Ushaw Moor Memories

I have been tracing my family history and one of my ancestors was a gentleman called Ralph Wilson. I think he was born in 1844 or 1845 and lived in the New Brancepeth and Ushaw Moor areas. I was wondering if this could be the same Ralph Wilson who was the organist at the Methodist Chapel for 37 years.

I recall speaking to my Nana a few years ago about what she could remember or what she had been told about our past. She said that one of our ancestors (my great great grandfather), William Ellis, had been a preacher at the methodist chapel in Ushaw Moor and that his wife, Thomason (my Nana had thought she was called Jane), had been the organist there. My research has shown that Thomason's father was called Ralph Wilson, so with my Nana being mistaken about Thomason's name I wonder if she too was mistaken as to exactly which ancestor of ours had been the organist?

Any further information you could give me as to whether the two Ralphs are the same, and as to whether anything is known of William and Thomason would be very gratefully received. The kind of timneframe we'd be looking at for this to fit in would be very late 19th and early 20th century.


Thank You,



Michael Steel

I thought that I would go back to Victorian times and try and trace a few familiar names that matched the surnames of some pupils from my school days, as follows:

15 Ladysmith - Thomas Wilson wife Catherine and sons John and Richard

15 Temperance Terrace – Henry Forster wife Margaret and daughters Hannah and Isabella

20 --------do---------– James Stoddart and wife Frances

25 -------do------- --- John Myers wife Sarah and dtr Jane

3 East Terrace Thomas Stoddart wife Isabel and dtr Ethel

7 George Street Richard Brunskill wife Jane and dtrs Hilda, Hannah, Dora and son Richard

10 Albert Street John Brunskill wife Rachael and dtrs Candais, Jane and Hannah

20 William Street John Jackson wife Louisa and son Thomas

18 -----do------- Edward Jones wife Ann dtrs Elizabeth and Mary plus son John

12 West Street John Jolly brother Edward and niece Emily Wray

Of course the above Victorians might not have any connection to my old school chums – but you never know.

Cricket

Back in late June 1935 the New Brancepeth CC second XI continued their good form by beating Sherburn seconds by four wickets. E Sinclair took five wickets for 19 runs and A Marchant four wickets for 27 runs to dismiss Sherburn quite cheaply. J Ayre took at least two catches for New Brancepeth.

Wilf Bell