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THIS BOOK IS A TRANSCRIPT OF A HAND WRITTEN BOOK CALLED
THE "JARROW RECORDS" HELD IN THE ARCHIVES OF NEWCASTLE PUBLIC
LIBRARY UNDER THE REFERENCE L942-81 Y.375.THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK IS
UNKNOWN BUT FROM THE FACTS IN THE BOOK THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THE AUTHOR
HAD A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF JARROW UNTIL THE YEAR
1890. MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH TYNESIDE LOCAL HISTORY GROUP HAVE TRANSCRIBED
THIS BOOK.
HISTORICAL REGISTER And Surrounding neighbourhood with a biography Of Eminent persons connected with the town From The earliest period down to the present time 1890
We may regard history in some sort of ourselves under circumstances
different from those in which it finds us, which circumstances however
in time often repeats with remarkable detail. It is the narrative of
national as well as of individual life. It teaches its votary something
of himself and of his kind, which the profoundest learned man without
it could never know. And if this be true of universal history, it is
true in a sense more confined and yet more intense of the history of
our town. As everyday adds to our knowledge of the past, it should add
to our wisdom, and if we do not profit by the experiences which ages
have gathered for us, we have no one to blame but ourselves. January 20th 1890 In the Saxon word GYRWY long since corrupted into JARROW there is considerable historical as well as etymological significance. It means Marsh or fen, which from that circumstance we may discern that Jarrow took its name from what is known as the Slake. It is probable that the Marshy ground covered a far larger area then occupied by the slake of the present day. Nor can the slake have always been a mere sandy bed covered at high tides. Twice the Romans who anchored their vessels at the mouth of the river Don used it as a haven and by the Northumberland King Egfrid who sheltered the whole of his fleet and afterwards the vessels of the Danes and Vikings from the North Seas. In olden times the river Don was not the little unpretending stream that it is now. Very fragmentary is the local history of these times. Long spaces of darkness and a slight lifting of the historian curtain now and then must perforce content us. Jarrow also claims the honour of having been a Roman station and village. This is ascertained from the Two Roman inscriptions found during the rebuilding of the church in A.D.1783.When the turnpike at the church two square pavements of Roman bricks were found and the site of the Church and Monastery abounds in Roman masonry. The Roman is supposed to have been made by the Roman Agricola who erected forts from the mouth of the Tyne to the Solway Firth in the year A.D.81. The Emperor Hadrian visited this island in person and caused an earthen rampart to be made for the purpose of strengthening and joining Agricola's forts together from Wallsend to Carlisle in the year A.D.121. From one of the before mentioned monuments was inscribed possibly a votive tribute to all the adopted sons of Hadrian. After having occupied and ruled Britain for upwards of 400 years the Romans finally took their departure about the year A.D.446. After two or three of civil warfare amongst the Northern Tribes of Britain, the Picts and Scots penetrated into the richest and distant parts of the country. Vortigern a British Prince having invited the Saxons commanded by Hengist and Harsa to come and help him against his enemies in A.D.448. They gladly did so and after having subdued the lawless tribes, they likewise subdued and conquered their former allies the British Tribes. After the Anglo-Saxons had secured their conquests their barbarous fierceness was mellowed into firm courage and their habits succeeded by those of patient industry. A.D.633.The first Christian King of Northumberland was King Edwin who was slain at Hatfield. After ten years of warfare concerning the kingdom of Northumberland between rivals to the Throne A.D.642- Oswald had fallen in battle with Penda the fierce and uncompromising Pagan king of Hercia at Maserfeld. A.D.643.13th October The chieftain King Osway began his reign as King of Northumberland. In the court of the King was a noble Saxon officer who having been munificently rewarded for his service he relinquished the world at the age of 25 years, and afterwards went on a journey to the City of Rome. A.D.655- Penda himself had perished by the sword in battle Oswi father of the Egfrid of our inscription at Winwaed and with his death England was lost for paganism. A.D.667 Soon after his return to Britain he went again to Rome and after having resided two years in the convent of Lirina in the isle of Honorat in France, he received the clerical tonsure and the name of Benedict Biscopius. In the year A.D.669 he returned from his third pilgrimage
to Rome in the train of Theodore, Bishop of Canterbury, and he was appointed
Abbot of St. Peter's which he governed for two years and then resigning
went to Rome for a fourth time. A.D.681- And this commences the Records of Jarrow for we know of nothing more relating to it than what is written here in these notes. JARROW * AT THE DAWN OF ITS HISTORY * DEDICATIO BASILICAE The nameless hand that carved these words and the King and the priest
whose names are recorded amongst them have been blest with the dust
for twelve centuries. It is the pathos of man's earthly lot that his
deeds outlive him, but it is also his glory. The words themselves may
still be read, the stone on which they were carved being built into
the wall over the west arch of the tower of the church of St. Paul at
Jarrow. And the deed to which they commemorate still lives on, invisibly,
as is the way with spiritual things and untraceably borne hither and
thither like a cloud wreath on the wind melting ever into new shapes,
rent and shredded and dispersed: but it still as surely lives on in
its influence on a thousand thousand hearts and you who read and I who
write are not quite the same men we should have been if it had never
been done. The dedication of the Basilica of St. Paul on the ninth of the Kalends
of May, It is the dedication stone of the church of St. Paul which since the day on which the stone was first set in position (not indeed where it now stands) has undergone many transformations for material things to melt and flow like a cloud into ever new forms but of which so much of the primitive structure still survives is to entitle it to be looked upon as one of the few very oldest buildings in our country. When that church was built England had not yet been melted into one United Kingdom and many were the blows with which it must still be beaten on the rude stithy of war before that end was achieved. But it was already taking form The seven kingdoms of the Heptarchy had been reduced to three amongst which Northumbria reigned over by Egfrid was not the least. The Britons, rudely thrust by the invading Saxons into the mountains of the West had never acquiesced in the new order things but the victory of "Heavens Field" in 634 gained by Oswald uncle of the Egfrid of our inscription had reduced them henceforth to impotence. A.D.685- Jarrow, at the time of the little church's dedication when the green hill crowned with church and monastery rose out of the flat Marsh land which gave it its name (for the name in Saxon (Gyre) meant a Marsh or fen) with the winding Don then a crystal stream rippling past its base and opening with a broad estuary into the swelling Tyne must have been a matchless scene of tranquil green solitude. Into this solitude, some four years before the dedication of the church. Benedict Biscop had planted the monastery of Jarrow. It is meet that we consider what manner of man he was who planted it. Benedict Biscop was a Northumbrian of noble birth who had found favour in the eyes of King Oswy. At the age of 25 he abandoned his brilliant prospects of worldly preferment "that he might engage in the service of the Heavenly King and so attain to an eternal kingdom in heaven. Several times did he repair to Rome, becoming confirmed in his pious enthusiasm and returning laden with books, relics and art treasures. After his third visit King Egfrid the son of his first patron Oswy, bestowed upon him a grant of land on the north side of Wearmouth and there Biscop built the monastery which gave its name to Monkwearmouth. Benedict Biscop returned from a fourth visit to Rome laden with sacred pictures for the church in order that all persons entering the church though unable to read wherever they looked might contemplate the amiable aspect of Christ and His Saints And no less careful that the services in the church should be enriched with music, he persuaded the Pope to allow "John the chanter" the precentor of St. Peters to return with him to his distant Northern home and teach the English the true ecclesiastical chant. So charmed was King Egfrid with the account to which Biscop had turned his first gift that he made him another grant of land at Donmouth on the Tyne estuary and here Biscop built the monastery of Jarrow. There were twenty-two brethren were chosen from Monkwearmouth to form the new community on the Don and Tyne and Ceolfrid the friend of Biscop his chosen associate in the founding of the Abbey of Wearmouth was appointed to govern the new monastery. And whilst its walls were rising Biscop set out on his fifth journey to Rome and brought back pictures for its adornment. Meanwhile there was growing up in the abbey of Jarrow a child who had been devoted to the service of the Lord and was by Him called to great things. A.D.673- Born in the village of Monkton near Jarrow he had at the age of seven been given over to Benedict Biscop to be educated and at the age of ten was one of those who accompanied Ceolfrid to the abbey of Jarrow. It was a sad homecoming that awaited Biscop from this his last pilgrimage to Rome. He found his munificent patron dead slain with the flower of his army by the fierce Pictish barbarians of the North and the sister foundations of Wearmouth and Jarrow into which had flowed all the affections of his wifeless and childless heart sorely ravaged by pestilence. At Wearmouth Abbot Easterwin had fallen a victim to the scourge and had been succeeded by Sigfrid. But Sigfrid already bore the seeds of a fatal malady within his frame and slowly Declined to that fell disease of consumption. And Benedict himself was within a brief space stricken with paralysis and a prisoner to his couch. Shortly before the end Sigfrid was carried into Benedicts cell and laid upon his couch the two helpless heads being brought together that their lips might meet in a parting kiss and within a few months the two passed into the Vale of the Shadow. Of all the monks whom the care of the pious Benedict caused to be instructed in the antiphonal chant, the plague had spared none save the Abbot Ceolfrid himself and the little child of the sanctuary. With many tears the two between them maintained within the desolated walls such choral