Was her LNAB Stockdale or Stockton

Question

In trying to add sources to Margaret, I am hitting a bit of a brick wall.

First we can be sure Margaret's LNAB was not McLaren as listed. A Margaret MacLaren did marry a James Nicholson in Otley, Yorkshire in 1852. Margaret was with husband James Nicolson in 1851 living in Hartlepool, Durham & in 1861 living in Guisborough, Yorkshire. She is recorded as being born in Colburn, Yorkshire around 1815. All the children included in 1851 & 1861 confirm mother's maiden name listed as Stockdale. Margaret's death may well be recorded in Hartlepool, Durham,1868 having a birth year around 1813.

James Nicolson is said to have married Margaret Stockton in 1835 Catterick, Yorkshire. Colburn is a hamlet within Catterick Parish, which is in turn adjacent to Easby Parishthe Catterick/Easby/Richmond are. I have not traced any marriage of a Margaret Stockdale & James Nicolson 1833 -1844. Mary Jane Nicolson in the 1851 has a birth place of Bishop Auckland in 1844.  Was she first born?  If the marriage of 1835 correct then probably not. Two possible baptisms are noted, Jane, 1836, Richmond Yorkshire & John 1837 Heworth, Durham to James Nicolson & Margaret.

I cannot trace a birth of Margaret Stockton between 1810 -1820 in the Catterick/Easby/Richmond area, only that of a Margaret Stockdale born 16 July 1810, Easby near Richmond, Yorkshire the daughter of Margaret Stockdale. This birth year though gives some concern.

Could the marriage of Margaret Stockton in 1835 be a transcription error?

So should Margaret McLaren really be Margaret Stockdale, born 16 July 1810?

Thoughts please

Answer 1

The Margaret that married James Nicholson in 1835 was definitely Margaret Stockton. She signed her own name, as did a John Stockton (witness). I could not, however, find any alternative marriage sources.

As you say all the children that you know they had have a mother's maiden name listed as "Stockdale". Is it possible that Margaret was married in a place without digitised or missing records? I agree that her LNAB should be changed to Stockdale regardless.

Comments

Interesting, thank you David. I take it there is no further information in the marriage entry that could identify father of bride or groom?

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Unfortunately not. It did say that the marriage was conducted with parental consent though so I should imagine that at least one of them was under age.

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This is becoming more intriguing from this 1841 Census listing I have just traced:

A James Nicholson (age 35), stone mason, was living with wife Margret (age 25) & son James (age 1) in Bishop Auckland, Durham. Additionally a Mary Stockton (age 12). Only son James is noted to have been born in County Durham. A GRO search for James Nicholson has a listing in Auckland, Durham (1839), mother's maiden name listed as Stockton.

Save for son James, this looks very much the family of the  1835 marriage!  

Looks like James died in 1841, also age 2.

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I would definitely agree. Ages on the 1841 were rounded but this census suggests she was under 21 in 1835 and thus would need parental permission to marry.

Your Margaret is Margaret Stockdale and this Margaret Stockton is 'unrelated'.

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Trouble is, David there are too many similarities with this 1841 family Census & those of both 1851 /1861, to dismiss that Margaret Stockdale & Margaret Stockton are not one & the same. May not be Margaret Stockdale of 1810.