"NE England with Corbridge, Hexham, Rothbury and Gateshead"

"Northumbria and NE England"

"Corbridge is a parish, comprising the townships of Aydon, Aydon Castle, Clarewood, Corbridge, Dilston, Halton, Halton Shields, Thornborough, Whittington Great, and Whittington Little.   It is about eight miles in length from north to south, but its average breadth does not exeeed two and a half miles, and comprises an area of 13,130 acres.  Its population in 1801, was 1,744; in 1811, 1,979; in 1821, 2,037; in 1831, 2,091; in 1841, 2,103; and in 1851, 2,163 souls.   The whole of this district is in an excellent state of cultivation, and contains great quantities of lead, coal, and lime.  There are also several large plantations in various parts of the parish, the property of the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital." [From History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, Whellan, 1855].

"Hexham parish is bounded on the north by the Tyne, on the west and south-west by the parishes of Allendale and Warden, on the south by the county of Durham, and on the south-east and north-east by the parishes of Corbridge, Slaley, and Shotley.  It comprises the townships of Hexham, High Quarter, Low Quarter, Middle Quarter, and West Quarter, whose united area is 27,973 acres.  The population in 1801, was 4,565; in 1811, 4,855; in l821, 5,436; in 1831, 6,042; in 1841, 5,989; and in 1851, 6,537 souls.  The soil is various; the valleys in general, are rich and highly cultivated, while the greater part of the high lands is quite unimprovable, and produces only poor grasses or heath.  The vale of Hexham is peculiarly striking and beautiful, and the nurseries, gardens, shrubberies, and woods, are numerous and flourishing.  Of this lovely vale, it is justly said, 'harvests are the earliest, its trees have the richest foliage, and its landscape the most-diversified of any in Northumberland.'  This parish is intersected by the Newscastle and Carlisle Railway.  The land in this district belongs to a great number of proprietors; the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital are, however, the principal landowners."  [From History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, Whellan, 1855].

"Rothbury parish is bounded on the north by Whittingham, on the west by Elsdon, on the south by Hartburn, Nether-Witton, and Long Horsley, and on the east by Edlingham.  It is about nine miles in length by the same in breadth, and comprises twenty-eight townships, whose united area is 34,798 acres.  The population in 1801, was 2,236; in 1811, 2,428; in l821, 2,609; in 1831, 2,869; in 1841, 2,555; and in 1851, 2,545 souls.  The soil of this parish exhibits great variety.  In some parts we find rich pastures and fine cornfields, in others, sterile hills, naked rocks, and black heaths.   The famous forest of Rothbury has long since disappeared, and widely scattered farm-houses and cottages occupy its site.    The whole of the parish is well watered by the river Coquet, and several smaller streams. Whinstone, limestone, ironstone, and coal are found here."  [From History, Topography, and Directory of Northumberland, Whellan, 1855].

"This ancient parish is almost co-extensive with the present municipal borough of Gateshead, and now comprises, in addition to the mother-parish of St. Mary's and that of Gateshead Fell, eight ecclesiastical districts, which have been formed since 1864.  The first district parish to be formed in the town was Holy Trinity, in 1864; in the same year St James' was separated, and they were followed in order by St. Edmond's, in 1865; St. Cuthbert's, Bensham, 1865; St. Paul's, 1871; Christ Church, 1875; St. Helen's, Low Fell, 1876; Venerable Bede, 1885; and St. Aidan's, 1889.  The extensive and elevated tract of land called Gateshead Fell was formerly part of the parish of Gateshead, under which all the returns are included; but, although it was made a distinct parish and rectory in 1808, it was provided by the Act of Parliament which made the division, "that nothing in this Act contained shall alter or affect the manor of Gateshead, or the division of the said parish into townships, or separate districts for the maintenance of the poor, or for any civil purpose whatever, but that the said manor and parish of Gateshead shall, as to those purposes, remain I all respects the same as if this Act had not passed."  "The township or civil parish of Gateshead contains 2971 acres; its ratable value (December 1893) is £76,509."  [From History, Topography and Directory of Durham, Whellan, London, 1894]

Comment:  This is quite a large Branch and is probably linked to a number of other branches with families from the parishes which are mentioned.  However, more research is necessary before a positive connection can be made.  See also Branch 29N, below.

You may view the family tree for this Branch here. 

You may view Branch 29N here.