Originally Posted on Facebook:  April 15, 2020

1796 - Anderson Brick Wall

I thought I would share something I am working on, this is an excerpt from the Bishops Transcripts or the local Parish records for the county of Northumberland, England.

John Anderson, our 3rd Great Grandfather's baptism is noted here along with the names of his parents: John Anderson and Elizabeth Gray - note that he is marked as Illegitimate. I know this is our John because he indicates in his census records that he was born in Longwitton, Northumberland within this year. There are no other John Andersons of this age.

I have not been able to move a generation back as I have not found any record of his mother or father's births, their marriage or evidence of any siblings. This is likely because he was illegitimate and there may have never been a marriage. John may have moved away from his birth community as a result of being born illegitimately as he is found in Durham by the birth of his first son in 1825.

This record represents the oldest Anderson document I have, so I will continue to research looking for clues to the mystery to break through my brick wall!