Louisa Seton, Wood, Bolton

Going Further
Unlike with other branches of the family, there was only one choice in the 1881 database for this family - so I can be fairly certain that the young Louisa Seton I found in the 1881 Census is the right one. Further checks on full certificates would be good.

Following the discovery of these few details, I was able to go back in time through the National Census returns and piece together the following family history for Louisa's parents:


David Seton
David is first discovered in online records of the 1841 Census. He is aged 8, living with his 7 siblings at Union St. Darlington. His father, James Seton is aged 45 (so we guess he was born c.1796), a Shoemaker who was born in Scotland. His mother is named Susannah; she was a native of Darlington, and all the 8 children of the house were born in the County of Durham. The oldest child at home was Sarah Seton (15).
Another Shoemaker also lives in the house; a young lad named Jessie Stocks (not v. legible). (Perhaps he is a relative of Susannah, as I believe her maiden name was Stokes?)

So from those details, can we find more about these folks?
The Scottish parish records list a large {too large!} number of choices for James' birth in Perth. I didn't find a reference to James & Susannah's marriage in Perth, nor in the Pallot's index for Co. Durham.

I DID find a record for the baptism of Sarah Seton in Darlington, 17th May 1826 - using the IGI service of images of the Bishop's Transcripts (parish records, in other words). Her parents were recorded as Susannah & James (Shoemaker) Seton. I also went on to find the records of their marriage in Darlington, on 1st of June 1825. There I got the surprise of finding out that James Seaton (it's spelled that way in this record) had been married previously - he was a widow before he married Susannah {have searched the Darlington records so far for another Seton marriage {1820-1} or burial {1820-4} - but his previous marriage could well have been in Scotland.}. The record also confirms for us that Susannah's maiden name was Stokes, and that both were "of this parish", but no other details such as age, occupation, etc. James signed his name, but Susannah only made her mark.

{Also found a Joseph Stokes aged 14, died in Darlington in April 1822; Elizabeth Stokes, aged 3 mths, in Darlington, Sept. 1822.}

I went on to look at baptisms for the years 1832-3, and found an entry on the 13th of February 1833 in Darlington for David Stokes Seton. Here is a snippet of the page (Bishop's Transcript of the parish records, via IGI).
I also looked at Darlington Trade Directories for the period - the father James Seaton was listed as a Shoemaker in Bondgate, Darlington (in the Pigot's Directory for 1828-9). Interestingly, in the 1827 White's Directory, John Stokes is a shoemaker on Bondgate. Perhaps that is his father-in-law??

Back to the Census:
In 1851, we see the family lived at Skinnergate, Darlington. (The family are recorded as SEATON.) David's parents are again named as James (55, born in Perth; a Shoemaker) and Susannah (46, born in Darlington). David Seaton himself (18) is a Painter, and 4 other of James' children are still at home, as well as the wife of the eldest child, William (21), who works as a Shoemaker. The youngest, Peter, works as a Wool Comber.

In 1853, a man named James Seton dies in Darlington - he may well be David's father.

In 1861, we see that Susannah Seton is the Head of the household at 6, Northgate, Darlington.

She is recorded as a Widow, which suggests that we have seen the correct person in the records in 1853.

Susannah is aged 53, and I honestly can't read the occupation. Harker & Darper ???
Her son Peter Seton was there, along with his wife Rose (Irish-born). Peter is entered as aged 26, a Currier, born in Scotland?? - yet in the previous census {1841 & 1851}, all the children were born in Darlington. Also there was her daughter Margaret (15) and a whole family of Addisons - described as Visitors, not Lodgers.

Meanwhile in 1861, David has just married, and the couple are living at 37 Havelock St, St. Cuthbert's parish of Darlington (sharing the house, but seperate household) . David (28) is still a Painter; his wife Mary (20, born Barnard Castle) a Dress maker. We presume Mary's maiden name was BORROWDALE.

Now in 1871, David Seton (38) and his wife Mary Jane Seton (28) are living at 3 Fry St. (noted as Prince of Wales Hotel on the form) in Darlington. David is a painter, with their children James (6), David, Matthew, and baby Johannah. Also widowed mother Susannah Seton (70).

Susannah Seton
So we know Susannah Seton was born in Darlington. From the entries in the various Darlington Census, we can guess her year of birth as anything from 1801-1808. I know her maiden name was Stokes, but I can't be sure when she died. In 1891 a lady named Susannah Seton died in the Gateshead area, perhaps she was with some family there while she was ill?
In 1861 she lived with her younger son Peter. In 1871, she lived with her son David and his family.

Between 1871-1881, times have been pretty hard; Mary Jane is now a widow. There have been several deaths registered in the family - Johanna (1872) and Johannah (1875) - I presume one of these would be Mary's baby. Also David Seton dies (presume 1877 in Darlington, the gent named as David Stokes Seton, who was born in 1833? We now know that Stokes was his mother's name - so that fits well.)

We are coming back to where we first found Louisa now.
In the 1881 Census of Darlington Mary Jane Seton (widow, 37) lives in Lowson St, Cockerton with her children James, David, Matthew William, Christus, John Robert (and no Johannah or Louisa) SETON.
We know from earlier searches that Louisa (aged 4) is staying with her Grandmother (Mary's mother) in Barnard Castle.

She has taken a lodger, his name is Septimus Wood (28, a Stonemason, born in Bishop Auckland ~ 1853).

We also know that Mary & Septimus get married later in the year of 1881!

I found entries on Free BMD for the birth, marriage & death of Septimus Wood - he lived from 1855-1898.  Recently, it has been pointed out to me that the name Septimus was often given to a seventh child in a family.

Next in the 1891 Census of 55, Lowson St, Cockerton the Head of Household has changed to:

Septimus Wood (37); General Labourer, born Bishop Auckland.

His wife Mary Jane Wood, (47), born Barnard Castle.

{stepchildren of Septimus} David Seton (24), Painter; Matthew W. Seton (22), Joiner; our Louisa Seton (14); John R. (13); and finally little Mary J. Wood, (full daughter of Septimus & Mary) (aged 3). All the bairns were born in Darlington.

{The birth cert of a Mary Wood is available in Darlington Records from 1886, and another from 1887 - but then none until 1891. Mary Jane Wood is remembered as the half-sister of our Louisa Seton. Mary Wood married John Borrowdale who was her cousin (related to Joanna Borrowdale?). John Borrowdale went to Canada with his brother-in-law John S. Bolton.}

The Death Certificate in 1898 for Mr. Septimus Wood (aged only 43) could well be Mary's second husband. In the 1901 census, Mary Jane Wood would be ~57.

She was found, but no Septimus Wood was found in the national census (1901). In the 1911 census of Darlington, we can see Mary Jane Wood (69) is the Head of her household.