Transcripts:
1841 Census, Chester le Street District
Family Number: 12259.4
Plawsworth, Plawsworth Village
Thomas Nixon, 60, Agricultural Labourer
Mary Nixon, 45
Ruth Nixon, 20
Martha Nixon, 11
Ellen Nixon, 9
July 24, 1848 Parish Record of Marriage – Eleanor Nixon and Thomas Charlton
He, Thomas Charlton, is listed as a 36 year old Bachelor, a coal miner from Waldridge, father John was a farmer. She, Eleanor Nixon, is listed as a 23 year old Spinster from Plawsworth, father Thomas was also a farmer. Eleanor was actually 26 at the time. The error is understandable given everything that was going on that day. They were married on a Thursday in the presence of the Parish clerk and perhaps a relative of the clerk. She was very, very pregnant. In fact, she gave birth that day to twin girls, Mary and Dorothy. These however were not her first children. She already had two boys, Thomas (when she was 16) and my great grandfather William when she was 23). If the boys had been present at the marriage, and with her going into labour, this would have no doubt been a hectic day at the chapel.
Source: Parish Record, St. Mary’s & St. Cuthbert’s Parish, Chester le Street, Durham County, UK.
1851 Census, Chester le Street District
Family Number: 15778.5
Plawsworth 1851 Census, Plawsworth Village
Thomas Nixon, Head, married, 71, Agricultural Labourer, born Arkengarthdale, Yorkshire
Mary Nixon, Wife, married, 60, born Crawcrook, Durham
Thomas Nixon, Son, 25, born Plawsworth, Durham
Eleanor Nixon, Daughter, 19, Agricultural Labourer, born Plawsworth, Durham
Thomas Nixon, Grandson, 2, born Plawsworth, Durham
Source: Durham Records Online
1858 Marriage Certificate
Registration District: Chester le Street
1858 Marriage solemized at The Parish Church in the Parish of Chester le Street in the County of Durham.
When Married: 24th June 1858
Thomas Charlton Age: 36 years, Condition: Bachelor, Rank or profession: Collier, Residence at time of marriage: Waldridge, Father’s Name: John Charlton, Rank or profession of father: Husbandman.
Eleanor Nixon Age: 23 years, Condition: Spinster, Rank or profession: –blank–, Residence at time of marriage: Plawsworth, Father’s Name: Thomas Nixon, Rank or profession of father: Husbandman.
Married in the Parish Church after banns by me, JP DeKeop, Curate.
This marriage was slomized between us, Thomas Charlton, Eleanor Nixon (her x mark) in the presence of us, Joseph Hall Burnip, John Burnip parish clerk.
Source: Durham County Record Office
Editor’s Note: According to all other records, Eleanor should have been 26 in 1858.
1861 Census, Chester le Street District
Family Number: 18389.6
Waldridge 1861 Census, Waldridge Village
Thomas Charlton, Head, married, 38, Coal Miner, born Ravensworth, Durham
Eleanor Charlton, Wife, married, 29, born Nettlesworth, Durham
Thomas Charlton, son, 13, Coal Miner, born Plawsworth, Durham
William Charlton, son, 6, Scholar, born Burnt House, Durham
Dorothy Charlton, daughter, 3, born Plawsworth, Durham, (Twin)
Margaret Charlton, daughter, 3, born Plawsworth, Durham, (Twin)
John Charlton, son, 1, born Waldridge, Durham
Dorothy Charlton, lodger, widowed, 77, born Ravensworth, Durham
Source: Durham Records Online
1863 Death Certificate – Eleanor Charlton. Dated the 28th June, 1863. In Chester-le-Street, County of Durham. Eleanor Charlton, female, 28 years (she was probably actually 30), wife of Thomas Charlton, Engine Feeder. Cause of Death is listed as Certified Puerperal Peritonitis (complications following childbirth, source: 19th Century Medical Terminology. As no child is recorded from this time, it can be assumed that the child did not survive either. The couple were living at Waldridge Fell, Waldridge at the time.
