Hello, I am the Great neice of Benny Andrews (I live in Australia) and am looking for any information, family history and photos for the Andrews family, Common family or Jennings family of Bedlington. I see the photo of Benny Andrews and his horse and cart and wish to thank whoever posted it. Benny's father was Richard W Andrews and his mother was Elizabeth Common. I am also looking for a link to the Jennings family as Benny and his siblings (his sister Margaret, was my Granny) were given the middle name of Jennings, which I assume is also a family name. We emigrated to Australia in the late 1960's and so much of the family history is lost to us. I am researching the family tree for my uncle, retired Rev. Daniel Parry (in UK), who is the last of my fathers line alive. Much of Uncle Benny's story is unknown to us. I know he suffered ill health towards the end of his life from past correspondence with my parents. Any memories or knowledge would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards, Wren.

Welcome to the forum. Folks on here are a mine of information. I can't help you but I'll be very surprised if there's no one here who can. Good Luck.

Welcome to the forum Wren, hope you enjoy it here and find the information your looking for.

Hi & welcome to the forum. I know you will get support as the users are so "canny" luvly people. I will have a look for you & see what i can find.

It is stressful when you can't find info on your family, as i have been in this position before, but hopefully i can come up with something, or indeed our very helpful forum users will try their best as they are a wealth of info.

"Finger crossed" best of luck

Obviously there was the Garage in Morpeth that was Jennings.

That now has spread its wings.

Perhaps the Internet would help with that company.

I worked with someone called Common in Morpeth but as that was a lifetime ago I have no idea of where the family would be now.

Good luck with the search.

You can put your details into certain sites and catch up with others finding information on your particular family.

One friend got her family back to the White Queen!

Welcome to the forum, Wren. Maggie's right about Jennings garage but was there not a bus company as well? Also on this site, somewhere, is mention of Jenning's Field which used to be behind the Bank Top pub. I used to do voluntary work a few years back and one of the staff was called Janet Common. Apart from that i can't help you but will sniff around.

Welcome aboard Wren. Jennings the market gardeners would be the most likely I would have thought as they were just over the road from Benny's place at the Bank Top. The field is now a public open space and play park. The market garden and it's rows of greenhouses would have disappeared in the early seventies I would say. There is a bike shop where Benny's place used to be.

Edited August 25, 201312 yr by keith

Wren .... Just had a word with a neighbour / friend. Turns out that Benny Andrews was his dads uncle. That would mean he is Benny's great nephew. He is not on line but if you would like some contact details etc you can in box me / message me .

Edited August 25, 201312 yr by keith

Wren, sorry for the late reply to your post but I came across it whilst searching for something else and thought I'd reply.

Benny Andrews ran the general dealers shop at the top of Melrose Avenue in addition to also running his business from his horse and cart. I lived at the bottom of the street and one of my neighbours, Mary Bowman used to work for him.

The shop was changed to Ian Gerrard Cycles and I think Benny used to still live at the back of the premises in a flat until he passed away. There were also garages at the back which he used to rent out.

Jennings field was directly opposite the shop and was run by Joseph Jennings from his premises about 100m away between Glassey Tce and Jubilee Tce.

I'll ask my Dad if he has any other information as he worked for Jennings when he left school about 70 years ago and I can also speak with Ian Gerrard if you wish.. I've attached a photo of Mr Jennings for you.

Thank you so much to those on the forum who have replied on the message board. I have connected with the Andrews family previously thought lost to us, which is just great. Also having the little bits of information from you all has helped build a picture of the Jennings family, especially George Jennings who was a frequent visitor to the Bedlington Petty Sessions Court as reported frequently in the Morpeth Herald. I am still looking for information on the Common family, my Great, Great Grandma was Margaret Common who married George Jennings. Margaret's first daughter Elizabeth Common (my great grandma) married Richard Andrews. If anyone knows anything, please share with me, it will be much appreciated, not just by me but all of their descendants. Kind regards, Wren.

Hi Wren,welcome to the land of canny fowks!

As a kid,living in Hollymount Square,in Bedlington,from 1947,till I got married in 1967,I grew up playing with,and later on,working with,[down Choppington High Pit],a lad called Harry Common,who passed away a few years ago,while still at a young age.R.I.P.

Harry.

He left behind an older Sister,and two younger Brothers ,George and Ernie.

Their Mother was broad Irish,but I don't know if the lads acquired the accent from her,or if they were all born there ,and moved

here after the war,because their accent was diluted Irish,not as strong as their Mother,but still there.

They lived over Beattie road,just through from Hollymount.

I started the Pit at Choppington B in 1959,with Harry,but he left the pits for a few years,and came back to work down Bates Pit in Blyth,till it closed.

The whole family were lovely people,those remaining still are!

Hope this info is of some help,even if just to eliminate,and narrow your search,Wren!

Good luck!

Bill.

Hi again,Wren!

Still as a very young child,[3years old],i remember playing with a friend,called Ronnie Andrews,when we lived at Storey's Buildings,on the Willow Bridge Bank,at Choppington Station,in 1947.[ I was born in 1944]

I have a wrinkled old photo of Ronnie,and myself,playing on an old tree stump with two short branches sticking out,which we used to pretend was our motorbike....taken around 1947,in the field opposite Storey's Buildings,right next to the bridge,where there is now a mature tree-walk.

He had an older brother called Arthur,who would be aged about 72,if he is still with us,but I haven't seen him since i was about ten or eleven years old.

The Family moved from Choppington to Bedlington about the same time as my Family did..between 1947-8..ish.

Again,Wren,hope this is of some help to you.

Good luck once again.

Bill.