Day 21 Looking for ancestors near York

Tracking down information about old, dead, family members can be a full time hobby (aka OBSESSION). When we decided to travel around England for 30 days I just had to learn more about my English ancestors. The family story said William Oates and his wife Mary (Simpson) came from Yorkshire. But where? That's a lot of ground to cover! Finally I did discover their marriage took place at St. Laurence Church, York on October 4, 1846. Here is a picture of the church from 1854. It has been replaced with a huge Victorian style church still used today.





William Oates came from a tiny village called Cowthorpe, west of York, and his wife, Mary, from Copmanthorpe, just south of York. Mary Simpson's father and grandfather were brick layers. I still wonder how they ever met, maybe at the weekly market in York--it was only 15 miles away! But also very important to go there!






I have traced the Oates family (through church records) back to my 6th great grandfather, William Oates, (1674-1736) who was buried from the same tiny village of Cowthorpe that we visited. He and his wife, Margaret, (1678-1727) had 5 children; they and all the future Oates children were christened at this church. The church records had all the details.





Sir Brian Roucliff had this Norman style church built in 1458. In the early 1880, Andrew Montague, Esquire who lived at nearby Ingmanthorpe Hall paid to have it restored. The walls are about 4 feet thick with leaded windows. It looked like it would hold about 150 people.





5th great grandfather, William Oates (1703-1786) also married a Margaret (b. 1710) and had at least 8 children. 4th great grandfather, Matthew (1746-1784) married Mary Lund, (1752-1835)of Newton Upon Ouse (a river), 12 miles north of York.



3XX granddad, William Oates (1787-1864) married Anne Wood. She gave birth to 12 children; 3 sons came to Springfield, OH in mid 1850s--my great, great, grandfather, William, and 2 other brothers. Brother Richard Oates served in the Civil War!


Some research took us to Riccall where Mary Simpson's mother, Ann Routledge, was born and married Johathan Simpson. Most of the churches have been rebuilt and I did not find any graves but what excitement to see the places of my family's past. Now I want to find out many more details! YES, IT IS AN OBSESSION! I need to have at least 2-3 weeks at the York library on the next trip.


We arrived at our B&B in York by late afternoon with just enough time to walk partway around York on the wall built by the Normans.

Later on Day 20 Durham

Durham was settled inside a tight bend in the River Wear about 995 AD. And it all started because St Cuthbert's body needed a safe burial spot. The small original church has grown into Durham Cathedral (best Norman architecture in England) and is cold, dark and HUGE!!

The Cathedral is over 450 feet long and Mass (first Catholic and now Anglican) has been said daily for over 900 years!


St. Cuthbert,an early northern England church leader, lived in the Lindisfarne monastery on an island about 100 miles north of Durham. Story has it his body was exhumed 11 years after dying and was miraculausly preserved; pilgrims flocked to Lindisfarne. When Vikings raided the monastery about 875, the monks carried his body and the Lindisfarne Gospels to safe keeping; they continued to roam for 120 years before settling at what became Durham. Pilgrims continue visit to this day.

There is a replica of a big, bronze, lion-faced knocker on the cathedral door. The sign beside the door says "In the Middle Ages the Cathedral provided a refuge for fugitives. Anyone who committed a serious offence could claim sanctuary by knocking on this door. The fugitives were given thirty-seven days to organise their affairs. They had to decide either to stand trial or to leave the country by the nearest port."

We tried a Premier Inn, the UK's largest budget hotel chain, and were pleasantly surprized. I may have to rethink the Bed & Breakfast idea. Our room was large and modern and very nice! Sometimes the B & B just doesn't quite measure up so Premier was a good choice.


Tomorrow we are going to York--home of my distant ancestors!!