service as they could singing the Psalter but omitting the recitation of the antiphons. But after a week of these maimed rites they could bear it no longer, the antiphons were restored and the two bore the whole burden between them until such time as others of the brethren could be trained to share it with them. This little child of the sanctuary whose whole life was circumscribed within the cloisters and the Church at Jarrow grew up to be a man of the widest learning, the profoundest piety and the deepest humility, saint, scholar and man of science. In his cell at Jarrow was the lamp of English learning first lit and thither it attracted scholars from all parts of England and Europe, till the little body of twenty-two brethren who with the child of ten had moved hither from Wearmouth was grown into a community of six hundred monks not to mention the strangers whom the thirst for instruction drew to sojourn amongst them. Thus did Jarrow become the first university on Tyneside. The Venerable Bede's own writings are voluminous and varied. Of him can be said, what has been said of few Englishmen and what with the growth of knowledge, will scarcely ever be said of any man again, that he had mastered all that was to be known in his time. The forty five works he left behind him apart from the various theological treatises included text books on astronomy and meteorology, physics and music, philosophy, grammar, rhetoric, arithmetic and medicine-a whole encyclopaedia of knowledge. He was a skilled musician, he wrote a Latin that put to shame the Latinity of the Pope himself, he possessed the rare accomplishments of Greek and Hebrew and was a lover of his dear English tongue then only lisping its first baby words. He was the first English historian and his "Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation" alone it is which has saved for us from the pitiless effacing hand of time many a chapter in the history of our country and our county which we could ill spare. It was meet that it should have a King to its translator as indeed it had in the person of King Alfred. So the Great Teacher and humble servant of his fellows wrote and taught and wrought for fifty years now winnowing and threshing corn, now giving the lambs and calves to drink of milk, not disdaining the tasks of the garden, kitchen and bakehouse, but ever back again to the cloisters to his teaching or to his quiet cell to pen golden words which will be treasured when the State of England shall have followed him into the dust. Put off your shoes ye who shall tread the ruined cloisters of the Abbey of Jarrow, or at least hush your voices and doff your hats for place whereon you stand is Holy ground, in all England none Holier. The far seeing Benedict Biscop when he cared for the unlettered by his gifts of pictures to the Abbey of Jarrow did not forget the needs of the learned. Never did he return from his travels without new acquisition of books. The Abbot Ceolfrid industriously added to the store and many were the precious manuscripts, which the monks painfully but lovingly copied out with their hands on fair vellum and illuminated with crimson and azure and gold and adorned with quaint grotesques and artless portrayals of scenes from Holy Writ. Amongst others, the monks made himself Three copies of the Vulgate or Latin translation of the bible by St. Jerome for Ceolfrid who destined one for each of the sister monasteries and one as a gift for the Holy Father himself. This year the Abbot Ceolfrid being 74 years of age set out on what was to be his last journey to carry the gift in person to the feet of the Holy Father. With difficulty do I restrain from painting his departure. He laid down the burden of life at Langres in France and his large retinue divided-some to bear home the story of his death, some to remain beside their beloved master and some to carry the gift to Rome. What became of this costly manuscript? It was too precious a treasure to be willingly destroyed? In the Medico Laurentian Library at Florence forming indeed one of the chief ornaments of that famous collection there is a beautiful manuscript of the whole bible in Latin which is considered by critics to be the oldest and best copy of the Vulgate in existence and which is amongst those ordered by the Pope to be consulted for recension of the scriptures It is known as the Codex Amiatinus having once belonged to the convent
of Monte Amiata. "Even on a modern spectator" 'this manuscript
leaves an impression not far removed from awe. On the back of the first
leaf is a dedication in halting Latin elegiacs setting forth that Peter
and Abbot of Lombardy sends this volume to the venerable monastery of
the Saviour. But the verses halt only because Peter had manifestly stolen
the dedication from someone else and clumsily adapted it to his purpose
scratching out words and inserting in their stead others, which do not
scan. What is the origin of this beautiful manuscript? Can it be traced? The beautiful manuscript bible the pride of the Laurentian Library at Florence is the same which the monks of Wearmouth and Jarrow wrote with pious care over a thousand years ago for their Abbot to bear as a gift to the Holy See at Rome. Abbot Huaetbert was elected by the monks who numbered 600 with the consent of the elders of St. Paul Jarrow to the government of both Monasteries. Huaetbert had been placed in the Wearmouth monastery at very early period of his life and in the time of Pope Sergius had visited Rome.
The touching narrative of his last days has been preserved for us in a letter of one of his disciples. Often as it has been retold, the closing scene at least must here be rehearsed again. His last task was the translation into English of the Gospel of St. John. This was carried on amidst painful sufferings, with failing breath go that those about him entreated him to husband his strength. ,"Nay" he answered "for I would not have my lads read untruths or toil for nothing after I am gone". So he continued till Ascension Day teaching singing psalms and working bravely at his task. Then the last day dawned. At the third hour (9a.m.) his disciples left him to walk in procession according to the custom of the day. But one remained with him to act as scribe. "Dear master there wanteth yet one chapter. But it is hard for thee to question thyself any longer" 'It is easy" answered the dying man "Take thy pen and write quickly". Thus the day wore on to evening and the weeping pupils gathered around him receiving from him simple little gifts and laying up his last words in their hearts. "There is yet one sentence unwritten dear master" said the scribe "Write it quickly" came the answer." It is finished now," said the boy laying down the pen. "It is well" answered Bede "Thou hast said truly all is finished now" And the soul of Bede the great, the brave; the tender was exhaled from the faltering lips in company with a pious song. Bede died aged 62 years of asthma. Bede was buried in a porch made in his honour in Jarrow Church. Pilgrims flocked from all parts of the country to his tomb and miracles were performed at the shrine. BEDE the bones of Bede rested undisturbed for 287 years where they were first laid. Bede's Well about a mile west of the church was a place of great resort in the two centuries here were brought large numbers of children troubled with any disease or infirmity: a crooked pin was put in the well laved dry between each dipping. Twenty children have been brought together on a Sunday to be immersed
in the well. Also on Midsummer Eve there was a great number of neighbouring
people with bonfires, music and other games. The names of the Abbots
that succeeded Hauetbert are unknown except in the book "Lives
of the Abbots of Jarrow
The Abbot Benedict Biscopus brought workmen from the continent to make window glass for his monasteries at Wearmouth and Jarrow. The Ancient saying "That the windows of Jarrow Church are never dark, probably arose from the circumstance of their being glazed which must have excited the astonishment of a rude people. The art of glass making seems to have been lost in the convulsions of the Danish invasions. A.D.924 Adam Hilton in the time of King Atheistan caused his arms to be engraved on the gate at Hylton Castle. Some of the Hyltons are buried in Jarrow Abbey Churchyard. A.D.1020 A few monks occupied Jarrow Monastery, Elfrid Westoe a monk of Durham and a famous collector of the bones of saints stole the body of St Bede from the monastery at Jarrow. They carried it to Durham where it was honourably deposited in the same coffin with St. Cuthbert. Bede's relics remain at Durham and those who have stood above the blue slab in the Galilee at Durham with its familiar inscription and thrilled to think that the great works wrought by such men in the flesh continued when their flesh has Decayed. A.D.1069 St. Cuthberts body rested for one night at Jarrow Monastery carried by the monks from Durham who were fleeing from the army of William the Conqueror. A.D.1075 Three monks named Aldwine, Ealfwin and Kinfrid began to restore the Monastery at Jarrow under the liberal patronage of Walcher. Bishop of Durham. About this year Waltheof, Earl of Northumberland gave the monastery of Tynemouth with all the lands and possessions thereof together with the body of St. Oswjn to the monks of Jarrow to which place they removed the sacred remains of the royal saint. A.D 1080 the monks of Jarrow on hearing of the murder of Walcher, Bishop of Durham at Gateshead, took a boat and came to the place where they found the body. They conveyed the body down the river to their monastery from whence it was removed to Durham and there interred in the Chapter House. A.D.1083 William De Carliepho who succeeded bishop Walcher removed the monks from Jarrow and reduced the monastery to a cell dependent on the monastery of St. Cuthbert and confirmed by Charters from King William and King John. From this time Jarrow Monastery was inhabited only by a few monks governed by a Master. A.D.1090 Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland refunded Tynemouth monastery and filled it with black canons and out of enmity to the Bishop of Durham made it a cell to the monastery of St. Albans. A.D.1099 Ralph Flambard succeeded Carliepho as Bishop of Durham. A.D.1190 Hugh Pudsey Bishop of Durham erected a shrine at Jarrow to the Venerable Bede and to the church at Jarrow gave a cross and chalice of solid gold. A.D.1198 William de Hilton almost certainly the grandson of Romanus Married Beneta the heiress of Germanus Teson the great grandson of Gilbert Teson who was standard bearer to William the Conqueror. A.D.1248 The Prior of Durham had a park and free warren at Heworth. The lands of upper and nether Heworth were given to the Monastery of Jarrow before the time of the conquest. A.D.1264 May 14th Robert de Hylton was one of the knights of the county of Durham who were present at the Battle of Lewes. He took part with the barony against the King and with the rest of insurgents forfeited his estates. They were afterwards restored to him. A.D.1295/6/7 Robert de Hilton was