James Bower - 1815-1887 - my maternal 4th great uncle

James was brother / brother-in-law of my great, great, great grandparents, Bridget Bower and (Alderman) Thomas Gray. 

James's appearance on different family members Census caught Mum's attention.  Living with his parents and working on Hartley West Farm he stays there until at least the Census in 1851, by which time, his brother, William and sister in law, Barnella (great name!) have taken on the tenancy.

According to the 1861 Census Reports, in the end column, James is deaf.  We can't confirm if James was born deaf or became deaf through illness, ie Scarlet Fever, of which there had been an epidemic in James' early years.

Definition of terms used on Census returns England & Wales 1841 - 1891 : 

Lunatic : a mentally ill person with periods of lucidity

Imbecile : persons who have fallen in later life into a state of chronic dementia 

Idiot : persons who suffer from a congenital mental deficiency 

James had moved to live with his widowed sister, Elizabeth Wharrier, on a 300acre farm with 6 labourers at Avenue Head, Seaton Delaval.  At the time of that Census in 1871, James and Elizabeth's older sister, Jane Froud, is a 'Visitor'.

James may have been moved on through the family or welcomed by his brother in law, Thomas Gray and children following the death of Bridget in 1875.  A 'retired farmer', age 66, James was living at Red House Farm on the 1881 Census, the end column now stating he is "deaf and dumb".  I wonder if Thomas' children John (Matthew) Gray, Elizabeth, Jane, Mary & Bridget communicated with him in their own version of sign language or whether by this time of his life he had retreated into himself?

I've located a copy of James' death certificate from the Records Office and it is comforting to find that Thomas Gray was in attendance when James passed away at the age of 74 on 10th March 1887, cause of death being cancer of the stomach.

A lifelong interest explained:

Growing up, my Mum had often wondered why her Grandfather, Jack Gray, gave talks and helped raise hundreds of pounds, in particular for deaf and dumb charities.  Clearly James' presence at Red House Farm must have struck a chord with the family which passed on to Thomas Gray's grandson, Jack, in his active and generous support of deaf and dumb societies.

Alderman Thomas Gray - 1823-1888 - my maternal great great great grandfather

Extracted and paraphrased from a special contribution in the Jarrow Express on 24 February 1888, following Thomas Gray's death at the age of 64.

His Early Life

Thomas was born on the farm of Chilton, near Morpeth, Northumberland.  The farm was held in the family for over 200 years, Thomas' grandfather died there at the unusual age of 104.  Thomas went to school at Stannington and finished off at the Morpeth Grammar School.  From his youth he possessed a more than unusual desire for reading, which the library at Stannington afforded him a favourable opportunity of indulging.

His First Start in Life

When he was a young man he leased a farm named 'World's End' on the Ogle Estate.  (Kirkley Hall Estate is now the home to Northumberland Agricutural College).  Besides being a hard working farmer, Thomas was a most successful florist, particularly his dahlia growing, showing and judging. While at World's End he married a 'highly estimable' lady, Miss Bridget Bower, whose relations farmed at Seaton Deleval estate.  Thomas and Bridget had five children John Matthew (married Sarah Ellen), Elizabeth Ann, Jane, Mary and Bridget (married Ted Reed).

Moved to Jarrow

After the termination of his lease at World's End he took possession of the lease at Red House Farm in May 1861.  "Being a strong, able-bodied, powerfully built man he entered on his agricultural duties with the vigour and determination which were his most prominent characteristics".  Confining himself to his farm, little was known of him outside until 1863 when preparations were being made to celebrate the marriage of the Prince of Wales - being in want of carts to convey the bonfire timber from the shipyard to the ballast hill, with natural readiness to oblige 'the most liberal assistance was given'.  This was Thomas' first introduction to the leading men of the town.  (Clearly he liked to get the party started!).

As an Agriculturalist

Thomas stood very high in the estimation of his brother farmers.  Not only did he cultivate his farm in a 'highly skilfull and succcessful manner', his enlightened judgement was frequently called upon in the valuing of crops and stocks and in arbitration cases.  He was a ploughman of 'considerably more than average excellence' and took a lively interest in all ploughing matches in the district and did his utmost to encourage youths `'to plough and sow and to reap and mow".

