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I am seriously struggling to find some Walkers, and I'm now at the stage where I probably can't see the wood for the trees......

My Gt Gt grandfather was James Walker. I have no age as the only census I can find him on was 1871 and the age (I believe) is transcribed incorrectly. I have confirmed his name and that he was an ag lab in 1883 as I have my Gt Grandfather's marriage cert.

I have his blace of birth as Northallerton, N Yorks, but this is not confirmed. In 1860, he married Ann Moody, who was born in Hart, Co Durham and from the 1871 census this is the details of the children:

Mary Jane b. c1862
John Thomas b. bet 7/1862 and 6/1863 (my Gt G/Father)
George b. c1866
James b. c1867
William b c.1869

They are living in Hutton Henry, Co Durham

They all are shown as being born in Durham, and there is nothing to indicate that this is the city, or the county. John Thomas on a later census (1891) has his place of birth listed as Hutton Henry (maybe good news...) but on 1901 it changes to Bishop Auckland (so maybe not such good news lol)

Now, this is where it gets a bit odd......

I have found John Thomas on all census'. But, the other six - not a trace....... anywhere! I have searched for individuals, family name, first name only etc etc and they all seem to have vapourised - or perhaps they really were abducted by aliens!! (Mrs W says that would explain a lot!!!!!)

The one thing I have established is it is NOT the James born in Maunby that married Ann!

I know that John Thomas' birth cert will help, but there were quite a few born and I need to visit the N East again to do a certificate search.

Anyway, I hope that makes a bit of sense and if anyone out there can break down a bit of this brick wall I would be so grateful 'cos I've been hammering at it for nearly two years now....

Many, many thanks

Tony

Why not just nudge up the other two threads - one on Surname board and the other on TTF

Just for reference Tony this is a pretty useful site for that area

www.middlesbrough-indexes.co.uk

Meanwhile I will have a look and see what I can find for you.

Not sure what you mean by having to visit the north east ??

Have you got the marriage certificate of James to Ann MOODY?
Do you know that Ann was definitely the children's mother?
Her marriage certificate could provide leads to find James in earlier census, if fathers are named.


Gwyn

Hi Lindylu, and thanks for having a look - it may just need a fresh pair of eyes.

There has been a suggestion that they may have emigrated, but they should still be around for the 1861 census. I've used the Tees-alley indexes a lot and you're right, they are useful.

Glitter Baby - yes, I suppose I could have done but I was hoping to get to as much help as I could, bearing in mind I've been stuck with this for two years at least. I seem to have caused you offence from the tone of your reply, and can only apologise - that was not my intention.

Tony

Hi Gwyn, and thanks.for replying.

I'm just ordering the certificate now (I know, I know I should have done it sooner - explanation below....)

I'm sure that this is the case because the Moody (plus Moody related ) names occur later.

As for travelling to Durham - when you search at the Durham RO you actually have the parish copies of the marriage certs so I prefer to get them as it has the actual hanwriting of my ancestors on it rather than the computer generated ones from GRO. I just feel a bit closer to them, that's all! Sometimes sentimentality slows up the whole job!

Tony

Try this site you can view the Durham Bishops Transcripts

http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch/?datestamp=1209667024903

Tony - Have you tried looking at the immigration records on ancestry? If not I will have a look for you.

Just for reference and to 'get my bearings' so to speak, is this the family in 1871?

1871 England Census
about Mary Jane Walker
Name: Mary Jane Walker
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1862
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: James
Mother's Name: Ann
Gender: Female
Where born: Durham, England
Civil Parish: Hutton Henry
Ecclesiastical parish: Monk Hesledon
Town: Hutton Henry
County/Island: Durham
Country: England
Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Disability: View Image
Registration district: Easington
Sub registration district: Easington
ED, institution, or vessel: 22
Household schedule number: 94
Household Members: Name Age
Ann Walker 36
George Walker 5
James Walker 23
James Walker 4
John Walker 7
Mary Jane Walker 9
William D Walker 2

Hi Lindylu - yep - that's them!

They may have emigrated after 1871, and I accept that but not sure about where to start looking lol!

.... although there is an error. It's not William "D" - it's just William. The "D" came from the start of the Do (Ditto) bit!

Neither do I to be honest Tony and Walker is such a common name (if you dont mind me saying!) I can find loads of Mary Walkers of about her birth year emigrating all over the world!

Ah
I know what you mean about the handwriting.
To hold the actual register that generations of ancestors signed was very special when I went to Hereford.
I understand.

Oh my Goodness! Immigration records for William Walker is even worse! There are hundreds (if not thousands) of them!

LOL

That is just soooooo the problem with the name!!

Took ages to find them in 1901 - transcribed as WACKER! But since James and Ann have gone totally missing after 1871 that would mean too many coincidences - I'm starting to subscribe to the emigration theory!

If I could find them in 1861 it would make my day!!

Tony is this your mary?

Mary Jane Walker Pedigree
Female


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening: 14 JUN 1863 Shildon, Durham, England

Death:
Burial:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Parents:
Father: James Walker Family
Mother: Anne Walker


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Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth or christening date.

To be honest Chrisa I'm not sure, other than to say that when they were married in 1861 and the census in 1871 they were in the east of the county.

There is another James & Ann (him from Maunby) that are easy to follow and they lived in Bishop Auckland area, which is close to Shildon.

Have you tried searching under 'Waller' instead of Walker. Sorry if that sounds like you dont know what you are doing - its just things get mistranscribed so easily as you know from Wacker!

I've searched just using the first name - with and without spouse. For the kids with both parents, then one parent then the other.

The problem with doing this of course is that you get word blind. I've done it a good few times with no joy.

But you have made me think of one thing - maybe I should read through all census returns for Hutton Henry and for Hart - they may have been missed in the transcription/scanning.

Thanks - really, really appreciate this!!

Just to say thank you to those people who took time to help me with this.

Still no birth cert for John Thomas - GRO search is the only option for that. Bizzarely, I've found his brothers' baptisms and even a death and that indicated I was on the right track with his father and Ann.

The marriage certificate is due any day now and at least I know that I'm onto a winner because of a very, very kind man at Bishop Auckland Registry Office.

This young man carried out a certificate search for me today and has confirmed indeed that my Gt Gt Grandparents are James Walker & Ann Moody. John T is still missing, but the record could be held at Hartlepool. Again a very helpful lady, but their system was down and she's off tomorrow - however, she's told me to give a ring on Monday morning and she'll help me.

Still haven't found them on the 1861 cebsus, but the marriage cert should give me a clue.

Again, many thanks

Tony