summoned to the parliaments of these years. At the date of A.D.1295 we come upon one of the greatest epochs in our national history. Here we have the origin of the House of Commons. The common people when called upon to elect representatives to attend parliament shrank from it as a repulsive duty. And those they elected had so little idea of the honour or benefit that every one of them declined the appointment. They knew that they would be looked on with scorn by the barons and knights with whom they had to assemble. The contempt of the barons compelling them to sit apart was the Deciding cause of their becoming a distinct house, namely the House of Commons of the English Nation A.D.1313 William Prior of Durham retired and lived at the Jarrow monastery A.D.1318 The church was valued at £2611314 per annum A.D.1323 Robert de Durham was master of the cell at Jarrow. A.D.1323 Robert de Durham occurs as Master of Jarrow A.D.1333 Alexander de Lumley was Master of Jarrow A.D.1355 John de Norton Master of Jarrow. A.D.1366 Hebburn Estate belonged to the Wilby family A.D.1437 John de Durham Master of Jarrow. A.D.1358 Coals shipped from Newcastle to London A.D.1394 Robert de Walworth was granted the cell of Jarrow for his lifetime A.D.1503 Hebburn Hall was in possession of the family Gray A.D.1538 Stotes House belonged to a family of that name A.D.1539 At the Dissolution the church was valued at £40/7/8d A.D.1544 The crown granted the Manor of Jarrow to William, Lord Eure of Whitton A.D.1547 This year all the sands called shores in the river Tyne were settled upon the Corporation of Newcastle A.D.1562 Richard Hodgson, Alderman of Newcastle was Lord of the Manor of Hebburn. The old mansion house was strongly built as if for defence. A.D.1569 The Hodgsons of Hebburn were Papists and were long objects of terror to their neighbours. During a rebellion of the Earls in this year "of a Sunday last the Protestants and Papists within Newcastle made a fray: but Mr. Hodgson a rank papist was put forth of the town and matter pacified praised be to God". Sadlers Papers. A.D.1578 The parochial registers began A.D.1594-Lord Eure grandson of W.L.E. died and left a large sum of money to his son Ralph Lord Eure to build with at Jarrow. A.D.1598 Five children of Richard Catchside died of the plague and were buried in the churchyard. A.D.1618 A colliery is mentioned and also the "Black Staith" was the only one Marked in the parish in 1655 A.D.1619 Sir Robert Handles established Glass works on the river Tyne and the workmen brought from Lorraine in France A.D.1624 September.l3th Died at his residence of Hebburn hall Robert Hodgson Esq. aged 68years. A.D.1627 The manor of Jarrow was conveyed to Henry Gibb Esq. Parliament being dissolved this day by Oliver Cromwell. The Barebones Parliament was held in July when Henry Dawson Esq. Alderman of Newcastle on Tyne who was Twice Mayor of the town received a mandate to represent the County of Durham, which under the spiritual lords had never achieved the privilege of direct representation in the House of Commons. He died however shortly after he got to London on the 10th day of August and for more than 200 years the first member for the County of Durham was shrouded in obscurity when a monument was discovered in 1866 in the church of St. Mary Abbot at Kensington which showed that the Mayor of Newcastle and the first MP for Durham were one and the same person. A.D.1633 October.3rd John Walker was ordained priest of the Parish of Jarrow. A.D.1641 Sir Henry Hylton of Hylton Castle died this year. He left all his estates to the Lord Mayor of London in trust for ninety-nine years only allowing a very trifling sum of money per annum to his heirs for three generations. After ninety-nine years the estates and £4000 were to go to his heir at law provided he be not such a one as shall claim to be the issue of the testators own body. A.D.1650 Master Coiston who Married Sir Robert Hodgsons widow of Hebburn Hall is accused in a scurrilous pamphlet called "Musgrave Muzzled" of being a man disaffected to the present government and his wife a Papish recusant. A.D.1650 The family of Ellison who were Merchant Adventurers of Newcastle purchased the Manor of North Hebburn Estate. A.D.1653 The manor of Jarrow was purchased by Thomas Bonner and Robert Ellison of Hebburn Hall who in A.D.1664 divided the estate. A.D.1653 April 20th Parliament was dissolved this day by Oliver Cromwell. The Bare Bones parliament was held in July following when Henry Dawson Esq. Alderman of Newcastle who had twice been Mayor of the Town received a mandate to represent the County of Durham which under its spiritual lords had never achieved the privilege of direct representation in the House of Commons. On August 10th he died however shortly after he got to London and for more than 200 years the identity of the first member for the County of Durham was shrouded in obscurity when a monument was discovered in the year 1866 inside of a church called St. Mary Abbot at Kensington which showed that the Mayor of Newcastle and the MP for Durham were one and the same person. A.D.1653- The corporation of Newcastle granted to Benjamin Ellison merchant a lease for thirty one years at a yearly rental of 1 shilling of a quay or wharf then built and called Jarrow Quay in length about 1,000 yards from the quay end to Black Point westward up the river for a ballast quay A.D.1655- The Black Staith was the first and only one Marked in the parish A.D.1657 Francis Battie was made priest of Jarrow Church but afterwards ejected for non-conformity. This year it was agreed that if any pilot took upon himself to pilot any ship up or down the river Tyne on the Lords Day he shall pay every time so offending the sum of 20 shillings. A.D.1664 Robert Ellison and Thomas Bonner divided the manor of Jarrow between them, Ellison taking the Grange Estate. A.D.1669 Sir Charles Adderby and John Cooke Esq. attempted to build a ballast quay on Jarrow Slake and they were obstructed by the corporation of Newcastle. The right of that body was admitted on trying the case in the Court of Exchequer and subsequently confirmed by Kings Council. A.D.1669 Sir Charles Adderly and-John Cooke Esq. attempted to build a ballast quay on Jarrow Slake and the corporation of Newcastle obstructed them. The right of that body was admitted on trying the case in the court of the exchequer and subsequently confirmed by the King's Council A.D.1673 William Walker was ordained priest of the parish of Jarrow A.D.1675 The first two members of the county of Durham elected this year. AD 1680 November.12th Thomas Pattison gave to the poor of the parish of Jarrow the sum of £20 the interest to be distributed on St. Thomas 's Day yearly. A.D.1697 George Howey A.M. accepted priesthood for the parish Jarrow. A.D.1714 Febuarary.3rd.William Nicholson gave to the poor of the parish of Jarrow £10 the interest to be distributed on St. Thomas's Day. A.D.1721 A Marriage took place this year between Lord Ossulston and Miss Camilia Colville daughter of Edward Colville Esq. of the White House near Gateshead at the parish church of St. Paul's. The Marriage was duly solemnised by the vicar and a friend and the only witnesses present were the brides parents, Susanna Colville, sister to the bride, the church clerk and Captain Aubone of South Shields who acted as best man. A.D.1724 Mordecai Carey was Vicar of the parish of Jarrow and afterwards was made Bishop of Clonfert and translated to Cloyne, afterwards to Killala in Ireland. A.D.1724 Robert Wilson A.M. was ordained vicar of the parish of Jarrow A.D.1726 August.3rd.Stephen Brown, Arthur Hewitson, David Steel, Ann Bone and Jane Browne were tried at the Durham Assizes for having on the 13th of June preceding robbed John Marshall of 32 guineas on the Kings Highway in the parish of Jarrow. They were all found guilty and afterwards executed at Durham. A.D.1721 A Marriage took place at the Parish Church of St. Paul's of Jarrow between Lord Osselton and Miss Camilia Colville daughter of Edward Colville of the White House near Gateshead. A.D.1746 The last Baron Hilton of Hilton died this year. A.D.1747 William Brunton gave to the poor of the constabulary Monkton and Hedworth £20 the interest to be distributed on St. Thomas's Day yearly. A.D.1749 Died Jacob Hawell who left to the poor of Jarrow the sum of £20 the interest to be paid yearly forever. A.D.1756 Frances Heron King of the Faas a sort of gypsy people living near the Borders was buried in Jarrow churchyard. AD.1756 October 17th a great storm swept over the river Tyne and did great damage to shipping, a vessel named "The Blessing" of Whitby was upset at the quay and four boys 'drowned. A.D.1758 Upwards of 2000 salmon were taken in the Tyne this day and were sold in Newcastle Market for 1 and 3/4d~per pound. A.D.1760 July 20th such quantities of salmon were caught in the river Tyne and were sold in Newcastle Market for 3/4D per pound. A.D.1762 September.23rd A number of keels were sunk in the river in the nighttime during a heavy gale of wind and great damage was done. A.D.1769 About this year the Dean and chapter of Durham erected the Town Hall in the centre of the Market place at South Shields. A.D.1771 November.l7th A great flood occurred on the river Tyne doing great damage to bridges, shipping and riverside property and loss of life. The bodies of a woman and child were found drowned on the Slake a ship was blown out to sea and there was picked up at sea a cradle containing a little child alive and well. A.D.1774 January- the river Tyne wag frozen over for about four miles below Newcastle Bridge A.D.1782 Hutchinson says "Little more remained of this once famous town, when we visited it than two or three mean cottages A.D.1782 March 10th there was a great fall of snow followed next morning by a very heavy rain, which with a strong fresh wind caused the river to rise to a great height. Upwards of fifty vessels were driven out to sea. A.D.1783 July 12th Cuthbert Ellison eldest son of Henry Ellison was born. A.D.1782 There was found in Jarrow Church a relic consisting of two stones with an inscription worked on them. The inscription is thus read by Brand "The dedication of the church of St. Paul on the 9th of the Kalends of May in the 15th year of King Egfrid and the 4th of Ceolfrid Abbot and under God the founder of the said church. This interesting monument has been preserved and is now in the arch of the tower between the chancel and the nave. One of the bells of the church is remarkable. It is marked with two fleur de Lys and inscribed in large characters "Sanete Paule ard Pro Nobis". Brand supposes The bell to have been placed in the monastery at its first foundation, "to have survived all change of times and to have escaped all transmutation of metals" There is also a claim that Jarrow has the honour of having been a Roman Station, fort and village. This was ascertained from two Roman inscriptions found during the rebuilding of the church. But the proof of Jarrow having been a Roman fort does not rest entirely upon the ancient monuments, for when the road was altered north of Jarrow row two square pavements of Roman brick were discovered and the whole site of the church and monastery abounds in foundations of Roman masonry. The Roman fort is supposed to have been made by the Roman General Agricola who erected a chain of forts from the mouth of the Tyne to Solway Firth in the year A.D.81. The Emperor Hadrian visited Britain in person and caused an earthen rampart to be made for the purpose of joining Agricolas forts together from Wallsend to Carlisle in the year A.D.121 as from one of the monuments found it. Was possibly a votive tribute to all the adopted sons of Hadrian. After having ruled and occupied Britain for upwards of 400 years the Romans finally took their departure from Britain about the year A.D.446. A.D.1783 The nave at Jarrow church was wholly rebuilt this year in a most wretched and incongruous style which makes it difficult to say what the original church was or to trace the portions of an earlier church which were thought to have been incorporated on the rebuilding by the Norman architects. A.D.1785 December 7th General Ellison who
