Hi , my friend Clair made me curious about my ancestors , pointed me to a 
starting place and I've never looked back. I now have so many cousins, 1st, 
2nd , & third generation than I thought possible.I am still finding them and 
when I look at their names on the census or on a birth,death or marriage 
certificate I have a longing to find out what was going on at that time in life 
so now my history of the country is now vastly improved.
My husband David was born in Baillieston at the traffic lights in an ambulance. He couldn't wait 
to break into the world. His mother was welsh. Our families are a mixture of English, Irish, 
Scottish and  Welsh, true Brits. 
I am Barney born and bred as was my dad and mam and my mam's family whom I can trace back to the 
17th century.Dad's family originated in Muker & Grinton to Hamsterley,Bishop Auckland and finally 
settled for Barney.
History of Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle lies beside the River Tees within the District of Teesdale.  Teesdale has two 
Towns, Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale and is located in the South West part of County 
Durham in the North East of England. 
Teesdale describes the area that surrounds the upper reaches of the River Tees, from its source in 
the hills to just west of the railway town of Darlington in County Durham where the river broadens 
out into the Tees Valley. 
 Teesdale is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is home to England’s 
highest waterfall (High Force), open moorland, wooded valleys and historic market towns.  Barnard 
Castle is known locally as ‘Barney’ and takes its name from the Norman stronghold around which it 
was built.  It is a maze of cobbled streets and winding lanes with elegant Georgian and Victorian 
architecture. A walk through the town will reveal many snippets of historical interest.  The Town 
has four main access ways, Galgate, Newgate, Thorngate and Bridgegate. The principal route is 
Galgate which largely follows the old Roman road and at its end lies Scar Top and the ruins of 
Bernard Balliol’s fortress. The road then follows the curve of the old castle wall into Horse 
Market, the main street.
The aptly named Market Place is an old cobbled section where an open market is still held on every 
Wednesday along with monthly Farmers’ markets. At the head of Market Place lies the Market Cross, 
an octagonal building built by Thomas Breaks and given to the Town. The building is also known 
locally at the Butter Market due to its function of providing shelter for the farmers’ wives who 
sold dairy produce each Wednesday. Over the years the building has had a variety of uses including 
a fire station and a court house.  
The Castle
Barnard Castle itself dates back to Norman times and was built by Bernard Balliol between 1112 – 
1132.  His father, Guy de Baliol, came to England with William the Conqueror’s invading army and, 
around 1093, was giventhe land by William Rufus.  The fortress – ‘Bernard’s Castle’ – like the 
Roman forts before it, became a focus for settlement and the town of Barnard Castle developed 
around it. The Castle remained an important stronghold until 1569 and the ‘Rising of the North’ 
saw it besieged by the supporters of Mary Queen of Scots.  For eleven days Sir George Bowes of 
Streatlem held the fort for his sovereign, Elizabeth I, before being forced to surrender it.  
The Bowes Museum
The world famous Bowes Museum is considered a jewel in the heart of Teesdale.  The magnificent 
building stands proud within the historic town of Barnard Castle and houses one of the most 
outstanding collections in Britain comprising a remarkable selection of European fine and 
decorative arts spanning the period from 1400 and 1875.
The Museum was purpose built in the 19th Century by John & Josephine Bowes in the style of a 
French Chateau and opened on 10th June 1892.  One of the best loved attractions at the Museum is 
the Silver Swan, an English silver automaton, bought by the Bowes in 1872.  The life size model is 
still in working order and is operated on a daily basis.
Today, visitors to The Bowes Museum can not only enjoy wonderful collections but also an exciting 
programme of events and exhibitions.  All these activities within the Museum and the Museum Park 
itself have helped to keep the museum vibrant and exciting in the 21st century
BARNARD CASTLE 
"The township of Barnard Castle, with Marwood, has an area of 7682 acres, with 
a ratable value in 1892, of £22,600. Under the Divided Parishes Act of 1885, 
Marwood was added to Barnard Castle township; previous to that time it was a 
distinct township, having an area of 3675 acres.
"Barnard Castle is situated 25 miles south-west from Durham, 16 west-north-west 
from Darlington, 39 from Gateshead, 38 from Sunderland, and 224 north-north-
west from London. Its population in 1851 was 4357, of whom 2088 were males and 
2269 females. There was at the same period 644 inhabited houses, 8 uninhabited, 
and 11 in process of erection. The town, which is about a mile in length, is 
situated on the southern slope of a hill, descending steeply to the river Tees, 
and is approached from the north-east by the Bowes and Sunderland turnpike 
road, which connects it with Staindrop, Bishop Auckland, &c. There is a broad 
street or suburb running from east to west, called Galgate or Gallowgate, and, 
according to old maps and some authorities, the ancient town of Marwood stood 
here previous to the erection of Barnard Castle. The street is supposed to have 
derived its name from having been in ancient times the place of execution for 
the barony." 
In 1801 Barnard Castle township alone had a population of 2966; in 1811, 2986; 
in 1821, 3581; in 1831, 4430; in 1841, 4452; in 1851, 4608; in 1861, 4478; in 
1871, 4278; in 1881, 4269; and in 1891, with Marwood, 472
THE MARQUIS(S) FAMILIES
Our earliest known ancestor is Mark, birth place unknown-possibly scottish If 
Mark and his wife named their children as Northern English and Scottish parents 
did ie. son 1 after the fathers father, son 2 after the mothers father, 
daughter 1 after the mothers mother, daughter 2 after the fathers mother then 
Marks parents would have been David and Frances. Mark was a drover and brought 
cattle down from Scotland to sell at english markets. In the records he was 
granted  a Galloway horse( small strong horse 13-15 hands high) which would 
have been used to continue his droving. Mark's first marriage was to Elizabeth 
Peacock from Muker 13th Jan 1740 and by the regularity of producing children he 
was home fairly often. Elizabeth died after their 8th child was born,possibly 
from complications after the birth(common in those days) Mark then married Mary 
Spensley and they had one child George born 28th march 1761. Mary died 
2.1/2years after the birth .Mark's eldest son David mover from Muker to 
Grinton, two younger members,Mark & Elizabeth went with him. David married a 
Mary Spensley at St Andrew's church Grinton. She was his stepmther's niece. 
They had 7 children born at Grinton.They lived at Stubbins Farm on Harkenside 
Swaledal Co Durham in 1768.After searching the records it was agreed that David 
Malklcolm, David Marquis and David Markas were the same person.
MARQUIS(Scottish) derived from Gaelic name MacMarcuis which was probably 
derived from Latin name Marcus
The french Marquis is entirely different in it's derivatives.
MARQUIS A shortened form of the West Highland name(Mac)Marquis.  One of the 
Marquis mottos is "Strength and Courage"
Mam's maternal family of longstaffs and howdens have a long standing in Barnard Castle. She is 
truly
Barney born and bred. Her mother's brothers and sisters all settled in Barney and we have a vast
network of joneses aroundabout Barnard Castle many of whom are unaware of their relationship to us.