Can any help with the death of Margaret & William Brown?

[JBee]

I know this one is a toughie and I have no idea how to proceed without it costing me an absolute fortune.

In 1841 census they are both living at the Wool Market at Berwick on Tweed.

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 844; Book: 2; Civil Parish: Berwick Upon Tweed; County: Northumberland; Enumeration District: 5; Folio: 34; Page: 14; Line: 3; GSU roll: 438897.

Then in 1851 William born c1801 in Tweedmouth is living at 68 West Street New Stranton, Hartlepool in 1851 and is a dock gateman. He is with his wife Margaret b c1801 in Berwick on Tweed.

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2384; Folio: 128; Page: 17; GSU roll: 87062.

In 1861 his wife Margaret is now a widow living at 18 Exeter St, Stranton, Hartlepool.

Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 3702; Folio: 107; Page: 24; GSU roll: 543174.

And in 1871 the same Margaret I believe is living at 18 Temperance St, West Hartlepool.

Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4916; Folio: 52; Page: 47; GSU roll: 848014.

I am assuming that William died between 1851-1861 and there's 14 possibilies so I contacted Hartlepool registrars and they said they couldn’t match a death to my William. Likewise Stockton registrars.

Nor could either registrars match a death record in their offices to Margaret Brown after 1871

One person on ancestry has a death for Margaret in 1877 at the Hartlepool workhouse but I haven’t been able to find out if they have proof or are just guessing as I thought that would have come up when Hartlepool did a search.

I'm wondering if they moved between 1851-1861 and he died wherever he was and she came back to Hartlepool.

Stuck so any suggestions where I might try next.

Thanks

[Shona]

Not helped by the fact there are two men named William Brown born in Tweedmouth married to women called Margaret on the 1851 census!

[merleyone]

There is only one death of a Margaret Brown registered at Hartlepool in 1877 and that was in March 1877, 10a 76, with her age recorded as 74yrs.
Similarly, there is only one death of a William Brown at Hartlepool 1861 -1871 and that was in Sept 1865, 10a 84. No ages recorded before 1866.

merleyone

[kiterunner]

Have you tried looking for burials, Julie?

[JBee]

Apparently Hartlepool came under Stockton for most of 1851-1861 for William's death but neither of the registrars could find it in their records.

Also the 1877 death for Margaret Brown - there was 2 or 3 possibles but again both Registrars said they couldn't find it.

Kite - I haven't tried burials yet - not sure where to look.

[Margaret in Burton]

There is only one death of a Margaret Brown registered at Hartlepool in 1877 and that was in March 1877, 10a 76, with her age recorded as 74yrs.
Similarly, there is only one death of a William Brown at Hartlepool 1861 -1871 and that was in Sept 1865, 10a 84. No ages recorded before 1866.

merleyone

NBI3 has that one as buried 4 Sept 1865 at Hartlepool Old Cemetery aged 62

[Margaret in Burton]

6 January 1853 at St Hilda's, Hartlepool. William Brown aged 47

[Margaret in Burton]

I can't see a burial for Margaret in 1877.

[Merry]

Hartlepool was in Stockton district (Hartlepool sub district) until 9th June 1859 when the records were transfered to Hartlepool District (Hartlepool sub district). What the registrars someties fail to realise is this bit:

Stockton registers are held by : Stockton on Tees, Redcar & Cleveland, Hartlepool, County of Durham, Darlington, and North Yorkshire.

Hartlepool registers are held by : Hartlepool

So for after 1859 Hartlepool should at least be able to find the deaths you can see in the GRO index, but before 1859 they need to know which of their offices hold deaths for the subdistrict of Hartlepool in the years you are asking about.

I struggled for ages to find which offices held which registers around Bristol - they all said someone else had whatever I was looking for!!

[JBee]

I gave Hartlepool the freeBDM list of 14 possibles for William Brown with all the info I had about where they were in the 1851, 1861 and 1871 census's. including possible informants of the deaths

Given the addresses were close to what is now the railway station at Hartlepool I would have thought Hartlepool should have them but also tried Stockton.

William died between 1851-1861 so the one in 1865 is most likely not him until Margaret told porkies in the 1861 census.

I did see 2 possibles for Margaret but again they said they weren't the right one.

[Merry]

Given the addresses were close to what is now the railway station at Hartlepool I would have thought Hartlepool should have them but also tried Stockton.


Yes, but the storage of the registers would be down to the space available so the ones you need them to look in might be in any of those offices listed if the person died before 1859.

[JBee]

Oh right I should try the other registrar offices too - even though I thought they'd not cover the area.

Thanks will do that next.

[Merry]

Yoour best bet is to phonne them in turn and say "do you know if you hold the death registers for Hartlepool subdistrict for Q2 1855" (or whenever). When they say No, ask them if they know who does. You have to be assertive or you will go round the whole circuit and come back to the beginning without them finding the book(s) you need!

[JBee]

Will do - thank you