I’ve recently discovered the mystery of George Blackburn and where his ancestors fit into the family tree of music icon David Robert Jones.
One doesn’t need to be a famous person to come across a similar dilemma when climbing a family tree and comparing it with those who have climbed before you on Ancestry or similar communities. What can you do when an individual leads to more than one possible set of parents? How can you determine which is the correct line?
Join me on the journey as I work to unravel the mystery. I’ll share my strategies and resources. Perhaps this will help you make a plan for your own conflicting family members, or you can help me solve David Bowie’s!
What We Know
We do know that Bowie isn’t actually the ancestral surname. Born David Robert Jones. As with many celebrities, a change of name is often required during a career. In this case there was already a Davy Jones, with The Monkees. Our David saw that the stage would require something a little different. More in the character David saw himself at the time, he adopted Bowie from the American Colonel James Bowie.
Deram / London Records, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Family Ties
David, born in Greater London, UK on January 08, 1947, is the son of Margaret Mary Burns and Haywood “John Stenton” Jones. In this case we are interested in following the paternal Jones line.
Father, John, comes from the Yorkshire district of England, showing his 1912 birthplace as Doncaster, South Yorkshire. He was the son of Robert Haywood Jones and Zillah Hannah Blackburn. It is this maternal line of David’s grandmother Zillah that leads to confusion.
The Blackburn Family of Wath Upon Dearne
Zillah’s father, Frederick Blackburn, is the last point of reference that the ancestry records agree upon. David’s great-great grandfather, we know, is George Blackburn. We have two lines claiming parentage of George. On the one hand we have John and his wife Mary Downend; on the other hand are William and his wife Mary Hutchinson. George can only belong to one set of parents. Unless there are two George’s, another possibility.
First Things First
I don’t know if there were in fact, two George’s, although I decided to consider them to be until I have proof otherwise. It seems this might be less confusing at the start of the hunt within the Yorkshire census.
While the census contains valuable tidbits of information about where, when, and how a person lived there are often errors in transcription. Perhaps the spelling in a name or location was wrong, or the enumerator had horrible handwriting. Maybe the children’s ages were recounted by a neighbor who estimated. A child may have actually been a grandchild.
There is only so much information that a census can provide. Sometimes we need to look at who the neighbors are. We should always verify the tidbits through the bigger picture. Property deeds, parish records, and village histories are just a few places to look to verify the census.
On August 17, 1832 George wed Sara Beevers at Wath-Upon Dearne.
The Census from 1841 to 1871 show George and Sarah Blackburn with growing families.
The 1841 Census shows George a farmer aged 30, and Sarah, 25, living at Smithy Lane, Wath-Upon-Dearne with their four children Mary 8, Hannah 6, and George Jr. 3, and one-year-old Ellen.
Skip forward ten years to the 1851 Census. George and Sarah reside at 80 West Street, Wath-Upon-Dearne. George is a farmer and a butcher. His birthplace is listed as Wath. George’s age is noted to be 43, while Sarah’s is 38. Daughters Mary and Hannah are not listed in the home. George is now 13, younger sister Ellen was 12. New siblings include Elizabeth 9, William 7, Emma 3, and Frederick 10 months.
The next census in 1861 has 52-year-old George continuing as a farmer and butcher, on a farm of 60 acres at 72 West Street, Wath-Upon-Dearne. At home are children Elizabeth 19, William 17, Emma 13, Frederick 10, Sarah Jane 8, Lucy 5, granddaughter Mary-Hannah 4, and Alice 3 Years.
The family remains in Wath-Upon-Dearne for the 1871 Census. George 63, and Sarah 58 are living with their son William, 27, daughter Alice 12, and granddaughter Mary-Hannah 10.
Next Things Next
George #2, the son of William Blackburn and Mary Hutchinson was born October 6, 1807 at Wath-Upon Dearne.
Father William was born 1775 and mother Mary was born 1769, both at Wath-Upon Dearne.
The 1871 Census has our second George 62, an agricultural laborer living in Barnsley, Roystone with wife Hannah 54. George’s birthplace is listed as Cudworth, while Hannah’s is Thorne. Son Frederick is an agricultural laborer while younger son Walter, 12, is a scholar. Also in the home are granddaughters Elizabeth 6, and Ada 2.
In the 1881 census farm laborer George is 72 years of age. He resides with wife Hannah, 65, and 16-year-old granddaughter Elizabeth at 162 Staincross Road.
