13 Jul 2026

I received the death certificate for John Hall (1846–?) that I ordered last week¹.

Unfortunately it doesn’t seem like it fits my ancestor:

Death in the Registration District of Tynemouth, Sub-district of Whitley, Northumberland, 1909, no. 331. Died 21 Sep 1909 at Low Steads, Backworth; John Hall; Male; age 62; Deputy Overman. Cause of death: Senile Decay certified. Informant was Charles Hall (signed name); relation: Son; residing at Low Steads, Backworth; present at death. The death was registered 22 Sep 1909.

My John Hall didn’t have a son named Charles and the Backworth residence doesn’t seem familiar.

My ancestry contact “US” mentioned they might have seen my John Hall in the 1911 census in the Morpeth Union Workhouse.

I looked the record up and found a John Hall, age 64, inmate, widower, formerly a coalminer hewer, born Northumberland East Hollywell². This age puts him as being born c.1847 which fits with my ancestor who was born in 1846 in East Holywell.

So, now I need to find his death. There are a couple of candidates to try:

• John Hall, age 70, Q1 1916, Tynemouth, vol 10B, page 277
• John Hall, age 73, Q3 1920, Morpeth, vol 10B, page 401

Luckily the second one was available as an immediate digital image so I ordered it and I’m pretty sure it’s my ancestor:

Death in the Registration District of Morpeth, Northumberland, 1920, no. 17. Died 2 Sep 1920 at Railway Station, Morpeth Castle, Morpeth; John Hall; Male; age 73; of 33 Third Row, Ashington U.D. Coal Miner (Timber drawer). Cause of death: Probably arteio schlerosis and syncope. Informant was George W. Hall (signed name); relation: Son; residing at 33 Third Row, Ashington. The death was registered 11 Sep 1920.

The informant here was George W. Hall which is certainly his son George Wilson Hall. George and John are living at 33 Third Row which is where George was to be found in the 1911 census.

I’ve updated my records, Ancestry and FamilySearch to reflect this new information.

7 Jul 2026

I was recently contacted on Ancestry by a user “US” who queried the death I have recorded of my 2x great grandfather John Hall (1846–1902)

I noticed you have a death certificate for John Hall who died in 1902 as being that of the husband of Elizabeth Emma Carr and you gave information about an inquest. However, I thought that certificate applied to a different John Hall who was born around 1839. There is a gravestone in Ashington which records the death of that man, who also had a wife named Elizabeth, but contains the additional information “late of Rothbury”. There was a John Hall born in Rothbury about 1839 who was a coal miner and who made his way to the Ashington area and lived in the 6th Row. He appears on the 1901 census as a retired miner at that address while the other John Hall, who lived in the 4th Row, was recorded as an invalid miner.

The death certificate in question records the death of John Hall on 5 Apr 1902 age 63. He was a Stone Man.

The cause of death was Capillary Bronchitis subsequent on accidental injuries received in Ashington Colliery. The informant was Chas Percy, coroner for Northumberland. An inquest held 9th April 1902

The place of death is a little confusing. It appears to read 9-6th Row, Ashington U.D. but the leading 9 is possibly a run-on from the entry number 479.

One interpretation is that the entry number is 4799 and the place of death is 6th Row. An alternate reading is the entry number is 479 the place of death is number 9 on 6th Row.

The rows are a series of terraced streets built to house the miners of Ashington Colliery.

The question is whether this death certificate belongs to my ancestor John Hall or not.

There are a couple of problematic areas:

1. There is no connection to the rest of the family. Often the informant is a relative which makes it easier to match the document to the right person. In this case the coroner was the informant.
2. The age at death doesn’t correspond with the date of birth I have for John Hall, 11 Aug 1846 in East Holywell. The John on this death certificate would have been born around 1839, as pointed out by “US”

The inquest into John Hall’s death was reported by the Morpeth Herald on 12 Apr 1902:

The report gives details of the injury sustained by John Hall on the 15 Dec 1898 (although the final sentence changes this date to Dec 1902, which can’t be accurate since the article was published in Apr 1902). He died as a result of this injury three and a half years later.

Unfortunately the report gives almost no biographical details, except to mention a living brother who gave evidence.

Turning to the census of 1901, there is a John Hall living at 231 Fourth Row, Ashington¹. He is aged 54, born in Earsdon and under occupation is recorded “Invalid Coal Miner”. He is living with his wife Elizabeth E. Hall age 57, born in Horton and three children: George, Margaret and James W.

I’ve always ascribed this entry to John and his wife Elizabeth Emma Carr. The youngest child James W. is my great grandfather James William Hall.

The fact this census entry records him as being disabled supports the idea that he is the John Hall from the death certificate and inquest.

I looked up the other John Hall mentioned by “US”. It turns out there are three other John Halls living in Ashington in 1901 plus Joseph John Hall, the colliery manager mentioned in the inquest report earlier.

I found him living at number 9, 6th Row². He was aged 62, a retired coal miner/hewer, born in Lemmington, Northumberland.

He was living with his wife, Elizabeth, age 60, born in Rothbury, two grand children John Wm and Mary Lizzie, his married daughter Catherine Dixon and her husband Wm. Henry, his widowed daughter Elizabeth Sinclair and her two children and an unmarried daughter Isabella.

This John hall fits the death certificate. He is the right age and is living at the exact address recorded on the certificate. He is not recorded as an invalid on the census but he is retired.

So it looks like “US” was probably right, the death certificate I have is for a different John Hall. Now I need to find his death.

I checked Elizabeth Emma Carr’s death certificate. She died 22 Dec 1907 in Blyth (Tynemouth district). Crucially I note that her occupation is given as “wife of John Hall Coal Miner” which implies he is still alive. If he were dead then normally she would be described as widow of John Hall.

The informant was her son George Wilson Hall who had been living with her and John in the 1901 census. By 1911 George was back in Ashington, living at 33 Third Row with his wife, daughter and his father in law. There is no sign of his father John.

This is suggestive of John dying between 1907 and 1911.

I found one possibility:

• John Hall, age 62, Q3 1909, Tynemouth, vol 10B, page 153

I have ordered a copy of this. Sadly it’s not available as a digital image so I need to wait for a PDF copy.

If John was still alive in 1911, then this would also be a possibility:

• John Hall, age 70, Q1 1916, Tynemouth, vol 10B, page 277

In conclusion, it’s always important to keep an open mind and to look again at the evidence. It’s also important to not get precious or protective of “facts” that you know to be true. We all have mistakes in our research or have reached conclusions based on limited evidence. Thank you to “US” for bringing this discrepancy to my attention.

19 Apr 2026

I’m looking at DNA matches near James Jennings Smith and Elizabeth Cummings.

I managed to trace and connect 18 matches to James and Elizabeth, seven via their daughter Rebecca (married George Norvell) and the rest via their daughter Susannah (married Ralph Rodgerson).

I’m now taking a look higher up in the tree on the Cummings side. There are suggestions that Elizabeth’s parents were John Cummings and Margaret Carter.

In the 1851 census Elizabeth Cummings stated she had been born c.1811 in New Painshaw, which is a mining community in the parish of Penshaw, between Houghton le Spring and Washington.

Previously (25 Sep 2024) I found a baptism of an Elizabeth Cummings in 1811 in Penshaw but also found her burial in 1812. She was the daughter of Robert Cummings and Elizabeth Hunter. Robert, a pitman, also died in 1812 aged 32.

