Borrowdales of Barnard Castle

Back to Darlington!
While John Smurthwaite Bolton was away in Canada and serving in France, his wife Louisa (was Seton now Bolton) and three children were living in Darlington - so they will show up on the 1911 census when it becomes available. Not sure why he took the step of going to Canada, perhaps he had a family connection there, an offer of a good job? It was a long-term job...he arrived on the Canadian shores March 1911 and enlisted in 1916. Presumably, after his injuries in France (or when the war ended) he returned home to Darlington.

Next step of the search is to turn backwards now from John & Louisa - in order to find their parents. (Easiest and most surefire way would be to get the 1898 marriage certificate, but that's not nearly so interesting!)


John S. Bolton
We know that John was born 1877 in Barton, Yorkshire (between Darlington & Richmond) - so there I need to search the 1881 & 1891 census. See this other post for the material found on that family.

Louisa Bolton (Seton)
We know Louisa was born as Louisa Seton, in 1876, in the Darlington area. That date is confirmed by the local Registry office index.
One possibility, in the 1881 census return for nearby Barnard Castle (the New Bridge Inn, Thorngate) is a Louisa Seton (4, born Darlington), living with her widowed Grandmother Joanna BORROWDALE (73, widow; born Startforth, Yorks; an Innkeeper) and another of Joanna's granddaughter's, Jane Agusta BROWN (15, a dressmaker, born Darlington). So we presume Joanna had at least 2 daughters, Mrs. Seton & Mrs. Brown.
{NB the River Tees marked the border tween Durham & North Yorkshire up until 1974. See this Frances Frith site for several old photos of Barney - it was quite idyllic without all the cars!}

I figured I would look now through the Registry Office index for a marriage in Darlington area, between a groom Seton & a bride Borrowdale = Louisa's parents, if married?? I found one in Darlington area, Mary Borrowdale marries David Seton in 1861. Also, in 1881 in the Darlington area, Mary Borrowdale (previous name Mary Seton) marries Septimus WOOD, 1881. This year of Mary's second marriage coincides with the census taking place in 1881, when we know little Louisa was staying at Grandma's!! David Seton must have died quite recently, as his daughter is aged only 4 in 1881?

Here are some links found when researching Joanna BORROWDALE (born c. 1808) - of the New Bridge Inn.
There isn't a pub in that area now - there's still a Bridge Inn Yard, though - off Thorngate near the river.
I contacted the owner of the Thorngate Coach House and Stables (thinking the Inn could have changed it's name, it was a long shot!), and they very kindly passed on the following details which good-old-Google didn't know (for once).
"Unfortunately, the Bridge Inn was knocked down in early 1960's, to make way for some social housing flats". The Inn was known previously as the New Bridge Inn, and this new bridge would, we assume, have been the metal footbridge by Thorngate Mill (see photo in link below). "The previous bridge was washed away" - by the great flood of 1881 (source - the 1914 edition of Wm Page's History of Yorkshire - a section on Startforth.). Something doesn't quite fit here - 1881 was the year of the census where Joanna's Inn was called the New Bridge Inn. The 'new' metal bridge was erected in 1882. (source - here)

"Thorngate Coach House and Stables served Thorngate House (two doors up from the Bridge Inn). The Coach House is set back from Thorngate and can be accessed from Bridge Inn Yard footpath". It is now holiday accommodation for rent at very reasonable rates!

Photo here of Thorngate Mill and the footbridge in Barney - I remember going to a book clearance shop in the bottom floor of this old warehouse, now being/been converted to apartments?

Here's some raw data from the census about Joanna/Johanna/Hannah.
1871 Census

Thomas Borrowdale, (64; Innkeeper; born Appleby) and Joanna Borrowdale (63) - at Thorngate, with a boarder, and 2 grandchildren Thomas B. Seaton (9) and Augusta Brown (6) - both born Darlington.

1861 Census
Thomas Borrowdale, (55; Mason & Innkeeper; born Appleby) and Joanna Borrowdale (54) - at Thorngate, with visitors, and Eleanor (20; dressmaker), William (15; Mason) - both born Barnard Castle.

1851 Census

Thomas Borrowdale, (45; Stonemason; born Appleby) and Hannah Borrowdale (44) - at Thorngate, with Robert (18, Mason); Matthew (16, Gunsmith); Thomas (12); Eleanor (10); Mary Jane (8 - presume this is Louisa's mother); William (5) - born Barnard Castle (except for older two - born Startforth).

1841 Census (ages rounded up)

Thomas Borrowdale, (30; Mason; born outside Co.Durham) and Hannah Borrowdale (30; born outside Co.Durham) - at Thorngate, with Robert (8; born outside Co.Durham); Matthew (6; born outside Co.Durham); Thomas (2); Eleanor (1) - born Barnard Castle.

Looking at other Borrowdales:
In the 1881 census, there are several Borrowdale households based around Startforth. They could well be the family of Joanna or her husband. The Borrowdales are remembered for being Masons of London, who worked on The Albert Hall.

• Widower Matthew Borrowdale (b. 1835 in Startforth) was an unemployed Gin Maker in Thorngate, with his 2 sons. Curiously, in 1901 we see a Gun-Maker living in Darlington who otherwise seems to be the same person. Gin, Guns, what's the difference, eh?

• Widower Robert Borrowdale (b. 1834 in Startforth) was a sculptor, living at High Startforth Hall (ancestral home of the Fielding family, I think), with his 7 children.

• Thomas Borrowdale (b. 1840 in Startforth) & his wife Margaret & 2 children, lived at Newgate, Barnard Castle. He was a joiner, cabinet-maker.

• William Borrowdale (b. 1849 in Startforth) & his young wife Jane & no children, lived at Low Startforth. He was also a joiner, cabinet-maker and was later (1901) found living in Barnard Castle.

See the next post for more on Louisa's family.