Basic Durrant Family Tree

John Durrant

John Durrant b 1815 in Turweston, Buckinghamshire to William Durrant and Ann Foxley.  He died in Macclesfield in 1874.

 

John Durrant has been pivotal to all my family history research, but he hasn’t been an easy man to pin down!

 

There have been generations of the Durrant/Durham/Derrant/Derram family in Turweston and the surrounding area since the 1600’s.  My branch seems to have lived in either Turweston itself or Whitfield nearby.  The first problem being that Turweston is in Buckinghamshire and Whitfield in Northamptonshire.

 

Ann Foxley, John’s mother, had brothers working as brickmakers in the area so it seems likely that this is where John learned his trade.  Initially it is probable that he worked with his uncle and cousins. 

 

In 1840 John married Sarah Broome and over the next 5 or 6 years they had 3 children.  It was during this time that the family moved to nearby Brackley and it was here that Sarah stayed for most of the rest of her life.

 

It is possible that there was a shortage of work in Turweston – it’s difficult to find out but something made them move.   As we shall see John always followed the work and moved many times during his lifetime. 

 

Whatever economic factors were at play in the Durrant family at that time John appears to have moved much further away, leaving his family behind.  I can find no trace of him on 1851 census or in the death records – so he didn’t die.  Sarah, his wife, is down as living in Brackley – head of the household, and as a ‘wife’ not a widow.  The same in 1861.

 

John must have travelled further south, either to Wales or Cornwall because sometime between 1851 and 1855 he meets Maria Rowe.  I have hunted high and low for a marriage entry for this pair but I can’t find one.  It should be there – registration of births, marriages and deaths were well established by then.  I’ve check every variation of name spelling but nothing.  In the end I have to come to the conclusion that the pair did not marry at all.  Whether he fooled Maria into thinking they were I can’t say.

 

In 1856 they have their first child – Caroline Elizabeth.  A series of births follow over the ensuing years but not all of them survive.  Seven of their children survived into adulthood – seven daughters.

Caroline Elizabeth

Mary Ann (Polly)
Eliza Jane
Matilda
Leah Nora
Kate
Amelia  
 

Sarah Alice died when she was 10

Emily died as an infant

John Alfred William died as an infant

 

John Durrant - Part 2 - Wales to Macclesfield

I have tracked the family’s movements by the addresses on the birth certificates of the children.  Most of them were born in Wales.  John worked for the coal mines.  Apparently the main tunnel into the mines was lined with brick and painted white – told to me by an ex miner at ‘Big Pit’ South Wales.  He also told me that all the mines had their own brickworks. on site.  Caroline and Mary Ann were born during the coal mining times. 

 

From the coalfields of South Wales they moved to Carmarthenshire, to the village of LLangunnor.  It was a lead mine that brought them here.  On the 1861 census there is also a number or Cornish people living along side them – Maria was Cornish.  John Alfred William and Eliza Jane were both born here.  John Alfred William died in infancy and is buried in the churchyard.

 It was here that the girls learned to swim.  John fished in the rive Teifi – in a coracle – they are still used today, the area is quite famous for them.  As the girls were now growing up and talking I’ve often wondered if they had welsh accents – an aunt of mine said they did, in fact she told me that they thought the name Durrant was welsh – but of course, it isn’t.

 From here the family moved to Aberystwyth – in Cardigan Bay.  They lived at the Brickyard at a place called Ynyslas – Ynyslas is now a nature reserve and runs along the Dovey Estuary.  Very close by is the seaside resort of Borth.  Why did they go there – because of the railway.

 A Victorian entrepreneur wanted to build a railway that would cross the Dovey from Borth to Aberdovey on the other side.  The project, however, was a disaster, and in the end the railway had to go the long way round.

 Elderly members of my family told me that the family had to move from here because of the flooding.  They also said that Maria went into labour while she was out on a boat in the estuary.

 

The railway line is now a stretch of the Cambrian Railway – a lovely journey from Aberystwyth to Phwelli   I have been told that John made the bricks that built the houses for the railway builders to live in, and for the station at Borth. 