I have several DNA matches with a suggest through John Cummings and Margaret Carter. Two seem to via a daughter named Jane who married a Milburn.

I also have three matches who seem to descend from Margaret’s supposed parents John Carter and Margaret Robinson via a sister Jane Carter who married a James Reed, via sister Elizabeth who married George Oats and via a brother John.

I found the marriage of John Cummings and Margaret Carter in Penshaw:

John Cummings and Margaret Carter both of this Chapelry were married in this Chapel by Banns this 1st Day of May 1802.¹

I then read forward in the register to see if I could see any children:

Mary Ann Cummings, born 8 Nov, bap 8 Apr 1804, 1 dau of John Cummings Pitman na. of Houghton Par. by his wife Margaret Carter na. of this Chapelry²

then:

Elizabeth Cummings, born 24 Apr, bap 24 Aug 1806, 2 dau of John Cummings. Pitman, na. of Houghton Par. by his wife Margt. Carter na. of this Chapelry³

This could well, be my ancestor Elizabeth, though she is born five years earlier than I was expecting.

Margt. Cummings, born 25 Jul, bap 25 Sep 1808, 3 dau of John Cummings. Pitman, na. of Houghton Par. by his wife Margt. Carter na. of this Chapelry⁴

I checked baptisms and burials up to the end of 1814.

I then had another look for James Jennings Smith and Elizabeth Cummings marriage. Their first child was Susannah, baptised 1832 in Hetton le Hole, a chapelry created from Houghton le Spring in 1832. On the census she seems to have been born in about 1830.

I checked the Houghton le Spring marriages from 1827-1832 but there was no trace. I did the same for Penshaw from 1827-32 and for the neighbouring parish of Easington 1827-1832.

I gave up on that and returned to the Carters. I found a tree by Anthony Jennings⁵ that looked well sourced and set about looking up the baptisms of the Carter family in the Bishops Transcripts.

2 Aug 1778, marriage of John Carter of this chapelry and Margaret Robinson of the parish of Herring, by banns

7 Feb 1779, baptism of Cuthbert Robinson Carter, son of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

22 Sep 1779, burial of Cuthbert Robinson the son of John Carter of West Herrington Water Side

1 Oct 1780, baptism of Mary, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

7 Jul 1782, baptism of Ann, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

25 Jul 1784, baptism of Margaret, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side⁶

10 Sep 1786, baptism of Elizabeth, dau of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

9 Dec 1792, baptism of John, son of John and Margaret Carter of West Herrington Water Side

3 Nov 1793, burial of John the son of John Carter of West Herrington Water Side

30 Nov 1794, baptism of Robinson, son of John and Margaret Carter of Coxgreen

7 Jan 1798, baptism of John Carter 4th son of John Carter, Keelman, Coxgreen by his wife Margt Robinson, native of the Parish of Mornington, born 3 Nov 1797

9 Jan 1803, baptism of Jane Carter, 6th dau of John Carter, Keelman, na of this Chapelry by his wife Margaret Robinson, na. of Church Mounington Par

16 Apr 2026

Today I’m trying to connect some more DNA matches to George Carr and Jane Robson.

I already have three (“DECH”, “SUWI” and “JAHA) connect to George’s daughter Hannah Carr, b. 1773 at Dotland Park. She married John Anderson in 1804 in Hartburn.

I had a clue from another tree that they may have had a son, George, in 1805 (named after her father?).

I looked in the Bishops Transcripts for Durham Diocese and found it quickly¹.

George Anderson, 1st son of John Anderson of Close House, Slater, & Hannah his wife late Carr, native of Dotland Park, Parish of Hexham. Baptised 14 Apr 1805, born 5 Mar 1805

Close House is a farmhouse just south of the village of Cambo (nls map).

On the same page was their marriage, 10 May 1804,

But, as I was looking I noticed another baptism:

George Laws 1st son of Robert Laws of Low angerton, Labourer & Margaret his wife daughter of George Carr of Oxen Wood, Labourer. Baptised 8 May 1805, born 24 Apr 1805

And their marriage was on the page too:

Robert Laws of the Parish of Kirkhall & Margaret Carr were married by banns, 19 May 1804.

I wonder if Oxen Wood is local to Hartburn or has a connection to Oxen Rood, in Hexham where some Carrs were living in 1789.

Interestingly another two DNA matches (“LYBA” and “ROLA”) seemed to be connected via the Laws family. Possibly through a Margaret Carr, and her children Isabella Laws and George Laws. But it did not look plausible since the Margaret Laws (Carr) I found in the 1851 census was born in Ovingham. I’ll need to reconsider those connections.

I wonder if George Carr and Jane Robson moved the entire family to Hartburn? I’ll need to browse the register and look for traces.

I found this, not sure if they are related or not:

25 Dec 1806 Jane Carr, 1st dau of Thomas Carr of High Angerton, Labourer and Mary his wife, daughter of William Tonmouth, Shoemaker

I then found two entries that prove Hannah and Margaret are daughters of George:

Edwd Anderson 2nd son of John Anderson of Close House, Slater & Hannah his wife, daughter of Geo Carr of Dotland Park, farmer. Baptised 9 Aug 1807, born 8 Aug 1807

Jane Laws 1st daughter of Robert Laws of [—–]. Labourer & Margaret his wife, daughter of Geo Carr of Dotland Park, farmer. Baptised 5 Sep 1807, born 24 Aug 1807

Some more as I find them

• Burial of George Carr of North Middleton, son of Mary Carr, widow. Died 20 Apr 1808, buried 23 Apr 1808, age 11
• Burial of Margaret Carr of High Laws, widow of the late George Carr, died 1 Mar 1810, buried 3 Mar 1810, age 65
• Baptism of Margaret Laws, 2nd daughter of Robert Laws, Husbandman & Margaret his wife daughter of George Carr of Dotlin Park in the parish of Hexham. Baptised 31 Jan 1810, born 13 Jan 1810
• Baptism of John Anderson, 3rd son of John Anderson of Close House, Slater and Hannah his wife daughter of George Carr of Dotlin Park in the parish of Hexham. Baptised 31 Jan 1810, born 24 Jan 1810
• Baptism of Sarah Charlton, daughter of Robert Charlton of Meldon North Farm, mole-catcher & Margaret his second wife daughter of [blank] Carr of Milburn Parish of Ponteland. Baptised 10 Jun 1810, born 20 Jan 1810
• Baptism of Edward Carr of Milburn, Parish of Ponteland, son of the late Geo Carr late of Highlaws, Died 12 Oct 1810, buried 15 Oct 1810, age 22

In 1811 the register switches to the less informative but standard form, losing all the extra information about descent.

