THE NEWHAM'S OF SOUTH SHIELDS
As everyone who becomes involved in family history know's, research never stops at just the immediate family names. This website set out to capture four major names in the Bateman Family Tree - those of Bateman, Kinson, Walker and Wood, but of course there are many more including Laurenson and MacDonald. These have been written about elsewhere. This page is dedicated to the family name of NEWHAM - just who were the Newhams?
Henry Newham (1775 – 1825) was born in South Shields the same year Captain James Cook completed his second voyage on Resolution searching for and finding Australia. As with Captain Cook, Henry was a seafarer and also, as did Cook, married a Whitby girl - Sarah Carling on 8 September 1793. (Records show Sarah was the grand daughter of William Carling b 1710 and his son, Sarah's father, was Adam Carling b 1737). Returning to South Shields to live Henry and Sarah raise four children - William, Henry b 1802, Adam b 1805 and Sarah b 1808. Henry dies aged 50 on 26 August 1825 and just 5 years later on 13 July 1830 Sarah dies aged 55. Both are buried in South Shields’ St Hilda's Churchyard.
Adam Newham (1805 – 1870)
Adam Newham (1834 – 1882) Born and baptised in South Shields in February 1834, Adam was the third son to Adam and his first wife Isabella Newham (nee Fail). He joined his elder brothers and sisters Sarah b 1824, William b 1827, Henry b 1830 and Hannah b 1832. He would not have stayed the "baby of the family" for too long since he would be joined by more siblings Isabella b 1836, Fanny b 1841 and then Jane Ann in 1844.
So far as it is know, and taking into account the seemingly lack of an 1841 census for the family, they were all raised by their parents in Carpenter Street, literally yards away from the busy River Tyne and the noisy ship repair works in the Holborn & Middle Docks. By the time Adam was a teenager, he had found work as a Ships Carpenter.
Aged just 17, Adam loses his mother Isabella, in June 1851. His Father Adam quickly remarries a widow with two children, Elizabeth Dockwray (nee Armstrong) on 24 April 1854. Her two children join the family, Charles b 1848 and Ralph 1851. Over time, Adam will gain further step-siblings; Elizabeth b 1856, Edward b 1859, Benjamin b 1860, Alice b 1864 and John b 1867.
At the age of 23, Adam meets Hannah Hall. They marry at St Hilda's Church on Sunday 15 November 1857. Some three years later they have set up home in small rooms at 13 Wilson Street, and have a baby son Adam born in January 1860. Between the next ten years until the 2 April 1871 census, Adam and Hannah increase their family by having Elizabeth b 1861, James Newham born 13 November 1863, Isabella b 1866 but who died in 1867, Isabella b 1868 and Margaret b 12 August 1870.
Just before daughter Margaret is born, Adam learns that his father, now a Wherryman has collapsed and died in his Wherryboat just off the Low Lights Lighthouse in the River Tyne at North Shields. The date is 3 June 1870. Soon after, Adam and Hannah move to live in seemingly "better or larger" housing in 137 East Adelaide Street. Adam is now a Shipwright, so professionally, he had come up in the world. As was common, another house move takes place in the later 1870's - ten doors up to 147 East Adelaide Street.
The 3 April 1881 census confirms Adam and Hannah have added to their family with William Stephenson b 1874 and Alfred b 1878 although sadly, another boy, John Henry b 1876 failed to survive more than a year.
With Adam (and Hannah) now in their late forties and given Adam's skills that earn them a good income, what a shock it would have been for all the family to see their father taken ill. At first it was most likely a simple work injury, Sadly that resulted in chronic abscesses caused by infection. Exhaustion set-in in and Adam passed away on 10 July 1882.
As everyone who becomes involved in family history know's, research never stops at just the immediate family names. This website set out to capture four major names in the Bateman Family Tree - those of Bateman, Kinson, Walker and Wood, but of course there are many more including Laurenson and MacDonald. These have been written about elsewhere. This page is dedicated to the family name of NEWHAM - just who were the Newhams?
Henry Newham (1775 – 1825) was born in South Shields the same year Captain James Cook completed his second voyage on Resolution searching for and finding Australia. As with Captain Cook, Henry was a seafarer and also, as did Cook, married a Whitby girl - Sarah Carling on 8 September 1793. (Records show Sarah was the grand daughter of William Carling b 1710 and his son, Sarah's father, was Adam Carling b 1737). Returning to South Shields to live Henry and Sarah raise four children - William, Henry b 1802, Adam b 1805 and Sarah b 1808. Henry dies aged 50 on 26 August 1825 and just 5 years later on 13 July 1830 Sarah dies aged 55. Both are buried in South Shields’ St Hilda's Churchyard.
