Searching for the relatives of my Grandma A on the internet is where I first caught the bug for genealogy, as it was fascinating to me to see that first listing of a whole family living in Tudhoe (Co. Durham) from the 1901 Census. The family continued to live in the village, so that made it the most obvious branch of the family with which to start.
Tudhoe Village is adjacent to the old colliery town of Tudhoe; of course the colliery has long since closed.
For this posting I will begin to focus on the Sennett family, which is to say the ancestors of my maternal Grandma. She was born Mary Sennett, in November 1923 in Tudhoe Village. She was one of three children. Her parents were Elizabeth (born Fitzpatrick) and James Sennett. I am one of her three grandchildren and four children. Sadly, Mary died last year after a long illness.
The Census of 1901 finds Mary's mother’s family at Tudhoe Mill, Tudhoe Village {Lots more details on the National Census here}
{Details recorded are: Name , Age Last Birthday, Profession, Where Born}
Thomas Fitzpatrick, Head of Family, (49) Mason Labourer, born Ireland
Francis {sic} Fitzpatrick, Wife, (47) born Durham
and their children living at home, all were born in Durham;
- Mary Hannah Fitzpatrick, Daughter, Single, (16),
- William Fitzpatrick, Son, Single, (14) Gardener,
- Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, Daughter, Single, (13),
- Thomas Fitzpatrick, Son Single, (10),
- Francis Fitzpatrick, Daughter, Single, (8),
- Catherine Fitzpatrick, Daughter, Single, (6)
Looking further
More on Tudhoe Mill, here.
Here are some extra details to flesh out the above people. Most of these dates have come from Grandma's records and memories, and confirm details I found in the Registries of Births etc for Durham.
You'll note that few in the family were happy with their given names! Nance, Bill, Lizzie, Tot, Molly, and Kitty.
The father Thomas Fitz possibly was perhaps born in Co. Mayo, maybe. {Actually I now know he was born in Co. Tipperary.} He died March 11th 1921, aged 68. Gran remembered that one of his jobs as a Mason with the Salvin Estate was to work on Burn Hall, Durham (see links below). I wonder if he was working with his father? In earlier records, Thomas is described as a Labourer.
This photo shows our Thomas Fitzpatrick {Frances' husband} seated in the centre (arms crossed) in front of Burn Hall with the team! Remember that in the 1901 Census, Thomas is recorded as a Mason Labourer. Presumably the Master Mason is in the centre, holding his tools. You'll see that one man is wearing a Bowler Hat - he was the gaffer. {Thanks Hilary!}
Stonemasons working on alterations at Burn Hall, Co. Durham (1890's??)Frances (definitely not Francis) was born a Ranson at Seaham Harbour, in 1854. She married Thomas in Durham in 1882, when they were aged 30 & 28. (The entries for these dates at the Registrar are searchable online, so the dates are confirmed.) She died Sept 12th 1929, aged 75. More details on Frances are available in a later post - click here.
Margaret and Bridget Fitzpatrick
The next two people were not living in the Tudhoe Mill home on Census night, 1901, but they are known as older children of Frances & Thomas. They had probably left home at the time of the 1901 census - see a later posting for more details on them.
- Margaret Ellen - never married and became Housekeeper to a Judge - they moved South & she went with them (don't know when??). Born in 1882, so aged 19 in 1901. {Coincidentally, 1882 was the year of the Tudhoe Colliery disaster}
- Bridget, known as Biddy, who married Frederick Hedley in 1914 (in D'ham West district), they went to live at Fir Tree near Crook. Born 1883 - so aged 18 in 1901.
The younger children listed as living at the Tudhoe Mill home were:
Mary Hannah Fitzpatrick
(known as Johanna, or Aunt Nance)
Aunt Nance is remembered for being great fun to be with - very lively! She was born in 1885 and married Michael Murray from Spennymoor (a Coal Driver Underground, from 1901 census) in 1909.
She had 10 bairns; Molly, Mabby, Kitty, Tresa, Mickey, Tommy, Jackie, Billy, Nora, Betty…we all remember the way Gran would reel off the list, it was very sing-song!
Tresa was married to Lt. Commander Pallister, MBE {who worked on the Ark Royal, a trainer of Prince Charles}.
Tommy was a submariner.
Jackie worked as a bricklayer with the NCB.
Nora died aged only 7.
There are still many Murrays in the area. I am now in contact with a grandchild of Nance & Michael Murray, who has done a great deal of research into the family history and is being very helpful in passing on lots of facts & stories - as well as corrections! Thankyou Hilary.
Also a roving reporter for Trunk Calls (Hello Mum!) has had a charming time having a chat with the lovely Jack Murray, who still lives in the area and is doing very well thank you! He was Mayor of Spennymoor in 1976 (see link here for photo). A note should appear someday about his recollections of the Fitzpatricks & Murrays.
William Fitzpatrick
On the left, we see a photo of Will with his niece Mary Sennett; and on the right, his wife Dolly.
