Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship

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

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

Joseph and Catherine Soppit had three children; 

1. Bridget Soppit b. 1839 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH UNION Volume 25 Page 388, bap. 3 Mar 1839 at St Bartholomew's Church, Longbenton
2. Winship Soppit b. 1842 M Quarter in TYNEMOUTH UNION Volume 25 Page 407, bap. 27 Mar 1842 at St Bartholomew's Church, Longbenton
3. John Soppit b. 1844 S Quarter in TYNEMOUTH UNION Volume 25 Page 424, bap. 6 Oct 1844 at St Bartholomew's Church, Longbenton

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 Church, Longbenton. 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, on Bridget's baptism, the Soppit family were listed as living in Killingworth, with Joseph's occupation described as Waggonman.

In 1841, Joseph Sopwith (sic), 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); Catherine (30), Bridget (2) and Bridget Elias (60) [with the change of name, assume she remarried, but found no record] were living at Killingworth, Longbenton, Tynemouth. Longbenton has a long history of coal mining. 

By 1851, Joseph Soppit (44), a Colliery Labourer, Catherine Soppit (45), Bridget Soppit (12), Winship Soppit (9) and John Soppit (6), as well as Joseph's mother, Bridget Soppit (70), were all living at Hazbrigg, Longbenton, Tynemouth. (They subsequently moved to Durham, as Bridget Elias died in 1855 M Quarter in HOUGHTON LE SPRING Volume 10A Page 188.)

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

Catherine Soppitt (sic) died, aged 66 (1871 M Quarter in HOUGHTON LE SPRING Volume 10A Page 269), and was buried on 9 Jan 1871 at St Nicholas, Hetton Le Hole. 

On the 1871 census, Joseph Soppitt (sic) (64) Labourer, and son Winship (29) Blacksmith, along with Isabella Hepple (42), Servant, were living at Lyons, Hetton-Le-Hole, Houghton Le Spring, Durham. 

In 1881, Joseph Soppit (74), Retired Coal Miner, was living in Caroline Street, Hetton-Le-Hole, with Martha Simpson (69) Widow, Housekeeper.

Joseph Soppitt (sic) died, aged 76, in 1882 M Qtr in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Vol 10A Page 254 and buried on 5 Feb 1882 in Hetton-Le-Hole.

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

John Pearson (b. 1836 in Durham), son of Andrew Pearson and Jane Brown, married Bridget Soppit (bap. 3 Mar 1839 in Longbenton), daughter of Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship, in Sunderland, Durham in Q2 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, two sons were registered as John, although census records suggest the elder 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.

In 1881, John Pearson (45) Foreman joiner (colliery) was living in Overmans Row, Haswell, Easington, Durham, with wife Bridget Pearson (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 listed at the Screen Man Arms, Gale Street, Haswell, with Bridget Pearson (52), FG Pearson [Frederick George] (22) and Henry Pearson (18), John Soppit (12) Nephew (son of Winship Soppit and Ann Hall) and Sarah A Walker (18) General Servant.

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.

Framwellgate Bridge, Durham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © David Robinson - geograph.org.uk/p/6271900

Winship Soppit (b. 1842), elder son of Joseph Soppit and Catherine Winship, married an Ann Hall in Durham, in the 4th quarter of 1871. (There's more than one Ann Hall born in the relevant area, so it would require more clues.)

Winship and Ann had six children:

1. Winship Soppit b. 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 475 (Died in the same quarter, 1872 M Quarter in HOUGHTON-LE-SPRING Volume 10A Page 345)
2. Catherine Soppit b. 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 448 (Died in the same quarter, 1873 S Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 240.) There's a baptism of a Catherine Soppit, whose parents were Winship and Ann, in Durham, on 13 Oct 1874. A posthumous baptism, or perhaps more likely that the year has been transcribed incorrectly?
3. Joseph Soppit b. 1877 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 396 (Died aged 1, in 1878 M Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 197)
4. John Winship Soppit b. 1879 M Quarter in DURHAM Vol 10A Page 373
5. Margaret Soppit b. 1881 J Quarter in DURHAM Volume 10A Page 385 (Died in the same quarter, 1881 (Volume 10A Page 181)
6. Edith Annie Soppit b. 1885 S Quarter in GATESHEAD Vol 10A Page 795. (Died aged 2 in 1887 D Qtr in GATESHEAD Vol 10A Page 486)

In 1881, Winship Soppitt (sic) (38) Blacksmith at colliery, was living at Colliery Houses, 22, Framwellgate, Durham with wife Annie (29), John W (2) born at Framwellgate Moor; Margaret (0) and Annie Pallister (9) Niece.

