George Newton died 28 Jan 1836

[Penna_tmn]

George Newton died in a pit explosion at the Eppleton Colliery,Durham on 28 Jan 1836 and reports of the event stated his age as 39.

Having searched on the IGI for George Newtons born in Durham county between 1796 and 1798 I find only four. One is at Hart,one at Auckland St Andrew,one at Aycliffe and the other at Cockfield.

All of them seem quite a distance from Houghton le Spring where he married Ann Watson in 1823.

I have been attempting to trace the occupations of the four fathers in the hope that would provide clue as George was reported by his son (on the son's marriage record) to be a blacksmith.

Now I wonder if he might not have been a blacksmith at all if he was working down a mine. Could a blacksmith be employed in any capacity to do with the winding gear?

Can anyone help me to solve this puzzle?

Penna

[Olde Crone Holden]

Many collieries had their own blacksmith - to mend machinery and shoe the horses.

So I wouldn't rule him out on those grounds alone...

OC

[Penna_tmn]

Of course. For some reason I had forgotten that in those days they used ponies down the mines!.

In the Downs Pit,where the explosion occurred, the men still used candles for lighting rather than the recently introduced Davey Lamps as they felt that candles gave a brighter light. It is hardly imaginable today.

So I'll try to search for he parents of all four Georges and then trace the parish registers if I can. That way I might find the occupations of the fathers.

Penna.

[KiteRunner]

Sorry if this puts a spanner in the works, but how do you know he was born in County Durham?

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Sorry if this puts a spanner in the works, but how do you know he was born in County Durham?

And even if he was born in the county, what if he came from somewhere that's not on the IGI?

[Penna_tmn]

Thanks to both of you. I am assuming that he came from Co Durham because until his son emigrated in abt 1869 the Newton clan all stayed within the Durham pits area and worked underground in some way.

I realise that there are records NOT on the IGI and have attempted to find earlier parish records. Unfortunately the earliest parish records for the churches where they lived are not available on CD,fiche or online as far as can find out.

They are at the Records Office in Newcastle but I live in Sussex.

Maybe someone on this forum knows of a record publisher for the area? I have just joined the NDFHS.

Penna

[Merry Monty Montgomery]

Could you get to an LDS Family History Centre? These are the Sussex ones

Crawley England
Old Horsham Road
Crawley, West Sussex, England
Phone: 44 (0) 129-351 6151
Hours: T-Th 10am-12:30pm, 1:30pm-4pm; Th 7pm-9pm; 1st & 3rd Sat 10am-12:30pm

Hastings England
2 Ledsham Avenue
St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, England
Phone: 44 (0) 142-475 4563
Hours: M, T, W, F 10am-12pm; T 7pm-9pm; Th 3.30pm-5.30pm, 7.30pm-9pm

Worthing England
Goring Street
Worthing, West Sussex, England
Phone: 44 (0) 190-324 1829
Hours: M, W, F 10.30am-12.30pm; 1st W 7pm-9pm