Adam Newham (1805 – 1870)
Adam Newham (1834 – 1882) Born and baptised in South Shields in February 1834, Adam was the third son to Adam and his first wife Isabella Newham (nee Fail). He joined his elder brothers and sisters Sarah b 1824, William b 1827, Henry b 1830 and Hannah b 1832. He would not have stayed the "baby of the family" for too long since he would be joined by more siblings Isabella b 1836, Fanny b 1841 and then Jane Ann in 1844.
So far as it is know, and taking into account the seemingly lack of an 1841 census for the family, they were all raised by their parents in Carpenter Street, literally yards away from the busy River Tyne and the noisy ship repair works in the Holborn & Middle Docks. By the time Adam was a teenager, he had found work as a Ships Carpenter.
Aged just 17, Adam loses his mother Isabella, in June 1851. His Father Adam quickly remarries a widow with two children, Elizabeth Dockwray (nee Armstrong) on 24 April 1854. Her two children join the family, Charles b 1848 and Ralph 1851. Over time, Adam will gain further step-siblings; Elizabeth b 1856, Edward b 1859, Benjamin b 1860, Alice b 1864 and John b 1867.
At the age of 23, Adam meets Hannah Hall. They marry at St Hilda's Church on Sunday 15 November 1857. Some three years later they have set up home in small rooms at 13 Wilson Street, and have a baby son Adam born in January 1860. Between the next ten years until the 2 April 1871 census, Adam and Hannah increase their family by having Elizabeth b 1861, James Newham born 13 November 1863, Isabella b 1866 but who died in 1867, Isabella b 1868 and Margaret b 12 August 1870.
Just before daughter Margaret is born, Adam learns that his father, now a Wherryman has collapsed and died in his Wherryboat just off the Low Lights Lighthouse in the River Tyne at North Shields. The date is 3 June 1870. Soon after, Adam and Hannah move to live in seemingly "better or larger" housing in 137 East Adelaide Street. Adam is now a Shipwright, so professionally, he had come up in the world. As was common, another house move takes place in the later 1870's - ten doors up to 147 East Adelaide Street.
The 3 April 1881 census confirms Adam and Hannah have added to their family with William Stephenson b 1874 and Alfred b 1878 although sadly, another boy, John Henry b 1876 failed to survive more than a year.
With Adam (and Hannah) now in their late forties and given Adam's skills that earn them a good income, what a shock it would have been for all the family to see their father taken ill. At first it was most likely a simple work injury, Sadly that resulted in chronic abscesses caused by infection. Exhaustion set-in in and Adam passed away on 10 July 1882.
James Newham (1863 – 1939) James Newham was born as the third child of Adam and Hannah Newham (nee Hall) on 13 November 1863 at the family home in 137 East Adelaide Street, South Shields close to the busy St Hilda's Colliery and alongside the River Tyne.
In his first seven years, and along with his two elder siblings Adam (b 1860) and Elizabeth (b 1861) he would be joined by two more sisters, Isabella (b 1868), and Margaret (b 1870). By the time of the 3 April 1881 census his parents had moved along the street from No. 137 to No. 147, probably to gain an extra room and which was just as well because next to arrive were two more boys; William (b 1874) and Alfred (b 1878).
James' father Adam was a Ship's Carpenter, which for the times was a very good job to have, James meanwhile appeared to have less ambitions for work as he is employed (along with brother Adam) as a Cartman, one of literally tens of men employed as casual drivers of a horse-drawn vehicles making and collecting local goods.
Then as for all the family, James has a major shock when his father Adam, passes in July 1882. His death sees James' mother Hannah still having to care for the four younger siblings, but with some consolation that there was a little income available from her eldest "two workers", James now aged 21 and his elder Adam, aged 24.
In 1886, after James acts as "best man" to brother Adam, he meets a girl he would marry. She was called Maria Herbert Richardson, the 16 year old daughter of a Beer House Keeper, Charles Richardson based in Wilson Street. This courtship (and no doubt James' appearance in the Beer House) continues for eighteen months until they marry on Sunday 26 February 1888. It's not known if James and his young wife actually move out of or move away from 147 Adelaide Street but the fact that his wife was already three months pregnant with their first child Margaret Ann (born 2 September 1888) might also have been a factor determining their stay.