• Marriage of George Carr of the Parish of Corbridge and Isabella Green of this Parish, by Licence, 18 May 1803
• Marriage of Ralph Carr and Elizabeth Potts, by banns. 15 Feb 1802

15 Apr 2026

I’ve identified many of the places mentioned in the Hexham and Whitley parish registers, and in the various wills

Hexhamshire Low Quarter

• Dotland, hamlet (54.931453,-2.123674) (nls map)
• Dotland Park, farmhouse (54.936373,-2.108941) (nls map)
• Shield Green, farmhouse (54.943108, -2.119515) (nls map)
• Oxenrods, house (54.943185,-2.129640) (nls map)
• Fell House (maybe Dotland Fell), farmhouse (54.935600,-2.150636) (nls map) (actually Dotland Fell-house was absorbed into Dotland by c.1890)

Hexhamshire Middle Quarter

• Whitley Chapel, church (54.914182,-2.113844) (nls map)
• Ordley, hamlet (54.928991,-2.082972) (nls map)
• Finechambers, house (54.924095,-2.091269) (nls map)
• Finechambers mill, mill (54.923200,-2.090137) (nls map)
• Blackhall, farmhouse (54.923011,-2.103302) (nls map)
• Peth Head (54.923228,-2.098708) (nls map)
• Salmon Field, farmhouse (54.904388,-2.136087) (nls map)
• Woodside (not found)
• Dalton, hamlet (54.917683,-2.128991) (nls map)

Hexhamshire, High Quarter

• High Park House, farmhouse, (54.876448,-2.129530) (nls map)
• Broadwell House, farmhouse (54.876862,-2.139199) (nls map)
• Peacock House, farmhouse (54.889938,-2.124878) (nls map)
• Long Lee, farmhouse, (54.862969,-2.127852) (nls map)
• Hill House, farmhouse, (54.865925,-2.127307) (nls map)
• Stobbylee (Stobbilee), (54.862695,-2.138829) farmhouse (nls map)
• New House, farmhouse (54.867586,-2.127390) (nls map)
• Hackford, farmhouse (54.883235,-2.113291) (nls map)
• Greenways, farmhouse (54.879271,-2.126411) (nls map)

Shotley (adjacent parish)

• Embley, farmhouse (54.885937,-2.112018) (nls map)

Slaley (adjacent parish)

• Strothers, farmhouse (54.908818,-2.041599) (nls map)

Blanchland (adjacent parish)

• Birkside, farmhouse (54.851032,-2.081243) (nls map)

13 Apr 2026

I’m going to try and reconstruct the Carr families of Dotland Park, Dotland and the surrounding area based on the evidence I have been gathering over the past week and last year.

George Carr (of Dotland Park)

• died 1769
• buried 9 Aug 1769, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• farmer 1769 (will)
• will proved 13 Sep 1769 (will)

wife Mary (will)

daughter Elizabeth (will)

• husband Thomas Hinsonn of Cowgate, Newcastle (father’s will)

daughter Sarah

• baptised 8 Mar 1740 (parish register)
• husband Ord (will)
• of Dalton (will)

daughter Mary

• husband John Forster or Hartington Hale (father’s will)

son George -> George Carr (of Dotland Park)

son John -> John Carr (of Dotland Park)

John Carr (of Dotland Park)

Son of George Carr (-1769) of Dotland Park

• born c.1744 (inscription and parish register burial)
• died 9 Jul 1831 age 87 (inscription)
• buried 12 Jul 1831, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• will proved 2 Sep 1831 (will)

wife Thomasine

• born c.1757 (inscription)
• died 15 Jan 1793 age 36 or 37 (inscription)
• buried 18 Jun 1793, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son George

• buried 26 Jan 1783, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son George

• born c.1784 (inscription)
• baptised 7 Mar 1784, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• died 20 Jun 1868, aged 84 (inscription)
• executor 1831, from farm at Dotland Park (father’s will)
• residence Dotland Park 1841 (census)

son John

• born c.1786 (inscription) or 1784 (death registration)
• baptised 16 Jul 1786, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• died 20 Oct 1844, age 58 (inscription), age 60 (death registration)
• executor 1831, from farm at Dotland Park (father’s will)
• residence Dotland Park 1841 (census)

daughter Mary

• born 1787-1791 (1841 census)
• baptised 1 Feb 1789, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• husband Dixon (father’s will)
• residence Dotland Park 1841 (census)
• daughter Jane b. 1816-1820 (1841 census)

daughter Thomasina

• baptised 25 Dec 1791, Dotland Park (parish register)
• husband Samuel Johnson (father’s will)
  • married 20 Apr 1818, Hexham (inscription)
  • died before 1841? (1841 census)
• died before 1841? (1841 census)
• daughter Thomasin b. 1821-1825 (1841 census)
• son John b. 1821-1825 (1841 census)

son Thomas

• baptised 7 Apr 1793, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• buried 3 Nov 1794, of Dotland Park (parish register)

George Carr (of Dotland Park)

Son of George Carr (-1769) of Dotland Park

daughter Mary

• baptised 2 Apr 1773, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Jane

• baptised 4 Sep 1774, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Deborah

• baptised 20 Apr 1778, of Dotland Park (parish register)
• buried 20 Mar 1791, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Margaret

• baptised 24 Sep 1780, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 21 Apr 1783, of Dotland Park (parish register)

daughter Sarah

• baptised 12 Feb 1786, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son George

• baptised 10 May 1789, of Dotland Park (parish register)

son John

• baptised 26 Aug 1792, of Dotland Park (parish register)

John Carr (of Dotland)

• born c.1732 (inscription)
• died 2 Jan 1789, age 57 (inscription)
• buried 27 Jan 1789, of Dotland (parish register)

wife Mary

• born c.1732 (inscription)
• died 25 Jan 1809, age 77 (inscription)

son Thomas -> Thomas Carr of Dotland

• baptised 13 Jul 1759, of Dotland (parish register)

son George

• baptised 1 Jan 1762, of Dotland (parish register)
• buried 8 Mar 1763, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Margaret

• baptised 15 Jul 1764, of Dotland (parish register)

son Joseph

• baptised 23 Jul 1767, of Dotland (parish register)
• buried 26 Dec 1770, of Dotland (parish register)

son George -> George Carr of Dotland

• baptised 3 Sep 1769, of Dotland (parish register)

son Joseph

• buried 26 Dec 1770, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 28 Jun 1772, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Elizabeth

• baptised 9 Apr 1775, of Dotland (parish register)

Thomas Carr (of Dotland)

Son of John Carr of Dotland

• buried Whitley Chapel (inscription)
• farmer 1813 (parish register)

wife Ann

• surname: Rollen (parish register)
• surname Rowland (parish register)
• buried Whitley Chapel (inscription)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• born c.1767-1771 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son John

• baptised 5 Jul 1795, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son Thomas

• baptised 12 Nov 1797, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son George

• born c.1800 (inscription)
• baptised 6 Apr 1800, of Dotland (parish register)
• died 26 May 1805, age 5 (inscription)
• buried 26 May 1805, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Mary

• baptised 19 Aug 1804, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (census)

daughter Hannah

• born c.1804 (inscription)
• died 15 Jun 1806, age 2 (inscription)
• buried 20 Jun 1806, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• born c.1808 (inscription)
• baptised 5 Nov 1808, [–ford] (parish register)
• died 8 May 1829, age 21 (inscription)
• buried 11 May 1829, of Dotland (parish register)

son Joseph

• baptised 16 May 1813, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

son George

• baptised 31 Oct 1819, of Dotland (parish register)
• residence Dotland 1841 (1841 census)
• farmer 1841 (census)

George Carr (of Dotland)

Son of John Carr of Dotland

daughter Mary

• baptised 9 Jan 1803, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 20 Oct 1805, of Dotland (parish register)

daughter Elizabeth

• baptised 6 Nov 1808, of Dotland (parish register)

George Carr (of Peacock House)

