The McLoughlins & the Burns

The McLoughlins

Susan was the daughter of John McLaughlin a coal miner. Perhaps Elswick Colliery was the work place of both John McLaughlin, and John Henry’s younger brother William. She was born at Durham city according to the 1901 census, so I assume she was the daughter of John McLaughlin and Hannah née Howe, born 18 July 1875 at Ludworth Colliery in the Durham registration district.

Hannah Howe married John McLaughlin at the parish church (C of E) at Easington on 30 November 1861. John was a coal miner ‘of full age’ this meant he was 21 or over, John was the son of a coal miner, John McLaughlan. Hannah was an 18 year old spinster, the daughter of John Howe, a coal miner, like her husband she was resident at Shotton Colliery and could not sign her name, but made her mark.

On 7 April, at the time of the 1861 census neither bride nor groom seems to have been living in Shotton. The witnesses to the wedding were Aaron Lawson and Edwin Morhouse. There is no Edwin Morhouse in the 1851, 61 or 71 census; however Edwin Moorhouse, a school master in Leadgate appears on the 1871 census, he was born in Lancashire, but had a child born at South Hetton, Durham in 1865, also Edwin Morhouse was the only party to the marriage who was able to sign his name. The 1861 census, just over six months before the wedding found Aaron, a 17 year old coalminer, at Brancepath Colliery. The mobility evident in these census returns show how much movement there was in the Durham coalfield. I have been unable to find the Howe family on the 1861 census, but there may be a record of the family on the 1851 census at Great Lumley, and also in Great Lumley in 1841, once it becomes clearer whether of not these were our Howes, I will record their details.

 

In February 1889 Mary Ann McLoughlin married Bartholomew Saunders (or Saunders), both of Wickham, at the Gateshead register office. Mary Ann was the daughter of John McLoughlin, a deceased coal miner. It would later become clear that Susan and Mary Ann were sisters. It seems that Bartholomew was illegitimate, as the section for details of his father on the marriage certificate is left blank. In fact Bartholomew appears on the 1881 census aged 14, (coalminer) living at Medomsley Edge with Edward (72) and Jane Saunders, his grandparents. Bartholomew and Mary Ann appear at Ryton, Durham on the 1891 census with their one year old son John, who was born in Close House near Shildon in South Durham. Whenever Mary Ann appears on a census, a different birthplace is recorded! On this occasion she was said to have been born at Sutton in Co Durham. By 1901 Bart and Mary Anne, now with two children, were at Pontop Rows, Kyo, Annfield Plain, where they were soon to be joined by John Burns. On this occasion Mary Anne’s birthplace was given as Byers Green near Willington in South Durham.

John Henry was registered as a voter at 533 Scotswood Rd on the 1899- 1900, & 1901-2 registers. John Burns, my granda, was born at 533 Scotswood Rd on 21 Jan 1898; his father John Henry was still at the Elswick works, where it seems he spent his working life. Three years later, at the 1901 census, the family John Henry, Susan and John (2), were still at 533 Scotswood Rd. 533 must have been quite a large house: the Stewart family had 2 rooms, the Burns 2 rooms, John William Dodds (42) and his wife Jane Ann, had 1 room, and the final group in the house had 4 rooms. It was at this address, a year later (23 March 1902) that Susan Burns died. She had been suffering from bronchopneumonia for 4 days, and had given birth to a premature baby, (which must have died – no birth was registered- the previous day). An obituary appeared in the Evening Chronicle of 27 March 1902.

‘533 Scotswood Road on the 23^rd inst. Aged 23 Susan beloved wife of John Henry Burns, interred this Friday 28^th inst, lift at 2-30 pm. Friends, please accept this invitation.’

 

Shortly after his mother’s death John was sent to live at Kyo near Annfield Plain, a mining village in Co Durham, with Mary Ann and Bartholomew Saunders. I remember my granddad telling me about a greyhound which would let anyone in, but no one out of the house, this may have been in Annfield Plain, or perhaps at Newcastle. As discussed earlier, Mary Ann’s maiden name was McLocklin, the daughter of John McLocklin (deceased) a coal miner and I assume, the sister of Susan Burns (McLocklin), and so Bart and Mary Ann were John Burns’ uncle and aunt. There were already two children in the family at the time of the 1901 census, and Isabella D Saunders was born in September 1901 at 53 Pontop Row Kyo. In 1911 the Saunders were at 9 Mary Street Annfield Plain, the census return for Mary Anne McGloughklin confirmed Mary Anne’s birth in Shotton.

