27 May 2021

Another group of certificates arrived today, a mixed bag though.

First, the second marriage of Thomas Porteus and Jane Peak. On 19 May I discovered that Thomas and Jane married in 1862 and 1863. Today’s certificate is from 1863:

Marriage by banns at the Parish Church, Jarrow on 24 January 1863 of Thomas Porteus, age 46, widower, a Picker of West Harton to Jane Peak, age 49, widow also of West Harton. His father was William Porteus, a labourer. Her father was Thomas Todd, a brewer. Thomas could sign his name, Jane could not. The witnesses were C. Boardman and Isa[?] Screw[?].

West Harton is in South Shields, about two and half miles south of the ferry over the Tyne at Market Place and Bull Ring. It’s worth comparing this to their marriage of 1862:

Marriage by banns at the Church, Wallsend on 2 June 1862 of Thomas Porteus, age 45, widower, an enginewright of this parish to Jane Peak, age 48, widow also of this parish. His father was William Porteus, an engineman. Her father was Thomas Todd, a maltster. Thomas could sign his name, Jane could not. The witnesses were Joseph Mordue and John L Charlton.

These are undoubtedly the same people. I wonder if there is a record of their marriage being anulled or ruled unlawful.

The next certificate was the death of a James Peak in 1847:

Death at Castle Stairs, St. Nicholas, Newcastle on Tyne on 25th November 1847 of James Peak, male, age 29 years, a labourer. Cause of death was Fever 3 weeks, certified. The informant was Hannah Lowes, present at death of Castle Stairs, St. Nicholas. She could not sign her name. Registered 26th November 1847.

I don’t know who this James Peak was. He would have been born in 1818, so perhaps he is the brother of John Peak. I need to find him in the 1841 census. He would be 23.

The next was the death of Thomas Todd. I was hoping this was Jane Harrison Todd’s father but I was expecting his profession to be a maltster, brewer or innkeeper:

Death at Sunderland Union Workhouse on 30th June 1853 of Thomas Todd, male, age 73 years, a tailor. Cause of death was Old Age, Diarrhaea, certified. The informant was John Lawson, present at the death of Sunderland Union Workhouse, Bishopwearmouth. Registered 30th June 1853.

Next was a confirmed relative, the niece of Jane Harrison Todd:

Birth at Monkwearmouth Shore on 3 June 1839 of Margery Todd, daughter of Aaron Cooms and Elizabeth Cooms, formerly Todd. He was a mariner. The informant was E. Cooms, mother of Waverly Street, Monkwearmouth Shore . Registered 4th July 1839.

My ancestor John Peak was living with Elizabeth and Margery in the 1841 census.

The last certificate was the death of Margery Todd. I think I ordered it believing it could be Jane Harrison Todd’s mother Margery Mordue but this person is much too young:

Death at The Infirmary, Sunderland on 19 February 1869 of Margery Todd, female, age 24 years, a domestic servant. Cause of death was Phthisis Pulmonalis, certified. The informant was Elizabeth Holmes, present at the death, of 57 Bonners Field, Sunderland. She could not sign her name. Registered on 22 February 1869.