• buried 22 Jan 1776, of Peacock House

son Henry -> Henry of Hill House

• baptised 1 Jan 1766, of Peacock House (parish register)

daughter Hannah

• baptised 4 Aug 1768, of Peacock House (parish register)

daughter Elizabeth

• baptised 21 Apr 1771, of Peacock House (parish register)

daughter Jane

• baptised 4 Sep 1774, of Peacock House (parish register)

Henry Carr (of Hill House)

Son of George Carr of Peacock House

• born c.1762-1766 (1841 census)
• baptised 1 Jan 1766, of Peacock House (parish register)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)
• labourer 1841 (census)

son George Carr

• baptised 9 Jan 1790, of Hill House (parish register)

daughter Mary Carr

• baptised 9 May 1792, of Hill House (parish register)

son Henry Carr

• baptised 4 Jan 1795, of Hill House (parish register)

son John Carr -> John Carr of High Park House

• baptised 25 Dec 1798, of Hill House (parish register)

John Carr (of High Park House)

Son of Henry Carr of Hill House

• born c.1797-1801 (1841 census)
• baptised 25 Dec 1798, of Hill House (parish register)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)
• labourer 1841 (census)

wife Elizabeth

• surname Dargue? (son John’s birth reg)
• born c.1802-1806 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son Henry

• born c.1832 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son Joseph

• born c.1833 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son George

• born c.1834 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

daughter Hannah

• born c.1835 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

daughter Mary

• born c.1837 (1841 census)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

son John

• born c.1840 (1841 census)
• born 1839 Stotsford (birth reg.)
• residence High Park House 1841 (census)

George Carr (of Fine Chambers)

(Fine Chambers is a house near Finechambers Mill)

This is possibly the George who married Elizabeth Liddell on 22 May 1779 at Whitley Chapel.

daughter Elisabeth

• baptised 16 Jul 1780, of Fine Chambers (parish register)

son George

• baptised 25 Aug 1782, of Fine Chambers (parish register)

daughter Jane

• baptised 14 Aug 1785, of Fine Chambers (parish register)

John Carr (of Peth Head House)

• born c.1792-1796 (1841 census)
• residence Peth Head Cottage 1841 (census)
• ore smelter 1841 (census)

wife Mary

• born c.1797-1801 (1841 census)
• residence Peth Head Cottage 1841 (census)

daughter Mary

• born c.1822-1826 (1841 census)
• residence Peth Head Cottage 1841 (census)

Jane Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1767-1771 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways? 1841 (census)
• independent 1841 (census)

Mary Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1782-1786 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways?n 1841 (census)
• independent 1841 (census)

John Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1787-1791 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways? 1841 (census)
• ag lab 1841 (census)

Jesse? Carr (of Greenways?)

• born c.1812-1816 (1841 census)
• residence Greenways? 1841 (census)
• ag lab 1841 (census)

12 Apr 2026

I just discovered today that Ancestry have added copies of Yorkshire Bishops Transcripts and these include images of the Whitley Chapel transcripts from 1765-1842!¹ Usefully these also show the abode of the people mentioned which will make it much easier to build family groups.

While studying these I noticed a reference to a place called Dalton, which reminded me of the memorial notice I found yesterday.

Baptisms

• 15 Jul 1764 Margaret dau of John Carr, Dotland
• 1 Jan 1766 Henry son of George Carr, Peacock House
• 30 Apr 1767 James illegitimate son of George Carr, Black Hall and Jane Martin, Ponteland
• 23 Jul 1767 Joseph son of John Carr, Dotland
• 11 Jun 1768 Sarah dau of James Carr, Embly in the parish of [Strotbell?]
• 14 Aug 1768 Hannah dau of George Carr, Peacock House
• 3 Sep 1769 George son of John Carr, Dotland
• 23 Dec 1770 Frances dau of James Carr, Embly, Shotley Parish
• 21 Apr 1771 Elizabeth dau of George Carr, Peacock House
• 28 Jun 1772 Hannah dau of John Carr, Dotland
• 12 Apr 1773 Mary dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 21 Aug 1774 William illegitimate son of Jane Carr by a person unknown, Fine Chambers
• 4 Sep 1774 Jane dau of George Carr, Peacock Houses
• 9 Apr 1775 Elizabeth dau of John Carr, Dotland
• 1 Jan 1776 Jane dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 5 Feb 1777 Frances illegitimate dau of Mary Carr, widow and Joseph Graham, Peacock House
• 27 Feb 1777 Ruth illegitimate dau of Mary Carr junr, Peacock House, and William Bell, Parish of Strotley
• 20 Apr 1778 Deborah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 16 Jul 1780 Elisabeth dau of George Carr, Fine Chambers
• 24 Sep 1780 Margaret dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 25 Aug 1782 George son of George Carr, Fine Chambers
• 21 Apr 1783 Hannah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 7 Mar 1784 George son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 14 Aug 1785 Jane dau of George Carr, Fine Chambers
• 3 Dec 1785 John son of Samuel Carr, Longlee
• 12 Feb 1786 Sarah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 16 Jul 1786 John son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 14 Oct 1787 Elizabeth dau of Henry Carr, Salmonfield
• 1 Feb 1789 Mary dau of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 2 Feb 1789 George son of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 10 May 1789 Joseph son of Joseph Carr, Oxen Roods
• 9 Jan 1790 George son of Henry Carr, Hill House
• 25 Dec 1791 Thomasina dau of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 9 May 1792 Mary dau of Henry Carr, Hill house
• 26 Aug 1792 John son of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 10 Mar 1793 Mary dau of George Carr, Ordley
• 7 Apr 1793 Thomas son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 4 Jan 1795 Henry son of Henry Carr, Hill-house
• 5 Jul 1795 John son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 13 Nov 1796 Barbara dau of George Carr, Ordley
• 12 Nov 1797 Thomas son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 25 Dec 1798 John son of Henry Carr, Hill House
• 6 Apr 1800 George son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 20 Oct 1800 John son of George Carr, Dotland Fell
• 9 Jan 1803 Mary dau of George Carr, Dotland
• 19 Aug 1804 Mary dau of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 20 Oct 1805 Hannah dau of George Carr, Dotland
• 3 Jul 1808 Ann dau of James Carr, Emley parish of Shotley
• 5 Nov 1808 Hannah dau of Thomas Carr, [–ford]
• 6 Nov 1808 Elizabeth dau of George Carr, Dotland
• 2 Jul 1809 John son of William Carr, Rennys barn
• 16 May 1813 Joseph son of Thomas and Ann Carr, Dotland, Farmer
• 30 May 1813 Susanna dau of Henry & Jane Carr, Long-lee, Farmer
• 30 May 1813 John son of Henry & Jane Carr, Long-lee, Farmer
• 13 Feb 1814 Thomas son of Thomas Armstrong and Sarah Carr, Holins, Husbandman
• 5 May 1815 Ann dau of Robert Curry and Ann Carr, Stobbilee, Husbandman
• 12 May 1815 Ann dau of Thomas Armstrong and Sarah Carr, Holnis, Husbandman
• 7 Apr 1816 Joseph son of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Low Nicholos, Gamekeeper
• 27 Oct 1816 Thomas son of Thomas Dixon and Mary Carr, Dukesfield Hall, Agent
• 23 Aug 1818 Thomasina illegitimate dau of Joseph Carr and Hannah Carlton, Highshield, Labourer
• 27 Sep 1818 Ann dau of Henry Stobbs and Jane Carr, Hackford, Labourer
• 31 Oct 1819 George son of Thomas Carr and Ann Rollen, Dotland, Farmer
• 7 Feb 1820 Jane dau of Thomas Dixon and Mary Carr, Dukesfield Hall, Agent
• 9 Apr 1820 Mary dau of John Carr and Ann Charlton, Dukesfield Hall, Smelter
• 1 Oct 1820 Mary dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Wooodside, Innkeeper
• 29 Oct 1820 Thomas son of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, Hillhouse, Labourer
• 8 Apr 1821 Mary dau of Thomas Dixon and Mary Carr, Dukesfield Hall, Agent
• 17 May 1823 Mary dau of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 17 May 1823 Elizabeth dau of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 17 May 1823 George son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 13 Jul 1823 George Errington dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Wooodside, Innkeeper
• 31 Aug 1823 Jane dau of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, New House, Labourer
• 20 Jan 1823 Henry son of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, New House, Labourer
• 30 Apr 1825 John son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Gaishields, Labourer
• 7 May 1825 Thomas illegitimate son of Elizabeth Carr, Lillswood, spinster
• 5 Jun 1825 Robert son of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Woodside, Gamekeeper
• 10 Dec 1826 Samuel son of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, Gindlehaugh, parish of Shotley, Miner
• 27 Jul 1828 Elizabeth dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Wooodside, Gamekeeper
• 23 Nov 1828 Henry son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Apperley, Miner
• 8 May 1830 Henry son of Christopher Nevin and Mary Carr, Stotsford, Miner
• 29 May 1831 Thomas son of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Woodside, Farmer
• 14 Oct 1831 Henry son of John Carr and Elizabeth Dargue, Lonning house, Farmer
• 27 Nov 1831 Henry son of Thomas Carr and Elizabeth Charlton, Broadwell House, Miner
• 23 Sep 1832 Elizabeth dau of Thomas Carr and Elizabeth Charlton, Broadwell House, Miner
• 4 Nov 1832 Mary dau of Samuel Carr and Mary Hall, Highrow Green, Labourer
• 13 Jan 1833 Barbara dau of Robert Graham and Mary Carr, Woodside, Innkeeper
• 9 Oct 1833 Joseph son of John Carr and Elizabeth Dargne, Loaning house, Farmer
• 16 Nov 1834 Thomas son of Thomas and Elizabeth Carr, Broadwell House, Husbandman