died at Kensington London by his will date December7th 1775 gave £100
to the poor of Jarrow Parish. A.D.1786- Mrs. Eleanor Railston died in
Jarrow Quay aged 102 years. A.D.1792 July- There was a dispute between the Keelmen of the river Tyne and their employers. A.D.1794 January 25th A great storm occurred this day in the Jarrow and surrounding district when several Keels were lost in the river and 5 keels were driven from their moorings on to Jarrow Slake and other property destroyed. A.D.1799 March 6th This day the Antigallican,
privateer of Newcastle sailed from South Shields on a six months cruise
against the enemies of Britain. A.D.1800 May 11th 144 vessels sailed from Shields under convoy for the Baltic, having on board besides other commodities, 1100 caldrons of coal, Newcastle measure. A.D.1801 Heworth contained 2887 inhabitants this year. A.D.1803 November 16th the Gateshead Volunteers commanded by Cuthbert Ellison Esq. of Hebburn paraded in Oakwellgate. Mrs. Ellison presented the colours after Marching to the field, which was previously kept by the Newcastle Volunteers. A.D.1803 September.26th Being the day appointed by Simon Temple Esq. to celebrate the opening of' his colliery at Jarrow. The fineness of the day and the general invitation drew many thousands of people to witness the passage of the coals to the ship "Fox" which lay highly decorated with colours to receive them. Early in the morning the South Shields Bells announced the intended feast and all the ships in Shields harbour immediately hoisted their colours. About 10 a.m. Mr. Temple arrived at Shields to proceed with the shipwrights attended by the Northumberland and Anglesea bands to the place of festivity celebrated in early times as the birth place of St. Bede. Immediately on his arrival in the Market Place the shipwrights took the horses out of the carriage shafts and drew him attended by his father and 3 Sons to Jarrow with flags flying and music playing. On Jarrow Bridge he was met by a large assemblage of gentlemen headed by Sir Cuthbert Heron Bart. Who greeted him on his arrival. Their first step was to lay the foundation stone of a school for the education of the children of the various workmen employed by Mr. Temple. His eldest son Mr. William Temple amidst the plaudits of the whole company did this. They next proceeded to lay the foundation stone of a building intended as a seminary for the instruction of poor females in offices more suitable to their sex than several of their employment's in the North of England. A.D.1803 These commendable acts being finished the procession moved to another part of the estate to lay the foundation stone of a fever house and hospital for such of the families employed in Mr. Temples various works as might require these comforts. By this time several of the clergy of the cathedral of Durham, the Corporation barge of Newcastle with several members of that body and great numbers of the most respectable gentlemen from all parts of the county had arrived. They now proceeded to the more immediate cause of their meeting and the wagons being loaded with coal were taken to the ship under the banners of the South Shields Loyal Volunteers which were then unfurled and a general discharge of artillery, the bands playing "Weel may the Keel row" and other appropriate tunes. It was supposed that no less than 10,000 persons were assembled on this occasion. In a tent prepared for the entertainment about 300 gentlemen sat down to dinner, the workmen in number 500 dined at a long table without. Mackenzie in his History of Durham says "This pit was sunk to a depth of 840ft and the main seam was 6ft in thickness. When the colliery started Jarrow rose to some degree of consequence. The pitmens cottages including the trademens houses extend about a mile along the South Shields turnpike road while other branches forming streets to the colliery accommodate a part of the industrious population of the place. Here are a Methodist meeting house, a ladies boarding school and 3 public houses and houses of the colliery viewer and the agent. On the hillside north of the church and overlooking the river and Slake stands Jarrow House the property of Thomas Brown Esq. late proprietor of the Barony of Ogle in Northumberland. Mr. William Brown shipowner resides in Slake House on the opposite side of the church. The colliery was afterwards carried on by Messrs Brown the assignees of Simon Temple and afterwards by the lessees of St. Hilda and Harton Collieries. Dunkirk Place built this year on the formation of a slipway. A.D.1803 October.l6th Robert Stephenson son of George Stephenson was born at Willington Quay. The Stephenson Memorial Schools stand on the site of the house where he was born A.D.1804 July 21st Cuthbert Ellison Esq. Married Isabella Grace daughter of Henry Ibbetson Esq. of St. Anthony's near Newcastle. A.D.1805 October.2lst An explosion took place in Hebburn Colliery by which 35 human beings lost their lives leaving 35 widows and 81 children unprovided for. A.D.1808 Cuthbert Ellsion Esq. was High
Sheriff of Northumberland. The Rev. John Hodgkin was appointed incumbent
of the extensive Parish of Jarrow, which extended from the north Shields
seashore along the south side of the River Tyne of Gateshead. It was
his usual custom to, preach on Sunday morning at Jarrow Church, Heworth
in the afternoon and in the Mission Room Monkton in the evening. A.D.1566 June 27th John Hutchinson priest of Jarrow Church A.D.1573 Jasper Hoppringe priest of Jarrow Church AD 1578 Thomas Maslet priest of Jarrow Church and curate of St. Andrews in Newcastle in 1585 A.D.1584 John Byers priest of Jarrow Church A.D.l633 October 3rd John Walker priest of Jarrow Church AD 1657 Francis Battie priest of Jarrow Church "an intruder ejected for non-conformity" AD 1673 William Walker A.M. priest of Jarrow Church A.D.1697 George Howey A.M. priest of Jarrow Church. AD 1724 Mordecai Carey priest of Jarrow Church made Bishop of Clonfert March 22nd 1731 translated to Cloyne and afterwards to the Bishopric of Killala. AD 1724 Robert Wilson A.M. priest of Jarrow Church A.D.1751 John Mills AB priest of Jarrow Church A.D.1775 William Glover priest of Jarrow Church and Heworth Chapel 1808 John Hodgson incumbent of Jarrow Church and Heworth Chapel 1810 for two years he conceived the grand idea of writing a History of Durham a great undertaking. The Home of the Venerable Bede was a wide field for the historian for on all sides there were ruins of Roman and Saxon antiquities. Can wonder be expressed that the learned perpetual curate of this historic town of the Tyne should meet with encouragement from a great many people. 1810 March 15th A self-acting plane of a wonderful construction was put in motion for the purpose of conveying coal from Berwick Main Colliery to the Tyne. It was constructed and executed under the direction of Samuel Cooke Esq. of Ayton House, one of the owners of the colliery. The length of the rope on this plane was 1,Go 0 yards and it was made to convey 50 Chidns wagons of coal at the astonishing speed of 10 miles in one hour 1810 June 21st Mary Wolf of Jarrow died at the age of 105 years. 1811 February 23rd Isaac Jackson of the high Felling died aged 104 years. This and the preceding year the chapel of St. Hilda at South Shields which was built as a chapel of ease for Jarrow. Abbey Church was almost nearly rebuilt except the steeple the south and West wall and part of the east wall. The pillars forming the north and south aisles were removed and a single roof thrown over the whole structure. The ground floor was newly paved and handsome uniform gallery extended round the north, south and west. The ceiling of the whole chancel is handsomely stuccoed and well finished. Cuthbert Ellison Esq. of Hebburn Hall elected MP with Sir M.N. Ridley for Newcastle on Tyne. 1812 May 25th A tremendous explosion occurred at the Felling Pit and in this calamity 91 men and boys lost their lives. In commemoration of this great loss of life a neat plain obelisk is erected in Heworth Chapel yard 9ft high fixed on a solid stone base. It has four brass plates let into the stone on the four sides on, which are inscribed the name and age of each of the ninety one sufferers alphabetically arranged. 1813 October 6th the Rev. John Hodgson presented the Antiquarian Society of Newcastle a copper coin of Egfrith King of Northumbria called a styca. This coin is of great rarity so much so that according to Pinkerton it is upwards of 150 years earlier that any other Saxon-Northumbrian coin known to be in existence. Several of these coins were found in the Chapel yard of Heworth. 1813 December 29th Felling Colliery exploded by which 22 persons lost their Lives. Some of the men left large families. 1814 May 19th the Tyne Steam Packet the first vessel built upon the river for the conveyance of passenger's etc. between Newcastle and Shields commenced its course. Being Ascension Day it joined the procession of barges and was a great Novelty. It was afterwards named the "Perseverance" 1814 August 12th Hebburn Colliery fired killing Mr Elias Mould under viewer and 10 others whilst changing the course of the air for ventilation. They were unfortunately burnt to death. 1814 September 17th The first steamboat that had ever entered the river Tyne arrived from Dundee. She was called the Caledonia and caused a great amount of admiration and astonishment as she crossed the bar not withstanding a strong swell. On entering the harbour she was loudly cheered by the spectators. 1814 December 16th A great part of Jarrow Abbey Church was unroofed by a great hurricane at sunrise and continued throughout the whole day. 1815 December 30th In consequence of a rapid thaw accompanied by wind and rain, there was a great flood in the river Tyne. Several keels were out blown to sea with their crews, some of which were seen off Flamborough Head. The damage to farmers was very great. 1816 January 3rd Died at Low Felling Alice Blackett aged 101 years. 