Lance Corporal GEORGE MUSGROVE
15021, 7th Bn., Yorkshire Regiment
who died age 24
on 08 February 1917
Son of Robert and Isabella Musgrove, of 30, Alice St., Ryhope, Co. Durham; husband of Mary Musgrove.
Remembered with honour
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
My maternal Grandparents Allen MUSGROVE and Margaret COTTERILL left Ryhope on Saturday 4th April 1929 - two days before the 6th birthday of their daughter Doris MUSGROVE - and moved to Horden. This marked the end of a period where four families had moved from place to place as coal miners and then settled in Ryhope in the latter half of the 1800s. To save cluttering up the narrative with lists an outline descent for each of the four families can be seen by clicking on the names in the titles. I have limited the information in these outline descents so no details of living people should appear. NB - there will be errors and probably some people who should not be there at all.
Ryhope pit started in 1855 with coal production proper from 1860. It closed in 1966
I have used Chapman codes for Counties thus Durham is DUR and Northumberland is NBL.
The "Skeleton in the cupboard" with this family is the story that "She put the baby on the fire". That's all I know - no names or dates or places. I cannot even remember where I heard it but cousins have also heard it.
Unless otherwise mentioned it is probable that all the men and some of the women and children worked at the coal mines.
My G3 Gdad Robert MUSGROVE (a pitman) was a native of Newburn, (north of the Tyne, West of Newcastle) according to the record for the baptism of his 6th child. Given that information then the likely baptism of Robert in the IGI is Robert MUSGRAVE 28 Jan 1776 Newburn NBL to Robert MUSGRAVE & Ann (batch P000661). Robert married Margaret ANDERSON (daughter of Thomas) in Heworth (Jarrow area) on 23 October 1801 and is recorded as being "of this chapelry" though that does not mean much.
From the baptism of the children Robert and Margaret may have been in Jarrow in 1801 but that might just be the mother going back to have her first baby at her mother's house. From 1803 to 1807 they seem to have been at Gosforth which is to the north of Newcastle city centre. In 1810 they were back in Newburn and by 1812 in Heworth or Felling. These moves were not uncommon among coal miners where old mines became worked out and newer seams were opened up or became more profitable due to transport improvements.
When Roberts last son (Allan) was born in 1812 Robert was said to be deceased and had been a Collier of Newbounty. He'd have been age 36 so it was probably an accident. How did the family survive? I have no information as to the birth or death of Margaret ANDERSON. The information about her father being called Thomas is from the baptism of her last son by Robert.
My G2 Gdad was the last son of Robert and Margaret - Allan MUSGROVE whose baptism notes from St Mary's Heworth say "Allan MUSGROVE of High Felling, Birth 7th May, baptism 28th November 1812 (may have been 18th November) Child - 6th 4th son of (may have been misread - bad writing) Parents Robert MUSGROVE Collier of Newbounty deceased and Margaret Dau of Thos Anderson of Heworth." Census records show Allan was born at Blue Quarries, Windy Nook.
Allan was married at Newcastle St John's on 31 May 1835 to Alice WALKER (daughter of Charles WALKER and Jane ELLIOTT). Alice was baptised 7 Aug 1813 in Heworth.
Allan and Alice had seven children at Blue Quarries, Windy Nook, Gateshead. There is still a Blue Quarries road in Gateshead but I do not know where Blue Quarries was. From the 1851 census where we can see Allan and Alice one might think it was just one house.
Between 1856 and 1861 Allan and Alice have moved to Ryhope where the new pit had opened in 1860 and in 1861 they are living in 23 Burdon Street. By 1871 Allan and Alice have moved to 50 Railway Street which was pulled down sometime in the 1900s. They are still at 50 Railway Street in 1881 with their son Charles who does not seem to get married.
From his death certificate Allan died at 50 Railway Street, 24 May 1886 age 74 - of old age and Chronic Bronchitis.
By 1891 Charles is the head of the house at 52 Railway Street with his widowed mother Alice and his younger brother Allan who has children but no wife at home.
From the death certificate Alice died at 52 Railway Street, age 84 of senile decay. This was reported by her son Robert who was living at 37 Railway Street.