Will was born in 1886 and married Dorothy Ritson from Wheatley Hill in 1926.
He died in Oct 1952, aged 66. More in a later post on Will & Dolly.
Elizabeth Ann Fitzpatrick, our Lizzie
She was born in 1888 and married our James Sennett in 1913. She died in April 1971 or was it 1974?, aged perhaps 86. James died aged 66 in 1958. They had 3 children; Austin {Max} (born 1914, died 1991), John {Jack - a post will arrive soon} (born 1917, died 1978), and Mary (my Gran, born 1923, died 2007)
Thomas (Tot) Fitzpatrick
He was born in 1891, and was a boxer. He was a soldier in WW I with the Durham Light Infantry. He was lucky, returning home to marry & have 3 children.
More on our Tot and his family in another post - click here.
Francis (Molly) Fitzpatrick
As her middle name was Mary (I think!), she was known as Aunt Molly. She was born in June 1893 and married William K. Clarehugh in 1916. Uncle Bill died in 1954. (She is in pictures below.) They had one son, Billy. (Not sure if he went on to have children, though I believe he did get married.)
Catherine (Aunt Kitty) Fitzpatrick
She was born in June 1895 & married Wilfred Carr in 1919. They moved to Blackhall Rock & had 3 kids (possibly 4??): Wilfred, Frances (who married a Paddy Hogan & had 2 children, Michael & Patricia), Winifred.
Aunty Kit is remembered for making a great fuss of all the bairns - though they only got to visit at New Year. (She is in pictures below.)
Uncle Wilf was "a gentle soul, very cosy".
Kitty was definitely the youngest of the Fitzpatricks; there were no others born after 1901.
FITZPATRICKS
It can be seen from this that there were Fitzpatrick descendents from the children of Tot Fitzpatrick. I don't think the other son, Bill, had any children - and all the other children of Thomas & Frances were women and took their husband's family name. So, no other grandchildren would be taking that name.
Now for some Photographs
Here's a photo (below) of those sisters, at Marian's Baptism (early 1950's). Click on the image to expand it. I'll let the baby in this shot explain who they all are (left to right) ..."I'm surprised they are not all wearing their shades as they gaze upon mine brilliance. Nunc (Austin Sennett) in shades with Lizzie Sennett and little Tina beside him. My Great-Aunt Mollie (Clarehugh) holding me so I suppose she was my Godmother.... She was always a sweetie. Mary Armitage on the right."
Sennett's and in-law's. This next photo shows many jolly folks we don't know but extreme left rear is Uncle Bill Clareheugh [Molly's husband], extreme left front is Uncle Wilf Carr, Grandad Sennett second from the right and, as usual, centre front is Nuncy (Austin Sennett). Bernie has pointed out that her dad (Jack) was always centre front as well but sensibly put it down to the fact that they were not tall!!
On the right here, a rare photo of Uncle Will and a young Jack Sennett.In the photo we see (left to right) Mary Sennett, Lizzie Sennett, Uncle Will with cap, cousin Billy Fitzpatrick and Jack Sennett (Mary's brother).
The tough-looking dog belonged to Uncle Will.
Now for a shot we shall call 'The Sennetts visiting the Sennetts', cos that keeps everything nice n' clear (I haven't worked everybody out in this one yet!!)...
This was taken in Lizzie's front garden at the bottom of Tudhoe Village. We see (left to right):Jane Sennett (William's wife?, James' mother),
perhaps James Sennett?? (we can't see him very well),
Lizzie Sennett,
Uncle Harry Sennett,
his wife Aunty 'Jim' with what I can only presume is a dog,
Mary Sennett (just visible!) with her curlers in, holding Cracker the dog {we know Mary was born 1923 - this helps us to date the photo as she looks to be in her late teens},
William Sennett (James' Father, rather then his brother?),
and Pat O'Connor - a friend of Mary's who died of TB, aged just 19.
To know more about the Sennetts (ie. James' family), see this post and further on to this about Harry & Jim.
Sennett One-Name Study
A fascinating One-Name Study of all the Sennetts is beginning - not just the Durham Sennetts, though! There were also Sennetts in Ireland, Cornwall, Stretham, Yorkshire and Hampshire. If you'd like to know more, please get in touch with the main researcher (not me!!!), using the email address sennett@one-name.org
Finally, here's a later photo of the three younger sisters enjoying a hat festival at Austin's wedding, (1964). We see (L to R) Aunt Kit, Aunt Molly, and Grandma Lizzie Sennett (lovely flowers!).
Maybe these links will be of interest
Google satellite map of Tudhoe Village & Tudhoe Mill
A guide to the British Census
A gateway to Registrars of BMD in the North East of England
Durham Record Office - a mine of information, geddit?
Durham Cathedral, it's just beautiful & you should see it!
Durham Mining Museum
History of Burn Hall, Durham
Estate agent shots of Burn Hall
Prize for Burn Hall
Okay, hope all the Armitage/Sennett branch of the family have found this page and are happy now. Cheers!
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