Scandal of the Vicar's son
 
 

On August 27, 1802, Mary Lee, of Stockton upon Tees, gave birth to her first son John, and had him baptized a few weeks later at St. Andrew's Church, Aycliffe, on September 12. The vicar noted that John was her illegitimate child.

The next entry for Mary in the baptism register is when her daughter Maria, born March, 1808, was baptized the next day, March 13. Maria is legitimate as she was the first daughter of Mary and her husband James Thomson Henderson. Mary had married James at St. Andrew's Church, Aycliffe, April 29, 1807 by Licence. She had put her mark next to her name. The witnesses were James Walker and John Perkins, and the marriage was performed by Dickens Haslewood. At the birth of Maria James is described as being from the parish of Bishop Midlam.

James was a weaver as seen entered in the baptism register at the baptism of their 3rd son, James Thompson Henderson, born December 16, 1809, baptized January 7, 1810. Sadly the baby's father had died by the baptism as the entry says he was the late James Thomson Henderson of Long Newton. From the burial register it can be seen that the baby was actually born posthumously, as his father had died 3 months earlier on September 13, 1809, and was buried September 15, age 28. 

In the Burial Register the entry says that he was the son of the Rev. Matthew Henderson.  According to Valerie Brown’s SALTIRE, p.26, Matthew Henderson first signed the Parish Register April 28, 1793.  He was the Minister or Curate of Sadberge, 1800-1813, but took duty at Aycliffe between 1806 and 1812.  He resigned from Sadberge in 1813 and was buried at Aycliffe August 6, 1816, age 66.

Before looking at the marriage register, I had wondered what James's father had thought about his marriage to an unmarried mother. From the entry in the marriage register it seems as though it might have caused a scandal in the area as the Reverend Matthew Henderson writes a strong objection after the signatures of the witnesses:

I protest against the legality of the above marriage, as for substantial reasons I forbade it both by word and writing to the above Mr Haslewood.  M. Henderson, Father of the said James Thomson Henderson.

I wonder what the father thought at the death of his son less than 2 years after his marriage. Had there been a reconciliation or did James die still a source of discontent to his father?