Note: After 1830 I stopped recording baptisms where the mother’s maiden name was Carr unless it was a family I had already recorded.

Marriages

• 4 Jun 1772, George Carr and Jane Robson, both of this Chapelry, by banns
• 22 Sep 1778 Robert Rowland of this Chapelry and Margaret Carr of the parish of Shotley, by banns
• 22 May 1779 George Carr and Elizabeth Liddell, both of this Chapelry, by banns

Burials

• 9 Aug 1769 George Carr senior, Dotland Park
• 26 Dec 1770 Joseph son of John Carr, Dotland
• 6 Dec 1773 Thomas Carr, Fine Chambers
• 22 Jan 1776 George Carr, Peacock House
• 20 Jun 1778 Ann dau of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 5 Jun 1781 Mary Carr, widow, [Surfhouse?]
• 24 Jan 1783 Mary dau of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 26 Jan 1783 George son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 17 Feb 1784 Mary wife of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 30 Apr 1785 Matthew son of Matthew Carr, Longlee
• 24 Jan 1787 Samuel Carr, Long Lee
• 27 Jan 1789 John Carr, Dotland
• 13 Apr 1789 Mary Carr, widow, Oxen Roods
• 20 Mar 1791 Deborah dau of George Carr, Dotland Park
• 18 Jun 1793 Thomasina, wife of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 4 Oct 1794 Hannah Carr, Newbiggin Parish of Blanchland
• 3 Nov 1794, Thomas son of John Carr, Dotland Park
• 30 Apr 1797 Mary dau of George Carr, Ordley
• 26 May 1805 George son of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 20 Jun 1806 Hannah dau of Thomas Carr, Dotland
• 24 Feb 1813 Ann, illegitimate dau of George Carr and Ann Moses, Dotland Park, age 6 mos
• 15 Feb 1817 Thomas illegitimate son off John Carr and Elizabeth Curry, Long-lee, age 2
• 25 Jun 1820 Ann Carr, Dukesfield Mill, age 26
• 27 Jun 1824 George Carr, Dukesfield Mill, age 79
• 7 Mar 1826 George Carr, Woodside, age 86
• 11 May 1829 Hannah Carr, Dotland, age 21
• 12 Jul 1831 John Carr, Dotland Park, age 87
• 14 Oct 1831 Hannah Carr, Lanning House, age 72
• 24 Mar 1833 John Carr, Longlee, age 80

There was no mention of Dotland Park at all between 1812 and 1831

There were no marriages after about 1779. They’re probably in another register that I haven’t found.

I thought there was a gap in the register between 1790 and 1798 but the pages are just in reverse order. So are the entries between 1812 and 1801.

George Carr was a church warden in 1786 Thomas Carr was a chapel warden in 1811, 1812 John Carr was a chapel warden in 1813

I also looked in the Hexham transcripts²:

Baptisms

• 23 Apr 1740 Eliz. dau of John Carr, Halph Moon
• 8 Mar 1740 Sarah dau of John Carr of Dotland Park
• 19 Apr 1742 George son of Tho Carr of the Shire
• Jul 1742 Margt dau of George Carr, Mason
• 1 May 1743 Tho son of John Carr [or Garr] of the Shire
• 11 Sep 1743 Ann day of Matt Carr, Carpenter
• 22 Sep 1745 Eliz dau of Matthew Carr
• 29 Dec 1745 George son of George Carr
• 6 Nov 1747 Robt son of George Carr, Mason
• 10 Apr 1748 John son of George Carr of the Shire
• 10 Jul 1748 Jane dau of Matthew Carr, Joiner
• 26 Fen 1749 Joseph son of Joseph Carr, Blacksmith
• 7 Oct 1750 Jane dau of Joseph Carr, Blacksmith
• 29 Sep 1754 Thos son of Joseph Carr, B. Smith
• 18 Jun 1758 John son of Edward Brown of Dotland Park
• Feb 1759 Elizabeth dau of Matthew Carr of Long Lee
• 13 Jul 1759 Thos son of John Carr of Dotland
• 19 Nov 1759 Thos son of Joseph Carr, B Smith
• 17 Oct 1760 Mary dau of George Carr
• 23? Nov 1760 Mary dau of Wm Carr, Mason
• 1 Jan 1762 George son of John Carr of Dotland
• 12 Sep 1762 Ann dau of Joseph Carr, B Smith
• 25 Feb 1763 George son of Wm Carr, Mason

Marriages

• 27 Oct 1744 Christopher Bell and Dorothy Carr, both of this parish, by licence
• 25 Nov 1745 Thos Simpson and Jane Carr, both of this parish, by licence
• 27 Dec 1746 Joseph Carr and Jane Wales, both of this parish, by banns
• 23 Apr 1749 Edward Brown and Eliz Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 3 Dec 1751 Thos Green and Mary Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 28 Nov 1752 John Carr and Mary Johnson, both of this parish, by banns
• 24 Dec 1752 Robt Oxley and Margt Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 9 Jun 1753 James Carr of the parish of Shotley and Margt Johnson of this parish, by banns
• 8 Dec 1756 John Dent and Jane Carr, both of this parish, by banns
• 27 May 1758 George Carr and Mary Armstrong, by banns
• 4 Apr 1759 William Carr and Ann Charlton, by banns
• 18 Sep 1764 Lancelot Robinson and Frances Carr, both of this parish