However, and once more, tragedy strikes just a year later. James' Mother Hannah dies on 10 February 1889, she was 55 years old. James and Maria goes to live with her parents in 34a Wilson Street (the Beer House). When a second baby arrives for James and Maria in the summer of 1890, they name her Hannah Hall Newham in memory of his late mother.
On the 5 April 1891 census, James and his family are still living at 34a Wilson Street and where their third child, Charlotte Richardson Newham born on 1 January 1892, dies, just one day old. James meantime continues on with his work as a Cartman and by all accounts is still finding plenty of delivering to do in his own local area. A written extract depicting the times states that "at the head of the street (Wilson Street) was a wood and joinery business, some Arab boarding houses, a butchers shop, a general dealers, a paper shop on the corner with nearby Cuthbert Street and the sweet shop next door to both the mosque and the Pavilion. All that is left of this immediate area now, and one many people will remember, is the old and now converted, Lord Clyde public house.
As the new century approaches, James and Maria decide to move to 96 Percy Street (opposite the new Town Hall buildings in Westoe) and also, just before the next census date of 31 March 1901, James has changed employment. and becomes a full time Labourer at the Cement Works although later, and for more pay, goes to the Stone Quarry. Both arduous, dirty and dangerous jobs. James and Maria continue to have more children; Charles William Richardson, January 1892 (but will die 3 years old in January 1895) and Mary Ellen Richardson, born 28 October 1896. She is followed by Eliza Mullen in October 1898 followed by Maria (Ria) Herbert Richardson b 19 March 1901, one of the youngest persons recorded in South Shields on the day of the census!
James continues to labour at work and Maria continues to labour at home. Charles William Richardson (named after the previously lost son) is born in May 1903, to be followed by James and Maria's ninth, Elizabeth Dryden born 15 August 1906. Two years later yet another child arrives, they name her Ethel Richardson, born 30 September 1908. With nearly twenty years of marriage behind them already, James' elder children were at the age whereby they could leave School, look for work or even marry! And, as if to emphasise that point, just six months after baby Ethel's birth (March 1909) there comes the marriage of his 19 year old daughter Hannah Hall to a coal miner, George Downey at nearby St Hilda's Church.
In October 1914, an eleventh child, Thomas Richardson is born. With the outbreak of the Great War, James, because of the fact he has eight daughters and two under-age sons had no children that could be called upon to serve their country. He and his family would however see "action" when the newly built Town Hall that was right on their doorstep, survives the German Zeppelin airship L10 that bombs South Shields with a death toll of 17 men and 72 others injured.
Having already seen their daughter Hannah marry, the other children follow. Eliza Mullen marries Robert Scott on the 14 April 1917, and Margaret Ann marries William Shallcross in March 1918. Maria (Ria) Herbert Richardson marries John Robert Kinson 16 July 1921 and the three remaining children, Ethel Richardson marries in June 1928 to Joseph Millet, Elizabeth Dryden marries in September 1931 to John Smith and finally, Charles marries in June 1936 to Augusta Griffin.
On the 26 February 1938, and by now living at 6 Somerset Street, James and Maria happily celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Sadly though the following year, James dies aged 76 on 23 October 1939. Maria his wife will survive him by another eight years until her death on 2 July 1947.
Maria Herbert Richardson Newham (1901 – 1967) was born at 96 Percy Street, South Shields 19 March 1901. Her baptism was held at St Hilda's Church on Wednesday 10 April 1901. At 13 years of age, 'Ria saw the new South Shields Town Hall completed, rode on the electric Trams, ran errands to the corner shops, shopped in Fowler Street and the cheaper Laygate and (as did father and mother), lived through the nightmare of the German Zeppelin airship that bombed South Shields in 1915.
‘Ria was just 20 when she meets and marries John Robert Kinson (1900 - 1971) on Saturday 16 July 1921 - he was a pit worker at Harton (Whitburn) Colliery who had also served in the Royal Navy for part of WW1. Within five months of their marriage in November 1921, their first child John Robert was born then George Downey b 1923, Stanley b 1926, Elizabeth b 1929, Arthur b 1931 and James Newham b 1934.