While I have only been able to find a few resources about George and his wife Hannah, including her surname at birth, most of the resources point to Sara Beever being the mother of the correct George, including those that point to the line accepted as David Bowie’s.
Back to the Beginning George #1
Baptismal of George son of John Blackburn and Mary Downend of Cudworth, October 22, 1809 – St. John the Baptist, Roystone –
George #1, the son of John and Mary Dewnend was born about 1809. According to the Church of England Baptism records. He was baptised on the 22 October, 1809 at Royston, St. John the Baptist.
According toA Topographical Dictionary of England published in 1848 Roystone, (St. John the Baptist) was a parish, in the wapentake of Staincross, W. riding of York; containing, with the chapelries of Woolley and Monk-Bretton, and the townships of Carlton, Chevet, Cudworth, and Notton, 4341 inhabitants, of whom 612 are in Roystone township, 4¼ miles (N. N. E.) from Barnsley.
A second baptismal record for George, son of John and Mary Bannister occurred October 31, 1819, at Wath upon Dearne. The records at Family Search suggest this George is ten years younger. Likely another George in the Wath-Upon-Dearth Blackburn family.
On 7 Aug 1832 George wed Sarah Beevers at Wath-Upon-Dearne.
In 1868 Wath-Upon Dearne was a parish bordered by the Don and Dearne Rivers, and intersected by the Dearne and Dove Canal, of about six miles in length by four miles in width.
There were extensive collieries, stone quarries, potteries, and ironworks. In 1861 the population of the township was 1,690 and the parish 13, 820.
Death records show George as passing September 1882 at Barnsley.
St John the Baptist, Royston – Churchyard by John Salmon, CC BY-SA 2.0
Father John Blackburn
John Blackburn was baptised 19 Apr 1766, at St. John the Baptist, Royston. Son of Joseph Blackburn of Carlton Gap.
The marriage of John and Mary Downend, both of Cudworth, on 8 December 1789 at Royston, St John the Baptist, Yorkshire, England.
Cudworth is about 6 miles northwest of Wath, as the crow flies.
John dies in Ecclesfield and was buried 7 Jul 1838, Royston, St John the Baptist, Yorkshire, England.
Mother Mary Downend (Downing)
The daughter of Elkanah “Cain” Downing and Elizabeth Bray, born 1770, at Notton, Yorkshire, England, located about 12 miles north of Wath-Upon-Dearne.
The Downing family had been living in the Yorkshire area for at least four generations.
Mary died June 1840 at Ecclesfield, Yorkshire.
Grandparents Joseph Blackburn and Elizabeth Horsefall
Joseph Blackburn was born in 1736, Royston, Yorkshire. Elizabeth Horsefall, was also born in Royston baptized on the 16th of October 1738 at St. John the Baptist, daughter of Joshua Horsfall and Ann Filding.
Joseph and Elizabeth were married at St. John the Baptist, Royston on December 27, 1764.
The family continued to spend their lives in Royston, having eight children baptized at Royston, St John the Baptist.
Following his death in 1830 Joseph was buried at Royston, St John the Baptist on March 13.
George #2
Our second George’s family was the son of William and Mary Blackburn.
On Ancestry I was able to trace William’s Blackburn line back to the mid-sixteenth century John de Blackburn of Halifax, Yorkshire. In the seven generations before William, the family lived and died, for the most part in Yorkshire. His great-grandfather Richard Pybus Blackburne was born and died in Lancashire. Although his father John died in Lancashire, he was baptized in Wakefield, Yorkshire. The family, at this time, likely had ties to Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Parents William Blackburn & Mary Hutchinson
Other than two Ancestry trees and a connection to a christening record for son Matthew I wasn’t able to find documentation of Willam and Mary. William and Mary Blackburn seemed to be a dead-end for the family.
Father William was born 1775 and mother Mary was born 1769, both at Wath-Upon Dearne.
Other than two Ancestry trees and a connection to a christening record for son Matthew I wasn’t able to dig up very much about William and Mary.
I thought, “well this must be it” as the line I found on Ancestry was scant with little documentation.
To my surprise, a little digging brought forth generations of Blackburns.