Steam Ploughing in 1800s

As a Guardian

Thomas was elected a member of the South Shields Board of Guardians to oversee The South Shields Poor Law Union.  The board represented six constituent parishes, including two workhouses and cottage homes providing accommodation for pauper children.  It was a principle with Thomas to do his utmost to ascertain his exact legal status in whatever public position he filled, so that on the one hand the public did not suffer any hardship through the exercise of a power he did not possess and on the other hand that the interests of the public were not ignored through insufficient exercise of that power.  'In this respect he was a model representative'.  His colleagues gave him credit for the regularity and punctuality of his attendance.  Unlike many public men who get into a public position, merely to gratify their vanity, Thomas appeared to accept them because he relished the work they entailed.

Administration of Local Affairs

Thomas was well known and highly respected in Jarrow.  By all accounts, the elevation to Alderman and to the position of chief magistrate was no 'unmeaningful compliment'.  He held the office of the 4th Mayor of Jarrow in 1877-78.

Conclusion

"His portly and commanding figure will long be remembered my many sincere friends and taking him altogether it will be a long time before we get such an able, enlightened and liberal minded representative.  Though well versed in the history of our own and many other counties, Alderman Gray never was a political squabbler.  Will within the last few years he had been a moderate - a very moderate - Liberal, but after Mr Gladstone renounced statesmanship and adopted the profession of a political acrobat, he joined the Conservatives.  It is due to the deceased gentleman to say that in no instance was his popularity due to political card shuffling.  He was an honest, upright, outspoken and fearless man".

Editors note: with two more newspaper columns of praise to go, even as a proud descendant I'm starting to feel just a little nauseous!  Skipping to the footer and I am pleased to read that "in his private life he was much respected and beloved, he had sociable qualities rendering him a pleasant companion and acquaintance, while his fund of humour and anecdote was inexhaustible".

John Thomas Gray MBE (Jack) - my Maternal Great Grandfather

In January 2010, Mum briefly recounted the story of John Thomas Gray to a distant cousin, Sue Kelly (Reed), found through Genes Reunited.

Dear Susan

My head was spinning last night with so many memories - the ancestors must have been rattling the old brain cells.  I hardly know where to begin.  This morning I eventually found a scrap of paper with some notes I made way back in early 1980, when I first started researching the family in earnest.  My Mum, Ellen Brenda Groom (known has Brenda) was alive then and had tangible memories of this family - she would tell me little scraps of information and I jotted them down.....she was a great raconteur and you never quite knew whether she was romancing or not!  

Bridjet Gray (known as Aunt Jetta) was married to Edward Reed (Ted) who was a consulting engineer to do with ships trials.  They lived at Wind Garth, Cleadon, near East Boldon, Sunderland.

Now the story goes that Ted Reed (who was uncle to my Grandfather, Jack Gray) advised Jack as a young man, that he should train properly as an engineer.  The sailing ships were being converted to steam turbine engines and this is what Jack did, he became a Chief Engineer of some note.

Jack's mother, Sarah Ellen, did everything she could to help him further his career.  At the young age of 12 he started as an Apprentice at Clarke Chapman Engineering Company, when sail was giving way to turbine.

Jack moved on to Rosyth to work installing the new turbine engines into the ships previously at sail.  With the key skills and knowledge of the modernised engines he had been involved with fitting, he went to sea as 2nd Engineer/Stoker on the purpose built North Atlantic cargo liners.

Beatrice Maud Gray

Whilst on leave Jack married Beatrice Maud Thompson on Christmas Day 1914, just before WW1. Beatrice was a devoted district nurse from Sunderland.  Beatrice and Jack had two daughters, Ellen Brenda (my 'Granny Groom') and Joyce Margaret.  

On 10 November 1919, Jack, aged 31, joined the South Metropolitan Gas Company as a Second Engineer.  By June 1920 he was Chief Engineer on the colliers taking cargos of coal from The Tyne to London.

The following article comes from the South Metropolitan Gas Company's Co-partnership Journal and was written in June 1929.  (Source: Greenwichindustrialhistory.blogspot.co.uk)

And truly the conditions under which the men work need to be ideal, for" butting" down the coast" in the mad March days" is no pleasure trip. On one occasion during the past winter one of the Company's steamers arrived in the Tyne white from stem to stern with ice, and the pilot cutter twice signalled for her name, being unable to believe the first time that it was one of our vessels from 'the south; her anchors were frozen in their hawse-pipes, and she had to manoeuvre in the river until they could be freed. This is not an isolated case, and is cited merely because it is typical of the sort of thing which may be expected in the North Sea during the bad weather in the winter months. The kind of gale described so graphically by St. Paul is the average weekly experience of the North Sea sailor.

