Ooh, that was a cliffhanger wasn't it!!
More now as we move forward in time...
The 1871 National Census.
Ten years has passed, and now we find the family living in number 5 California Row, Seaton Colliery. The other big change is in the Head of the Household
- it is now Bridgit Ranson, widowed.
Bridgit Ranson, aged 46, Widow
Her children are
George Ranson
The wierdest change is the youngest George, who appears to be an early relativity experimentalist - he has actually got younger!? I checked the handwritten documentation, to make sure it isn't a tyop!
It is possible that Bridget had 2 bairns named George & that the older one had left home to work (aged 15 - not yet found).
But the best explanation I have for this is that older George shown in 1861 Census actually died between 1861 & 1871. {I haven't yet found a Death Certificate listed for him.} Then Bridget maybe tried again & named her last child George.
So presumably, George Mk I died 5 years or more before the Census date 1871.
William Ranson
That last also leads me to presume that Husband William was still alive when George was born, 1867-ish. It's a fair bet that he died in a mining incident - but there is no record of this, see lists of dead on the Durham Miners Museum website. I found no Ransons dead there on the Seaton Colliery list, there are a few in other pits, though. The only William R was a 49 yr old who died in an accident in 1909.
Durham Registrar Death Certificate searches found a William Ranson who dies (aged 48) in Easington district in the spring of 1867. It's possible that could be Bridget's husband. He was recorded as aged 43 in the 1861 Census. Wonder if he ever saw baby George Mk II?
Jane Ann Ranson
Jane Ann has also disappeared. A search now in the 1871 Census elsewhere in Durham revealed a young Jane Ann Ranson (just 13) working away from home as a servant at a pub in the St Nicholas area of Durham. Difficult to read, but I think it was called the Woolpack. The Head of the household was a Licensed Victualler called William Rutherford. Click here to see a page with a photo - when you get there you need to click on the blue words, 'Durham city, Framwellgate'.
However, another option is that she is the child whose Death Certificate surfaced for the year 1862, in the town of Houghton-le-Spring.
Hohum
The IGI database lists the death of Louisa Ranson (b. 1862) - an 1894 date is given for her burial in Christ Church, New Seaham.
1881 Census of Durham
So, now travel forwards in time with me another 10 years:
We find a Widow Bridgit Ranson (aged 57, born ~1824, Colliery Row, Durham), who lives at 29, Cornish St., Seaham and works as a dressmaker. She has 2 of her children in her home that night:
Thomas (16), a Coal Miner, born in New Seaham.
George (14), a Coal Miner, born in New Seaham.
Elsewhere in the census records for the county, we find folk who may be some of her older children - left home & living with their families (later post). I have searched in vain for a Frances Ranson in the 1881 census {so far!}. As described previously, there are many reasons why she may be hard to find. I don't believe she was married by then.
In the 1881 census, I think the young Thomas Fitzpatrick is found living with his parents at Barnfield Blocks, Tudhoe. (see a different posting about that family)
In 1888, a death certificate was issued in the Easington district for a Bridget Ranson. She may be ours, and would then have been aged 64. It's interesting to note that our Elizabeth Fitzpatrick was also born in Tudhoe in the year 1888, so we seem to have come full circle!
More now as we move forward in time...
The 1871 National Census.
Ten years has passed, and now we find the family living in number 5 California Row, Seaton Colliery. The other big change is in the Head of the Household
- it is now Bridgit Ranson, widowed.
Bridgit Ranson, aged 46, Widow
Her children are
- William, 21, born ~1850 in the Carrville area of Durham, working as Coal Miner.
- John, 20, born ~1851 in the Dragonville area of Durham, working as Coal Miner.
- Frances, 17, born ~1854 in the 'Bragonville' {sic!} area of Durham, 'Working in Fields'
- Elizabeth Margaret, 10, born ~1861 in Seaton Colliery, Durham, scholar.
- Louisa, 9, born in Seaton Colliery
- Thomas, 6, born in Seaton Colliery
- George, 4, born in Seaton Colliery
George Ranson
The wierdest change is the youngest George, who appears to be an early relativity experimentalist - he has actually got younger!? I checked the handwritten documentation, to make sure it isn't a tyop!
