Hello All,
Sorry for the long post. I’m related to the Carrs of Dotland. My great-grandfather was John Graham Carr (1852-1922) who was son of John Carr (1794-1866) and Jane Bell (1814?-1887) she was also known as Jane Graham and Jane Carr, although no trace of a marriage between her and John, and no marriage for a Jane Bell to anyone called Graham. John Carr (1794) was the son of Ann Rowland and Thomas Carr.
In 1851, Jane Bell of Slaley was working for the family at Dotland when Ann Carr, nee Rowland, was still alive. The baptisms and birth certificates of Jane and John’s children give the mother as Jane Graham late Bell but no father listed. However, in the 1861 Census it lists the family living at High Lane House, part of Whitley Chapelry, and the children’s names and an annotation are interesting, the household is:
– John Carr, Head, 67, Retired Farmer, Hexham
– John Graham, Son (with a line through “Son” and (N) after it), 9, Scholar, Hexham
– Thomas Graham, Son (with (N) after it), 7, Hexham
– Ann Graham, Daur (with (N) after it), 7, Hexham
– Mary Graham, Daur (with (N) after it), 5, Hexham
– Thomas Carr, Brother, Unmarried, 64, Ag.Lab., Hexham
– Jane Graham, Serv., 47, Slaley, Hexham
I found something which indicated ‘N’ was for Natural born.
John Graham Carr’s siblings:
George Graham or Bell – 1847-1924. I can only find him living as George Bell, but his baptism calls him George Graham. I think I have him in 1851 with his grandmother Mary Bell, living in Dotland.
Ann Graham or Carr – 1854-1923.
Thomas Graham or Carr – 1854-1939 – twin of Ann.
Mary Carr Graham – 1856-1878. Baptised Mary Carr Graham, it seems adding Carr as a middle name is some official recognition of the father.
John, Ann, Thomas, and Mary all went by Graham until 1871 when they started to be called Carr in the records. John is the only one to retain Graham as a middle name.
I have traced my great-grandfather and his siblings, however, I draw a bit of blank with his grandfather Thomas Carr (husband of Ann Rowland), I’m just not sure which branch of the Carr family he belongs to and if his parents were John Carr and Mary Lindsay.
I also have a bit of uncertainty about Jane Bell’s family; I think her parents were James Bell and Mary Dent.
Does anyone recognise this branch of the Carr family and can shed any light? I’d appreciate any information. Thank you!