After World War II on 13 October 1947, Jack was nominated and awarded an MBE for services during the war.  Jack was known as a charismatic character, who could always muster a crew to go to sea at a moments notice.  He kept a tidy ship and navigated steadily to avoid mines.



In happier times, Jack was able to indulge his family on trips to London in

Beatrice, Brenda & Joyce 'on board'

their own private cabin.

Sadly, Beatrice died in 1944, so she didn't get to share in the joy of the MBE award.  Jack married Mary J Storey of Sunderland in 1945.  Jack retired from the South Metropolitan Gas Company at the age of 65.  In retirement Jack's hobby was breeding and showing budgerigars and tropical fish, a far cry from the dirt and noise of the colliers.

Jack & Beatrice
15 St Mary's Terrace, East Boldon

Sarah Ellen's Sour Milk Cake

So as I attempt my first Sarah Ellen cake trial I discover that her book is less of a Recipe Book and more of a Great British Bake Off  'Technical Challenge'!

The book lists ingredients and quantities, with at best, a brief method. Fortunately the Sour Milk Cake turns out to be an easy enough first bake to guess.  Sour Milk Cake? - thrifty genes makes this one a winner!  The biggest test was to resist the temptation to grab the Kenwood mixer and instead rub the butter into the flour by hand, as Sarah Ellen herself would have done.

This leads to the second realisation, whilst my fingers repetitively strain at rubbing half a pound of butter into 2 cups of flour, that Sarah Ellen's book was perhaps her quantity conversion for her restaurant, or one to eat, one to store.

Sour Milk Cake

2 BR Cups Flour (BR - Bee-Ro I'm thinking, I used standard US cups)
1/2lb butter (225g)
1lb sugar (450g, I used a bit less, about 400g)
1/2lb currants (225g)
1 small teaspoon soda
1 cup sour milk
1 egg
Bake 1 1/2 hours.

I rub the butter into the flour until it was like fine breadcrumbs.  Added sugar, currants, bicarb of soda, sour milk and egg.  Baked for 1 1/2 hours in the Aga - no temperature guidance, an Aga is what it is!

One to keep, one to freeze

The camera never lies - a bit more stirring needed!

I'm rather pleased with the end result, however, the next challenge is to restrict Mr Turner to just one piece a day!

Sarah Ellen's Story - 1861-1938 - (my Maternal Great Great Grandmother)

Sarah Ellen Simpson

My Mum's genealogy research began almost 30 years ago, when my eldest brother, Dan, was back in the home of our forbears and studying at Newcastle University.  It seems a good place for me to pick up on the story of Sarah Ellen who was born on 15 October 1861, the second child of Grocers, Joseph and Isabella Carr of Batley, West Yorkshire.

Sarah Ellen travelled to Jarrow for a career as Assistant Teacher in a Board School, where she lodged in the home of the Headmaster and his wife.  Board Schools provided elementary education for children from 5 to 13 where there was a shortfall in places. In 1881 parents still had to pay fees for their children to attend schools.  Religious teaching in board schools was restricted to non-denominational instruction, or none at all.

Sarah Ellen & John Matthew Gray

On 18 September 1887, Sarah Ellen married farmer John Matthew Gray of Red House Farm (now a residential area of Newcastle upon Tyne).  She was thrilled to become a farmer's wife and studied farm husbandry, dairy hygiene and revelled in cooking.  A son, John Thomas was born on 20 September 1888.

John Thomas & Annie Emmeline

Sadly, Sarah Ellen's husband, my Great Great Grandfather, John Matthew Gray, died age 35, of Typhoid Fever in April 1890, just a short time before the arrival of their daughter, Annie Emmeline.  Only three years later, Sarah Ellen's life was totally shattered when Annie Emmeline also died of Typhoid Fever.

At only 26, Sarah Ellen held on to the rented Red House farm and is quoted as 'The Farmer' in Ward's Directory in 1880.  Ward's Directory was a trade directory for Newcastle upon Tyne, that listed all businesses and tradespeople, as well as a general directory of postal addresses of local landowners, charities, and other facilities. In effect, it was a Victorian version of today's Yellow Pages.  In the 1800's it would be less usual for a female career to be acknowledged.