 The Brickyard still stands – it is now a farm and the current owner very kindly showed me around many years ago and gave me some of the handmade bricks that littered the ground.

 From here the family went to Chirk in North Wales – another brickyard, another daughter.  Next they left Wales and went to Gentleshaw in Staffordshire – their daughter Kate was born here.  But very soon they were on the move again – to Macclesfield in Cheshire.

 At that time Macclesfield was a booming silk town – a number of people emigrated from here to Paterson, New Jersey in the USA.  As adults two of the girls emigrated and I have a photo of the girls grown up - it has always been called the ‘Paterson photo’.   So they must have had contacts there.

 

One way or another John got a job making the bricks for the new infirmary that was to be built.  The journey from Staffordshire to Macclesfield must have been an arduous one because they’d no sooner arrived when Maria gave birth to Emily and the child died soon after.

 

John Durrant - Part 3 - The End

The family’s address was 160 Great King Street, Macclesfield.  The property was a small two up, two down terrace – so pretty cramped.  It still exists but of course may have changed over the years.  One more surviving daughter was born – Amelia.  The other girls were growing up.  Caroline Elizabeth had left home and was working as a servant in a house in Chestergate, Macclesfield – today it’s a jewellers shop.

 

In 1871 John was admitted to Macclesfield Workhouse where he stayed for 10 days.    On admission he was logged as ‘insane’ and when he was discharged it was to the asylum.

 

Obviously something drastic happened to the man.  I have his medical notes from the asylum and it queries ‘drink’.  He is given a sedative because he is noisy but soon quietens down.  He stays in the asylum until his death in 1874.  He talks about his work and is visited by his daughter Mary Ann – who is working as a ‘carrier off for brickmakers’. 

 

Despite the age he gives - it is noted in his medical notes that he looks 60 – he is actually 56.  There is no mention of anymore visitors – and no mention of Maria, other than her name on his notes and denoted as ‘wife’.  However it is noted that John told the doctor that his mother - Ann Foxley - had been insane and so had his aunt.

 

When John died the cause of death is given as ‘general paralysis’.  I have been told by my aunt that it could well have been Parkinson’s disease.  Apparently his daughter, Amelia is reputed to have had this in later life too.

 

After John’s death the family moved to Brough Street West, Macclesfield and Maria meets husband number 2.

Evidence Documents

 

 

 

1871 Census showing address and is more precise than any previous census.  The spelling isn't correct but written as prounounced - particularly 'Ennislass'  which is in fact Ynyslas.  There is an error in the list of names - the last entry Emily should be Amelia.

Difficult to see but this is the Workhouse entry for John's admission - his record is the second one down - not the entry in far right column - 'insane'

The Workhouse entry for John's transfer to the asylum - he's eighth down on the list

Workhouse entry for Kate Durrant and her two deceased twin boys - Harold and Wilfred Durrant

1881 census for Cooper/Durrant family.  Maria Durrant married James Cooper in 1874.  Note that Amelia isn't listed - she is in the USA staying with her sister Caroline Elizabeth.

Is this the correct John Durrant?

The evidence I have for linking the John Durrant who 'married' Maria Rowe with the son of William Durrant and Ann Foxley is circumstantial.  As yet I have found no documentary proof - the circumstantial evidence, however,  is compelling.

The first born girl to John & Maria - Caroline Elizabeth - the same name as his dead sister
The first born boy to John & Maria - John Alfred William - John after himself and Alfred William after his brother.

The lack of any other candidates.  I've traced all other John Durrant's in Buckinghamshire & Northamptonshire that would fit the timeframe and it's not them.

John Durrant born to James and Dinah Durrant in Whitfield was my John's cousin and tracing him forward he marries elsewhere has completely different descendants and works for the railways.

Sarah Broome/Durrant continues to call herself 'wife' but head of household on the subsequent census returns.  There is no mention of John.

My John states on the 1871 census - the one that he has taken great care to get just right - states that he was born in Turweston, Buckinghamshire.

There is no marriage record for John & Maria - I have searched extensively but I contine to look.

On admission to the asylum he looks 60.

A family tale about a 'bigamist'.