By 1851 the population of Wolsingham Parish was 4,586, of these 265 were Irish . The vast majority of the Irishin the parish lived in Tow Law. Tow Law itself had a population of almost 2,000. Counties of origin of few of the Irish were recorded; but they cover a wide area.
The 1851 census records 1 person from Co. Antrim, 3 people from Co. Armagh 2 Down, 2 Dublin, 11 Fermanagh, 2 Galway, 5 Louth, 3 from Co. Monaghan, 4 Sligo, 1 Gerrvagh Parish, on the Co Sligo – Co. Roscommon border, and 2 from Carrick – Carrickmacross, Monaghan, or Carrickfergus, Down? There was just one person from Tyrone identified on in 1851, but the marriage records reveal there was a substantial Tyrone presence.
St Thomas of Canterbury’s Catholic Church opened at Wolsingham in 1849.
Wolsingham is about 5 miles from Tow Law. As was the custom, the marriage register of the church gives some information on the fathers of both bride and groom. As this information was interesting, though not a priority for me I only noted details of the parents’ residence. On my next trip to the records office I will record fuller details
1852 Marriages
Bernard Callan (late of Omagh?*) married Bridget Donovan late of Yougal Co Cork?**. The couple, prior to their marriage, seem to appear on the 1851 census at 31 Mechanic’s Cottages Tow Law (Bridget’s surname is recorded as Danovan). Bridget was a dressmaker, she died in 1875. By 1861 Bernard was a grocer at Front St Tow Law and Bridget was a dressmaker. Perhaps their business failed, because the 1871 census shows Bernard as a coal miner, Bridget was still a dressmaker. Bridget died in 1875 and Bernard still a coal miner in 1881, when he had his daughter and grandchild living with him. Bernard died in 1883 aged 63. In 1851 the Callans were lodgers with with John MacCue, keeper at Iron furnace; John had a very responsible job, the keeper was in charge of the iron making process, and used his judgement to decided when the furnace was ready to be tapped. The census shows that John and his Irish wife, Catherine had two Glasgow born children aged 7 and 5, they had been in Tow Law since at least when their daughter Mary Anne was born.
*There were very few Callans in Co Tyrone, and none in Omagh (Cappagh Parish), so I think I have misread the difficult script in the register [re-check] There were many Callans in Co.s Louth and Monaghan, and very few in Co Tyrone. All the Bernard Callans listed in GVI were in Co Monaghan, in Magheracloon and Maghercross Parishes.
**The vast majority of the Donovans listed in GVI were in Co. Cork, and there were Donovans in Yougal Parish
Francis Canning, late of Bally….* Ireland, married Agnes Wheatley of Wolsingham. Francis is likely the Francis Cenning (26) who appears on the 1851 census at 14 Mechanic’s Cottages, a boot and shoe maker, in the household of Anne Marrin a labourer’s wife. The couple do not appear on any of the censuses after marriage, perhaps they emigrated.
Michael Quinn, son of Patrick and Bridget Quinn of Donoughm…** Ireland married Margaret Liddle of Howden, Northumberland. A Michael Quinn was a sponsor at the baptism of my gt.gt.gt. uncle Francis at St Thomas’s in September 1850. I assume the sponsor, the groom and the Michael Quinn on the 1851 census at Dan’s castle Tow Law were one and the same. The census shows Michael (25) to be a blast furnace labourer. He was a lodger in the home of John Morrow (80) a former wood sawyer, also in the household were James and Thomas Lockern – likely Loughran, a common name in Kildress Parish. Michael and Margaret do not seem to appear on the 1861, or subsequent censuses. it could be that this man was the Michael Quin whose death was reported in Weardale in 1858, or perhaps they emigrated .
John Corrigan married Catherine Corrigan. John’s parents came from Milltown Ireland. There are Milltowns in Kerry, Dublin and two on both Armagh and Antrim. Catherine’s parents lived in Tow Law at the time of the wedding. Neither the married couple, nor Catherine’s parents appear on the 1861 nor the 1871 census returns, so it’s possible the families had emigrated.
