The Conn family of Sedgefield

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The Conn Family of Sedgefield

Research by David Conn

View of Sedgefield

Sedgefield in the 1920s

Sedgefield is a parish in the south east of Durham County, about 15 miles north of Stockton. The parish registers begin in 1580, but it isn't until the mid-18th century that the Conn family appear in the parish.The registers are written in Latin until 1766, and the name is given as Con. George Con appeared in Sedgefield in 1742 with the birth of his first child, and Francis Con (presumably George's brother) in 1746 with the birth of Eliza, his only daughter. There is no further information about Francis. From 1766 the registers are written in English and the family name becomes Conn. Their origin is open for debate, although it was originally suggested that they came either from Scotland or Ireland. More recent research has suggested that they were the George Con and Elizabeth Wood who were married in 12 Nov 1740 at Skelton, near Guisborough in Yorkshire. George was not born in Skelton, but probably came from Whitby. For more information go to Whitby. Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard Wood and Isabel Clarkson, and was born in Sedgefield on 19 Apr 1715. Why Elizabeth and George were married in Skelton is not known, and why they settled in Sedgefield is also a mystery, although the links with the Skelton area of North Yorkshire seems to have continued with their first son Richard dying in Guisborough (the next parish) and George the third son marrying Jane Outhart who was born in Marske, another parish next to Skelton..

This is a very extensive family, mainly because George and Elizabeth had seven sons, although two of the sons, Richard and Thomas, only appear as baptisms. In subsequent generations the family move into nearby parishes such as Wingate and Penshaw, and by the mid 1900s they had spread more widely across the country. Although I have personally looked at all of these parish records, the person who should be consulted on all aspects of this family is Karen Davies. Her web site is called "Con/Conn family from Sedgefield".

The children of George and Elizabeth Con of Sedgefield

1) 3 Jan 1742. Baptism of Richardus fil. Georgy Con de Sedgfield. It is thought that Richard, a joiner, died in Guisborough in 27 Feb 1814. No further information is available.

2) 16 Apr 1744. Baptism of Wilmus fil. Georgy Con de Sedgfield

19 May 1766. William married Mary Oswald at Sedgefield

Their children were:-

  1. 15 Mar 1767. Baptism of Ann
  2. 10 Sep 1769. Baptism of Elizabeth. Married Thomas Matthews in 1803.
  3. 4 Oct 1772. Baptism of Mary. Married Hunton Clapon in 1794.
  4. 26 May 1776. Baptism of Esther. Buried 7 Apr 1777.
  5. 1782. Baptism of Thomas, Buried 27 Jun 1808, aged 26, Sedgefield..
  6. 7 Nov 1784.Baptism of John. No information, but see APPENDIX D.

19 Jan 1793. Burial of Mary Conn, Sedgefield.
2 Jan 1794. Marriage of William Conn and Elizabeth Story, Sedgefield.
30 Sep 1818. Burial of William Conn, Sedgefield.
11 Mar 1822. Burial of Elizabeth Conn, aged 54, Sedgefield.

3) 5 Oct 1746. Baptism of Georgius fil. Georgy Con de Sedgfield

6 May 1765. George married Jane Outhart in Easington, North Yorkshire.

Their children were:-

  1. 5 Dec 1765. Baptism of George at Marske in Cleveland.
  2. 30 Aug 1767. Baptism of William. See APPENDIX A.
  3. 1 Jan 1769. Baptism of John. See APPENDIX D.

23 Jul 1803. Burial of George Conn, aged 59, labourer of this parish.
14 Jun 1815. Burial of Jane Conn, aged 75, Sedgefield

4) 25 Jun 1749. Baptism of Petrus fil. Georgy Con de Sedgfield

14 May 1770 Peter married Margaret Wood at Sedgefield

Their children were:-

  1. 30 Apr 1771. Baptism of Margaret. Married James Smith in 1791.
  2. 20 Sep 1773. Baptism of Peter. Married to Dorothy Bainbridge in 1798.

12 Mar 1799. Baptism of Thomas Bainbridge, son of Peter and Dorothy Conn at Greatham.
9 Jun 1801. Baptism of Margaret, daughter of Peter and Dorothy Conn at Greatham.
16 Feb 1800. Burial of Peter Conn, aged 51, taylor, Sedgefield.
21 Feb 1819. Burial of Margaret Conn, aged 68, Sedgefield.
31 Jan 1838. Marriage of Thomas Bainbridge Conn and Mary Barnes at Sedgefield.