My G Gdad was again the last son - Robert MUSGROVE. Roberts birth certificate says he was born 8th March 1856 in Blue Quarries.
Robert was married to Isabella LILLEY at Sunderland Registry Office on 26th May 1876. On the certificate the witnesses were a Stephen DUCK and Margaret Ann DUCK. The ages of Robert and Isabella are stated as being 22 and 21 years whereas Robert was 20 and Isabella probably 19. Their Grave is in Ryhope Cemetery and a photo is in my Flickr account - look for "Bryan of Dursley" in any search engine.
Robert and Isabella had seven children of which George (born c. 1891) and Thomas (Tucker, born c. 1896) were killed in the first World War.
There is a memorial stone to them in Ryhope. I'm told that my Gdad Allen MUSGROVE went to volunteer but when at the recruiting office they asked how many children he had. He replied five and they told him to stay at home as he had an Army of his own to look after.
From the CWGC web site:
In Memory of
Lance Corporal GEORGE MUSGROVE
15021, 7th Bn., Yorkshire Regiment
who died age 24
on 08 February 1917
Son of Robert and Isabella Musgrove, of 30, Alice St.,
Ryhope, Co. Durham; husband of Mary Musgrove.
Remembered with honour
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
In Memory of
Lance Corporal THOMAS MUSGROVE
34023, 2nd Bn., York and Lancaster Regiment
who died age 21
on 01 December 1917
Son of Robert and Isabella Musgrove, of 49, Burdon St.,
Ryhope, Co. Durham.
Remembered with honour
CAMBRAI MEMORIAL, LOUVERVAL
Isabella's brother Adam LILLEY (then a widower) was also involved in WW1 but the worst that happened to him seems to be that he caught Syphilis.
Another son was Robert (aka Bobby, born c. 1893) who was a footballer. The first English Schoolboys International game was against Wales in 1906? at Walsall and Bobby was the Captain for England. He later played for Barnsley, and maybe Durham City and Leeds. I wrote to all three in 1996 and they were good enough to take the time to reply as you can see on the letters. After giving up football Bobby ran a sweet shop in Silksworth with his wife Minnie PALLISTER.
My Grandad Allen MUSGROVE was the second son of Robert and Isabella. His birth certificate shows he was born 20 January 1880 at 49 Ryhope Street, Ryhope. Allen's marriage certificate shows that he was living at 37 Railway Street, Ryhope when he married Margaret COTTERILL on 30th May 1903 at St Matthews Church, Newbottle, DUR. Why at Newbottle which is 4 miles west of Ryhope? - probably because Margaret's address is given as 3 Cross Row, Newbottle where she was probably a servant. Servants were not the preserve of the middle classes. Many mining families, where there were too many men and not enough able bodied females, might have a servant living in.
From 1903 to 1923 Allen and Margaret had four sons and four daughters. When the last was born in 1923 they were living at 42 Burdon Street, Ryhope.
On Saturday 4th April 1829 the family moved to Horden - with a "proper lorry" according to my mother, their daughter Doris. During the move the lorry stopped on Horden Bank (where the Catholic School was later on) to correct the load and a Cracket (a stool) was used to reach the items which were slipping. When they set off again they forgot to pick up the Cracket. According to my Uncle Allen it was Uncle Steve who did this. Their first house in Horden was 27 Handley Street.
After the children moved away Allen and Margaret lived in 20 Ninth Street, where I was born, and I recall visiting them there. Allen's "party trick" was to take his nose off. Apparently he had a small accident down the pit and due to lack of attention his nose became septic and had to be removed. It was replaced by a "plastic" one. I remember giving him one of my "Candy Cigarettes" which children were given as sweets and being much amused because he put it in his mouth the wrong way round - red tip in. I doubt if you can buy them now.
Allen died January 1954 and Margaret October 1957. Allen & Margaret are buried in Ryhope Cemetery.
Adam LILLEY (Waterman / Labourer) (my G3 Gdad) was born c. 1796 in NBL. It was probably in Berwick-on-Tweed or nearby but so far the only evidence I have is the 1841 census. From the details of the children it seems Adam married Isabella MARSHALL before 1823 and they had children born in Berwick up to 1835 until they had their last son George who was born at Wallsend. George's birth certificate gives the only source of the maiden name of his mother .