1816 January 9th-l5th The Rev. John Hodgson of Jarrow Church after having had some correspondence with Sir Humphrey Davy on the subject of his safety lamp then in progress of' trial. Mr. Hodgson one day startled a pitman in the Hebburn Coal Workings by appearing there with a lamp in his hand. Dr. Raine tells the story: - A solitary man was working by no other light than the sparks of a steel mill. No notice had been given him of what was about to take place. He was alone in an atmosphere of great danger when he saw a light approaching apparently a candle burning openly the effect of which he knew would be instant destruction to him and its bearer. His command was instantly "Put out that candle!" with a threat to send his pick through the body of the advancing intruder .The flame came nearer and nearer. No regard was made to his cries-whom then became of the most terrific kind mingled with awful imprecations against the comrade for such he took Mr. Hodgson to be who was tempting death in so rash and certain way. Still not one word was said in reply. The light continued to approach and then oaths were turned into prayers that his request might be granted until their stood before him silently exulting in his heart a grave and thoughtful man-a man whom he well knew and respected-who 4years before had buried in one common grave 91 of his fellow workmen holding up in his sight with a gentle smile the triumph of science the future safeguard of the pitman. 1817 June 3rd John Maclay of High Felling died at the age of 101 years 1817 September 26th An explosion took place at Jarrow Colliery by which unfortunate event 6 workmen lost their lives 1816 February 21st Died at Heworth at 3 p.m. Hannah aged 100 years and at 9a.m. The same morning her husband James Bell aged 103 years. There, youngest daughter aged 68 years attended them during their last moments. A very rare occurrence in life. 1816 July This month a Hull Trader named the "Friends Adventurer"(Captain Copeland) was the first vessel that was towed to sea by steamboat one of the many owned by Mr. Price of Gateshead. Mr. Price was afterwards entertained to dinner and a silver tankard was presented to him as a Mark of approbation for his spirited exertions in the application of steamboats to the towing of vessels upon the River Tyne. 18l8-November Died at Monkton Elizabeth Clark aged 103 years. 1820 April 28th An explosion took place in Jarrow Colliery, 2 persons lost their lives. This year Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn Hall and Sir M.W. Ridley of Blagdon Hall were elected M.P's for Newcastle upon Tyne. 1821 September.28th Died at South Shields aged 70 years Mr. William Woulhave parish clerk of St. Hilda's Church and inventor of the lifeboat which has provided a blessing to seafaring men. This year the Rev. John Hodgkin assigned Jarrow Abbey Church for Heworth having raised £2026-3-4d for building the present parish church of St.Mary's. 1821 October 23rd this day 53 men lost their lives by an explosion which took place at Wallsend Colliery. The explosion shook the ground like an earthquake and made the furniture dance in the surrounding dwelling houses. The greatest exertions were instantly made by Mr. Buddle the viewer who as soon as it was practicable descended with his assistants to view the pit. There occurred an explosion at Felling Colliery by which 6 persons lost their lives. 1822 February 2nd A great flood occurred in the River Tyne and a wherryman named James Watson was washed out of a boat and drowned.0thers were lost and the damage to shipping and land property was considerable. 1822 March 7th A fire broke out in the earthenware works of Mr. Hood at Heworth Shore and the whole fabric except Mr. Hood's house was reduced to ashes. Several surrounding the pottery were also burnt down 1822 May 11th This was Ascension Day, Mr. Kent exhibited his Marine velocipede upon the River Tyne and performed a variety of evolutions with much ease to the great delight of a large number of people. This year Sir Charles Mark Palmer Bart MP and founder of Messrs Palmer Engineering and Shipbuilding Works at Jarrow were born. He is the son of the late Mr. George Palmer by his wife Maria daughter of Mr. Thomas Taylor of Sunderland. His father was a well known shipowner and merchant on Tyneside who in the earlier part of his career was engaged for a number of years in the Greenland Whale Fishery, he was also a timber and export merchant at Newcastle Quayside. 1823 January and February Northumberland and Durham were visited by a dreadful snowstorm in which drifting into immense heaps prevented travelling as impracticable. The storm lasted 6 weeks and was more severe than that of 1814. 1823 March 3rd A violent gale of wind was experienced on Tyneside and 4 pinnacles of the new St. Mary's Parish. Church at Heworth was blown down and two of them passed through the roof of the church. 1823 August 11th A steamboat named the "Rapid" was the first that ever sailed from Newcastle to London. The courageous experiment was not successful as she got as far as Whitby where the passengers went ashore and the little craft returned home for repairs to the hull. This year a Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in Jarrow. 1824 May this month the steamboat "Rapid" made a voyage from Newcastle to London in 56 hours returning in 60 hours. She was the same vessel that attempted a voyage the year before 1823.So small was the vessel that she could not carry coal for the trip both ways and she had to refuel in the Thames. 1824 August 26th The lowest tide ever remembered on the River Tyne. Three pilots walked from the south side to the north side at Tynemouth Bar there being only 2 feet of water on it at low tide. 1824 October 10th A great of wind and rain ever remembered in Jarrow took place this day. The rain continued without Intermission during 24 hours and the rest. 1825 this year Cuthbert Ellison Esq. of Hebburn Hall with Sir M.W. Ridley of Blagdon Hall were elected unopposed members of Parliament. 1825 October 5th An explosion took place at Hebburn Colliery by which 4 men were suffocated by the after damp. The carburetted hydrogen gas took fire at a steel mill that was employed, while the Davy lamps were cooling and cleaned. 1826 Januarary17th A terrible explosion of fire damp took place at Jarrow Colliery this day by which 34 men and boys were killed and some others much injured, 45 ponies and 2 asses were also killed in the pit. The explosion took place in the Bensham pit, which had been sunk, to the lowest seam. The cause of the explosion could not be ascertained as none who were in the place were saved. There was no appearance of danger but on the contrary the pit seemed well ventilated and in a perfectly safe condition. The number down the pit at the time of the explosion was 48 men and boys. The first coals from the new colliery on the Springwell Estate belonging
to Lord Ravensworth and partners were conveyed down the new railway
about 5 miles in length to the River Tyne and put on board the ship
"Industry" at the improved new drop erected on the Jarrow
Grange estate of Cuthbert Ellison Esq. About 8.30 a.m. in the morning
the band composed of his lordship and partners, miners at Mount Moor
in their new uniforms with cockades in their hats Marched to the pit
playing several airs and followed by a large concourse of spectators
amongst whom was an individual nearly 100 years old (who had expressed
a wish to see the first coals go from the pit, having when a girl on
the like occasion seen the first coals sent from the old colliery to
the Wear) for the accommodation of whom the agents sent a carriage to
convey her thither and gave her a cockade which she displayed in her
bonnet. The procession left the pit at 9.a.m. in 4 wagons fitted up
for the accommodation of the band, the agents of the colliery and several
ladies and gentlemen visitors with a numerous party of persons on four
and with 8 chaldron wagons of coal descended down the incline plane
and proceeded by the band passed onwards towards the River Tyne. On
the wagons crossing the turnpike road from Sunderland to Newcastle,
the company gave three cheers the band playing "God save the King".
On the procession arriving at Monkton Village it was joined by some
of the agents of the other collieries of his lordship and partners and
other gentlemen and finally arrived at the top of the inclined plane
near the river at 11.30 a.m. where numbers had assembled to join the
procession and view the operation of shipping coals which are called
"Peareths Wallsend". 1826 Cuthbert Ellison Esq. appointed High Sheriff of County Durham 1827 June 8th The London General Steam Navigation Company Steam Packet Co. "Hylton Isliffe" arrived for the first time at Newcastle from London which place she left on the 6th June. She sailed from Newcastle on the 9th of the same month on the return to London and to continue sailing between those places during the summer season. This year the trader 'the Rapid" a large steamer commenced sailing between the River Tyne and Leith near Edinburgh. 1828 March 15th An explosion took place in Jarrow Colliery by which unfortunate event 8 men lost their lives. No exact account of the cause of the accident could be given as the pit was considered in a good State and well ventilated. 1828 June 5th The "United Kingdom" steam packet of 1000 tons came into the River Tyne for a supply of coals. This vessel which was the largest ship in Great Britain was on its passage from London to Leith. 1829 April 11th The bells of several churches on Tyneside were rung in honour of the Marriage of Lord Stormont to Miss Elision daughter of Cuthbert Ellison Esq. of Hebburn Hall. 1829 May 30th The steam packet the "Tourist" which arrived in the River Tyne for the first time left Newcastle Quay in the afternoon for London. 1829 November 28th Messrs Brown erected on the shore at Dunkirk Place Jarrow a patent slipway which was capable of drawing up vessels of 500 tons burthen and of containing 3 ships at a time and their sufficiency of water to enable ships to get on and off at neap tides. Messrs Brown has also commenced the manufacture of sailcloth and articles for ships. 1830 August 3rd Jarrow Colliery fired at 6 a.m. when 42 men were killed 1of whom left widows with 66 children 10 men were also injured and 2 horses were killed. There were 120 men in the mine of whom 70 were in the Bensham seam. A public subscription was immediately started for the relief of the relations and children of the sufferers, which amounted to £910, by December. It appeared at the inquest that the miners had broken into a fissure in the coal seam whence the gas suddenly issued and was ignited by some negligence in the use of the Davy lamp as the mine was considered well ventilated just before the explosion. Cuthbert Ellison Esq. MP retired as MP for Newcastle. 1831 January 3rd Died at High Felling Ruth
Hayes aged 108 years. She retained her faculties to within 2 days of
her death and had lived and died in the same house in which she was
