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| 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 Soppit and Bridget (b. 1781) [maiden name unknown] 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 Church, Longbenton, Northumberland;
- Bridget Soppit bap. 3 Mar 1839
- Winship Soppit bap. 27 Mar 1842
- John Soppit bap. 6 Oct 1844
Longbenton has 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, 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 had remarried, but found no corresponding 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, wife Catherine (45), daughter Bridget (12), sons 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, wife Catherine (56) and sons 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 Nicholas, Hetton 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.
