Inherited Craziness
A place to share all the nuts found on my family tree

Showing posts with label Houghton Le Spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Houghton Le Spring. Show all posts

Thursday 5 May 2022

John Pearson and Bridget Soppit

St. Cuthbert's Church, East Rainton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Trevor Littlewood - geograph.org.uk/p/3448633

John Pearson (b. 1836 in Durham), purportedly son of Andrew Pearson and Jane Brown, married Bridget Soppit (b. 1839 in Longbenton), daughter of Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship, in Sunderland, Durham in 1858.

John and Bridget had six sons:
  1. Joseph Pearson b. 1859 in HOUGHTON LE SPRING Vol 10A Page 355
  2. Andrew Pearson b. 1862 J Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 328, died aged 17 in 1879 in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Vol 10A Page 224
  3. John William Winship Pearson b. 1864 in DURHAM Vol 10A Page 332
  4. Robert Pearson b. 1866 in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 345, bap. 5 May 1867 in Pittington, Durham
  5. Frederick George Pearson b. 1869 in DURHAM Vol 10A Page 362
  6. John Henry Pearson b. 18 Sep 1873 in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 582, bap. 5 Dec 1873, in East Rainton, Durham.
Yes, they had two sons whose names were John, although census records suggest the elder one was known as William and the youngest, as Henry. 

In 1861, the couple were living in Low Moorsley (wonder if they encountered serial killer Mary Ann Cotton there?) in the district of Hetton-le-Hole. John Pearson (25) Joiner & Cartwright, with Bridget (22) and Joseph (1).

In 1871, at Quarry House, Pittington, we find John Soppit (35) Joiner, Bridget (32) and sons Joseph (11), William (6), Robert (4) and Frederick (2). I cannot account for the absense of Andrew and cannot locate him elsewhere, but I'm confident that he is the child of this family, because the mother's maiden name on his birth registration is Soppit and John Pearson's reputed father was named Andrew. Perhaps staying with other family who forgot to list him?

In 1881, John Pearson (45) Foreman joiner (colliery) was living in Overmans Row, Haswell, Easington, Durham, with wife Bridget (42), Joseph (21) Fireman (locomotive engine); William (16) Pupil teacher; Robert (14), Frederick (12) and Henry (7), as well as Mary Jane Bird (14) General domestic servant. One imagines Overmans Row was housing for foremen. 

In 1891, John Pearson (55) Ironkeeper joiner, was at Screen Man Arms, Gale Street, Haswell, with Bridget (52), FG Pearson (Frederick George) (22) and Henry (18) still at home.

Bridget Pearson died, at 61, in 1900 in BROMLEY (Vol 02A Page 286). Bridget's younger brother, John Soppit, Publican, lived Bromley, Kent, so it would seem likely she was staying with him at the time of her death. 

In 1901, John Pearson (65) widower, living on own means, was boarding in 15, Rawshorne Terrace, South Hetton, Haswell, Easington, Durham, in the household of Thomas Hodgson (68) Coal miner.

In 1911, John Pearson (75) widower, Lamplighter, was a boarder in the household of Robert Shanks (75) Tea and coffee dealer, at 4 Richmond St, South Hetton, Haswell, Durham. 

John Pearson died, aged 80, in Easington, in 1916.

Saturday 23 January 2021

Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship

St Bartholomew's Church, Longbenton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Bill Henderson - geograph.org.uk/p/3641043

Joseph Soppit (bap. 19 Oct 1806 in Ovingham, Northumberland), son of Joseph and Bridget Soppit, married Catherine Winship (bap. 9 Sep 1804), daughter of John Winship and Mary Daggett (m. 22 Oct 1796) on 1 Apr 1838 at All Saints' Church, Newcastle upon Tyne

Joseph and Catherine Soppit had three children, all baptised at St Bartholomew's ChurchLongbenton, Northumberland; 
  1. Bridget Soppit bap. 3 Mar 1839
  2. Winship Soppit bap. 27 Mar 1842
  3. John Soppit bap. 6 Oct 1844
Longbenton had some notable residents, among them English physician and scientist, Thomas Addison, footballer Peter Beardsley and actor Jimmy Nail

The late wife and infant child of engineer, George Stephenson (1781 - 1848), are buried at St Bartholomew's ChurchLongbenton. George Stephenson having worked as a brakesman and later appointed as engine-wright in 1812, in 1814, Stephenson constructed his first locomotive, 'Blucher', for hauling coal at Killingworth Colliery. (See Killingworth locomotives). This may even have been an influence, as later, John Soppit became an Engine Fitter. 

In 1839, the Soppit family were living in Killingworth, with Joseph's occupation listed as Waggonman. In 1841, Joseph Sopwith (sic), Banksman, wife Catherine, daughter Bridget and Bridget Elias (with the change of name, I assume she remarried, but found no record) were living at Killingworth, Longbenton, Tynemouth. Longbenton has a long history of coal mining. 
(Banksman: In Irish and British civil engineering, a banksman is the person who directs the operation of a crane or larger vehicle from the point near where loads are attached and detached.)
By 1851, Joseph Soppit (44), a Colliery Labourer, Catherine (45), Bridget (12), Winship (9) and John (6), as well as Joseph's mother, Bridget (70), were all living at Hazbrigg, Longbenton, Tynemouth. 

They moved to Durham, as Bridget Elias, died in Houghton Le Spring in 1855. 

In 1861, Joseph Soppit (55), Labourer, Catherine (56), Winship (19), Blacksmith at Colliery, and John (14), Joiner at Colliery were living at Four Lane Ends, Hetton Le Hole (where coal has been mined since Roman times).

Catherine Soppit died, aged 66, and was buried on 9 Jan 1871 at St NicholasHetton Le Hole

On the 1871 census, Joseph Soppitt (64), Labourer, and son Winship (29), Blacksmith, along with Isabella Hepple, Servant, were living at Lyons, Hetton-Le-Hole, Houghton Le Spring, Durham. 

In 1881, Joseph Soppit (74), a Retired Coal Miner, was living in Caroline Street, Hetton-Le-Hole. 

Joseph Soppit died, aged 76, in 1882, in Houghton Le Spring.