Shotley, Northumberland Genealogy

= Parish History =

Shotley is a Parish created in 1724 from chapelry in Bywell St Andrew Ancient Parish and includes: New Biggen, Newbiggen, Newbiggin, and Shotley Low Quarter.

The earliest medieval reference to the parish is in 1165 when the endowment of Blanchland Abbey included the chapel of Shotley; this now lies beneath the Church of St Andrew.

The ancient church of St. Andrew, having sunk in through the working of a coal mine beneath, is now ruinous. [Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland (1890), page 1049.]

The parish church of St. John, erected in 1835, is an edifice of stone in the Early Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, south porch and campanile tower with 2 bells: the stained east window was presented by the late Thomas Wilson esq. of Shotley Hall: there are 150 sittings. The register dates from the year 1675. The living is a perpetual curacy, yearly value £300, with residence in the gift of the trustees of Lord Crewe, Bishop of Durham, 1674-1722, and held since 1880 by the Rev. Robert Wetherall Wilson B.A. of Hatfield Hall, Durham. [Kelly's Directory of Durham and Northumberland (1890), page 1049.]

= Parish Registers =

Durham University Library Archives and Special Collections Reference number: DDR/EA/PBT/2/230Date: June 1767-1840 Parish Register transcripts are available to search free online at Record Search.

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.

Shotley, St Andrew/St John: Records of baptisms 1675-1971, marriages 1670-1991 and burials 1690-1960 are available at Northumberland Collections Service. Microfilm copies of marriages for the period 1670-1837 can be seen at Tyne and Wear Archives Service. The International Genealogical Index (I.G.I.) includes baptisms 1682-1875 and marriages 1670-1876 for this parish, and Boyd's Marriage Index includes marriages 1670-1814 and banns 1751-1775, 1814-1812. Transcripts of baptisms 1675-1812, marriages 1670-1812 and burials 1690-1812 for Shotley are available in the Local Studies Departments of Newcastle Central Library and Gateshead Central Library. A transcript of monumental inscriptions at Shotley (microfiche TN75) 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 =


 * Records of baptisms 1949-1967 for Kiln Pit Hill (Methodist) can be seen at Tyne and Wear Archives Service.
 * Early Wesleyan Methodist chapels in this area belonged to Hexham W.M. Circuit. Records for 1797-1836 can be seen at Northumberland Collections Service and are included on the IGI.