Sunderland area

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The Conn families of the Sunderland Area.

Research by David Conn

Sunderland harbour, 1899

Sunderland harbour, late 19th century.

The ancient parishes of Monkwearmouth and Bishopwearmouth spread along the north and south bank of the River Wear, but such was the growth in population in the area that the new parish of Sunderland was created in 1720. The massive growth in the shipbuilding industry, along with its associated trades of sailmaking, ships chandlers, provisioning etc. made the Sunderland area a magnet for the large numbers of men who were losing their jobs on the land because of the revolution that was taking place in agriculture. Consequently the members of the Conn family that did arrive in Sunderland were migrants, and as such are extremely difficult to place into any family tree. Because of that I have chosen to list the records according to parish, and when possible to indicate from which family they originate. In many cases this must be taken as speculation.

I have also included the Conn family of Houghten-le-Spring with these records. The parish of Houghten-le-Spring lies to the southwest of Sunderland and includes the chapelries of Penshaw and West Rainton. The Conn's of Penshaw have been included with the Sedgefield families.

Bishopwearmouth records.

Hendon, St Paul records

Monkwearmouth records

4th Q of 1842. Mar. of William Conn and Mary Holmes. Sunderland.

Their children were:-

  1. 16 Jun 1843. Bap. Ann, d of William and Mary Holmes Conn, mariner of Shore. Buried 12 Aug 1843, aged 2 months, Shore.
  2. 16 Jun 1843. Bap. Mary d of William and Mary Holmes Conn, mariner of Shore. Buried 10 Oct 1843, aged 4 months, Shore.
  3. 29 Nov 1846. Bap. William s of William and Mary Holmes Conn, mariner of Shore.
  4. 14 Jan 1849. Bap. Mary Ann Holmes, d of William Conn and Mary Holmes of Shore. Buried 8 Oct 1850, aged 21 months, Shore.
  5. 1 Jun 1851. Bap. Mary Ann Holmes d of William Conn, mariner, & Mary Holmes, Buried 3rd quarter of 1851.
  6. 3rd quarter 1855. Bap of Mary Ann Holmes.

Jan 1853. Bap. of George Gladson Conn, Sunderland.
8 Dec 1853. Bur. George Gladson Conn, age 11 month. Barclay St.

8 Feb 1887. Bur. Robert Conn, age 63, Union Workhouse.

16 Dec 1848. Mar. of Thomas, pitman, son of William Conn, furrier, and Elizabeth Thompson
22 May 1853. Mar. of Mary aged 29, d. of William Conn, gardener, and John Aynsley, cooper, aged 34.

25 Aug 1850. Mar. of Elizabeth Conn d. of John Conn aged 21 , and Michael Watson aged 23, mariner of William St.(from Penshaw.)

Sunderland records

Robert Conn and his wife Rachel moved from Whitby in about 1727 along with their son Robert. Their first son, Timothy, had died in Whitby.

2 Jul 1738. Bur. Rachel, wife of Robert Conn, Holy Trinity. [from Pickering and Whitby]
15 Sep 1740. Bur. Robert, son of Robert Conn, Holy Trinity. This is the son of Robert and Rachel Conn.

25 Aug 1738. Marriage of Robert Conn and Jane Storm [from Pickering and Whitby]

Their children were:-

  1. 24 May 1743. Bap. Rebecca d of Robert & Jane Conn. Married John Young 12 Feb 1771, Sunderland.
  2. 19 May 1745. Bap. Jane d of Robert & Jane Conn. Bur. 23 Jun 1817. Married John Eden 31 Dec 1772, Sunderland.
  3. 14 Jun 1747. Bap. Robert s of Robert & Jane Conn. No further information about him.
  4. 16 Jan 1750. Bap. Matthew s of Robert & Jane Conn. Moved back to Whitby.

The following records are difficult to place.

19 Aug 1799. Mar. Elizabeth Conn and James Hall
13 Dec 1812. Bap. Jane d of Thomas Conn and his wife Thomasine, nee Peacock [Sedgefield ??]
17 Jan 1813. Bap. Elizabeth d of Thomas Conn and his wife Thomasine, nee Pearcock
14 Feb 1815. Bap. Robert s of Thomas Conn and his wife Thomasine, nee Peacock
14 Jan 1854. Mar. Margaret Conn, age 21, d of John Conn, shoemaker of Sedgefield, and George Smart, age 22.[Penshaw]
1st quarter of 1862. Burial of Thomasin Conn, Sunderland
29 Nov 1867. Bap. Sarah Jane d of John Conn and his wife Sarah Jane Daley, Barracks.

Houghten-le Spring records

This family is part of the very large Conn family from Scotland and Northern Ireland. The principal researcher is Alex Conn who shoukl be consulted for any information. His website can be found at www.Ayrshireroots.com

Robert Conn was born 1 Nov 1852 in Ireland. He married Mary Jane Dickson on 1 Jul 1869. They moved to Ayrshire, Scotland sometime after April 1871. They had one daughter called Martha born 14 Feb 1872 at Hurlford, Ayrshire. His wife died of typhoid fever on 26 Dec 1873 at Kilmarnock Infirmary, Ayrshire. He then moved to Durham in England, whrer he married Alice Middleton.

Robert Conn (1852-1910) married Alice Middleton (1877-1909) at Houghten-le-Spring on 19 Jan 1876.

Their children were:-

  1. 3 Apr 1877. Baptism of Mary Alice
  2. 15 Feb 1879. Baptism of Alexander.
  3. 17 Dec 1881. Baptism of John Middleton. Buried 1 Oct 1882.
  4. 2 May 1883. Baptism of Jane Spiers.
  5. 11 Mar 1885. Baptism of John Middleton.Buried 9 Mar 1894.
  6. 29 May 1887. Baptism of Lavinia.
  7. 26 May 1889. Baptism of William James Middleton. Buried 16 Jan 1890.
  8. 20 Nov 1890. Baptism of Emily.
  9. 17 Aug 1892. Baptism of Hilda Annie.
  10. 15 Jan 1899. Baptism of Robert.