According to the 1891 Census, she was supported on the farm by live in hands Bridjet Mary Cain, a Domestic Servant from Ireland and a Farm Servant called Walter Lilley.  Boarding lodgers employed in the nearby dockyards brought in extra vital income.

In March 1896 Sarah Ellen married George Charlton, a 60 year old farmer of Ricklees Farm (another now residential area of Newcastle).  The story passed down has it, that George made a cruel stepfather to young John and Sarah Ellen was very unhappy - although my Granny also heard it said that Sarah Ellen adored young John so much, she could not reason any discipline - maybe quite fairly considering her earlier losses.  

George squandered all Sarah Ellen's livestock and money.

One morning, while John was safely staying with his Grandparents in Batley, Sarah Ellen, packed her ottoman trunk with special possessions (including items still in the family, cranberry glass, meat plates, silver spoons and a small black mirror) and hid it under the delivery of farm eggs bound for Newcastle.  The Cart Driver dropped her off in Newcastle, but before the driver of the cart could do anything about it, she smashed all the eggs on the cart, leaving George virtually penniless.

Sarah Ellen & young John

Sarah Ellen found work in a restaurant with generous couple, Cuthbert and Isabella Saul. By 1923 she put her culinary skills to the test in her own 'Gentleman's Restaurant' and billiard room.

The proportions in Sarah Ellen's recipe book confirms Monument Cafe on Blackett Street must have been a popular spot - 'Vegetable Hotpot - 50lbs potatoes, 3lbs onions, 6 Oxo cubes, pepper & salt.  Pastry: 4lb flour, 2lb ground rice, 1/4lb marg, 1 1/2 oz baking powder.'  The recipe notebook contains hundreds of thrifty recipes providing good wholesome nourishment.

Sarah Ellen Gray

Sarah Ellen died in January 1938 and was cremated in Newcastle as Sarah Ellen Gray, though her death certificate uses her second married surname, Charlton.

You may wonder what became of my Great Grandfather, young John Thomas (Jack) Gray, MBE?  He may well be the subject of my next blog.

Blackett Street, Newcastle, circa 1900

Sarah Ellen's book of recipes

Ward's Directory Cover from 1850

Who do you think you are?

I love the series  "Who do you think you are?", I've watched every episode since it began back in 2004.

Victoria (Mum), Emma (my daughter) & Me

My Mum caught the genealogy bug a number of years ago, and now I am curious and ready to know the yarns she has revealed.  One week in February 2016, my husband, John (oh, she's done his too!) is away with work, so this seems the perfect time to take a day off with Mum to look at her research.

I suggest we start with a story I vaguely recall and my own memory of serving "Sarah Ellen's Beef Steak and Oyster Pie".

Brenda (Granny), Me & Victoria (my Mum)

Back in the day, when our home was a small Country House Hotel, Mum brought all hands on deck to take part in a promotional Maritime Event.  For guests heading towards a land locked farmhouse destination in Lancashire, seafaring links were perhaps not the most obvious.  However, Mum sailed on, armed with a recipe book, including carpetbagger steaks and tales of her Great, Great Grandmother, Sarah Ellen Gray.

Each time a new family 'branch' is discovered (I learn researching family history often detours, on an unusual name, a personal interest...

Beatrice (Great Gran), Joyce (Great Aunt),
Brenda (Granny),
front: Sarah Ellen (Great, Great Gran)

or just a 'hunch'), Mum opens a new file.  The green 'Harrop Fold Country House Hotel' folders are labeled with surnames I've never heard of.  Every file contains a branch of family tree in a fan layout.  Each family member has a plastic wallet containing a record card, name, date of birth, marriage(s) (in the 1800's a marriage certificate determines the quarter a couple are married, not a specific date), date of death along with anecdotal stories/memories, factual or otherwise!

I'm like a celebrity on "Who do you think you are?", I've rolled up with everything set before me and I'm excited, a little emotional even.  There is a lot of information, much of it is the facts of ordinary lives, in different times.  Soon enough, I want to right the wrongs, delve into those tangents and continue to dig a little deeper.

Next: the story of Sarah Ellen Gray (nee Simpson).  I hope that my children, Tom & Emma, my brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews will be able to enjoy dipping in and out of these snippets and along the way, I'd like to think, we might pick up some more flesh to the bones of our story.