John McKenna, with parents from …Hamilton married Catherine Gaffy, whose parents seen to have come from Clare, Ireland. As with many of the marriages in 1852 the residence of the parents is difficult to read. A couple of this name with several children appear on the 1871 census at Blackhill, a check on the mother’s maiden surname will reveal whether they were the couple who wed at St Thomas’.
* Ballymyre Co Armagh? GVI shows many Cannings in Ballymyre, all in Aghincurk Townland.
**There were many Patrick Quinns in Donaghmore Parish and one in Dunamore, Kildress Parish
Patrick Brett, whose parents were from Clonly ? married Catherine Fallon whose parent came from the town of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. The 1851 census shows Patrick and Thomas, two furnace workers from Galway, at Tow Law who were, I assume, Catherine’s brothers. The family appear on the 1861 census at Seldom Seen, near Byers Green, the information shows that Patrick was a coal miner, and their children had been born at Tow Law, Crook and Byers Green. Ten years later they were at Bowden Close near Crook, the birth places of their children reveal that they had lived at Bowden Close, to the north east of Willington, then at Quarry Burn, south of Willington before returning to Bowden Close. In 1881 the family were at Hedley Hope, between Tow Law and Esh Winning.
Another wedding in 1852 at St Thomas’ was that of Lawrence Carl, whose parents came from Co Louth, to Mary McCullagh*, parents Tow Law. Lawrence’ surname is recorded as Carl on the civil index of marriages, but he was, in fact, a Carroll. Mary McCullagh appears on the 1851 census at Tow Law with her parents; their name was recorded as McUlla, Patrick, her father was a coal miner. Lodging with the McUlla’s were the Parks family, William Parks, son of John and Margaret (Johnson) of Louth Parish in Co. Louth, married Susan Grimes, daughter of Thomas Grimes and Hannah McGurk of Kildress at 1848 at Brooms, Leadgate Co Durham . There is a strong likelihood that the family were relatives of either William from Louth, or Susan from Tyrone. Lawrence and Mary Carroll do not appear on the 1861 census, under any variation of their surname. However later census returns indicate they were in the Tow law area in the 1860’s. In 1871 Lawrence and Mary were at the Brick Flats Cornsay, where Thomas was a brick maker. Ten years later they were at Hedley Hope, with a lodger, Patrick McUlla (16) born Tow Law, presumably a nephew of Mary’s.
At the time of the 1851 census William and Margaret Parks, and their two children were lodgers with Patrick and Margaret McUllah [sic] at Tow Law Huts, Tow Law. Census and church records show several of the Consett Irish spent some time in Tow Law, where coal and iron were the main industries, just as in Consett.
*GVI shows many McCulla/McCullaghs in Co Tyrone, with a concentration of McCullaghs in Bodoney Lower Parish, where, in the mid 1800’s it was by far the most common surname. The name also occurs in Kildress Parish, notably in Beleevna Beg townland, near Kildress, the name also occurs, though less frequently in Co Louth.
As described in ‘Weardale, Clearing the Forest” ’housing the new labour [for the pits and iron works of Tow Law] was a pressing problem, often resulting in temporary accommodation of sods and wooden roofs covering hovels of one room and a toilet. Their occupants were described as rude, uncouth drinkers and gamblers thriving on whisky and cards. Many of them were Irish’**. While this description of the inhabitants of the huts follows the easy option of the stereotype, it gives some insight into conditions of life in Tow Law in those years. Onother description of the Tow Law Huts is given by Newrick Grant ** ‘There existed also at Tow Law an old street of huts now demolished, on the site where the aged miners homes now stand. They were crudely built of stones, mud and sods and the foundations rested on peat. There was a trench cut through the kitchen floor and the people were so poor that the children used each side of the trench for a seat and their feet used to dangle over’.
