Posted by may on 4/11/2009, 10:03 am, in reply to "My my"

Hello Joan apologies for the length of this posting but I think I may have some useful information for you. But first are you just beginning your family history research? This might explain some of the information you are giving. First of all there is no 1874 census in this country. We have 1841, 1851, 61, 71, 81,91 etc. each ten years. Is it possible you found a Jane Train born Hebburn in the 1871 census. And other than the name and age is there anything else that makes you think she could be the mother of of John Train Lee? The reason I ask is that doing a quick search on free websites last night the information I have points in a different direction. First of all if you look at the 1861 census on http://www.freecen.org.uk/ is what could be your family. The most important information is that John T Lee is a Blacksmith. 1861 census. Living at the Old Work House in the Ecclesiastical parish of Heworth is John T Lee aged 32 Blacksmith born County Durham, Felling and his wife Jane E Lee, aged 38 born Northumberland Prestwick. The children include a Jane Train Lee aged 4 born 1857, born Gateshead, County Durham, other children are James Brack Lee son 14 and George Lee aged 2 both born Gateshead County Durham. The old workhouse I believe were by this time tenements which later became Costelloe buildings (see P Haywood, Around Felling High Street). From what I can gather it stood somewhere on or near Felling High street, which is within the administrative boundary of Heworth. Note John T Lee does not give his middle name. Have you concluded that because other members of the family use Train as the middle name that this is John T Lee's middle name. This is not always for example in my own family a surname from the female line of the family was passed down as a middle name among some of the children. So it could be a family connection from Johns wife, possibly her mother who has the Train connection. Also if you look at Johns son James his middle name also appears to be a surname: Brack! Copies of the original Bishops Transcripts for Durham are freely available online. If you search the records for Jarrow which also contain Heworth records you will find a baptism for John Thompson Lee (your John T Lee?) at Heworth chapel born 21st September 1828 (image 360 in the 1768 - 1865 list) to George and Rebecca Lee. Occupation of George is Blacksmith! I believe there is a possible marriage for this couple in Jarrow chapel (in the 1816 to 1830 Jarrow list image page 337) is marriage of George Lee to Rebecca Thompson on 6th August 1825 witnessed by Robert and Ann Thompson. Also regarding the Train surname, in the book mentioned above is a small landsurvey map for 1843 showing Elias Trains garden, a landholding next to the Brandling train station (Felling, part of Heworth parish). This land was owned by Elias Train Grocer and Blacksmith! This area stands at the foot of Felling High street where John T Lee, Blacksmith and his daughter Jane Train Lee lived in the old Workhouse tenements. So is it possible that Elias and John were related possibly through his wife or some other in-laws. If you search for and obtain John T Lee's marriage certificate to Rebecca this will give you the name of his father. If John's father is named as George then the trail I suggest is probably correct.

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