On Ancestry I was able to trace William’s Blackburn line back to the mid-sixteenth century John de Blackburn of Halifax, Yorkshire. In the seven generations before William, the family lived and died, for the most part in Yorkshire. His great-grandfather Richard Pybus Blackburne was born and died in Lancashire. Although his father John died in Lancashire, he was baptized in Wakefield, Yorkshire. The family, at this time, likely had ties to Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Grandparents John H. Blackburn and Martha Senior
William’s grandfather John was born (or baptized) April 23, 1753 at All Saints, Wakefield to Joseph Blackburn and Jane Ditch.
The Parish Register of Wath has John marrying Martha Senior on 8 Jun 1775.
There are conflicting dates for John’s death on the Ancestry Family Trees, with one being August 1818 at Wath, and the other January 1841 at Wakefield. Neither have supporting death documents.
Martha Senior was born 1758 at Wath-Upon-Dearne, baptized at Mirfield, St Mary, Yorkshire, England on April, 1759, the daughter of Benjamin and Catherine Senior.
The 1841 census shows 80-year-old Martha living on Pie Yard Farm, Wath-Upon-Tearne. Head-of household is Martha’s son Matthew 50, a farmer with his wife Sara 35, their children Anne 12, Matthew 11, Elizabeth 9, Edmund 7, Sarah 5, Martha 3, and 3-month Joseph. Also in the home were Elizabeth Shirtliffe 35, and George Orley 25.
When looking at the census I noticed that the next entry was for a butcher William Blackham 65, and his daughter Ann 30. The Ancestry record shows the surnames as Blackham. William would be the correct age as Martha’s son. This might be a clue as to why I wasn’t able to find George in the local 1841 census.
I decided to look and see if there were further Blackburn entries, two pages back, and about 16 entries I find George and Sarah Blackburn living on Smithy Lane. The entry matches that of George #1. It would be easy to jump to conclusions and decide they must be of the same family because they are close neighbors, supporting documents or records would have to fit in confirming this.
Great Grandparents Joseph Blackburn and Jane Ditch
Joseph and Jane were married at Saint Mary, Barnsley on 30 Mar 1741. Jane was baptized 21 Aug 1721 at Saint Mary, Barnsley to John and Martha. John and Martha married 16 Feb 1712 at Saint Mary, Barnsley. Martha was also buried in the parish.
Their six children are noted to have been born and/or baptized in the same parish.
South Yorkshire – Jza84, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Family Origins
Are the two George’s likely cousins of some degree as they were both borne from the same family. It is worth a look into the family, where they originated, and their history in Yorkshire. Who was the Blackburn family?
Of Anglo Saxon origin, the Blackburn family is named for from where they come. Located in Lancashire, some 70 miles from Wath-Upon-Dearne, the place name comes from Old English word burn, meaning stream. A stream in a dark area or of dark or muddy water. In this case, a small rivulet near the town, Blakeburn “the yellow bourne.”
The Curia Regis rolls of 1206 note the earliest record of the family through Henry de Blackeburn.
The primitive lords of Blackburn, bearing the name of the vill, must be referred to hereafter in the account of Blackburn Church as furnishing the first known incumbents of Blackburn in an hereditary succession, both the rectorial and manorial rights pertaining to the De Blackburns for some generations. The descent of the race is partially recorded, with differences, in ancient documents. According to an accepted statement, the genealogy is traced from Gamaliel de Blackburn, about the time of the Conquest, to Gilbert, from Gilbert to John, and from John to Henry de Blackburn, living about 1160. Henry had sons Richard and Adam. Richard de Blackburn, eldest son of Henry, had a son and heir Adam ; and Adam de Blackburn had two daughters, co-heiresses, who married brothers : Agnes marrying David de Hulton, and had issue Richard de Hulton ; and Beatrice marrying William de Hulton, but having no issue. Thus the manor of Blackburn passed to the De Hultons, and the chief line of the De Blackburns finished in the male descent.
The first person of whom we can find authentic record was a knight who doubtless came over with William the Conqueror in 1066 and helped conquer Saxon England and received for his services “The Blackburn Manor” in Lancaster Shire in northwestern England together with some 1800 acres of fertile land thereto adjacent. He bore the name of Gamaliel de Blackburn, If he was Norman, as the “de” seems to indicate,the writer is inclined to think that he adopted the name of Blackburn from the rich estate heso unceremoniously inherited. Be that as it may, it is certain that the name of Blagborne was given to the site of the present City of Blackburn long before the Norman Conquest, and that the Blackburns moved out from this center eastward into York Shire and northward into Scotland and southward toward London.