Burials

• 19 Nov 1740 Eliz Carr
• 18 Dec 1740 Isabel wife of John Carr
• 3 Feb 1743 John Carr [Turner?]
• 9 Mar 1744 George Carr of the Lee
• 23 Mar 1744 Mary dau of Matthew Carr, Cordwainer
• 31 Dec 1745 John Carr of Dotland Park
• 11 Oct 1746 John Carr [Collier?]
• 15 Feb 1747 Jane Carr, Widdow
• 18 Sep 1747 Dorothy wife of Matthew Carr, Cordwainer
• 18 Dec 1747 Joseph son of Henry Carr, Cordwainer
• 4 Jan 1748 Robt son of George Carr, Mason
• 25 Jan 1748 Edward Carr, batchelor
• 8 Jul 1747 Mr James Carr
• 4 Jun 1750 John Carr, Currier
• 22 Jan 1753 Margt dau of George Carr of the Shire
• 16 Mar 1755 Thos son of Joseph Carr
• 14 Aug 1757 Barbara dau of Joseph Carr, Blacksmith
• 3 Jul 1760 Ann dau of George Carr, Labourer
• 24 Nov 1762 Antho son of Matthew Carr
• 8 Mar 1763 George son of John Carr of Dotland
• 27 Nov 1763 Henry Carr of Stotsfield

I think “of the shire” refers to wider Hexhamshire, rather than the town of Hexham, i.e. the farms to the south of Hexham.

I read through the Hexham transcripts up to 1764 when the Whitley Chapelry began service.

11 Apr 2026

I just found something that might suggest that I’m on the wrong track with George Carr being born at Dotland Park. It’s a memorial notice in the Morpeth Herald, 3 Feb 1866:

At Walrye Fell, 13th ult. aged 76, Mr. George Carr, farmer, formerly of Dalton Park

This is undoubtedly my ancestor George Carr who died 13 Jan 1866 at Walridge.

But it suggests the census entries that recorded his birthplace as “Dotling Park” and “Dottlen Park” were not referring to Dotland Park near Hexham, but Dalton Park.

There is no sign of a Dalton Park in the Northumberland Farm Index. There is a modern shopping centre called Dalton Park near Murton and Dalton-le-Dale in Durham, about 10 miles southeast of Walridge.

Could this be a place near Morpeth? It would make a lot of sense since George spent much of his life in the Morpeth area.

Or is it yet another mis-spelling of Dotland Park. I think Walrye Fell is a mis-hearing of Walridge Fell which is the area where George was farming in 1861.

On balance I think the details for memorial entry in the newspaper were given verbally and Walridge Fell was mistaken for Walrye Fell and Dotland Park was mis-heard as Dalton Park.

10 Apr 2026

I went through the 1841 census for Hexhamshire and pulled out all mentions of Carrs. I also recorded all the inhabitants of Dotland and Dotland Park.

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 11; District 3

Township of Low Quarter of Hexhamshire in the Parish of Hexham. Comprising the whole of the township of the Low Quarter of Hexhamshire

Dotland Park, Folio 5, Page 4

Household 1

• George Carr, 55, Farmer
• John Carr, 50, Farmer

Household 2

• Mary Dixon, 50, Independent
• Jane Dixon, 20
• Thomasin Johnson, 20
• Mary Johnson, 15
• John Johnson, 15
• William Winter, 15, Ag Lab
• William Thompson, 14, Ag Lab

Dotland Fell House, Folio 6, Page 6

• John Rowell, 50, Lead Ore Miner
• Margret Rowell, 40
• Arthur Rowell, 30, Lead Ore Miner
• William Rowell, 14, Lead Ore Miner
• Matthew Rowelll, 11
• John Rowell, 8
• Joseph Rowell, 5
• Edward Rowell, 2

Dotland (House 1), Folio 6, Page 6

• Elizabeth Hall, 75, Ag Lab

Dotland (House 2), Folio 6, Page 6

• Ann Simon, 65, Ag Lab
• Joseph Simon. 30, Ag Lab

Dotland (House 3), Folio 6, Page 6

• John Bulana, 45, Ag Lab
• Thomas Bulana, 20, Ag Lab
• Margret Bulana, 15, Ag Lab
• Joseph Bulana, 14, Ag Lab

Dotland (House 4), Folio 6, Page 6

• John Dodd, 50, Woodman
• Margaret Dodd, 40
• Elizbeth Dodd, 15
• William Dodd, 13
• John Dodd, 7
• Sarah Dodd, 5
• Isaac Dodd, 2
• Mary Milburn, 75

Dotland (House 5), Folio 6, Page 6

• William Wigham, 70, Blacksmith
• Margaret Wigham, 70

Dotland (House 6), Folio 7, Page 7

• Thomas Wilkinson, 16, Blacksmith
• James Wilkinson, 13, Ag Lab

Dotland (House 7), Folio 7, Page 6

Household 1

• Mary Bell, 60, Ag Lab
• Mary Bell, 24, Ag Lab
• Matthew Bell, 7

Household 2

• John Simpson, 20, School master

Dotland (House 8), Folio 7, Page 6

Household 1

• Ann Carr, 70, Farmer
• John Carr, 45, Farmer
• Thomas Carr, 40, Farmer
• Joseph Carr, 25, Farmer
• George Carr 20, Farmer
• Mary Carr, 30

Household 2

• Margaret Allen, 35, Female Servant
• John Ord, 15, Ag Lab
• Thomas Robson, 15, Ag Lab

Dotland (House 9), Folio 7, Page 6

• Robson Ord, 50, Ag Lab
• Elizabeth Ord, 20, Ag Lab

Peth Head House, Folio 9, Page 12

Household 1

• John Carr, 45, Lead Ore Smelter
• Mary Carr, 40
• Mary Carr, 15

Household 2

• John Dinning, 70, Independent

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 10; District 4

Township of High Quarter of Hexhamshire in the Parish of Hexham. Comprising the whole of the township of the High Quarter of Hexhamshire

High Park House, Folio 6, Page 5

Household 1

• Henry Carr, 75, Labourer

Household 2

• John Carr, 40, Labourer
• Elizabeth Carr, 35
• Henry Carr, 9
• Joseph Carr, 8
• George Carr, 7
• Hannah Carr, 6
• Mary Carr, 4
• John Carr, 1

[C—] Green, Folio 6, Page 5

(Probably a place called Greenways)

Household 1

• Jane Carr, 70, Independent

Household 2

• Mary Carr, 55, Independent
• John Carr, 50, Ag Lab
• [Jesse?] Carr, 25, Ag Lab

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 6; District 14

Township of Hexam (part of)

Priestpopple Street, Folio 12, Page 16

• James Carr, 45, Housekeeper

Bow Bridge, Folio 14, Page 20

• Isabella Carr, 50, Glover Servant (not born in county)
• George Carr, 16 (not born in county)

[Skirmen?] Barn, Folio 19, Page 31

• Mary Johnson, 13
• Edward Carr, 50, Labourer
• Mary Carr, 70

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 6; District 15

Township of Hexam (part of)