born 1831 April 21st A large meeting of the pitmen of Tyne and Wear was held at Jarrow which was attended by the men belonging to 49 collieries each bearing a banner inscribed with the name of the colliery and various mottoes. The meeting continued for a considerable time and after addresses from several speakers who exhorted them all to conduct themselves orderly and keep the peace. They resolved unanimously to adhere to their former resolutions. The meeting then broke up and the parties returned peaceably to their homes. 1831 May 3rd Died at Jarrow Margaret Fenwick in the 107th year other age. She was sensible to the end. She was removed from the Gateshead Township to the Westgate Newcastle and had received parish relief from that time to the period of her death (57 years) which amounted to no less a sum than £456 1831 May 16th There was likely to be a serious riot at South Shields colliery in consequence of an attempt to prevent the bound men from going to their work which was only put down by the timely interference by Mr. Fairles J.P. for South Shields and a party of Marines. Further damage was prevented by the appearance of the military. The next morning an immense number of pitmen congregated at Hebburn Colliery and threw down the shaft all the corves rolleys and loose material to the great terror of the men below. About the middle of June the pitmen generally resumed their labours with peace for a while. 1831 May 27th Was opened the large tomb in the Galilee of in which such of the bones of the Venerable Bede as were in the possession of the monks of Durham were buried at the reformation. There were present William Stepgilly MA sub dean, Thomas Gisborne HA his assistant, James Raine MA resident librarian, William Jobling mason, Francis Bulmer, George Heron, Ralph Stockley, Robert Carr and Henry Carr. Two thin copper coins (Abbey pieces) were found in the soil near the surface and below at the depth of 3 feet disposed in a grave of nearly 6 feet in depth human bones. Each of these bones were found exactly in the relative position it would have occupied if the body had been entire. Some portions of Decayed wood and moist soft dust appeared along the whole length of the grave remains apparently of the coffin in which the bones had been placed. A large thumb ring of iron covered with a thick coating of gold was discovered in the place that the right hand would have occupied had it been there. It appeared however to have been placed upon a bone for which as it was too large the intervening space had been filled with coarse woollen cloth1portions of which remained. The device is a cinquefoil. This ring was deposited in the library along with the relics of St. Cuthbert which were discovered May 17th 1827.After a cast had been made of the skull which was of a very strange formation the bones were carefully deposited in a strong box of oak covered with lead together with a record upon parchment of the above particulars and were carefully reinterred arid the massive superincumbent altar tomb of blue Marble was replaced on the following day. 1831 May 27th A while afterwards was cut
in bold letters on a summit of the tomb the old monkish verse 1831 July 3rdThe "City of Edinburgh's steam packet then sailing between Newcastle and London with goods and passengers left the former place on the above day (Sunday) at 9 p.m. arrived in London at 4 p.m. on Tuesday delivered her cargo took in another left London at ii p.m. the same evening and arrived at Shields at 3 p.m. on Thursday performing the voyage from Shields to London and back in 6 hours less than 4 days being a despatch unprecedented in sea travelling. A good performance considering the old fashioned hull and engines although it was the best time of the year for travelling. 1831 August 13th the miners of the Tyne and Wear collieries to the number 10,000 met at Boldon Fell. The object of the meeting was to get up an address to His Majesty the King thanking him for his beneficient attentions to the wants of his people for the Reform Bill and for the support he had given to his Ministers of Parliament. 1831 December.7th the Cholera Morbus commenced its ravages on the Tyneside district when many hundreds of the inhabitants were attacked by this great scourge and hundreds died of it. This year Thomas Pringle, Thomas Kenare, John Stewart, John Barker Bartholmew Stephenson ,Thomas Armstrong, John Smith, Isaac Eccleston and David Johnston were charged with entering the house of Thomas Jewitt at Hedworth Mill and demanding money and meat, also with assaulting and ill-treating his wife and also with stealing 2 guns, his property. Two of the 9 persons char8ed made their escape namely Thomas Pringle and Thomas Kenare. The remaining 7 men were tried and sentenced to penal servitude for life and sent to New South Wales, Australia. It was the transportation of Thomas Armstrong that embittered the feelings of his brother Ralph and caused him to take next year A.D.1832 at Jarrow Slake the life of Mr. Fairles the magistrate who committed the seven men to trial. 1832 January 11th Divine service was performed in the churches and various dissenting chapels in South Shields and District and prayers were offered up to God that the fearful disease of Cholera then prevailing in the neighbourhood might be stayed. The day was strictly kept as a holiday all business being suspended and all work lay idle and all the shops closed. 1832 March 3rd The bonds of the pitmen of the rivers Tyne and Wear being near a close they had a general meeting this day at Boldon Fell. The men began to arrive between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and about as many as 7,500 persons were on the ground. This meeting was for the purpose of not agreeing with the coal owners for the next twelve months unless they would bind the men belonging to the Union and divorce the 2nd and 7th articles from the bond. Mr. T. Hepburn chairman enforced the necessity of all future proceedings being legal and regretted the acts of violence of several of the pitmen, some of whom were then being punished accordingly. Other speakers were Waddle, Arkle, Parkinson and Atkinson who all urged the necessity of supporting the Union for the maintenance of each other. After a few personalities had been vented against certain individuals and the thanks of the meeting given to various others the meeting quietly closed. 1832 May 1st A great riot at Friars Goose colliery by pitmen on strike and persisting to occupy the houses belonging to the coal owners. Both police and military were called out to restore order and upwards of 20 men and 3 women were committed for trial at the next Durham Assizes and were sent to the county gaol tinder escort of cavalry. It was long remembered as the Battle of Friars Goose. 1832 May 31st The Right Worshipful Archibald Reed Esq. Mayor of Newcastle accompanied by the river jury according to annual custom to survey the boundaries of the river Tyne under the jurisdiction of that corporation passed Jarrow Quay about 9.a.m. for South Shields. The sight was a very pleasing one from the shore as there were a number of lights and elegantly painted boats with suitable flags which proceeded the barges. The stewards of the various free companies, in compliment to the chief magistrate had the SWAN steamboat tastefully Decorated for the occasion. On the paddle cases were painted the words "A.REED Esq.'s SIXTH MAYORALTY". After visiting Shields the procession repassed Jarrow for Newcastle and after stopping at the Mansion House departed for Hedwin Streams where they enjoyed the sports of the afternoon. This was a special event as it is seldom any Mayor attains his sixth Mayoralty. 1832 the first iron ship was built on the Clyde this year and leads the Tyne on this score by some 10 years. 1832 June 11th- About 5 p.m. as Mr. Nicholas
Fairles Esq. of South Shields a county magistrate was riding towards
Jarrow colliery, he was accosted by two pitmen under the pretence of
asking for charity when one of them took hold of his hand and the other
seized him and dragged him from his horse, one of the men then gave
him a violent blow on his head with a brick, then they fell upon him
and after kicking him most unmercifully, left him on the road in an
almost lifeless state. These transactions having been observed from
a house a short distance, assistance was immediately sent to him. From
the dreadful nature of the wounds, which Mr. Fairles received on his
head, he lingered until June 21st when he expired. One of the villains
was apprehended in a public house but the other escaped, it was said
at the time to the United States of America. Coroners inquest held on
the body, the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against William
Jobling and Ralph Armstrong the former who was in custody. The funeral
of the Deceased took place on Wednesday June 27th at which a great number
of gentlemen holding high official situations in the town and county
were in the procession. The coffin was out of a tree cut down for the
purpose, which had been planted when Mr. Fairles came of age. It bore
the following inscription 1832 August 1st William Jobling was tried for the murder at the assizes held at Durham and found guilty of the murder of Nicholas Fairies. 1832 August 3rd he was sentenced to be hung on Friday August 3rd and his bodies to be afterwards hung in chains near the scene of the murder. 1832 August 6th The body of William Jobling was taken from Durham gaol escorted by a body of infantry and Hussars to Jarrow Slake .It was then cased in a cage of iron and then covered with pitch and conveyed to the gibbet which was fixed nearly opposite the spot where the murder was committed and about 100 yards within the slake from the highway Mark. The gibbet was fixed in a stone about 1½ tons weight and sunk in the slake was formed of a square piece of timber 2lft long and a top projection about 3ft with strong bars of iron up each side to prevent it being sawn down. At high water the tide covered the gibbet about 4 or 5 feet. The body was hoisted up and secured and a police guard was placed near the spot and remained for some time 1832 August 31st during a very dark night on August 31st the body was stolen from the gibbet and sunk in Shields harbour by some of his comrades and friends in Templetown and Jarrow. William Jobling was the first person gibbeted under the new Act of Parliament. Ralph Armstrong was supposed to have made his escape to America. 1833 July 16th A most magnificent brick built chimney having been completed by Mr. Livingstone at the alkali works of Anthony Clapham Esq. Friars Goose on the Tyne at Felling. Mr. Clapham on the above day entertained a party of friends with a sumptuous repast at the bottom of the chimney to the great delight of his friends who expressed their surprise and astonishment at this stupendous work of labour. It was then the highest chimney in England being 263 feet from the base exceeding in height that of Huspratts famous chimney at Liverpool by 38 feet and St. Nicholas's steeple by 69 feet. It is 27 feet in diameter at the base and 7 feet at the top, which is finished by a stone coping. It contains upwards of half a million bricks and is computed to weigh nearly 2000 tons.
