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.