During Saxon times the county was divided into sixhundreds, viz., Lonsdale (north and south of the sands), Amounderness, Ley land, Blackburn, Sal ford, and WestDerby, all of which were treated as manors, having their manor-houses at West Derby, Warrington, Newton, Salford, Blackburn, and Leyland.
The Domesday Survey mentions several classes of free tenants in some of these manors, viz., thanes, drenghs (these are found in Newton and Warrington), and radmanni and burgesses, all of whom had to pay suit and service to the King.
Speeds Map of Lancashire, 1623 (reduced).
The non-freemen there were bordars (small holders), neatherds, serfs, and villeins. The several hundreds were again sub-divided into smaller manors, of which in WestDerby alone there were sixty-five. To the Saxons wemay credit the building of several Lancashire churches, which, being in many cases endowed, ultimately became bases of parishes, which were often identical with the manorial estates of the founders.
There is strong presumptive evidence that pre-Norman churches were erected in the following parishes (viz., Kirkby Ireleth, near Cartmel, Lancaster, Tatham, Tunstall, Heysham (of which remains are still visible), Halton, Preston, Kirkham, St. Michaels-on-Wyre, Poulton-le-Fylde, Garstang, Lytham, St. Marys at Whalley (where there are three Saxon crosses), St.Marys at Blackburn, Croston, Eccleston, Walton-on-the-Hill, Wigan, Winwick (here is the fragment of a Saxon cross), Warrington, Manchester, and Rochdale.
Although the Blackburn family found their earlier origins in Lancashire at some point they stepped over the border into Yorkshire. By the 1881 British census, the highest numbers of the Blackburn family were then living in Yorkshire.
An early record of the family is Nicholas Blackburn, born in Richmond, Yorkshire around 1360 became an important merchant in York. He married Margaret Ormeshead, the daughter of another successful merchant. The family became wealthy as cloth and textile merchants. 1406 Nicholas had been made King’s Admiral of the North and in 1412 Lord Mayor of York (a position also held by his son, Nicholas junior, in 1429). Thus began the beginnings of the York branch of the family.
Mistaken Identity
While the story of the first Blackburn is interesting, considering that one must be descended from a given ancestor because the surnames match is an assumption that can take one on a hunt up the wrong tree. Although it would be convenient to think that either George will be connected to Gamaliel de Blackburn is a questionable jump to conclusions.
Because of the lack of genealogical resources in the pre-Victorian period researchers are more likely to make assumptions and associate incorrect records with specific people than in the period following 1837.
In the past, when people were more interested in their own ancestry they sometimes made assumptions based on insufficient evidence. We have to remember that some of these records or histories exist today. Just because we find a trail doesn’t mean that it is authentic just because it is old or the family story has continued for generations.
For a family historian, the major challenge lies in establishing whether the records you find for a person of the same name actually relate to the person who is the focus of the research.
Here we have the further challenge of establishing whether two or more records in different sources are relating to the same person. The probability that a record that has been found in the same area of the person of research might belong to someone else increases when the surname is common in the area, the given names are also common, or if some parish records may be incomplete.
While the census and church records suggest there are two George Blackburn families, we haven’t found evidence that there are one or two George’s. It is easy to assume that there was.
Several types of errors can occur when researchers make assumptions in the absence of sufficient evidence.
This includes assuming there were two persons when there was one, or assuming there was one person when there was two. Even when we can determine there were two “George’s” there is still the problem of associating the incorrect records with the “George” who is the focus of the investigation.
Errors like this can occur because of the loss and scarcity of surviving records. It is easy to come to a wrong conclusion when we don’t know of all the significant changes in an individual’s life. A remarriage or change in occupation may give the illusion of two people of the same name.
A man could remarry later in life to a much younger woman, have a second family, then mistakenly considered to be both father and son. A man’s wife or widow could be considered to be the genetic mother of his children. A husband leaving everything to his wife in a will had no surviving children.
A brother and sister were biological siblings. A cousin was the child of an aunt or uncle. People often referred to kin as cousins, and son-in-law could also refer to a stepson, causing confusion today.
A farmer may become a blacksmith, a laborer a coal miner. While a person of interest may change occupations this doesn’t always make sense, as it is unlikely that a lawyer or surgeon would become an agricultural laborer or vice versa.
A bride and groom are recorded “of this parish,” are mistaken to having been born in the parish.
Three people in the same household in a census with the same surname were father, mother, and daughter.
The spelling of names may be recorded wrong due to being read wrong as in Blackburn and Blackham.
