Robert Luke was born in 1733 in the village of Outside Hall, Durham, England to parents Richard Luke (1708-1760) and Anne (1708-1777).
St Mary and St Cuthberts, Chester-le-Street, Durham
Robert was baptised on 8 April 1733 at St Mary and St Cuthberts in Chester-le-Street, Durham.
Outside Hall was a tiny village near the Harraton Colliery, not far from Birtley and Portobello.
You can see the area on a map here.
Robert was one of eight children born to parent Richard and Anne Luke, being the second born, and eldest son.
I have many DNA matches that descend from Robert Luke.
Robert worked as a pitman in the surrounding coalfields, like his father before him. You can read more about Chester-le-Street and its history on this page by the Chester-le-Street Heritage Group.
At the age of 27 years Robert married Mary Young on 12 July 1760 at Chester-le-Street in Durham (Northumberland and Durham Marriages).
Mary Young was born in 1742 at Urpeth Pits, in the district of Chester-le-Street in Durham to parents John Young and Mary Hobson. Her father was also a coal miner, most likely at the Urpeth Colliery.
Mary was baptised on 21 November 1742 at St Mary and St Cuthberts, Chester-le-Street, Durham. She was 19 years old when she married Robert.
Urpeth, Durham
Urpeth Colliery was six miles (9 kms) south of Newcastle. Urpeth started its life as a coal mining area with multiple seams of coal being mined from various locations.
Urpeth Colliery was owned by the Birtley Iron Company and during its heyday employed 300 men and boys. The on site coke ovens produced up to 470 tons of coke each day.
Robert and Mary had nine children, who were all born in the Urpeth Pit houses, and baptised at Chester-le-Street –
- Richard b 1760 Urpeth Pit, d 1847 Kelloe, marr Elizabeth Kirtley, 4 children
- Mary b 1763 Urpeth Pit, d 1835 Darlington, marr William Corner, 1 child
- John b 1765 Urpeth Pit, 1773 Chester le St, aged 8
- Robert b 1768 Urpeth Pit, d 1847 Durham, marr Susan Smith, 3 children
- James b 1771 Urpeth Pit, marr Barbara Rawlings, 6 children
- Barbara b 1773 Urpeth Pit
- Joseph b 1776 Urpeth Pit, d 1782 Urpeth Pit, aged 6
- John b 1779 Urpeth Pit, d 1847 marr Ann Morton, 7 children
- George b 1781 Pit Hill d 1845 New Pittington, 10 children, 4 wives!
Chester-le-Street, Durham
Robert died in 1793 at Beamish South Moor, and was buried at Chester-le-Street.
Beamish is only a mile away from Urpeth.
Mary Luke died at Urpeth in 1820 and was buried at Chester-le-Street, Durham. Urpeth is 4 miles from the church of St Mary and St Cuthberts, Chester-le-Street where she was buried.