I remember visiting Bella and her husband Bob Reay, a miner, with my grandfather in Annfield Plain, when I was a child. Interestingly Bob’s mother was born in Broomside, and her first child at Shadforth, placing them in the same area as the McLoughlins in the 1870’s. 1967 electoral role gives their names as Robert W Reay & Isabella Reay.

An early photo of life in Annfield Plain.

The first sighting of an aeroplane over Annfield Plain was recorded both by Mr. Fred Wade and in the local history journal of Mr WA Jennnings.  One afternoon in 1913 the plane was sighted travelling south - then reported to have made a forced landing in a hill­top field some six miles distant near the village of Cornsay Colliery. Fred Wade records his cycle ride to the locality where he found hundreds of people already at the scene. This picture is taken on that occasion. The pilot was Captain Cody, a noted pioneer airman who had been competing in the King's Cup air race to the north of England and back to the south.  Granda Burns told me how he saw the plane come low over the village, and how he followed it to the site where it landed.

John Henry Burns continued to live at 533 Scotswood Rd, remaining on the municipal register for 1902-3, compiled in the third quarter of 1902 # successive electoral roles need to be checked.

 

 

 

 

(Eliz, wife of Andrew Dodds? look for A Dodds on 1901)

The 1901 census also revealed that Martin Judge had married sometime after 1881, his wife Mary was 10 years his junior at 47, and came from South Shields. This is the entry which states that Martin (and presumably, the rest of the Judges) came from Mayo.

 

John Henry Burns’ brothers and sister.

 

The census of 1901 shows a Charles Burns (31), the eldest of the siblings, an iron works labourer, lodging at 11 Alexander St Elswick with the Fleming family Charles Burns of Elswick appears on the electoral role in Elswick throughout the 1920’s & into the 1930’s.

 

The only William Burns matching the details of John Henry’s younger brother was at 44 Back Frederick St Throston, Holy Trinity Parish Hartlepool. William was a labourer in a forge.

A steam hammer in operation at a forge.

William was married to Jane Elizabeth Calvert, the Darlington born daughter of a forge man, they had two sons Thomas (1 year) and Walker (1 month). A visitor in the household was James Burns, a factory labourer. Both William and James were born in Newcastle, but had aged only 8 years in the last decade!

William’s marriage certificate shows his father as William Burns, deceased, a Cooper. The 1881 census index shows no William Burns, cooper with a son William born in Newcastle, I think the Hartlepool William, and his visitor James were my gt gt uncles and that William had boosted the occupation of his father posthumously from labourer to tradesman (his grandfather James Garvey was a cooper). The resemblance between the signatures of the two William’s (father & son) is striking.

 

Lizzie Burns is described as a newsgirl/hawker on the census of 1891 and clearly had a shrewd business brain. Winnie Shippen (my aunty) tells of aunty Lizzie keeping a shop in Noble St in Newcastle in the 1930’s with a flourishing sideline in moneylending. My granda told me about a large greyhound, she kept, who would let anyone into the house, but wouldn’t let anyone out!  Recently Ryan Tully, my 3rd cousin, found that Elizabeth Burns was the sponsor (godmother) of Thomas Tate Burns, the son of William and Jane Calvert.  Thomas was baptised at St Joseph’s (Catholic) Church in Hartlepool on 12 April 1899.  So it seems Lizzie was not married by that stage.  So far Lizzie has not been found on the 1901 or 1911 census.

The Newcastle electoral role of 1922 shows John Henry Burns elector at 29 Noble St, along with Henry &Ellen Hartness, and Alf &s. Poulton.

 

The 1925 role has John Henry Burns as an elector at 29 Noble St. and Charles Burns at no 35 Noble St.

 

1928-9 Charles Burns at no 35.Noble St

 

1933 Charles Burns at 33 back Noble St

1938-39 Charles Burns at 33 back Noble St

 

 

1907 Sept 7th at 22 Canada St Shieldfield Newcastle, death of Bridget Manning, (61) widow of Bartholomew Manning. Bridget died after a fall in her room, an inquest was held on 9 Sept.

