The Weddell family tree

Samuel Robert Weddell, a saddler, was born between 1808 and 1812. In the 1851,1861 & 1871 census he states that he was born in Newcastle on Tyne. His marriage certificate (3 December 1838) states that his father was William Weddell, a hatter.

The IGI / Family Search shows no Samuel Weddell whose father was named William, nor do any of the Registers of Newcastle and the surrounding area list a baptism during the above period. There is one Robert Weddle, son of William & Hannah (nee Heslop) christened 5th August 1810 at Simonburn, Northumberland.

There is however a William George Weddell, a hatter, known to be living in Newcastle from a date prior to July 1803, and there is some circumstantial evidence to suggest that he is the father of Samuel Robert.

The date of July 1803 is established by the fact that there is a certified copy of the entry from the baptismal register of St George, Bloomsbury, Middx, in respect of George William Weddell, held at the Tyne & Wear Record Office. This document is dated 28th July 1803. It has proved impossible to obtain any explanation as to why this certificate was required or how it came to be in the Record Office.

On August 25 1804, William George Weddell, who was described as a hatter, obtained a Licence to marry Elizabeth Lyon, aged 18. Her mother, Hannah Lyon gave her consent. They were married two days later at All Saints Church, Newcastle. The IGI shows Elizabeth Lyon to be the daughter of Robert Lyon and Hannah Simpson.

The couple had their first son, George William, baptised on 23 March 1806, the register referring to the first son of George William Weddell, Hatter of Bloomsbury, by his wife Elizabeth Lyon. No further baptismal entries have been found for other children.

By 4th May 1808, William George Weddell was in financial difficulties with his business. A Commission of Bankrupt was awarded against him, in which he is described as Shopkeeper, Dealer and Chapman. The situation obviously deteriorated as by 7th March 1812, he was in Newcastle's Newgate Prison for debt and one of the signatories to a petition seeking release.

In September 1813, the London Gazette gives notice of a meeting of the creditors of William George Weddell, to be held at the Talbot Inn, Manchester on 11th October.

One can only speculate as to what happened to William George Weddell. There does not appear to be any death/burial record in the Newcastle area. The country was at war with France, and at that time prisoners were often pressed into the Navy, from where they could disappear without trace. The only information is that in the 1851 census (HO107/2407) Elizabeth Weddell, neé Elizabeth Lyon, is recorded as being a widow & pauper aged 67.

The death of Hannah Lyons, aged 79, is recorded on 24th December 1843 in the register of All Saints Church, Newcastle.

His occupation is correct (a hatter).
The incidence of two christian names is comparatively rare.
George W. Weddell's father was Samuel, and Elizabeth Weddell's father was Robert ; was Samuel Robert Weddell named after his two grandfathers?
If George W. Weddell was in prison it would account for his wife being elsewhere in 1811/12.
The first daughter of Samuel Robert Weddell was named Elizabeth Hannah; was she named after her grandmother and great grandmother?

Reference Documents:

Obtained from Tyne & Wear Record Office - Certified copy of Baptismal Entry

Born Jun 7, 1780; Xned July 2nd
George William, son of Samuel & Mary Weddell
The above is a copy taken from the Register Book of Christenings Belonging to
the Parish of St George Bloomsbury in the County of Middlesex.
Witness my Hand this Twenty Eighth day of July 1803
A.P. Poston Minister

Extract from Index of Durham marriage bonds (Microfilm RB238)

Aug 25 1804
Weddell, William George, All Saints Newcastle, 24, Hatter
Lyon, Elizabeth, All Saints Newcastle, 18
Coulston, Thos, Newcastle, painter [presumably the surety]
Hannah Lyon is her mother and consents

Newcastle, All Saints Church: Entry No 623 in Marriages Register

27th August 1804

William George Weddell & Elizabeth Lyon, both of this chapelry were
married in this chapel by Licence this 27th day of August 1804 by me Willm Haigh, Curate.
This marriage was solemized between us WG Weddell Elibezth [sic] Lyon
In the presence of Hannah Lyon, Thos Coulson

Newcastle, All Saints Church: Baptismal Register

23 Mar 1806 - Baptism
George William Weddell, born June 26 [presumable 1805] bapt Mar 23. 1st son of George William Weddell, Hatter of Bloomsbury Middx, by his wife Elizabeth, dau of Robert Lyon, Banker of Newington Surrey.
[Note: The father's Christian names have been reversed as compared with the marriage entry, etc.]

Debtors Petition; PRO Document HO42/121

To His Royal Highness the Prince Regent of the United Kingdom.

The Petition of the Undersigned Debtors confined in the Prison of Newgate Newcastle upon Tyne

Humbly Sheweth _ That we, His Majesty's most loyal and dutiful Subjects, beg leave to approach your Royal Highness with a Statement of our grievances and sufferings, and with humble solicitation for our Relief.

That your Petitioners bend with due submission to the Laws of their Country, which have doomed them to Imprisonment, and to the control it has given to Creditors over the persons of their Debtors, but the Legislature has shewn that it was never intended such a power should be perpetual, and various Acts have therefore from time to time been passed, both in the present and former reigns, for the relief of Insolvent Debtors . That all these various Acts have been of a temporary description, and limited in their operation; so that their benefits were no sooner extended to the objects of them, than another body of unfortunate Debtors were again claiming the like relief, and upon similar grounds. That the present embarrassed and precarious state of Commerce has added extensively to the Catalogue of the Unfortunate, Your Petitioners have therefore been waiting, with anxious solicitude, for some permanent measure of the Legislature that would alleviate or remedy their sufferings; and their hopes and expectations have been sanguinely and fondly turned to that period when your Royal Highness was to assume the unrestricted exercise of the Royal Authority. Your Petitioners therefore now most humbly appeal to your Royal Highness's humanity and magnanimity, in soliciting their speedy restoration to the bosoms of their afflicted families, and to society.

And that your Royal Highness may be graciously pleased to recommend to the early notice of Parliament such measures as in your Royal Highness's wisdom may seem best calculated to relieve our distresses.

And your Petitioners as in duty bound,
Shall ever Pray.

[ 21 signatures inc Wm Geo Weddell ]

Fifteen of whom are Married, who with their Wives and Children amount to the Number of Eighty two.
Newgate, Newcastle upon Tyne
March 7th 1812

The Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt, bearing Date the 4th day of May 1808, awarded and issued forth against William George Weddell, of the Town and County of Newcastle-upon Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, Shopkeeper, Dealer and Chapman, intend to meet on the 11th October next, at Two in the Afternoon, at the Talbot Inn, in Market Street, in Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, to make a Dividend of the Estate and Effects of the said Bankrupt; when and where the Creditors, who have not already proved their Debts, are to come prepared to prove the same, or they will be excluded the Benefit of the said Dividend. And all claims not the proved will be disallowed.

Robt. LYON	m. 15 Apr 1785 to Hannah SIMPSON	Saint Saviour, Southwark, Surrey
Elizabeth LYON	c. 20 Feb 1786 dau Robert & Hannah LYON	Mill Hill-Independent, Hendon, London

Elizabeth WEDDLE	Hd	Wid	67	Laundress/pauper	Sry, Camberwell Grove
Charlotte GRACE	Vr	Un	47		Nbl, Newbottle