Garrett McManus and Anne Boyle were married in 1852; both their parents came from Co Louth. Neither bride nor groom appears on the 1851 census in Tow Law, though Anne may have been one of the Co Louth Boyles who were in Sunderland (the town seems to have been something of a magnet for Louth people) Garrett (48) and Anne (38) appear on the 1871 census at 13 North Bridgegate, Bishop Auckland where they kept a lodging house. The birth place of their children shows they had been in Bishop Auckland for at least eight years.
James Gorman married Susannah Nolan. The name Gorman is found throughout Ireland, though seems to have been less common in the northern counties Susan’s parents came from Co Cavan James’ parents were in Tow Law at the time of the marriage, but are not shown on the 1851 census, nor subsequent censuses. Nor do the bride and groom appear on a census either before or after their wedding, so perhaps both families emigrated.
John McGuire’s parents came from Co Fermanagh, and Catherine O’Garra’s from Co Westmeath. After their marriage in 1852 the couple appear on the 1861 census at Tow Law, they had two children. The census shows John (40) was a blast furnace labourer, Catherine was 46.
1853 marriages
Robert Cargan, parents from Co Sligo, married Mary Laughlin whose parents lived in Weardale. The 1861 census shows Robert and Mary at Upper Town, Wolsingham. Their surname is recorded as Carigan. Robert (27) was a labourer at the iron works, Mary (24) and her parents were born in Scotland. James, Mary’s father was a hawker. By 1871 Robert Carrighan was a cinder drawer, and the family, which included four children their own home at Hound Hill, Wolsingham. Mary unexpectedly appears on the 1881 census at 17 Finkle St Bishop Auckland. She was an annuitant-i.e. some in possession of an annual allowance. The census said Mary was married, but Robert and the children are not in the household. The household was composed of four women who were all annuitants. Robert Corrigan(49) was a lodger at North St Tow Law, he was a cinder drawer. Some of Robert and Mary’s children were with their aunt and uncle William and Ellen (Laughlin) Shildrick. The Shildricks lived in Jackson’s Land Wolsingham, William was a brewery labourer and came from Great Swaffham in Cambridgeshire.
Richard Clinton, the son of John and Ann Clinton of Co Monaghan, married Mary Duffy, whose parents also came from Monaghan. Richard appears on the 1851 census as a lodger in the household John Forester, a Newcastle born furnace keeper. Richard (22) and his fellow lodger Bryan Matthews (24) were labourers in the iron works, the third of the Irish lodgers Thomas O’Brien (20) was a coal miner.
James McCormick, whose parents came from Co. Monaghan, married Elizabeth Cranny, whose parents lived in Co Down. In 1851 James was lodging with the Clifford family at Tow Law Hutts another lodger was the 76 year old Mary McCormick, presumably James’ mother. Next door to the McCormicks were Mary McCullagh-Carroll and her parents. Elizabeth Cranny, James McCormick’s bride was from Co Down. I have not found the couple on a census after their marriage.
John Martin of Co Cavan married Mary Cunningham; Mary’s parents were at Nenthead, Weardale at the time of their wedding. John (29) and Mary (29) were at 1 Cleveland St Darlington in the Albert Hill area of the town where there were 4 large iron making concerns. John was a furnace keeper, their 6 year old son Philip was said to have been born in Darlington, but the census of 1871 (which lists John’s occupation as furnace labourer) shows he was born at Tow Law, this is confirmed by the online index of births.
Michael Meegan lived in Crook in 1853, at the time of his marriage to Margaret McCullagh, but in 1851 he was in Tow Law. He appears as a lodger in the household of Francis and Mary Kearney on Corbridge Rd. Michael (18) was like Francis an iron works labourer, John Queen (21) the other lodger was a coal miner. Margaret may have been a member of the McCullagh family of Tow Law Hutts, but she does not appear on the census returns. It is likely that the Meehan family of Cabe Row, Crook and Billy Row (1861 census) were Michael (32), Margaret (25) and their children. Michael was a cinder drawer. A check in the baptism register of Our Lady and At Cuthbert (Crook) should reveal Margaret’s maiden surname. The family do not seem to appear on the 1871 census, but ten years later they were at Commercial St in the middle of Crook. The census confirms Michael Meegan (53) was from Monaghan, but gives no county of origin for Margaret (45). The presence in the household of Mary Saville (23), Michael and Margaret’s daughter, 3 at the time of the 1861 census is further evidence that this was right family.
