10 Jun 2021

While tidying up some references to parish records for the Todds around 1810-1820 I confirmed that Moses Todd, who had been baptised in Bishopwearmouth in 1811, was buried in Wallsend in 1815. Since Jane was baptised in Monkwearmouth in 1814 and Elizabeth also in Monkwearmouth in 1816 it seemed odd that their brother was buried in Wallsend.

I searched the newspapers and found this advertisment in the Durham County Advertiser of Saturday 07 October 1815:

HORSES, WAGGONS & CARTS FOR SALE. THOMAS TODD and JOHN MORDUE, Sunderland and Newcastle Carriers, intending to decline the carrying business, are ready to treat with any person for their stock of horses, waggons, carts, &c.

Further particulars may be learnt on application to Thomas Todd, North Shore, Sunderland or to John Mordue, Burleigh street – Sunderland, October 5, 1815.¹

This would explain why, by the time of Elizabeth’s baptism in 1816, Thomas’ occupation had changed from Carrier to Innkeeper.

I don’t know who John Mordue. Maybe he is Thomas’s wife Margery Mordue’s father or brother

In the Durham County Advertiser - Saturday 17 February 1816

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Partnership lately carried on by us, Thomas Todd and John Mordue, as common carriers between Sunderland and Newcastle under the firm of “Todd and Mordue” was dissolved on the sixth day of January last. As witness our hands this 14th day of February, 1816.

THOS. TODD

JOHN MORDUE

Signed by both parties, in the presence of ROBERT SMART, Solicitor, Sunderland.

Sunderland, Feb 14, 1816²

A few years later there is a mention of a Thomas Todd distributing beef to the poor which could be consistent with his becoming an innkeeper.

From the Durham County Advertiser - Saturday 11 January 1817:

On Christmas Day, Thomas Todd, Esq. gave a quantity of beef to the poor families in Lanchester.

Lanchester is about 20 miles west of Sunderland.

There is a burial of a Thomas Todd in Lanchester in 1827 age 84, abode Sunniside (birth ~1743)³