could you pass my e-mail address on to ‘KEN BLYTHE’ please,….
i might be able to help him out,….thank you,…….

regard,s JOHN

Not sure at present about attending the Yetholm “family gathering”

I have cousin on late mother’s side of family at Bonchester Bridge near Hawick so MAY make weekend of it in the Borders (she is also into family history and knew about the Faa name when I mentioned this to her)

Will keep watching website for messages and if I find any more info on “Blythe
of Birtley & Tyneside” I will pass it on.

Correction to first message:- Blythe family moved from Cowpen New Town , Blyth , Northumberland to Bill Quay, Gateshead , Co Durham in 1913 (when my late father was 2 year old ) not 1903

Further to text included in my original message of 01 March 2010:-

my grandfather Matthew (born 9 June 1883 when family living at 13 St Bedes
Row, Birtley) had a younger brother John Thomas born 27 March 1885 when
family was living at Station Lane, Birtley , Chester-le-Street, County Durham

Their father the earlier Matthew died 4 November 1885 (as stated in earlier
message) and their mother Elizabeth Ann (nee Render(s), born Newcastle upon
Tyne, Northumberland in 1863 ) remarried a John Clarke (a brick maker born
1862 in Leighsinton Worcestershire according to 1901 census) and in 1891
census were living at 4 Station Lane, Birtley along with step brother Ernest Clarke (born 1891, being 9 months old in 1891 census)

in check on 1901 census the Clark(e) family was living at Jesmond Terrace,
South Shields however

Family name without “E” at end

Matthew (my grandfather, the step son) spelt with
one “T” and age out by 1 year

He & brother John ( John Thomas) down as born in “Buckley,
Flintshire” – person transcribing having made incorrect read of
Birtley, Co Durham

No wonder it is difficult to find people – in earlier family search my maternal grandmother was in one
census return as ” A H ” rather than Abigail Hannah

there is now another Clark(e) son George E aged 6 , born 1895

in check in 1911 census (via FindmyPast.co.uk) John Thomas Blythe age 25 years was

living at 24 St Austin’s Buildings, Cramlington, Northumberland (but Tynemouth Registration District) married 5 years to a

“Carlinda” Madelon Blythe aged 23 years (on census return as born “W S of America (resident)”)

On investigation of copy of handwritten census document

First Name is “Clarinda”

Should be U S of America (wrongly reading a long tail on U into a W)

In right hand column is text which I assume
is meant to confer “British Subject by Marriage”

and had one daughter Edith Elizabeth aged 5 years and one son Ernest George aged 1 month (obviously named after stepfather / stepbrother), another son Francis Matthew being noted on census and “crossed out” as having died at age of 8 months however without date of death

John Thomas occupation being noted as “Labourer Masons” within Coal Mining Industry – obviously retaining the family connection to bricks

My father Matthew (born 1911)’s siblings were

Alice Blythe born 2Q 1912 married to become Young (the name another
of the Gypsy families)

Elizabeth Render Blythe born first half 1918 died 01/01/2003, served as
wren during and after WW2 serving alongside Prince Philip in some
capacity, later being a maternity nurse until retirement mostly at Queen Elizabeth Hospital , Gateshead

Render(s) being name of wife of Matthew died 4 November 1885
(link made only 01/03/10, I wondered Aunt Betty’s middle name
came from)

James Burns Blythe born late 1921 / early 1922 worked as electronic engineer
including at Marconi factory on banks of Tyne at foot of Cromwell Terrace,
Bill Quay where family lived (house still there )

Burns being his mother’s maiden name

Addresses etc associated with the family (to assist others ) – others still to be investigated / confirmed

Thomas ( born Rockcliffe Cumberland 1829 in 1861 census record OR 1825 in 1871 record ) & Elizabeth (nee assumed Swinburn(e) born Hexham , Northumberland 1832) Blythe

1861 13 St Bedes Row, in Registration District of Chester-le- Street
( I suspect in Birtley) with 3 sons , 1 daughter

1871 Station Cottages , Birtley ( no number given) , with 4 sons ,
3 daughters

Matthew (born 1863) and John Thomas Blythe (age 6) (with step father John
Clark(e) )