The final wedding in 1853 was that of Thomas McDonnell, whose parents came from Co. Sligo, to Elizabeth Duff, formerly of Dublin. An Edward Duff (35) an iron works labourer from Dublin was lodging with Robert Stockley, a Wolsingham born stone mason, at Tow Law, Bryan Conley another iron work labourer from Co Monaghan was Edward’s fellow lodger. Thomas and Elizabeth do not appear on any census.
1854 weddings
Patrick McElhatton, , the son of Patrick and Isabella McElhattton of Co. Tyrone, married Bridget Carle, whose parents, William and Catherine came from Co Louth. The groom could have been the Patrick M’Lhatton (20) [Transcribed McChatton by A. Com] coal miner, living with his parents Patrick (60) also a coal miner, and Elizabeth [? Check Tow Law register] (60) at Leadgate. The witness to the wedding was Bridget McElhatton. There were no Bridget Carls or Carrolls in North West Durham; in 1851 though there was such a girl in Sunderland. The 1881 census shows a Patrick McElhatton (46) coal miner with wife Bridget (46) and father Patrick (93), a widower, at 28 Central St Hemlinton Row, nr Crook. They were at the same address in 1891, Patrick senior was gone, presumably dead, and Patrick and Bridget had aged quickly (64 & 63)!
Michael McDermott, whose parents came from Co. Monaghan, married Mary Connolly, parents, Tow Law. I assume Michael was the 22 year old miner, lodging at Black Prince Cottages at the northern end of Tow Law. His hosts were Patrick (35) and Margaret (40) Crawford, the ages of their children indicates they had left Ireland between 1841 and 1845. Patrick junior (10) was a coal miner (driver). Their son Edward was born in Leadgate C1845. James McCabe, coke worker, and John McGuire, coal miner were the two other Irish lodgers in the household.
Patrick Campbell, parents Co Derry, married Mary McCay? [the entry is hard to read, re check]. Mary’s parents came from Co Armagh. The 1861 census shows a different Patrick Campbell at Front St Tow Law. Patrick and his bride do seem to appear on a census before or after their marriage.
John Hogan, parents Co. Tipperary, married Elizabeth M’Howard? [re check] parents Whitehaven Cumbria.
A school inspector who visited Tow Law in 1853 commented on the low number of children in school, and went on to explain that boys under 13 were earning seven shillings and six pence, to fifteen shillings a week at the pit. These high rates of remunerations” said the Inspector “are attended with very serious evils: they are in fact, the one great hindrance to the elementary education for the children of the working classes. Employment is so plentiful and wages so high, that the education of a child is set aside for the weekly return of his labour.”
Charles Attwood’s Ironworks, ‘The Weardale Iron and Coal Company’, with its associated pits and coke works opened blast furnace at Stanhope in 1845, moving to Tow Law the following year. This coincided with the beginning of the great Irish famine which began to bite in the second half of 1845. Tow Law was clearly a draw to hungry and workless people from across the Ireland. However the Irish workers who flocked to Tow Law also included some skilled workers such as John MacCue of Mechanics Cottages in 1851. John was the keeper of an Iron furnace, a very responsible job; the keeper was in charge of the iron making process, and used his judgement to decide when the furnace was ready to be tapped. The census shows that John and his Irish wife, Catherine had two Glasgow born children aged 7 and 5, they had been in Tow Law since around 1847-8 at least when their daughter Mary Anne was born. It's very likely that John learned how to run a furnace in the iron works of the Glasgow area.
In 1861 the population of Wolsingham Parish was 5,532 with 298 Irish inhabitants.
