Genealogy Chat

Don't know what this lot are up to but they're doing my head in!

Just what the heck are these people up to??? 1851 census, Durham – Iveston. HO107/2389 John Avery, Head, Mar, 57, General Dealer, Durham, Lanchester Mary Avery, Wife, Mar, 56, Licensed Hawker, Northumberland, Newburn Martha Stirrup, Lodger, Un, 40, Lancashire, Burntwood M Avery Stirrup, dau, Un, 16, Bonnet Maker, Kent, Strewd Ellen A Stirrup, dau, 14, Scholar, Leicestershire, Melton Mowbray Jane A Stirrup, dau, 8, Scholar, Durham, Kelloe John A Stirrup, son, 11, Scholar, Durham, Kelloe William A Stirrup, son, 6, Scholar, Durham, Tanfield 1861 census, Durham – Medomsley, RG9/3735 Martha Stirrup, Head, Mar, 46, Linkishire (Lancashire?) Jane Stirrup, Dau, Un, 18, Durham William Stirrup, Son, Un, 15, Labor in Tin Mill, Durham John Avery, Lodger, Mar, 68, General Laborer, Durham By 1871 Jane A Stirrup was married to John Embleton with children of their own. On their wedding certificate the A becomes Avery and her father is listed as John Avery Stirrup. On every census from 1871 to 1901 she lists her place of birth as Yorkshire, often Borroughbridge, I’ve trolled every site I can find on Yorkshire and have never found her or her family until I found her in Durham in the 1851. The ages are about right, the names, Avery and Stirrup, are right (but why two families and not one?)… do you think I’ve got the right people? And what do you make of the names? Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks, Brenda

Blinking relatives! I've found some of mine staying with people to whom they are related, where the relationship is given as 'lodger' or 'boarder' which is no help at all. Interesting that the householder seems to have swapped between 1851 and 1861, unless one of the census' was a mistake. I think you will have to find out more about how the Averys are connected to the Stirrups (thank goodness the names aren't Smith & Jones, lol!) nell

It's possible that Martha is Mary's daughter before she married Mr Avery and all Martha's children are illegitimate. Or Martha is married in 1851 and Mr Stirrup is a hawker - hence away on census night. Either way, I'd be looking on marriage indexes/IGI for an Avery/Stirrup marriage.

I think I'd be inclined to get William's birth cert and see what his mother's maiden name was. nell

I also think Strewd is probably meant to be Strood in Kent. It's also a registration district: Strood Created 26th December 1884 (renaming of North Aylesford district). Sub-districts : Northfleet; Strood. GRO volumes : 2a (1884-1930). Chalk, Cliffe at Hoo, Cobham, Cuxton, Denton, Frindsbury, Halling, Higham, Ifield, Luddesdown, Meopham, Northfleet, Nursted, Shorne, Strood. Registers now divided between Gravesend and Medway districts. nell

No Martha Stirrup birth in North Aylesford, BUT Name: Avery, John Record Type: Births Quarter: March Year: 1847 District: North Aylesford County: Kent Volume: 5 Page: _6 nell

Yup, I think a marriage or a birth certificate is the way to go. Had a quick look at Freebmd and Durham County Council sites, didn't come up with anything but there are more options yet. Nell - Thanks so much for the extra information, you always go way beyond and it's appreciated. Thanks all, Brenda

From the IGI: MARY AVERY STIRRUP Female Event(s): Christening: 25 OCT 1835 Strood Near Rochester, Kent, England Parents: Mother: MARTHA STIRRUP nell

I can't work out how John Avery is related to the Avery Stirrup lot though. Martha A S appears to be the illegitimate child of Martha Stirrup and I would suspect that Avery is some kind of clue to her father's name. Could John Avery be the father of all these children, and his wife Mary put up with them because she had no children of her own? Martha Stirrup seems to have had several children and no way of supporting them, which is why she is lodging with the Averys. But I don't know why she was in Kent for Martha A S birth and then moved up north. Or maybe she is John's sister, and married a Mr Stirrup who died, or who she left/left her before she gave birth to her daughter? No, it doesn't sound likely to me either!!! nell

Martha and mary are sisters??

Some families, like my Mothers, used to give the mothers maiden name as a middle name. Hence Margaret Edgecombe Pithers. Her mother was Gladys Edgecombe. I think therefore it is quite possible Martha was previously an Avery. That's my twopenneth, anyway, All the best, Rob

Also from IGI John Avery Male Event(s): Birth: Christening: 27 OCT 1793 Lanchester, Durham, England Parents: Father: John Avery Family Mother: Jane Saunders or Sanderson nell

Quite a mystery Nell et all! Maybe Martha is Johns sister, they were both Avery’s… Martha married a John Stirrup and gave all their children Avery as a middle name as Rob suggests, I’ve seen this before too. Oh, wait, on Jane’s wedding certificate she lists her fathers name as John Avery Stirrup!!, so where did he get his Avery from? Oh well, something to think about on the journey home from work. Last time I had something this juicy to mull over I drove right past my exit on the freeway and it took me an extra 20 minutes to get home!! Brenda

dont know if its any use to you, but I bet its lincolnshire not lancashire.

Shirley, do you think the “Linkishire” is Lincolnshire? I hadn’t thought of that, although in the 1851 it’s quite clearly Lancashire, of course, that could only be what the enumerator thought he heard. The only Burntwood (as a place name) that I can find is in Staffordshire! Going round in circles! Brenda

There's a Burtonwood in Lancashire, but no Avery or Stirrup births on IGI there. nell

However, MARTHA STIRRUP Female Event(s): Christening: 28 NOV 1813 Burtonwood, Lancashire, England Parents: Father: WILLIAM STIRRUP Mother: ALICE nell

Nell, go to bed! Lol! Brenda

WOW! Do you want to do the rest of my tree??????? I'm leaving work now, will be pounding the IGI when I get home! Thanks for everything! Brenda