1891 4 Station Lane, Birtley

1901 Jesmond Terrace, Boldon Co Durham ( no number given)

John Thomas (born 1885) & Clarinda Madelon (born 1888 assumed in U S A ) Blythe

1911 24 St Austin’s Buildings , Cramlington, Northumberland

Would love to get knowledge of / make contact with any relatives deriving from:-

the brothers and sisters of Matthew born 1861

John Thomas Blythe born 1885 (my grandfather Matthew’s brother)

And find out how an American subject married into his family

Any others possibly related to me

For information any birth, marriage and death certificates associated with the Family living at Birtley can be obtained from Gateshead Council on

http://www.gateshead.gov.uk then follow link to obtain registrar

Telephone number of Gateshead Civic Centre 0191 4333000
as the 1974 reorganisation of local authorities moved Birtley from County Durham into Gateshead Metropolitan Borough area, however should there be need to obtain information from Durham County Council their records can be obtained via the Bishop Aukland office

email: bishopaucklandregisteroffice@durham.gov.uk
Tel: 01388 607 277
Fax: 01388 664 388

Apologies if I have included any errors in the above as I do want anyone to be sent on a “wild goose chase” – I myself knowing how complicated it is to obtain “hard facts” and also how awkward it is always having to add date alongside the name Matthew so as to distinguish which generation

My next task to obtain old maps and locate where the above addresses are OR most likely were

Hope to hear from someone with any other information that can be of assistance

KEN

Glad you found the site and thanks for the extra info. Are you planning on coming to the reunion in July?

All the best,
Fiona

Came upon this site today 1 march 2010 two days short of what would have been my father’s 99th birthday ( born 3 March 1911 therefore thankfully just in 1911 census which opened the door for traces, died 09 July 2008) having known for about 2 months of possible Faa Blyth connection, and today having finally managed to track down the birth certificate of his father (also Matthew, born 09 June 1883 at Mount Pleasant Birtley, Chester-le-Street County Durham & died I think from cousin about 1940 having lived in Bill Quay area of Gateshead from about 1903 – previously at Cowpen New Town , Blyth, Northumberland where my father was born).

From that certificate it appears that Matthew’s father was yet another Matthew died 4 November 1885 – not as noted above in K Young 24 June 2009 message as 1855 – how repeating christian names can cause confusion in family tree searches.

On checking Find My Past website I would assume that he is one of the family of Thomas Blyth & Elizabeth Blyth (4 sons & 3 daughters) in 1871 census living at Station Cottages , Birtley however I cannot locate him in 1861 census

I have always known from my father of the connection to Blythe’s Best Birtley Bricks – he himself being in the brick making trade with his father before going to sea in early 1930’s and returning just before WW2 to work on railways until retirement in 1976 – and at infants school in early 1960’s sitting next to Trevor Best we always got that comment from teacher Mr Tait.

Coincidentally I myself work in the building trade being a Chartered Quantity Surveyor working for Gateshead Council.

It is nice to know that there are lots of “distant relatives” as my immediate Blythe family comprises my father’s sister Alice’s son Peter & daughter Elsie (obviously not carrying the Blythe name) and two of my father’s nieces by his brother Jim (died mid 1970’s) and his second wife Rita (living in Wallsend/ North Shields area of Tyneside) only Rita and myself carrying the name forward and I myself having no family to pass it on to

Hope this may fill in information for others and hope that further contact can happen

All the best KEN BLYTHE

The producers are trying to arrange for a genealogist and historian to be there on the day to help us unravel the threads and ties that bind but Fiona will confirm this nearer the time.

May I suggest that we all wear a badge with our names and other family names we are conected with to make it easier to identify our kissin’ cousins? Also, maybe you could bring along copies of any documents,certificates and old photographs that you think would be interesting.

My job is to let as many people as possible know about the reunion but other than up-dating this site, e-mailing, telephoning and word of mouth the only avenue left is for me to advertise in the local press nearer the time. In the meantime it would be helpful if you would spread the news among your families to ensure a good turnout.

Looking forward to meeting youm on the 25th.
Maggie.

Fiona, as you have to co-ordinate availability of producers, film crew etc perhaps you could advise on the most convenient date.
Maggie.

Anyway, nice to have you on board.

Fiona

Love to all Jacqui