Then Winship Soppit died, aged 48, in 1890 in Morpeth, Northumberland.

In 1891, Annie Soppitt (sic) (39) widow, was Housekeeper to John Scott (42) Deputy At Coal Mine, at Long Row, Harraton, Durham. John Soppit (12) was staying with his aunt and uncle John Pearson and Bridget Soppit at the Screen Man Arms, Gale Street, Haswell, Easington, Durham.

In 1901, Ann Soppit (49) widow from South Hetton, Durham, was listed as a Pauper Inmate in Preston Lane, Tynemouth, Northumberland - the Tynemouth Parish Workhouse was in Preston Lane, North Sheilds.

Annie then just disappears, with no further records on census, nor death. 

Anthony Cleghorn and Margaret Jane Murray

The River Tweed at Carham
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Walter Baxter - geograph.org.uk/p/270077
Viewed from England at Carham, the village of Birgham in Scotland is on the left

Anthony Cleghorn (bap. 17 Mar 1745, in Carham, Northumberland), Batchelor, son of John Cleghorn (John Cleghorn and Isabel Edmiston, who married in Carham on 27 Mar 1733) married Margaret Jane Murray, Spinster, both "of this parish", at St Paul's Church, Shadwell, on 15 Sep 1770. Not the current church, built in 1821, but the old church, traditionally known as the Church of Sea Captains. Witnesses were George Cleghorn and an Andrew Hedly. What brought them to London and when, however, isn't clear.

It isn't possible to go any further north than Carham, without going over the border into Scotland and with a name like Murray, there must be an enormous probability that was where Margaret Jane's origins were. Sadly, trying to find the right Murray in Scotland is like trying to find the right Jones in Wales or Sweeney in Ireland! So, for now at least that's as far as we can go. 

The couple had at least five children: 

1. Isabella Cleghorn b. Sunday, 7 July 1771, Isabella, daughter of Anthony Cleghorn, Baker & Margaret Jane of Farmer Street, Shadwell, bap. 28 Jul 1771 (at 21 days old) at St Paul's, Shadwell
2. William Guthrie Cleghorn b. 1772, William Guthrie, son of Anthony Cleghorn, Baker & Margaret Jane of New Gravel Lane, Shadwell [1], bap. 18 Oct 1772 (the number of days old, if written, has disappeared into the margin and cannot be read) at St Paul's, Shadwell
3. John Guthrie Cleghorn b. 13 Nov 1774, son of Anthony and Margaret Jane Cleghorn, bap. 20 Nov 1774 St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey
4. Susanna Cleghorn b. 13 Nov 1774, son of Anthony and Margaret Jane Cleghorn, bap. 20 Nov 1774 St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey
5. Ann Phillis Cleghorn b. Tuesday, 25 Feb 1777. Ann Phillis, daughter of Anthony Cleghorn, Baker & Margaret Jane (Margaret had been added in over the record, so she may have been known as Jane), Upper Shadwell [2], bap. 16 Mar 1777 (at 19 days old) at St Paul's, Shadwell

Guthrie is clearly significant, probably a grandmother's maiden name. John and Susanna must have been fraternal twins. Land Tax records also place Anthony Cleghorn in Shadwell in 1771, 1772, 1773 and again in 1777.

[1] New Gravel Lane in Shadwell was an historic street that was later renamed Garnet Street. It was located near the Shadwell Basin and the London Docks. "... gravel was obtained and carried down to the Thames to supply the ballast for the ships hence the derivation of the names of Old Gravel and New Gravel Lanes." [Source]

[2] Upper Shadwell was an extension of the Ratcliff Highway and ran across the north side of St Paul's Church, Shadwell (see map). (Captain James Cook is reputed to have lived at 26, Upper Shadwell, 1763 - 1765).

On 23rd May 1782 ("the twenty second Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Third"), in the Parish of Saint Paul Shadwell in the County of Middlesex, Anthony Cleghorn was one of twelve "good and lawful men" of the jury at the Coroners' Inquest into the death of an infant, James Le Plasterer. We can probably be sure Anthony Cleghorn was alive then.

In Apr 1799, William Guthrie Cleghorn, Barber, was admitted into the Freedom of the City of London, having served his apprenticeship.

Otherwise, so far, I've found no further records for this family.