5) 1 Mar 1752. Baptism of John son of George Con of Sedgefield

25 Oct 1773 John married Sarah Herring at Sedgefield

Their children were:-

  1. Mar 1776. Baptism of Mary at Wolsinhgam. Married William Hall in 18 Jan 1797, Wolsingham
  2. Aug 1778. Baptism of Margery at Wolsingham. Married John Bainbridge in 31 Dec 1809, Wolsingham.

27 Sep 1821. Burial of Sarah Conn, aged 73, Sedgefield.
30 Nov 1835. Burial of John Conn, aged 79, Poor House, Sedgefield.

6) 13 Jan 1755. Baptism of Robtus fil. Georgy Con de Sedgfield

16 May 1785 Robert married Jane Kirton (Kearton) at Sedgefield

Their children were:-

  1. 13 Jul 1785. Baptism of Robert.
  2. 4 Aug 1788. Baptism of Thomas [Sunderland ??]
  3. 21 Mar 1791. Baptism of George. Married Jane Darque in 1817
  4. 28 Apr 1794. Baptism of William. Buried 1 Jul 1840, Durham.
  5. 4 Jun 1796. Baptism of Elizabeth. See APPENDIX H.
  6. 21 Jan 1799. Baptism of Mary
  7. 24 Sep 1801. Baptism of Peter
  8. 23 May 1806. Baptism of Ann. Buried 24 May 1806.

15 Nov 1833. Burial of Robert Conn, aged 78, Sedgefield.
4 Dec 1848. Burial of Jane Conn, aged 88, Sedgefield.

7) 26 May 1757. Baptism of Thomas son of George Con of Sedgfield. No further information on this child has been found.

6 Mar 1791. Burial of George Conn of Sedgefield.
8 Feb 1797. Burial of Elizabeth Conn of Sedgefield, aged 82,

APPENDIX A

The family of William Conn, born 1767 in Sedgefield.

The following records were taken from the Sedgefield parish registers.

10 Aug 1801. Marriage of William Conn and Ann Ditchburn (b. 1781) at Sedgefield.

Their children were:-

  1. 26 Jun 1802. Baptism of John, 1st son of William Conn , cartwright, and Ann Ditchburn. Both of this parish. See APPENDIX B
  2. 2 Mar 1804. Baptism of William, son of William and Ann Conn, cartwright. See APPENDIX C
  3. 15 Dec 1808. Baptism of Mary, 1st girl of William Conn, labourer,OTP, and Ann Ditchburn. Married Nicholas Cowey in Penshaw in 1831
  4. 22 Aug 1811. Baptism of Richard, 5th child of William and Ann Conn, labourer, OTP.
  5. 21 Sep 1813. Baptism of Ann. Burial of Ann 1813, aged 1 week, Sedgefield.
  6. 27 Sep 1814. Baptism of Ann. Married William Hood, 1845, Hetton
  7. 16 Apr 1817. Baptism of Michael, son of William and Ann Conn, carpenter, Sedgefield. [Emigrated to Australia in 1864]
  8. 11 Aug 1819. Baptism of Jane. Married Thomas Savage 25 Dec 1842, Wingate.
  9. 14 Jul 1822. Baptism of Thomas
  10. 1860. Burial of Ann Conn at Coundon, Durham.

APPENDIX B

The family of John Conn, born Sedgefield 1802.

The following records were taken from the Penshaw parish register.

