James Norman and Harriet Woodland

St James, Taunton
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Stephen Craven - geograph.org.uk/p/7064603

James Norman (b. 1843), son of Samuel Norman and Ann Gamlin, married Harriet Woodland (bap. 11 Apr 1841 in Huish Champflower, Somerset), daughter of Abraham Woodland and Mary Milton, on 2 Apr 1866 at the church of St. James, Taunton. James and both fathers' occupations are listed as Labourer. Both James and Harriet's address is listed as North Town.

James and Harriet had around 12 children:

1. Lucy Woodland b. 1865 M Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C
2. Elya Norman b. 1867 listed on 1871 census, no birth record found
3. Jane Norman b. 1868 D Quarter in WELLINGTON Volume 05C
4. Mary Ann Norman b. 1870 J Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 446
5. Ellen Norman b. 23 Dec 1871 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 478
6. William Norman b. 1873 S Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 418
7. Tom Norman b. 1875 J Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 428
8. Maria Norman b. 1877 J Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 440
9. Samuel Norman b. 1878 D Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 439 (Died at 32 in 1911 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 331)
10. Elizabeth Norman b. 1880 D Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 413 (Died, aged 0, in 1880 D Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 285)
11. George Norman b. 1882 J Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 444
12. Bessy Norman b. 1885 M Quarter in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 431

There was one further child attributed to this family, Lily Norman: b. 1885 D Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 421. This birth was later in the same year as Bessy Norman: technically possible, only just, but highly unlikely. There's no mother's maiden name on her birth registration, suggesting an illegitimate birth, so it's far more plausible that this was the illegitimate child of one of the daughters. No doubt the birth certificate would list the true mother's name. (Lily Norman married Tom Richards in 1910; in 1911 Tom Richards (29), Lily Richards (26) and son Thomas James Richards (b. 1910 S Quarter in TIVERTON Volume 05B Page 355) were living in Bampton, Devon. Lily Richards died in the 3rd quarter of 1911, aged 26.)

In 1871, James Norman (27) Farm Labourer, was living in Tiverton with Harriet Norman (28), daughter Lucy Norman (6), Elya Norman (4) (this is the only record with this name), Jane Norman (2) and Mary Ann Norman (1).

In 1881, James Norman (38) Ag Lab, was at Ewings, Tiverton, with Harriet Norman (39), Jane Norman (12), Mary A Norman (11), Ellen Norman (9), William Norman (8), Tom Norman (6), Maria Norman (4) & Samuel (2).

In 1891, at Drizzlecombe, Higher Curham, Halberton, were James Norman (47) Agricultural Labourer, Harriet Norman (49), William Norman (17), George Norman (9), Bessie Norman (6) and Lily Norman (5). That year Maria Norman (13) was employed as a General Servant in the household of Henry Venner, Confectioner, in Bridge Street, Tiverton, Devon.

James Norman (52) died in 1896 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 287.

In 1901, Harriet Norman (58) Widow, was living in Halberton, Devon with Samuel Norman (22), George Norman (17), Lily Norman (15) and William Fook (24) Lodger. Bessie Norman (17) that year was Housemaid in the household of Edward Chave, in Uplowman (at Widhays Farm), where her sister Ellen had been a General domestic servant 10 years earlier.

In 1911, Harriet Norman (70) Widow, was living at Priory Cottage (adjoining The Priory), 9 High Street, Halberton with Beattie Gors (12) Grandchild.

Harriet Norman (71) died in 1913 M Qtr in TIVERTON Vol 05B Page 567.

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.