1833 September 6th A fire in which 4 stacks of hay, 1 stack of straw, a threshing machine, a cow byre and various other premises, the property of Mr. Matthew Collinsof Monkton near Jarrow was wilfully set on fire and completely destroyed. A reward of £250 was offered for the apprehension and conviction of the offender or offenders. 1834 July 22nd A murder perpetrated on the body of Thomas Lee of Hebburn Quay. A slight quarrel arose at a tea drinking held in a public house. Thomas Lee accidentally pulling out his foot which tripped up a girl while dancing and broke her sandal, she immediately made a complaint to her sweetheart Daniel Stewart who remonstrated with Lee in an angry tone, Lee readily apologised and Stewart shook hands. The three then in token of peace drunk each others health, but 2 of Stewarts friends, sailors were desirous to fight Lee who Declined to fight either of them. The dancing continued until 2 a.m. and when the party broke up the quarrel commenced and Lee was killed with a blow with a pewter pot and then thrown into the water and not found until half tide the following morning at about 10 a.m. At the assizes held the next week at Durham one of the men named Willis was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years transportation to the colonies. 1834 August 10th The fine ship "Palmer" 600 tons burthen sailed down the river Tyne from Newcastle with passengers and goods to Van Dieman's Land and New South Wales being the first vessel that had left the port of Tyne for the colonies. 1836 This year a Mr. Macgregor read a paper before the members of the Newcastle Literary and Philosophical Society on the influence of Jarrow Slake on the tides of the Tyne in which he advocated the enclosure of it from the river 1836 August 8th the Brandling Junction Railway was commenced at the Felling. The first turf was cut in the presence of R.W. Brandling Esq. and a party of gentlemen who had assembled to witness the first effort to forward this desirable undertaking. 1837 May19th As a keel belonging to Messrs. Cookson's bottle works was going down the river Tyne a large fish was discovered below Hebburn Quay struggling on the shore. Mr. Stratton the skipper with other 2 young men succeeded at last in capturing the monster and killing it. The fish proved to be a conga eel that weighed 3 stone 4 pound and measured 6 feet 3 inches in length. 1837 June 24th Died at Monkwearmouth in the 90th year of her age universally respected Mrs. Barbara Wilson relict of Mr. George Wilson. She was a lineal descendant of the ancient barons of Hylton formerly of Hylton Castle in the County of Durham. 1837 November 24th Died at Scone Palace Perthshire after a few hours illness Viscountess Stormont the third daughter of Cuthbert Ellison of Hebburn Hall. 1837 December 6th Springwell pit fired with the loss of 15 men and 10 boys today. A similar incident occurred in the year 1833 by which 47 human beings were killed leaving widows and children 1837 October 10th Died at Wiliness in the 70th year of his age John Buddle Esq., the great mining engineer and colliery manager. Mr. Buddle left a fortune of not less than £150,000 as a monument to his skills. This year the population of Jarrow was 3,193 persons 1837 December 20th this was the gloomiest day ever remembered on Tyneside the rain falling incessantly and the wind blowing strong from the northeast. 1837 this year a £200,000 scheme was proposed for the construction of a Dock there. 1838 May The first dredger commenced work and carried on until February 1843 removing in that time 116,803 tons of mud and sand. The No.1 Tyne Dredger, which followed, was a single machine with timber hull. It was a 20 HP and capable of dredging to a finished depth of 17 ft. This dredger was still going in 1879.This dredger was only laid up for a year for overhaul between 1843 and 1879.During its long service with its single dredge it managed to remove no less than 4,412,562 tons. The No.2, 3,4,5 and 6 were all double dredgers and varied in finished depth from 26 ft. to 35 ft. Between 1863 and 1875 all 6 dredgers were working and their total dredge for the year 1866 was 5,273,585 tons. In the 42 years up to 1879 60,997,418 tons were removed from the river which clearly indicates the state of the Tyne before the days of the Commission. 1838 January 6th Frost of an extreme intensity prevailed throughout the banks of the river Tyne and Don and the first snow fell this day and the storm continued until the end of the month. All passage on the river Tyne was stopped; it had been frozen for upwards of 5 miles below Newcastle. In no year since the celebrated frost of 1814 had one occurred like the present. In proof of this loaded carts crossed the Tyne, the Coquet and the Tweed upon the ice at various places. 1839 January 7th This day Jarrow and neighbourhood was visited by a great storm of resist less fury and appalling magnitude which had not been equalled in this part of the country and which bore a close resemblance to a West Indian tornado than the storms which however fierce visit the temperate regions of our globe. The damage done was frightful all over the district and a number of people were injured. It is impossible to describe the sensation felt during this period. Impenetrable darkness veiled the face of nature and when a sudden crash woke the sleeper of a dwelling, they knew not where to look for shelter amidst the rain, which was around them. The river presents an extraordinary spectacle and may be noticed as one of the most striking evidences of the violence of the wind that at the proper time of high water the tide had not risen more than 6 inches above low water Mark. The day was and is still remembered in Tyneside as "WINDY MONDAY" 1840 March 20th The first iron ship seen on the river Tyne arrived at Shields. The vessel that belonged to Hartlepool was called the "John Garrow". John Wilson master and was 800 tons burthen. Her unusual appearance excited much comment and curiosity. 1840 July 2nd A vessel named the "Archimedes" arrived in the Tyne from Leith and was the first vessel propelled by Mr. Francis S. Smith's new patent screw. Her Novel appearance attracted great attention, being rigged as three masted schooner with not a sail set, nor paddle wheel cases and yet she was winding her way steadily and with great speed easily passing numerous craft in her course. The engines over 80 horse power and the average speed of the vessel was 9 knots an hour. 1840 July 12th The Oliver" two masted ship Capt. John Lamke from Bremen laden with timber entered the river Don a tributary of the river Tyne which embouchures in Jarrow Slake and was piloted up by Matthew Rutledge of Howdon. On reaching the eastern boundary of Messrs. Hind and Co.'s quay and timber dock she was drawn to her berth by the numerous spectators amid much cheering. Some years ago 2 vessels the "King" and the "Don" of about 300 tons burthen each were built on this river and consequently sailed down the Don but it is not on record that any vessel had sailed up the Don since the anchoring of King Egfrid's fleet in that river in the year 671 except when the Danish Rover came over the Slake. 1840 November 15th A Wesleyan New Connection
Chapel was opened at Jarrow. 1841 January 29th A fire broke out this morning in the naphtha factory of Mr. Thoburn at Felling Shore and the building was destroyed. 1842 January 10th A terrific boiler explosion took place at Jarrow Alkali Works. The engine house was blown and 2 men were killed-Thomas Robinson and John Smith and another 7 men were scalded and otherwise seriously injured 1842 September 23rd The first iron steamer named the "Prince Albert" built at Walker was launched into waters of the river Tyne. 1843 February 3rd A tremendous storm of wind arose this evening and continued during the night doing great damage on Tyneside and District. At Brockley Whins the extension wooden sheds of the Brandling Junction Railway was completely carried away by the violence of the wind. The destruction of trees throughout the country was exceedingly great several hundreds being uprooted. Indeed every town and village in the two counties suffered more or less during the gale 1844 there came another Tyneside built vessel Q.E.D. This was the first ship to be fitted with a double bottom to carry the water ballast. Although her career too was cut short when she stranded at the mouth of the Seine, she lived long enough to prove the efficiency of the double bottom. It was thus that the water ballast system which has proved of such immense advantage to the modern steamer came into being and Tynesiders especially have reason to be proud of the kindly old physician who for 40 years practised in Newcastle and who was buried in Jesmond Cemetery. 1844 April 5th Great strikes of pitmen of Northumberland and Durham who used to renew the bonds which expired this day. One of the most singular conditions demanded by the men was that they should be secured work yielding 15 shillings for every week throughout the year but that they should not on any account be required to work for more than 3/- per day. This disastrous strike continued during 5 months and caused a great and general depression in the trade of the 2 counties. The miners resumed employment without having obtained the objects they struck for. 1844 July l5th The first screw collier being built on the banks of the river Tyne named Q.E.D. was launched from Messrs. Cutts shipbuilding yard (unknown words) the craft was overall 150ft, breadth 27ft 6 ins. draught lift 9 ins. aft and 10 ft 3 ins forward with a 20 HP engine by Messrs. Hawthorn of Newcastle and capable of conveying -340 tons of coal. The hold is divided into separate chambers and she has 3 masts, the mizenmast being of iron and hollow so as to form a funnel for the boiler fire smoke. 1844 October 8th A frightful accident occurred this morning on the Brandling Junction railway near Brockley Whins. It arose from the collision of 2 engines; one attached to a carriage full of passengers (principally workers) on its way from Shields to Gateshead. About 2 miles from Shields an engine the "Leopard" was observed coming in the opposite direction but at so short a distance owing to the curvature of the line at that point a collision appeared inevitable. The engineman reversed the engines and leaped off and the engines came into violent collision. The train broke away and ran at great speed towards Shields station. At the station it crashed into some empty carriages and then came into contact with a wall scattering the passengers, 2 men were killed and 17 others received serious injuries. 1845 June 12th the Rev. John Hodgson the celebrated historian Northumberland died at Hartburn aged 66 years. The Deceased was appointed incumbent of Jarrow Abbey Church in 1808 and it was on that classic ground that he first conceived the idea of his well-known history. Successive portions of the History appeared in 1827,1828,1832,1835 and 1840 but just towards the end of his labours he was seized with a serious illness which compelled him to abstain from his noble work which remains in a fragmentary state. 1845 August 21st A fearful explosion occurred this afternoon at Jarrow Colliery the property of D. Brown Esq. Mr. Jobling the viewer in company with Mr. Brown were walking towards the pit at the time when they observed an unusual amount of smoke and on reaching the heap the accident became apparent. About 75 men and boys were at work at the time.36 of who were working in the Low Main Seam when the explosion took place and of these not 1 man was saved. The other men were working in the Bantam seam, 160 feet above the others and owing to air courses being partially destroyed they suffered severely from after damp and 3 men named James Stewart, Ben Robinson, Robert Fairgreave and a boy named Baird died. A brave man named Defty an overman also lost his life in trying to rescue others. A subscription was commenced for the benefit of the sufferers and about £1,800 was collected. 