It is possible that Bridget had 2 bairns named George & that the older one had left home to work (aged 15 - not yet found).
But the best explanation I have for this is that older George shown in 1861 Census actually died between 1861 & 1871. {I haven't yet found a Death Certificate listed for him.} Then Bridget maybe tried again & named her last child George.
So presumably, George Mk I died 5 years or more before the Census date 1871.
William Ranson
That last also leads me to presume that Husband William was still alive when George was born, 1867-ish. It's a fair bet that he died in a mining incident - but there is no record of this, see lists of dead on the Durham Miners Museum website. I found no Ransons dead there on the Seaton Colliery list, there are a few in other pits, though. The only William R was a 49 yr old who died in an accident in 1909.
Durham Registrar Death Certificate searches found a William Ranson who dies (aged 48) in Easington district in the spring of 1867. It's possible that could be Bridget's husband. He was recorded as aged 43 in the 1861 Census. Wonder if he ever saw baby George Mk II?
Jane Ann Ranson
Jane Ann has also disappeared. A search now in the 1871 Census elsewhere in Durham revealed a young Jane Ann Ranson (just 13) working away from home as a servant at a pub in the St Nicholas area of Durham. Difficult to read, but I think it was called the Woolpack. The Head of the household was a Licensed Victualler called William Rutherford. Click here to see a page with a photo - when you get there you need to click on the blue words, 'Durham city, Framwellgate'.
However, another option is that she is the child whose Death Certificate surfaced for the year 1862, in the town of Houghton-le-Spring.
Hohum
The IGI database lists the death of Louisa Ranson (b. 1862) - an 1894 date is given for her burial in Christ Church, New Seaham.
1881 Census of Durham
So, now travel forwards in time with me another 10 years:
We find a Widow Bridgit Ranson (aged 57, born ~1824, Colliery Row, Durham), who lives at 29, Cornish St., Seaham and works as a dressmaker. She has 2 of her children in her home that night:
Thomas (16), a Coal Miner, born in New Seaham.
George (14), a Coal Miner, born in New Seaham.
Elsewhere in the census records for the county, we find folk who may be some of her older children - left home & living with their families (later post). I have searched in vain for a Frances Ranson in the 1881 census {so far!}. As described previously, there are many reasons why she may be hard to find. I don't believe she was married by then.
In the 1881 census, I think the young Thomas Fitzpatrick is found living with his parents at Barnfield Blocks, Tudhoe. (see a different posting about that family)
In 1888, a death certificate was issued in the Easington district for a Bridget Ranson. She may be ours, and would then have been aged 64. It's interesting to note that our Elizabeth Fitzpatrick was also born in Tudhoe in the year 1888, so we seem to have come full circle!
***Latest news***
I read a post from the genealogy.com forum on Ransons, there was a post (2002) by Mr David Ranson (not currently answering his email address, what a shame - so it can't be absolutely confirmed):
"I am looking for information about a Bridget Patterson born, May 11 1824; died, May 5 1888.
She married William Ranson 1817-1867. I believe in 1848 but not certain.
They had 9 children-William, John, Francis, George, Jane Anne, Elizabeth Margaret, Louisa, Thomas and George again.
I am descended from the William line and can supply details if of use.The children were born in the Seaham, Co.Durham, England area - as were the descendants of William.
Thank You David Ranson."
We can't add anything to that, eh?
So that neatly confirms a few of the guesses in the last two posts, and also provides Bridget's maiden name: I can perhaps find her in an early census now - with her family eg. 1841. The fact that he is so precise on the dates of birth & death for Bridget suggests that he has a copy at least of the Registry certificates for her, which adds veracity.
I liked the way he phrased the list of bairns, "and George again"!
Famous Ransons (some not so famous)
- Illustrator, Arthur Ranson
- CEO of InFocus, Newcastle born C. Kyle Ranson
- French painter, Paul Ranson
- Footballer, manager of Coventry FC, Ray Ranson
- Writer, Sadi Ranson
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