6 May 1826. Marriage of John Conn and Margaret Patterson, Penshaw.

Their children were:-

  1. 28 Mar 1826. Baptism of John, son of John and Margaret (late Patterson) Conn, shoemaker, of White Field Pit.
  2. 20 Jul 1828. Baptism of Mary Ann, daughter of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row.
  3. 4 Oct 1829. Baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row. Mar. Michael Watson 29 Aug 1850 Sunderland.
  4. 3 Apr 1831. Baptism of Joseph Patterson, son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row.
  5. 7 Oct 1832. Baptism of Margaret, daughter of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row. Mar George Smart 14 Jan 1854, Sunderland.
  6. 5 Oct 1834. Baptism of Jane, daughter of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row.
  7. 27 Jan 1836. Baptism of William, son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row. Buried 31 May 1850, aged 14, Shiney Row.
  8. 12 Aug 1842. Baptism of Luke, son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Mill Pit. Born 4 Feb 1838.
  9. 12 Aug 1842. Baptism of George, son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Mill Pit. Born 29 Jul 1840.
  10. 31 May 1850. Baptism of Thomas, son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row. Born 17 Feb 1844.
  11. 31 May 1850. Baptism of Alice, daughter of Jon and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row. Born 29 Jul 1847.
  12. 15 Jun 1852. Baptism of William, son of John and Margaret (Patterson) Conn, shoemaker of Shiney Row. Born 22 Apr 1850.

APPENDIX C

The family of William Conn, born in Sedgefield, 1804.

27 Aug 1825. Marriage of William Conn and Margaret Taylor, Penshaw.

Their children were:-

  1. 4 Nov 1827. Baptism of John, son of William and Margaret (Taylor) Conn, blacksmith of Penshaw.
  2. 30 Aug 1829. Baptism of William, son of William and Margaret (Taylor) Conn. (see The Conn family of York).
  3. 16 Oct 1831.Baptism of Thomas, son of William and Margaret Conn, blacksmith of Penshaw.
  4. 16 Dec 1832. Burial of Thomas Conn, aged 1 year at Penshaw.
  5. 6 Oct 1833. Baptism of Margaret, daughter of William and Margaret (Taylor) Conn, blacksmith of Penshaw

APPENDIX D

The family of John Conn, born 1 Jan 1769 in Sedgefield

Warning! The records of the second marriage of John Conn of Lanchester could belong to John Conn the son of William and Mary Oswald, born 1884.

The first marriage of John Conn appears to be the following:-

7 Jul 1796. Marriage of John Conn to Margaret Baty at Wolsingham.
6 May 1806. Burial. Margaret Conn, 33, Eastgate, Stanhope

The second marriage of John Conn appears to be the following:-

12 Jun 1806 Marriage of John Conn and Mary Dawson, Stanhope.

Their children were:-

  1. 23 Oct 1808. Baptism of John, 1st son of John Conn, hind of High Horsley late of the parish of Lanchester,by his wife, Mary Dawson, native of this parish. See Appendix E.
  2. 28 Oct 1810. Baptism of George, 3rd son of John Conn of Eastgate, hind, native of Wolsingham, by his wife Mary Dawson, native of this parish. (What happened to the 2nd son?) . See APPENDIX F.
  3. 9 May 1813 Baptism of Mary, daughter of John and Mary Conn of Stanhope. Married Anthony Wilson 2 Feb 1835, Lanchester.
  4. 5 Oct 1817. Baptism of Robert, son of John and Mary Conn, labourer, Lanchester. Buried 9 Jul 1876, aged 59, Mount Pleasant, Lanchester.
  5. 2 Apr 1820. Baptism of Hannah, daughter of John and Mary Conn of Lanchester. Married Thomas Curry, 16 Mar 1847, Lanchgester.
  6. 6 Mar 1822. Baptism of Sarah, daughter of John and Mary Conn of Lanchester. Buried 3 Dec 1841, aged 19, at Jaw Blades, Lanchester.
  7. 31 Oct 1824. Baptism of Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary Conn, labourer, Collings Green.
  8. 11 Jun 1827. Baptism of Jane, daughter of John and Mary Conn of Lanchester.

23 Sep 1834. Burial of John Conn, age 62, Collings Green.
10 Jan 1866. Burial of Mary Conn, aged 78, Conns House, Lanchester.

APPENDIX E

The family of John Conn, born 23 Oct 1808, Stanhope.