Hencotes Street, Folio 27, Page 3

• Robert Carr, 20, Painter Servant

Hencotes Street, Folio 30, Page 8

• Elizabeth Carr, 70, Independent
• Isabella Carr, 45
• Ellen Carr, 40
• Marianne Carr, 35
• Rose Carr, 30
• Elizabeth Charlton, 15, Female Servant

Hencotes Street, Folio 30, Page 8

• Susan Reed, 20
• Ann Johnson, 25
• Mary Carr, 25
• Ridley Carr, 7
• Margaret Rice, 4
• Charles Johnson, 2

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 6; District 16

Township of Hexam (part of)

Back Row, Folio 50, Page 6

• John Carr, 25, Innkeeper
• Elizabeth Carr, 20
• Margaret Carr, 2
• George Carr, 6mo

Hall Gate, Folio 55, Page 19

• John Carr, 25, Cartman
• Jane Carr, 20

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 7; District 17

Township of Hexam (part of)

Cattle Market, Folio 5, Page 2

• Elizabeth Carr, 10
• George Carr, 3
• Mary Forster, 30, Female Servant

Fore Street, Folio 5, Page 3

• William Carr, 30, Painter
• Ann Carr, 30
• Jane Carr, 3
• Margaret Carr, 16 mo
• Susanah Carr, 1 week

Back Street, Folio 12, Page 16

• Sophia Carr, 45, Independent (not born in county)
• Sophia Carr, 15 (not born in county)

Class: HO107; Piece: 840; Book 7; District 18

Township of Hexam (part of)

Glover Place, Folio 26, Page 12

• Mary Robson, 40, Female Servant
• John Carr, 25, Gardener’s Servant

Carr Deaths Registered in Hexham, 1837-1881

I extracted all Carr deaths in the district of Hexham between 1837 and 1881 and calculated their probably birth years. Some of these people are likely the siblings of my ancestor George.

I have added comments to those I have ordered.

9 Apr 2026

I’m still working on the open question about the parentage of George Carr of Dotland in Northumberland. I’m trying to bring together all the disparate traces I have found over the months while trying to resist opening up new paths and getting lost in the woods.

I took a closer look at two wills from Carrs associated with dotland. The first is a will written by John Carr of Dotland Park on 17 Dec 1825, proved at York on 2 Sep 1831¹

I John Carr of Dotland Park in the County of Northumberland Husbandman now residing with my two sons George Carr and John Carr on their Farm at Dotland Park aforesaid do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say

First I will and order that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid and discharged by my Executors hereafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease

And I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Dixon Widow the interest of one hundred and sixty pounds sterling during her natural life and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said principal sum of one hundred and sixty pounds to her five children equally to be divided amongst them and in case of the death of any one or more of such children before he she or they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years without lawful issue I give and bequeath the share or shares of him her or them so dying to the survivors or survivor of them equally to be divided amongst such survivors if more than one survivor and in case any of my said daughter Mary Dixon’s children being under the age of twenty one years at the time of her decease the share or shares of him her or them then under such age shall not be payable or paid till he she or they shall have attained the age of twenty one years respectively and till such payment the interest of such share or shares shall be applied by my executors towards the maintenance or bringing up of such child or children under the age of twenty one years till he she or they respectively shall attain that age

Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Thomasin now the wife of Samuel Johnson the like sum of one hundred and sixty pounds to be paid to her at the end of twelve calendar months next after my decease with legal interest for the same from the time of my decease till payment thereof

And as to all the residue of my estate and effects I give and bequeath the same to my said two sons George Carr and John Carr whom I hereby appoint Executors of this my last will and testament

And I hereby revoke all former and other wills at any time heretofore by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five John Carr [seal]

Signed sealed published and declared by the testator John Carr as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our hands as witnesses thereto - Jno. Bell + Thomas Bowman p.

This will mentions:

• George Carr, son, executor, from farm at Dotland Park
• John Carr, son, executor, from farm at Dotland Park
• Mary Dixon, daughter, widow
• Thomasin, daughter, wife of Samuel Johnson
• Jno. Bell, witness
• Thomas Bowman, witness

The second will is for George Carr, also of Dotland Park. This will was written 22 May 1769 and proved 13 Sep 1769 at York²

Carr - George Carr of Dotland Park in the County of Northumberland Farmer being of a sound and disposing mind and memory (praised be God for the same) I do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following

And first I will and order that my Body shall be interred at the discretion of my dearly beloved Wife Mary Carr and that all my just Debts shall be paid and discharged as soon as conveniently may be after my decease And I give and bequeath to my said dearly beloved Wife Mary Carr for and during the term of her natural life in case she shall be or being continue unmarried but not otherwise the Annual or Yearly Sum of Eight pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain free of all deductions to be paid her yearly and every year out of my personal Estate by four equal quarterly payments in every Year the first payment thereof to be made at the end of three Calendar Months next after my decease and to continue to be paid at the end of every succeeding three Calendar Months then after during her life subject to the contingency aforesaid

And it is my will that in case my said Wife Mary Carr shall happen to marry that then the said Annual or Yearly Sum of Eight pounds shall cease and determine and in such case I give and bequeath to her my said Wife Mary Carr the Sum of Forty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain

Also I give and bequeath to my said Wife Mary Carr one feather Bed and all as many Household Goods Bedding Cloathing Bedsteads and Curtains to be chosen by her and as many as will furnish her one Room

Also I give legate and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Wife of Thomas Hinsonn of the Cowgate near Newcastle upon Tyne to my Daughter Sarah Ord of Dalton Widow and to my Daughter Mary Wife of John Forster of Hartington Hale the Sum of fifteen pounds of like lawful Money of Great Britain to be equally divided among them and to be paid them at the end of twelve Calendar Months next after my decease but without any Interest for the same

And as to all the rest and residue of my Goods Chattels and personal Estate whatsoever (after payment of the Annuity and several Legacies given and bequeathed by this my Will and all my Debts and funeral Charges) I give legate and bequeath the same to my two Sons George Carr and John Carr equally to be divided between them and do make and ordain them my said Sons George Carr and John Carr Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all former and other Wills at any time heretofore by me made either by word or writing In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty nine. + George Carr.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said George Carr the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto George Forster. Jn. Bell.

This will mentions:

• Mary Carr, wife
• Elizabeth Hinsonn, daughter, wife of Thomas Hinsonn of Cowgate, Newcastle
• Sarah Ord, daughter, of Dalton, widow
• Mary Forster, daughter, wife of John Forster of Hartington Hale
• George Carr, son, executor
• John Carr, son, executor
• George Forster, witness
• Jn. Bell, witness

I believe the son, John, here is the John Carr who wrote the first will in 1825.

I also came across John Carr’s gravestone at Whitley Chapel near Hexham³, which was the church used by the Carrs of Dotland:

IN MEMORY OF JOHN CARR, of DOTLAND PARK, WHO DIED 9 JULY 1831 AGED 87.

AND OF THOMASIN HIS WIFE WHO DIED 15 JANY 1793, AGED 36

ALSO OF JOHN AND GEORGE THEIR SONS JOHN DIED 20 OCT 1844 AGED 58 GEORGE DIED 20 JUNE 1868 AGED 84

THEY ALL DIED AT DOTLAND PARK

This places John Carr’s birth in 1744, Thomasin’s in 1757, John junior’s in 1786 and George’s in 1784.