1848 December 30th Died at Brussels aged 74 years Robert William Brandling Esq. of Low Gosforth Northumberland and Felling Durham 1849 June 5th About 7 a.m. this morning one of the most disastrous explosions took place at Hebburn Pit about 100 men were at work at the time of the accident but the effects of the explosion were confined to the north western portion of the mine, where 34 men and boys were employed all of whom with one exception were killed. The explosion had been tremendous and the bodies were mutilated in a manner never witnessed before but this arose from the ignition of a quantity of gunpowder, which had been placed near the spot on the previous day. 1849 April 7th A serious accident occurred on the river near Walker by which 2 men named Moore and Sears and a boy named Watson were drowned. Lt appears that the unfortunate sufferers were employed at Mr. Potters brickwork's Willington and had gone in a boat to Walker where they took in a quantity of iron. On their return they got into the wake of a steamer the swell of which was so great that in tacking the sail "jibbed" and in their efforts to right the boat it swamped and went down. 1849 August 31st died at his Marine residence Marooned Rock aged 51 years Peter Allan. This singular individual was a native of Tranent in Scotland but came early in life to the neighbourhood of Sunderland and in the year 1828 he took up his abode among the fantastic caves and rocks with which Whitburn is studded. By dint of great exertion he succeeded in excavating 5 or 6 apartments out of the limestone rocks in which he established himself as an innkeeper and from the peculiar beauty of the scenery it soon became a favourite resort of picnic parties from the surrounding district. The "Rock' itself is an isolated mass of stone which at high water is completely surrounded. At lower water however it is easy accessible and when the pleasure seeker has gained its Summit he is well paid for his trouble. It is covered with plants and flowers many of them very rare in this district. The view from the top is very beautiful and in the immediate vicinity of the inn the shore is thickly lined with caves and subterranean passages which present to the tourist a very weird like appearance. The County of Durham was at one time notorious for smuggling and this portion of the coast afforded perhaps better facilities for carrying on this specious trade than any other and doubtless the numerous caves were in great request as hiding places. In the place made by Mr. Allan he succeeded in bringing up a large family with great respectability and it was not till 1848 that the Lord of the manor made any claim for rent. The matter was compromised by Mr. Allan obtaining a lease of the property, which has been greatly improved by additional rooms built against the face of the rock. The place is still inhabited by the family whose courtesy and obliging manner and readiness to attend to the wants of visitors has secured for them the highest encomiums from all who have paid this remarkable place a visit. 1849 June 5th this year Hebburn Colliery exploded and 33 persons were killed. 1849 October 29th A fatal accident occurred this evening on the York and Newcastle Railway between Brockley Whins andWashington stations by the collision of the mail train from London with a special train of workmen who had been repairing the line and who had carelessly allowed their engine to run out of water. Three of the workmen were killed on the spot and several persons on both trains severely injured. 1849 November.20th In the course of the
deepening' the river Tyne Mr. Holt the diver under the direction of
Mr. Brooks the river engineer was making his observations when he discovered
part of a huge trunk of an oak tree lying embedded in the Cockraw Sands
near Hebburn Quay. It was found to measure l7 feet in circumference
at one part and about 35 feet in length. The greater part of it was
quite sound and a portion of it was applied for by the architect of
the Coal Exchange London and used by him in forming the beautiful tessellated
floor of the building. 1850 November 1st The first election of councillors for the Borough of South Shields took place. At the close of the poll the following gentlemen were Declared to be elected by Richard Shortridge the returning officer, for the Jarrow Ward Matthew Stainton 263, George Potts 241, John Clay 238, John S. Hall 228, T. Wann 206 William Forest 196,John Stainton Ward, Jas. Stevenson 156,Geo.Hudson 128, J.W. Lamb 121,J.P.Elliott 106,John Toshack l00, Jos Grey 92, E. Bell 90, J.F. Kennedy 89 1851 this year Mrs. Galloway was appointed
postmistress at Jarrow Post Office. 1851 September 1st A most distressing and fatal accident happened at Howdon on the river Tyne by which 7 persons were drowned. As a sculler boat containing seventeen persons was proceeding from the shore to a steamboat lying in the river channel about to proceed to Marooned Rock the frail vessel came into contact with the stern of a ship and was overturned. By great exertions on the part of the persons who witnessed the accident ten of the party were rescued but the remaining seven were drowned and six of them being young girls their untimely fate created considerable sensation in the neighbourhood. One of the girls saved sank and went under the ship bottom and came up again on the other side. 1852 This year Messrs. A. Leslie & Co. built their first iron vessel which was named the "Clarendon" and launched at Hebburn. 1852 February 24th The first iron ship was
launched on the river 1852 May 6th A fearful explosion of gas took place in Hebburn pit then the property of Messrs. Easton and Co.200 workmen were in the mine when the calamity occurred but the effects were confined to the Monkton Flat in which 20 men and 2 boys were working all of whom were suffocated. Fourteen of the sufferers left widows and families and as a proof of the uncertainty of life amongst miners one of the women had lost two husbands in the same awful manner. 1852 June 30th A splendid iron screw steam collier the first that was built by Palmer Brothers at Jarrow Shipyard which had been built for the London coal trade was launched in the presence of a numerous and influential concourse of spectators. The vessel was named the "John Bowes" was in length 150 feet breadth 25feet 7 inches and depth 15 feet 6inches and was 465 tons register and was calculated to carry 30 keels of coal and to make 30 trips per annum between Newcastle and London. She was ballasted with water under a recent patent of Dr. White of Newcastle. At the conclusion of the ceremony 300 ladies and gentlemen partook of an elegant luncheon provided by the builders. C.H. Palmer Esq. presided supported by the Mayors of Newcastle, Shields Sunderland and Gateshead and several of the principal merchants of the district. The proceedings concluded with a ball, which was led off by the Mayoress of Newcastle and Mr. C.M. Palmer. 1852 July 1st In consequence of the accession of the Earl of Derby to the head of the government, Parliament was dissolved this day. 1852 July 16th The old members Lord Seaham and R.D. Shafto Esq. were returned without Opposition for the northern division of the County of Durham. 1852 July 29th The steam collier "John Bowes sailed from the Tyne with her first cargo of coals and arrived in the Thames on 31st July and completed her return voyage to the north on the 3rd August. 1852 December 25th the Christmas of 1852 will long be remembered as the period of one of the most terrific storms ever known to the people of these latitudes. During the day and up to the morning of the 27th the gale blew down scores of chimneys and unroofed hundreds of houses in Newcastle, Gateshead as well as Durham Sunderland Hartlepool Stockton Darlington and many other places a great number of houses were unroofed. The wind raged with a fury that threatened to tear everything to pieces and the stouts and strong buildings appeared to shake and quiver in the blast. Nothing to equal the fierceness of the tempest had been known since the well remembered hurricane of January 1839.In many parts of the country trees which had weathered the storms of ages yielded to the force of this storms of ages and were uprooted with greatest ease. 1853 December 27th A great storm visited this town and vicinity and did great damage to property. The ships in the river were severely shaken by the waves and several small craft sunk while the waves washed a lot of timber down the river. 1854 August 22nd As a small steamer called the "William" was passing from Newcastle to Shields she was run down by the screw steamer 'Sir John Esthope" and the passengers and crew about 50 in number were left to struggle for life in the water. Owing to the exertions of some boatmen the whole were rescued but the steersman who had a leg broken died soon after and several others were much injured. 1854 September.l2th the foundation Stone for the Northumberland Dock at Hayhole near Howdon was laid by Joseph Cowie Esq. Chairman of the River Commissioners. As proof of the magnitude of the project the dock is capable of containing 600 ships of various tonnage's and covers an extent of 73 acres and the cost nearly £200,000.The Stone work forming the bottom of the dock is composed of Cornish granite some of the blocks weighing nearly 10 tons. The dock is from the designs of Mr. Brooks engineer to the river commissioners. 1855 October 27thThree iron ships were launched today from Messrs. Palmers Yard today. The occasion appears to have caused considerable excitement on Tyneside, as there was a great crowd of people on both sides of the river to witness the launches. The vessels were named the "Allies" 600 tons 170 ft. long 26ft-broad and 17-ft depth. And H.P.70.The second was named the "Brenda" 1000 tons 210 ft long (Keel length) and overall length of 236 ft. 26 ft broad and 17 ft depth with HP 150.the third was the "Brigadier" 70 HP and similar to the "Allies" in size. 1856 this year Palmer Brothers built the first iron war vessel constructed at Jarrow, which was named the "Terror one of the large iron cased floating batteries designed during the Russian War to operate against Cronstadt. The vessel of 2,000 tons and 250 H.P.carrying 26 sixty eight pounder guns was nearly built in 3 and 1/2months owing to the energy of the workmen and she would have been completed in another 3 months had peace not been proclaimed, It was in the building of this vessel that that rolled armour plates were first used and Messrs. Beale & Co. the owners of Parkgate Works rolled the plates that were required and were spoken in the House of Commons as "Palmers Rolled Armour Plate". 1856 February 7th A violent gale of wind occurred this morning and did great damage to property particularly amongst shipping. In the country a great number of stacks were blown down and trees uprooted and at Monkton a windmill was entirely destroyed. 1856 August 17th Died in London James Hann aged 58 years mathematics master at Kings College London. This self taught mathematician was born in Lane House near Washington about the year 1798.Hjs father was the master smith at Washington Colliery and Soon after the birth of his only son removed to Hebburn colliery where the superintended the pumping engines his son James at an early period performing the duties of stoker. Having been taken from school at an early age young Hann could scarcely read or write whilst a youth and it was not until he arrived at the age of manhood and had taken to himself a wife in his own station of life that his mathematical genius began to develop itself. At that period a working man had none of those advantages for study, which are now readily offered. Many of the best years of Hann's life were passed as a colliery brakeman until he was at length persuaded to open a school at Friars Goose a village near Gateshead. Whilst there he was a contributor to the Lady's Diary and gained a prize for solving the prize question for 1835.Through the influence of Mr. Wheelhouse, Mr. Hann procured an appointment in the Nautical Almanick Office Greenwich which he held for some time. He afterwards became writing master in Kings College London and ultimately mathematical master. Here he remained until a year or two of his death. Mr. Hann published works on the steam engine, on the construction of bridges, Mechanics for practical men and other books. 1857 March 21st This day parliament was dissolved owing to a vote of censure passed upon the government for blunders in their Eastern policy and on March 30th there was no opposition to the previous members R.D. Shafto Esq. and Lord A. Vane Tempest and they were elected in the usual manner for the Northern Division of the County of Durham. 1857 Palmers Brothers launched 2 iron steam ships named "Weser" and "Hudson" with their boilers aboard. The Hudson was launched first and the Weser sometime afterwards for the Nord-Deuttscher Lloyd liners. Both these vessels at that time the most luxurious afloat made strenuous efforts to wrest the blue riband from the famous Cunard crack "Persia" but met with misfortune before they were able to work up to their designed speed. The Hudson caught fire in Bremen after only a few trips on her station, the burnt out shell of the liner being bought for scrap by a Newcastle firm. The following year the Weser while attempting to break the Atlantic Record ran into a terrific hurricane west of Ireland and received such a severe buffeting that she was withdrawn from service. Yet both vessels have a definite place in the history of the "Atlantic Ferry" they were the first ships built for the famous line which now owns the record breakers "Europa" and "Bremen". 1857 April 8th A melancholy circumstance occurred at West Boldon resulting in the sudden and awful death of a young man aged 18 years the son of Mr. Snowdon farmer and his farm servant William Riddle aged 35 years. Young Snowdon and Ridley were employed in a field near the Newcastle and Sunderland Railway where they were seen at work apparently nothing ailing a quarter of an hour previously by a Carter named Henderson who had his a |