Adam was dead by 1851 and his death was probably in the December Qtr of 1845 in the Tynemouth district. Shown on this death certificate
Isabella appears age 44 in the 1841 census and 49 (born in Berwick) in 1851. So she was either born in c. 1796 or 1802. From the BMD index she may have died march qtr 1885 - certificate applied for Jan 2008.
The eldest son, William LILLEY (one of my GG Grandparents) was born c. 1823 and was noted to be a labourer in 1841 and 51. From census records William married Margaret who was born c. 1828 in Benkley (Bently?) NBL. The marriage would have been between 1851and 1852 but has not been found yet. The first two children, Margaret and Hannah were born in Wallsend then came Isabella in 1857 who was born either Newbottle or Willington Quay. By 1861 the family are living at Six House Row, Monkwearmouth (that's north of the river Wear) and now William is a Coal Miner. Two more children born in Sunderland suggest they stayed in Monkwearmouth until at least 1864 but they were in Ryhope in 1869 when William died in Ryhope Pit by an Accidental Fall of Stone as shown by his death certificate.
In 1871 the widowed Margaret is at 9 Bell Street Ryhope making some money as a Mangle Woman and second daughter Hannah is age 15 and a Domestic Servant. The three younger children Isabella (13), William (9) and Adam (6) are described as Scholars but this was often not very true. The eldest daughter Margaret (age 18) is not at home and may have been a servant elsewhere. Note that Margaret has family nearby - George LILLEY in 67 Railway Street and Abraham LILLEY in 66 Railway Street. When the State provided little support Family and Neighbours were important. By 1881 Margaret is (with sons William and Adam) living with Robert MUSGROVE who has married Margaret's daughter Isabella. Margaret is described as a "Lunatic". I thought Margaret may have died June Qtr 1890, v 10a p 337 - however that certificate shows it to have been the wife of Thomas LILLEY who was the brother of William.
Isabella LILLEY my Great Grandmother was born c. 1857 to William LILLEY and Margaret, probably in Willington Quay which is part of Wallsend; just across the river from Jarrow. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the area the Wall in question is Hadrian's Wall which was built by the Romans and Jarrow is where the Venerable Bede wrote The Ecclesiastic History of England (completed 731) during The Golden Age of Northumbria. Given the supposed problems with her mother and the loss of at least two children in the 1st WW (see the MUSGROVE section above) Isabella had her troubles.
Note: I have standardised the spelling as COTTERILL though there were many variations
William COTTERELL, my G4 Gdad, married Ann HEWITT on 12th Jun 1790 at Hawarden, Flintshire, North Wales. The date of birth for William (1765) is just based on assuming him being about 25 when married. The IGI has two possible dates for his baptism in 1758 or 1770 but these are input by LDS members; not Parish Record Transcripts. I've made a similar vague guess that Ann would have been born c. 1765. The only child I have recorded to William and Ann is Charles COTTERELL who was born c. 1793 in Hawarden, Flintshire. The IGI gives possible dates, both to the same parents, of 17 Feb 1793 or 21 Feb 1794; both entries being by LDS members. The census records favour the 1794 date.
Charles COTTERELL, my G3 Gdad married Jane HUGHES (parents unknown) in Pulford Cheshire on 28th December 1815. Jane was born c. 1794 in Rossett, Denbighshire, Wales which is only a couple of miles from Pulford. In 1841 Charles was a coalminer in Pentre Mock (aka Northop Hall) in Flintshire but thereafter was a Fowl Dealer living at Irish Colliery (house) in Northop, Flintshire.
Charles' Death Certificate - 18 January 1872, Irish Colliery house near Boar's Head Northop, Charles COTTERALL Male 79 yrs, Fowl Dealer - Masker, Apoplexy-No Medical Attendant, Informant Edward COTTERALL present at death Irish Colliery house near Boar's Head Northop, registered 18 Jan 1872.
Jane seems to have died between 1851 and 1861.