I believe Thomasin was Thomasin Davison.

John junior’s death certificate states his age as 60 not 58. He died at Dotland Park and the informant was John Johnson, also of Dotland Park.

I’m sure the sons John and George are those mentioned in the Poll Books and Electoral Registers I found last year.

The gravestone inscription is also is one of several mentioned on page 28 of Volume 4 of the History of Northumberland, in the section on Whitley Chapel:

In memory of Thomasine, wife of John Carr of Dotland park, who died January 15, 1793, aged 37 years. Mary, wife of George Davison of Marley Coatwalls, died April 25, 1795, aged 67 years.

In memory of John Carr of Dotland park, who died 9 July, 1831, aged 87. And of Thomasine, his wife, who died 15 January, 1793, aged 36. Also John and George, their sons. John died 20 Oct., 1844, aged 58. George died 20 June, 1868, aged 84. They all died at Dotland park.

In Memory of John Carr of Dotland, who died January 2, 1789, aged 57 years. Also Mary, his wife, died January 25, 1809, aged 77 years.

The burial place of Thomas and Ann Carr of Dotland. Hannah, their daughter, died May 8, 1829, aged 21.

In memory of George, son of Thomas Carr of Dotland, who died May 26, 1805, aged 5 years. Also Hannah, daughter of Thomas Carr, who died June 15, 1806, aged 2 years.

On page 29:

The stained east window is inscribed: To the glory of God given with £400 in trust for the poor in memory of Samuel and Thomasina Johnson, natives of this chapelry, by their son Thomas, who died at Sea House, Scremerston, Jan. 18, 1894, aged 74 years

This has a footnote:

20th April 1818, Samuel Johnson and Thomasine Carr married. Hexham Register.

On page 37 begins a description of Dotland and Dotland Park:

Lying to the south-west of Newbiggin are two of the most considerable farms in the Quarter, Dotland park and Dotland. The latter, which belongs to Mrs. H. A. Campbell and her two sisters, the Miss Claverings, has a well-built, grey-slated homestead, with a house built more squarely than is usual in the district, and is sheltered on the west by a plantation of ash and sycamore. It stands between the seven and eight hundred feet contour-line, forms a prominent feature in the landscape, and from its elevation commands a view on the north as far as the Cheviot hills. Some of the pasture fields have high curved ridges, due to the old system of ploughing by oxen. In a field to the south-east of the house are traces of extensive foundations marking the site of the ancient hamlet. The present farm has absorbed several smaller farms, including Dotland Fell-house, whose onstead¹ was burnt down some thirty years ago, and the Wagtail, of which only a wall is standing. The land has formerly been more wooded than it is at present.

Both estates are held as of the manor of Anick Grange, and were part of the endowment of Hexham priory from very ancient times, the township of Dotland having been given to the canons by Archbishop Thurstan. The property thus acquired was afterwards largely increased by Archbishop Gray. In 1226 the archbishop gave the priory 90 acres of land above, and 10 acres below Dotland, but reserved all essarts, or land newly brought into cultivation within Dotland. For these grants he received in exchange the forest of Akewood, on the north side of the Tyne. He also gave to the priory a mill on the stream between Dotland and Rowley (? the Ham burn), with moulter from the men of Eskinseles (? Eshells), and from all the men remaining on the archbishop’s essarts. On the same day (August 4th) Archbishop Gray granted to the priory 64 acres of land between Dotland park and the essarts of Tirsterl (? the Steel); and on the 31st August, 1229, he gave the priory 60 acres of land between Dotland and Torneley essarts, to buy the ferm of the mill of Dotland, and also 34 acres of land, for which they were to pay 11s. 4d. a year, or at the rate of 4d. an acre.

On the 9th of April, 1287, Archbishop Romayne granted the priory 35 acres and 1 rood of land in Dotland and 2 acres of waste, at a total rent of 12s. 5d. He also gave them 15 acres 3 roods of waste adjoining the grange of Dotland, in exchange for 15 acres 3 roods of arable land given by preceding archbishops. The priory at the same time received licence to enclose the new property.⁶ The object of Archbishops Gray and Romayne in these transactions seems to have been to encourage cultivation in these remote and waste districts through the agency of the priory. The scheme appears to have been successful, and at the dissolution, six tenants are recorded as holding land at Dotland, paying a total rent of 66s. 8d

Dotland park occupied a peculiar position in respect to the priory. It seems to have been formed about 1355, when Archbishop Thoresby granted a licence to the prior and convent to enclose their wood called Dotland park with a higher wall, and make it into a park. In 1547 the park was in the possession of the heirs of Sir Reginald Carnaby. It was probably a hunting lodge of the prior and canons of Hexham.² The present farm buildings contain some remains of the older establishment. The most interesting are three windows of fifteenth-century work, all of them blocked up apparently long since. Two of these windows are to be seen on the outside and one is to be seen only from the inside of the house. One of the former, a single light, is square-headed, with shields in the angles at the top bearing the saltire of Hexham priory; the other is a small pointed light. In the spandrels of the window of two lights, seen from the inside, is the monogram of Prior Smithson as it appears on the rood screen in the priory church. The present tenants state that when a garden was recently formed at the back of the house large quantities of bones were dug up, but it is not known whether they were human or animal.

At the death of Sir John Forster in 1602, Dotland house and park descended to his grandson, Sir John Fenwick. William Rowland, Henry Johnson of Hamburn-hall, James Dodd, John Sanderson, gentleman, and William Thirlwall, answered for Dotland, at the Manor Court in 1659; whilst four years later the owners were:

Dotland park, Mrs. Mary Fenwick, £13 6s. 8d.

Dotland town, Mr. William Rowland

Dotland town head and foot, Isabel Rowland, Mr. William Sanderson of Healey

The Hill, James Dodd and Barbara Fairbridge, William Thirlwall of Dotland

Dotland, etc., Thomas Humble at ye Hill, Albany Wade, Mr. Thomas Swinburn , Francis Errington ye town foot, Ann Thirlwall

A numerous and well-to-do family called Rowland were for many years owners, but there is not sufficient material to construct a pedigree. Thomas Rowland of Dotland married at Hexham, 30th March, 1626, Margaret Baxter of Greenridge. William Rowland, postmaster of Hexham, married Eleanor, daughter of John Taylor, and making his will on the 28th November, 1666, devised to his son John (baptised 16th February, 1657/8) two farms in Dotland, and another farm at the same place to his son Thomas. The Rowlands continued to hold their lands until the beginning of last century, for John Ord of Newcastle, making his will on the 30th March, 1726, devised, inter alia, to his son James, ‘my lands in Dotland, the Hill, Fogget, Smelting Sike, Wagtail, and Fenhouse, all in the parish of Hexham, lately purchased of John Rowland, senior and junior, and William Dodd.‘² The present owners of Dotland are Mrs. H. A. Campbell and her two sisters, the Miss Claverings.

A footnote refers to the will of George Carr we have already seen:

Dotland park was long tenanted by an offshoot of the Carrs of Slaley: George Carr of Dotland park, farmer, made his will 22nd May, 1769, and was buried at Slaley on the 9th August following; besides three daughters, Sarah Ord of Dalton, Mary, wife of John Forster at Hartington-hall, and Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Kirsop of the Cowgate, near Newcastle, he left two sons, George Carr and John Carr, both of Dotland park; the latter died at the age of 87, on the 12th July, 1831.