1908 191&193 Scotswood Rd a William Burns on the voters list (Q-H) possibly brother of JHB. 1914 191 Scotswood Rd a W Burns Beer Retailer ,Wards Directory of Newcastle reprinted on reprint of 1913 Map of Elswick Check on 1901 census to eliminate

 

1911 January 18 RVI Newcastle, death of William James Burns (39) a Railway Joiner, possibly brother of John Henry Burns. Check on 1901 to eliminate

 

1911 Census showed John Henry Burns (36) shipyard riveter, and John Burns (12) at school living in 1 room at 31 Noble St , Elswick.

1913 January copy of JB’s birth cert. obtained to allow him to begin work at the age of 13. The certificate suggests he was living at 33 Noble St, with his father John Henry. Granda told me that as a boy he worked in a glass blowers shop.

 

 

14 Dec 1914 beginning of the five years of John Burn’s apprenticeship as an electrician with Armstrong Whitworth.

 

1914 Parliamentary Register, at 31 Noble St. Neil and Charles Burns, and Alexander Ross.

 

1914 Parliamentary Register 191&193 Scotswood Rd William Burns.

 

18 May 1916 signing of John Burn’s indenture as an electrician with Armstrong Whitworth.

 

1920 January12 Apprenticeship completed at the Armstrong Naval Yard, Higher Walker, “conduct very satisfactory”.

 

1924 John Burns started work for Consett Iron Company. (25 year service watch)The Higher Walker Naval Yard (founded in 1912) was short of work, and closed in 1928, while the owners of Consett Iron Company had decided, despite the depression, to totally modernise the works, this work started in 1923.

 

26 March 1926 Death of John Henry Burns at 29 Noble St at the age of 54 from cancer of the oesophagus. Described as being a boilermaker, certificate for provision to Boilermaker’s society. Death reported by John Burns of 33 Noble St (Death Cert.) Why was John Henry at 29 Noble St at the time of his death, was this the house of a relative?

 

1926 March 29 Burial of John Henry at St John’s Westgate and Elswick cemetery. (reg. no 63055 grave no 219 section S unconsecrated ) JH described as being aged 51 on receipt from City cemetery. Fee paid by Mr J Mc Loughlin - undertaker.

 

1926 April 5 St Michael’s Church Westmoreland Rd Newcastle, wedding of John Burns of 5 Court St Blackhill and Mary Ellen Glacken of 114 Sycamore St Newcastle witnesses John Glacken, Isabella Saunders and Ellen Dingwall. Steven Shippen senior, says that John had moved to Consett due to the depressed state of the Tyne Shipyards . At this time Consett Iron Company had just embarked on a major modernisation programme. John Burns was in lodgings at Cort St, and soon afterwards obtained rooms for his wife and himself with Billy Eccles at St Mary’s Cres. Blackhill.

 

1926 29 Noble St Autumn Register of electors William and Eliz. Brown, Andrew and Eliz Dodds. Aunty Lizzie?

 

1926 35 Noble St on Autumn Register of electors a Charles Burns.

 

1926 Dec 19 ETU statement of account, paid 42 weeks contributions, excused 10 weeks.

General strike?

 

1927 Jan 15 Birth of Winifred Burns in Newcastle.

1927 Dec 24 ETU accounts 52 weeks paid

 

1930 January 17 birth of John Burns Junior who was baptised at St Joseph’s Church Benwell Newcastle.

 

1931 ETU accounts 45 weeks contributions paid, excused 7 weeks because of unemployment.

 

1933 Envelope postmarked envelope addressed to J Burns at 8 Valley Gardens. Throughout the 30’s grandma and Grandpa Glacken would go on holiday with the Burns family to Whitley Bay.

 

1936 Nov 5 at 6 Bertram Place Newcastle, death of Winefred Glacken, née Manning (aged 72) informant John Glacken of 6 Bertram Place.

St Michael’s Elswick was the church the Glackens attended.

1938 August 28 at 6 Bertram Place, death of Thomas Glacken (73), retired shipyard driller, informant John Glacken of the same address.