In the early years of marriage ‘Ria and her husband lived in different locations including Colley's Farm, Westoe then at 33 Somerset Street just around the corner from her own parents in Percy Street before moving again to Eglesfield Road. Daily life for ‘Ria was solely centred on her husband and the children (she was only 33 when she had her sixth child, James), getting them fed, off to work or to school and then going about the daily tasks of housekeeping including washing, ironing and shopping. It was the time of the great depression and whilst extreme hardship and poverty affected the whole town, it was some comfort that her husband (when not on strike or lock-out) was in work.
In 1940 she moves to 42 Canterbury Street and experiences what everyone at the time probably had dreaded for one evening in early October 1941, South Shields took many direct hits from enemy war planes and in less than two hours, 44 bombs had fallen across the area including in the Town’s Market Place and close enough to ‘Ria and the family that they, along with 2,000 others, had to be evacuated to safety. ‘Ria and the family were given accommodation in Regent Street just off Laygate Lane – well known for its fish and chip shop, Halls. The family came back to the repaired Canterbury Street for another 5 years or so until finally being re-housed in 8 Dunlop Crescent, Harton.
Life for ‘Ria in Dunlop Crescent was a world away from the years spent in the "back to back" houses of Laygate and Westoe but she made sure that "her house, was still everyone's house". John Robert continued working at the local pit, Whitburn Colliery, so whilst there was money, it was not always good. As always ‘Ria made everything stretch. With her soft and kindly manner ‘Ria was loved by all so it was a sad day when she was taken ill, entered Harton Hospital and passed away in June 1967 aged 66; husband John Robert surviving her by another 4 years.
In his first seven years, and along with his two elder siblings Adam (b 1860) and Elizabeth (b 1861) he would be joined by two more sisters, Isabella (b 1868), and Margaret (b 1870). By the time of the 3 April 1881 census his parents had moved along the street from No. 137 to No. 147, probably to gain an extra room and which was just as well because next to arrive were two more boys; William (b 1874) and Alfred (b 1878).
James' father Adam was a Ship's Carpenter, which for the times was a very good job to have, James meanwhile appeared to have less ambitions for work as he is employed (along with brother Adam) as a Cartman, one of literally tens of men employed as casual drivers of a horse-drawn vehicles making and collecting local goods.
Then as for all the family, James has a major shock when his father Adam, passes in July 1882. His death sees James' mother Hannah still having to care for the four younger siblings, but with some consolation that there was a little income available from her eldest "two workers", James now aged 21 and his elder Adam, aged 24.
In 1886, after James acts as "best man" to brother Adam, he meets a girl he would marry. She was called Maria Herbert Richardson, the 16 year old daughter of a Beer House Keeper, Charles Richardson based in Wilson Street. This courtship (and no doubt James' appearance in the Beer House) continues for eighteen months until they marry on Sunday 26 February 1888. It's not known if James and his young wife actually move out of or move away from 147 Adelaide Street but the fact that his wife was already three months pregnant with their first child Margaret Ann (born 2 September 1888) might also have been a factor determining their stay.
However, and once more, tragedy strikes just a year later. James' Mother Hannah dies on 10 February 1889, she was 55 years old. James and Maria goes to live with her parents in 34a Wilson Street (the Beer House). When a second baby arrives for James and Maria in the summer of 1890, they name her Hannah Hall Newham in memory of his late mother.
On the 5 April 1891 census, James and his family are still living at 34a Wilson Street and where their third child, Charlotte Richardson Newham born on 1 January 1892, dies, just one day old. James meantime continues on with his work as a Cartman and by all accounts is still finding plenty of delivering to do in his own local area. A written extract depicting the times states that "at the head of the street (Wilson Street) was a wood and joinery business, some Arab boarding houses, a butchers shop, a general dealers, a paper shop on the corner with nearby Cuthbert Street and the sweet shop next door to both the mosque and the Pavilion. All that is left of this immediate area now, and one many people will remember, is the old and now converted, Lord Clyde public house.
As the new century approaches, James and Maria decide to move to 96 Percy Street (opposite the new Town Hall buildings in Westoe) and also, just before the next census date of 31 March 1901, James has changed employment. and becomes a full time Labourer at the Cement Works although later, and for more pay, goes to the Stone Quarry. Both arduous, dirty and dangerous jobs. James and Maria continue to have more children; Charles William Richardson, January 1892 (but will die 3 years old in January 1895) and Mary Ellen Richardson, born 28 October 1896. She is followed by Eliza Mullen in October 1898 followed by Maria (Ria) Herbert Richardson b 19 March 1901, one of the youngest persons recorded in South Shields on the day of the census!