An Ongoing Investigation
While there are bits and pieces of information that can link George to both John and William the hunt will continue for a collection of evidence that will, without a doubt, connect George to his correct Blackburn family. It is easy to arrive at this sort of roadblock when there are numerous people sharing the same first name and forename in a community.
It is easy to follow the little green leaves and hints on genealogy sites like Ancestry through the generations. In doing so we all face the chance of coming across a few family mysteries. Just like word-of-mouth and family stories in genealogy we need verifiable facts to back up what could be an assumption.
Just when it seems that John would be the correct choice as his wife Mary Downend seems to be the strongest candidate as the mother of George #1 we find his family as neighbors of the mother of our second George.
There comes a time when all of the available research sources seem to be exhausted and for the time being, our person of interest sits back on the family tree shelf awaiting further resources to solve the mystery. Having to depend on the recorded clues of the past seems to become questionable and just when we are about to give up science has brought us a new tool.
Genetic genealogy can point the descendants of George Blackburn in the correct direction.
Frederick, the son of George is David’s great-grandfather. DNA matches would be second cousins and third cousins to the elusive George. Perhaps cousins of the fourth degree and beyond will hold the answers to the correct family path.
With every new technology for family research comes another obstacle, one of which is the NPE, or Non-paternity Event, where the expected father turns out to be an error.
Many a family tree may unravel once a NPE determines a line to no longer be genetically connected.
We have gathered our resources and made a good start and will continue to discover where George fits into the Blackburn family. Perhaps one day the answer will come through new information and documents, genetic DNA matches, or through an enthusiastic family historian.
I’ve included some terrific resources to explore the mystery further on my journey, and yours if you choose to accept the challenge!
What do you think? Share your theories and facts about George Blackburn at our Facebook Group Go Cybernaut
All In the Family– There can be quite a few surprises as you look into your DNA Family, appreciated or not. Some connections will answer questions while others will have you asking more as new cousins appear in your results.
Cluster Genealogy – Don’t ignore the bigger picture in your family research as you may find the link through a non-direct ancestor which will allow you to break through to the other side!
Genetic Genealogy – What’s It All About? – As DNA analysis has put an exciting spin on tracing our family trees it can all seem to be an overwhelming and confusing science! The following resources should help us to put a bit of sense and understanding for genealogical tasks.
What Is Autosomal DNA?– Resources that will help you to have a better understanding of autosomal DNA and how it is considered when tracing your genealogy.
Enjoy Music
David Bowie Estate & Warner Music Partnership– Warner Music Group (WMG) and the estate of David Bowie have signed a global, career-spanning partnership for Bowie’s timeless recorded music catalog.
Radio Roulette – Earlier in 2021, I became somewhat consumed with the “where in the world am I” online game, Geoguessr. At about the same time I discovered Radio.Garden, the “where in the world am I” online radio scanner. It was only a matter of time that the two united to become Radio Roulette.
1970s Music My Top 10 – As a teen loving popular music and growing up in the 1970s I have many favorite albums. The following are my top ten for the decade!
Yorkshire History Books at Amazon
David Bowie Books at Amazon
Reasonable Proof Standard
The purpose of the Genealogical Proof Standard is to show what the minimums are that a genealogist must do for his or her work to be credible.
There are five elements to the Genealogical Proof Standard:
Reasonably exhaustive research has been conducted.
Each statement of fact has a complete and accurate source citation.
The evidence is reliable and has been correlated and well interpreted.
Any contradictory evidence has been resolved.
The conclusion has been soundly reasoned and coherently written.
Any proof statement is subject to re-evaluation when new evidence arises.
The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1891; Class: RG12; Piece: 3862; Folio: 8; Page: 8; GSU roll: 6098972
FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI) – Gale Research Company; Detroit, Michigan; Accession Number: 2338190
Tracing Pre-Victorian Ancestors A Guide to Research Methods for Family Historians, John Wintrip, Pen & Sword Family History, Barnsley, UK, 2017
West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D136/5; New Reference Number: WDP136/1/1/5
West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D136/15; New Reference Number: WDP136/1/3/1
West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D136/29; New Reference Number: WDP136/1/4/3
West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; Old Reference Number: D136/29; New Reference Number: WDP136/1/4/3
West Yorkshire Archive Service; Wakefield, Yorkshire, England; Yorkshire Parish Records; New Reference Number: WDP1/1/2/2
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