears had reached the age of 89, and her one wish was to live until April of this year when she herself would establish a record for longevity for the Brown family.

The interment took place in Ulgham Churchyard on Wednesday afternoon, the service being conducted by the Rev. L. Tirrell, vicar of Ulgham. ..."

I so wish I could have sat at the fireside as Elizabeth spoke of the bygone customs and our shared family. I certainly have some research to do it in the wake of this find. I have no where near 500 years of Brown history! 

A Canny Lang Way To Wa'k

My 3x Great Grandparents were Joseph Sharp of Seaton Sluice, Northumberland and Dorothy Hindmarch of Brafferton, a village near Aycliffe, Co. Durham. 

Joseph was the son of William Sharp and Ruth Hedley. He was born on 7 April 1804 probably at Seaton Sluice, and was baptised on 28 December 1805 at St. Alban's, Earsdon. 

St. Alban's Church, Earsdon.
Where Joseph Sharp was baptised.

Dorothy was the daughter of Robert Hindmarch and Margaret Brown, and was born on the 19 June 1809. She was baptised at the now ruined All Saints' Church, Sockburn, Co. Durham on 16 July 1809. As is fairly common, the spelling of Hindmarch was just one variation of the name. The family were also known as Hymas. 

From the Durham Bishop's Transcripts
for Sockburn.

When Dorothy was around 29 years old she gave birth to a daughter, out of wedlock. The baby girl was baptised Margaret, after Dorothy's mother.

Little Margaret's baptism at Aycliffe.
Dorothy is noted as being a 'Single Woman'.

Sadly aged only one years old, little Margaret died and was buried in the churchyard at Aycliffe.

Then, on 23 December 1843 at Tynemouth Registry Office, Joseph Sharp and Dorothy Hindmarch were married. Seaton Sluice, where Joseph Sharp was living is just over 40 miles from Brafferton, the small village where Dorothy was living prior to their marriage. What brought Dorothy to the Seaton Sluice area, or Joseph to the Brafferton area is unknown. In truth, I have no idea how their paths would have crossed. It certainly would have taken a good few hours for Dorothy to make her way up to the Tynemouth Registry Office to marry.

The Sharps went on to have five children; Robert William, Ruth Honour, Margaret Ann, William John and Mary Jane. Margaret Ann has previously been mentioned, in my post the Vicker's Will.

Joseph Sharp was a keen gardener, growing vegetables in his spare time. He was also a member of the Floral and Horticultural Society of Seaton Delaval. He often exhibited prized cabbages, potatoes and onions. The majority of the time, he also came first in the best flower competitions. Joseph would often be a judge for such competitions also.


Joseph died in 1873, followed by Dorothy in 1878. 

Lady of Sorrow

On 16 March 1783 my 4x great-grandmother, Martha Robinson was baptised at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Woodhorn, the daughter of George Robinson and Jane Simpson. The Robinson family were natives of the nearby Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Martha's baptism entry.
Notice the spelling of Robinson.

The Robinsons were the victims of a fishing disaster on 14 January 1808. Martha, only in her mid-20s lost her father and older brother both named George, as well as other male relatives. All hands were lost in Blyth harbour during a storm.

Martha went on to marry John Armstrong, a fisherman like the rest of her family, however he was from Cullercoats a village further down the coast. 

Martha and John's marriage entry at Christchurch, Tynemouth.
From the Durham Bishop's Transcripts.

Only three months after marrying John, he died at sea on 7 April 1810 along with his father and brothers. The loss of life was well-documented and is quite a sad story. The Cullercoats fishermen were caught up in a storm, and so the lifeboat was called for. As Cullercoats did not have its own, the lifeboat came from Blyth. The lifeboat managed to reach the fishing cobles, but on the return journey was hit by a "high and ridgy wave." The lifeboat was hit yet again, causing her to strike the land and almost split entirely in two. There were only two survivors.

John's body was eventually found in August, and he could finally be laid to rest at St Alban's, Earsdon. To add to the tale, Martha was pregnant. 

She gave birth on 10 November 1810 to a boy. He was named George John Armstrong, after his two deceased grandfathers, and his late father. 

George John Armstrong's baptism.
From the Durham Bishop's Transcripts.

Martha went on to marry John Renner on 17 August 1817. Not surprisingly, this second John was also a fisherman. John Renner was also a Newbiggin freeholder, with some small parcels of land on Newbiggin Moor and in the east end of the village. 

The marriage entry of John Renner and Martha Armstrong at Woodhorn.
From the Durham Bishop's Transcripts.

Martha and John went on to have three children; Ann, Edward and John (known as Johnny). To complicate things, Martha's first son George John Armstrong dropped the 'George' from his name - meaning Martha had three Johns in her life, her husband and two sons! Her firstborn John Armstrong went on to marry a woman named Elizabeth Brown. Her daughter Ann married Adam Storey, but her two youngest sons remained bachelors.

John Renner died in 1847 at the age of 76. Martha's son Edward closely followed in 1854 aged only 33. Around this time Martha opened up her house, and started taking in lodgers. 

Disaster seemed to follow Martha and in December 1861 she lost her youngest son, Johnny Renner at sea just past the famous Newbiggin Church Point. Johnny was aged only 39 years old, and "left a widowed mother to mourn his untimely end" - as was reported in a newspaper at the time.

St. Bartholomew's Church, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
Johnny Renner lost his life just past here.

"It is impossible to realise the intense excitement which pervaded the entire community and great commiseration is felt for old Martha Renner, who, bordering on the 76th year of her pilgrimage, is thus deprived of her earthly stay."

- From the Morpeth Herald, dated 21 December 1861, on the death of Johnny Renner.

The Renner family grave
at St. Bartholomew's, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.

Martha Renner died on 9 January 1867. Her legacy lived on, with two granddaughters being named after her and also a later great, great granddaughter. Martha was the maternal grandmother of Adam Storey, the Grand Old Man.

Update: A blog post on Martha's Trinity House records.