James continues to labour at work and Maria continues to labour at home. Charles William Richardson (named after the previously lost son) is born in May 1903, to be followed by James and Maria's ninth, Elizabeth Dryden born 15 August 1906. Two years later yet another child arrives, they name her Ethel Richardson, born 30 September 1908. With nearly twenty years of marriage behind them already, James' elder children were at the age whereby they could leave School, look for work or even marry! And, as if to emphasise that point, just six months after baby Ethel's birth (March 1909) there comes the marriage of his 19 year old daughter Hannah Hall to a coal miner, George Downey at nearby St Hilda's Church.
In October 1914, an eleventh child, Thomas Richardson is born. With the outbreak of the Great War, James, because of the fact he has eight daughters and two under-age sons had no children that could be called upon to serve their country. He and his family would however see "action" when the newly built Town Hall that was right on their doorstep, survives the German Zeppelin airship L10 that bombs South Shields with a death toll of 17 men and 72 others injured.
Having already seen their daughter Hannah marry, the other children follow. Eliza Mullen marries Robert Scott on the 14 April 1917, and Margaret Ann marries William Shallcross in March 1918. Maria (Ria) Herbert Richardson marries John Robert Kinson 16 July 1921 and the three remaining children, Ethel Richardson marries in June 1928 to Joseph Millet, Elizabeth Dryden marries in September 1931 to John Smith and finally, Charles marries in June 1936 to Augusta Griffin.
On the 26 February 1938, and by now living at 6 Somerset Street, James and Maria happily celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Sadly though the following year, James dies aged 76 on 23 October 1939. Maria his wife will survive him by another eight years until her death on 2 July 1947.
Maria Herbert Richardson Newham (1901 – 1967) was born at 96 Percy Street, South Shields 19 March 1901. Her baptism was held at St Hilda's Church on Wednesday 10 April 1901. At 13 years of age, 'Ria saw the new South Shields Town Hall completed, rode on the electric Trams, ran errands to the corner shops, shopped in Fowler Street and the cheaper Laygate and (as did father and mother), lived through the nightmare of the German Zeppelin airship that bombed South Shields in 1915.
‘Ria was just 20 when she meets and marries John Robert Kinson (1900 - 1971) on Saturday 16 July 1921 - he was a pit worker at Harton (Whitburn) Colliery who had also served in the Royal Navy for part of WW1. Within five months of their marriage in November 1921, their first child John Robert was born then George Downey b 1923, Stanley b 1926, Elizabeth b 1929, Arthur b 1931 and James Newham b 1934.
In the early years of marriage ‘Ria and her husband lived in different locations including Colley's Farm, Westoe then at 33 Somerset Street just around the corner from her own parents in Percy Street before moving again to Eglesfield Road. Daily life for ‘Ria was solely centred on her husband and the children (she was only 33 when she had her sixth child, James), getting them fed, off to work or to school and then going about the daily tasks of housekeeping including washing, ironing and shopping. It was the time of the great depression and whilst extreme hardship and poverty affected the whole town, it was some comfort that her husband (when not on strike or lock-out) was in work.
In 1940 she moves to 42 Canterbury Street and experiences what everyone at the time probably had dreaded for one evening in early October 1941, South Shields took many direct hits from enemy war planes and in less than two hours, 44 bombs had fallen across the area including in the Town’s Market Place and close enough to ‘Ria and the family that they, along with 2,000 others, had to be evacuated to safety. ‘Ria and the family were given accommodation in Regent Street just off Laygate Lane – well known for its fish and chip shop, Halls. The family came back to the repaired Canterbury Street for another 5 years or so until finally being re-housed in 8 Dunlop Crescent, Harton.
Life for ‘Ria in Dunlop Crescent was a world away from the years spent in the "back to back" houses of Laygate and Westoe but she made sure that "her house, was still everyone's house". John Robert continued working at the local pit, Whitburn Colliery, so whilst there was money, it was not always good. As always ‘Ria made everything stretch. With her soft and kindly manner ‘Ria was loved by all so it was a sad day when she was taken ill, entered Harton Hospital and passed away in June 1967 aged 66; husband John Robert surviving her by another 4 years.