Stamfordham, Northumberland Genealogy

England Northumberland  Northumberland Parishes



Parish History
STAMFORDHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Castle ward, N. E. division of Tindale ward, S. division of Northumberland, 12½ miles (W. N. W.) from Newcastle-upon-Tyne; There is a place of worship in the village for Presbyterians, at Matfen one for Wesleyans, and at Cheeseburn-Grange one for Roman Catholics.

Stamfordham St Mary the Virgin is an extensive Ancient Parish which includes includes Bitchfield, Black-Heddon, Cheeseburn Grange, Fenwick, Hawkwell, Heugh, Ingoe, Kearsley, Matfen (East), Matfen (West), Nesbit, Ouston, Ryal, and Wallridge. It is bounded on the north by Bolam, on the west by St. John Lee and Halton, on the south by Corbridge and Ovingham, and on the east by Heddon-on-the-Wall and Newburn.

The church, erected about the 13th century, is in the early English style, and stands west of the market-cross; the chancel was built by the Fenwicks, of Fenwick Tower, and contains several monumental inscriptions to that family and the Swinburnes.

Ryall became a chapel of ease; and  Holy Trinity Matfen, Northumberland was formed from the parish.

STAMFORDHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Castle ward, N. E. division of Tindale ward, S. division of Northumberland, 12½ miles (W. N. W.) from Newcastle-upon-Tyne; containing 1777 inhabitants. This parish is the finest champaign part of Tindale ward, and is about 5½ miles in length from east to west, and 4½ in breadth from north to south. It comprises the townships of Bitchfield, Black Heddon, Cheeseburn-Grange, Fenwick, Hawkwell, Heugh, Ingoe, Kearsley, East and West Matfen, Nesbit, Ouston, Ryall, and Walridge. The district is well cultivated; and contains abundant seams of coal and limestone, both of which are wrought, the latter for agricultural purposes. The village, situated in the township of Heugh, is principally of modern erection, and consists chiefly of one long broad street; in the centre is a covered market-cross, erected in 1736, by Sir John Swinburne, Bart., for a market, now discontinued. A fair is held for cattle and pigs, on the second Thursday in April; and there are statute-fairs on the Thursday before Old May-day, on November 14th, and the last Thursday in February. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at £14. 18. 1½., and in the patronage of the Crown, with a net income of £574. The church, erected about the 13th century, is in the early English style, and stands west of the market-cross; the chancel was built by the Fenwicks, of Fenwick Tower, and contains several monumental inscriptions to that ancient family and the Swinburnes. At Ryall is a chapel of ease; and a church has been just consecrated at Matfen. There is a place of worship in the village for Presbyterians, at Matfen one for Wesleyans, and at Cheeseburn-Grange one for Roman Catholics. A free school was founded in 1663, by Sir Thomas Widdrington, Knt., who endowed it with seventysix acres of land, now producing about £160 per annum.

'St. Alban's - Stamfordham', A Topographical Dictionary of England (1848), pp. 175-180. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=51295 Date accessed: 12 March 2011.

Civil Registration
Birth, marriages and deaths were kept by the government, from July 1837 to the present day. The civil registration article tells more about these records. There are several Internet sites with name lists or indexes. A popular site is FreeBMD.

Parish Records
Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections Reference number: DDR/EA/PBT/2/238 Date: 1769-1836 Parish Register transcripts are available to search free online at FamilySearch Historical Records.

The dates of the post-1760 transcripts have been noted in detail and sometimes only cover years. For most parishes in the collection there are gaps in the sequence of transcripts. It is advisable to consult the original parish registers for these years and events.

Stamfordham, St Mary the Virgin: Records of baptisms 1662-1978, marriages 1662-1962 and burials 1662-1865 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes baptisms 1662-1812 and marriages 1727-1812 for this parish, and Boyd's Marriage Index includes marriages 1662-1812 and banns 1754-1812. Transcripts of baptisms 1662-1812, marriages 1662-1704 and 1727-1812 and burials 1662-1812 for Stamfordham are available at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Dept.

Matfen, Holy Trinity: Records of baptisms 1844-1974, marriages 1846-1979 and burials 1845-1972 are available at Northumberland Collections Service.

A transcript of monumental inscriptions at Stamfordham, Ryal and Matfen (microfiche TN87) is published by Northumberland and Durham Family History Society and these records are also available in book form at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Department.

Nonconformist Records

 * Cheeseburn Grange, St Francis Xavier (Roman Catholic): Records of baptisms 1775-1863, marriages 1787-1906 and deaths 1783-1797 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes births/baptisms 1775-1840 and some marriages. Transcripts of baptisms 1775-1840 and deaths 1786-1797 are available at Newcastle Central Library, Local Studies Dept.
 * Stamfordham (Presbyterian): Records of births/baptisms 1754-1896 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes births/baptisms 1754-1875.

FamilySearch Historical Records includes England, Durham Diocese, Marriage Bonds and Allegations (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Poor Law Unions
Castle Ward Poor Law Union, Northumberland

Probate records
Records of wills, administrations, inventories, indexes, etc. were filed by the court with jurisdiction over this parish. Go to Northumberland Probate Records to find the name of the court having primary jurisdiction. Scroll down in the article to the section Court Jurisdictions by Parish.

Maps and Gazetteers
Maps are a visual look at the locations in England. Gazetteers contain brief summaries about a place.


 * England Jurisdictions 1851
 * Vision of Britain