27 Oct 1831. Marriage of John Conn (b.1808) to Margaret Garthwaite, Lanchester.

Their children were:-

  1. 15 Apr 1832. Bap. of Thomas Nicholas, son of John and Margaret Conn, labourer, Maiden Law, Lanchester. See APPENDIX G.
  2. 30 Mar 1834.Bap. of John, son of John and Margaret Conn, labourer, Byerley House, Lanchester.
  3. 23 Feb 1840. Bap. of William, son of John and Margaret Conn, labourer, Langley Lane, Lanchester. Buried 14 Jan 1859, age 19, Park House Cottages
  4. 8 Jun 1842. Bap of Robert, son of John and Margaret Conn, labourer, Langley, Lanchester. Buried 17 Aug 1842, Fell Side.
  5. 8 Jun 1842. Bap. of Margaret, daughter of John and Margaret Conn, labourer, Langley. Buried 21 Aug 1842, Fell Side
  6. 23 Jun 1844. Bap. of Jane, daughter of John and Margaret Conn, husbandman, Fell Side. Buried 13 Dec 1857, aged 14, High Langley
  7. 30 Jan 1847. Bap. of Mark, son of John and Margaret Conn, hind, Fell Side.

6 Sep 1846. Burial of John Conn, aged 39, Fell Side.

APPENDIX F

The family of George Conn, born 28 Oct 1810, Stanhope.

23 Oct 1830. Marriage of George Conn and Mary Brown at Lanchester.

Their children were:-

  1. 11 Jan 1831. Bap. of Ann, daughter of George and Mary Conn, labourer, Jaw Blades, Lanchester.
  2. 8 Jul 1838. Bap. of George, son of George and Mary Conn, labourer, Jaw Blades, Lanchester. Buried 13 Mar 1858, aged 21, High Langley.

8 May 1865. Burial of Mary Conn, aged 64, The Kiddles, Lanchester.
18 Dec 1899. Burial of George Conn, aged 90, Langley Park, Lanchester.
1871 census. Ann Conn is living in East Coatham, Kirkleatham. She is ladies maid to a Phyllis Williams.
1881 census. Ann Conn is living in Kirkleatham.

APPENDIX G

The family of Thomas Nicholas Conn, born 15 Apr 1832, Lanchester.

4 Oct 1860. Marriage of Thomas Nicholas Conn and Elizabeth Peart, both of West Field House, Wolsingham.

Their children were:-

  1. 25 Dec 1864. Bap. of Emerson, aged 3 years, son of Thomas Nicholas and Elizabeth Conn, West Field., Wolsingham.
  2. 25 Dec 1864. Bap. of James Nicholas, son of Thomas Nicholas and Elizabeth Conn, West Field, Wolsingham.
  3. 14 Jun 1871. Bap of Elizabeth Jane, aged 4 years, daughtr of Thomas and Elizabeth Conn, West Field House, Wolsingham.
  4. 14 Jun 1871. bap of Annie, aged 2 years, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Conn, West Field House, Wolsingham.
  5. 23 Mar 1880. Bap of Emma, aged 8 years, daughter of Thomas and Elixzabeth Conn, Wolsingham.
  6. 23 Mar 1880. Bap of Mary Jane aged 6 years, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Conn, Wolsingham.
  7. 23 Mar 1880. Bap of Hannah aged 3 years, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Conn, Wolsingham.

28 Feb 1885. Burial of Thomas Nicholas Conn aged 53, Wolsingham.

APPENDIX H

The family of Elizabeth Conn, born 4 Jun 1796, Sedgefield.

The children of Elizabeth were :-

  1. 31 Oct 1819.Bap of Jane, daughter of Thomas Laud, bachelor, servant, and Elizabeth Conn, Thorpe. Married Mark Harland, 1841.
  2. 24 Feb 1823. Bap of Mary the illegitimate daughter of Elizaneth Conn, servant of this parish, by John Hardy of Thorpe. Had two illegitimate children, Margaret, 1844 and Thomas, 1847.
  3. 8 May 1836.Bap of Elizabeth, twin daughter of William Usher, labourer, Sedgefield and Elizabeth Conn, servant, Thorpe. Married Thomas Prescott, 1844, Hartlepool.
  4. 8 May 1826. Bap of Ann, twin daughter of William Usher, labourer, Sedgefield, and Elizabeth Conn, servant, Thorpe. Buried 6 Apr 1833.
  5. 28 Sep 1830. Bap of Margaret, illegitimate daughter of Elizabeth Conn, singlewoman, Sedgefield, by William Cooper, joiner.
  6. 19 Jan 1837. Bap of Ann, daughter of Elizabeth Conn of Sedgefield.

The following records have not found a home, but must belong to these families.