Stephen Wilton and Sophia Watson

St George's Church, Wells Way,Camberwell
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Marathon - geograph.org.uk/p/2696927

Stephen Wilton (b. 1848), illegitimate son of Ann Wilton (although he listed his father as an 'invented', non-existent John Wilton), married Sophia Watson, daughter of James Watson and Sophia Barker at St George's Church, Camberwell on 4 Sep 1871. Sophia's parents had also married in Camberwell, in 1843, although, Sophia was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, in 1851, where her father was listed at that time, in Wellington Street, Westgate, as a Leather finisher and dyer. Stephen Wilton was a Harness Maker: a trade he undoubtedly learned while apprenticed to his maternal uncle Thomas Clark, who was one of the witnesses to Stephen and Sophia's marriage.

Stephen and Sophia had thirteen children, all born in Peckham:

1. James Watson b. 1869 D Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 604
2. Matilda Wilton b. 22 Nov 1871 (1872 M Qtr Vol 01D Page 737)
3. Edward Wilton b. 1873 D Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 771
4. Stephen Wilton b. 1875 D Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 794
5. Sophia Ann Wilton b. 1878 M Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 834. (Died 1878 D Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 516)
6. Rose Wilton b. 1879 J Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 804.
   (Died, aged 1, in 1881 M Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 513)
7. Jane Wilton b. 1881 M Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 915
8. William Wilton b. 1883 J Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 918
9. Minnie Wilton b. 1885 S Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 917.
   (Died 1886 J Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 500)
10. Robert Wilton b. 16 Apr 1887 J Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D 962
11. Florence Wilton b. 1891 D Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 882
12. Maud Wilton b. 1893 M Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 943
13. Edith Wilton b. 1895 D Qtr in CAMBERWELL Vol 01D Page 860

We have a description of Stephen Wilton, Harness Maker: when he was 18 he was 5ft 3in with brown hair, blue eyes, a fresh complexion and a scar on his chest. On 5 Aug 1867 he was sentenced to 20 days in Wandsworth Prison and a £2 fine, for Assault. And again, on 19 Apr 1870, Stephen Wilton (21) Harness Maker, 5ft 6in, with one previous conviction, was sentenced to 1 month in Wandsworth Prison, also for Assault. This might explain the gap between the birth of a child late in 1869 and them marrying in 1871.

In 1881, at 29, Sumner Road, Camberwell, were Stephen Wilton (33) Harness Maker; with wife Sophia Wilton (30), Matilda Wilton (9), Edward Wilton (7), Stephen Wilton (5) and Jane Wilton (0).

In 1891, in Camden Grove North, Camberwell, we find Stephen Wilton (43), Sophia Wilton (40), Edward Wilton (17) Soldier - records show that Edward had joined the East Surrey Regiment in 1890 - Stephen (15) Tin plate maker, Jane (10), William (8) and Robert (4) - the last 3 at school.

In 1901, at 24, Middle Street, Camberwell, were Stephen Wilton (53), Sophia Wilton (50), Jane Wilton (20) Ironer; William Wilton (18) Tin worker; Robert Wilton (14) Van boy; Florence (9), Maud (8) and Edith Wilton (5).

In 1911, at 129 Camden Grove North, Peckham: Stephen Wilton (63) Harness Maker, Sophia Wilton (60), Robert Wilton (23) Deal porter - a dangerous job done by a specialist group of workers in London's docks - Florence (19), Maud (18) Ironer and Edith (15) Book folder. They list on this census that they'd had thirteen children during their 40 year marriage, with nine then still living and four having died. Initially, I could only find records for 12 children, under the surname Wilton. After exhaustive searches, the only logical conclusion left was that the 13th child was actually the 1st, born before the couple married and only one birth fits this theory, that of James Watson born near the end of 1869, with no mother's maiden name listed (i.e. illegitimate). It also makes perfect sense for this child to be named after Sophia's father. That they claim 13 children of this marriage in 1911, does pretty much confirm that Stephen Wilton was the child's biological father. Also, I'd found only three deaths among the Wilton offspring, yet the parents list that four had died. James Watson, nor indeed listed under James Wilton, appears on any census, nor can I find a record of a death under either name, however, if this child died in infancy, this would account for the 4th. 

Stephen Wilton died aged 65, in 1913 D Quarter Volume 01D Page 833 and is buried at Camberwell Old Cemetery, Square 23, Grave 23241.

In 1921, Sophia Wilton (70) widow, was living at 62, Commercial Road, Peckham, with her daughter Florrie Wilton (28).

Sophia Wilton died aged 80 in 1931 J Quarter Volume 01D Page 660.

London Docks - Deal Porters & Bag Work