Short history of Pentre Moch http://www.northophallcc.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=30
Charles and Jane had seven known children - the earlier ones being baptised at Hawarden and by 1830 they seem to have moved to Northop . The last son, Edward, seems to have taken over the Farming / Poultry business by 1871 and was still at Irish Colliery House, Northop in 1901. Their descendents may still be there.
Of the other children the second son William is my G2 Gdad and he was born c. 1820. IGI has a baptism 6 July 1821 at Hawarden.
William COTTERILL (my G2 Gdad) married Elizabeth ROWLANDS on 28th August 1841 in the Parish Church of St Mary, City of Chester - certificate both were recorded as living in Handbridge, Chester at the time. Elizabeth was baptised 6th July 1820 at Hawarden, Flintshire. The parents of Elizabeth are Thomas ROWLANDS (born c. 1791 in Northop) and Anne BARKER (born c. 1787 in Hawarden). Thomas ROWLANDS seems to have been a Collier in his heyday and is described as a Tea Carrier, widower aged 69 in the 1861 census at Northop.
William and Elizabeth had eight children between 1842 and 1860. The first children were born at New Brighton (NB not near Mold but a few houses the other side of the railway line from Pentre Moch - which means Pig Village or Hamlet) and from 1850 at Wingate and then New Seaham in 1858 and Haswell in 1860. William died 17 May 1866 at Sedgefield Lunatic Asylum.
The 1871 census shows widowed Elizabeth at 45 Burdon Street, Ryhope with six sons. The sons not there were William who married Elizabeth HANN on 21 Feb 1870 in Hendon, Bishopwearmouth and Edward who married Martha HANN 14 Aug 1869 in Ryhope. Elizabeth and Martha are sisters.
In 1881 Elizabeth was at 56 Tunstall Street, Ryhope with sons Joseph, John and James. Elizabeth died c. 6 February 1883 in Tunstall Street Ryhope.
(Movement from the coal mines of North Wales and Co. Durham was not unusual at this time. Some moved back and forth and I suspect some of the accent and dialect of Co. Durham Miners was influenced by this immigration - or is it emigration? As I recollect the railway lines extended into Flintshire in the 1840s and this would have enabled the miners to move to the North East of England. Possibly helped out by agents for the Mine Owners in Durham sent to recruit experienced coal miners, and maybe to help break a strike? )
William COTTERILL who married Elizabeth HANN had 5 children in Ryhope in the 1870s in Ryhope. I have not tracked these down through the subsequent years.
Edward COTTERILL (my G Gdad) was born (certificate) 18 Oct 1848 in New Brighton, Pentre Moch and on 14th August 1869 in St Paul's Church Ryhope married Martha HANN whose ancestry can be see below. When I told my mother that her grandad was born in Wales she replied that she had known nothing of him since he died before she was born.
In 1871 Edward and Elizabeth were living in 14 Tunstall Street. Ryhope with their first daughter - Elizabeth aged 1. In 1871 it said that Elizabeth was born in Ryhope but in 1881 it said that Elizabeth and her brother John (born c. 1871) were born in Black Boy. In 1881 they were at 39 Ryhope Street, Ryhope with seven children. Of these William born c. 1873 was reported o be born in Silksworth which is near to Ryhope. Jane, born c. 1874, is recorded as being born in Ryhope. So I'd say that the COTTERILLs arrived in Ryhope in c. 1873.
In 1901 Edward (Coal Hewer) is living in Cross Street, Newbottle with Martha and four of their children - Edward, Elizabeth, Martha and Stephen. Edward died 13 April 1922 6 Front Street, Newbottle and Martha died in the same place 20 April 1926
My mother used to say that the HANN part of out family came from Germany. This might be true but my guess is that this theory was just made up from the name and, as far as I have traced them back, they are English. I might be wrong of course - in the 1800s experts from Germany were brought in the sink the shafts of the more difficult pits.
Stephen HANN (Banksman or Brakesman) was married 17th June 1802 in Washington, County Durham to Frances PATTERSON. They had children in Washington up to 1806. They had children in New Penshaw from 1810 to 1815. In 1819 they were in Chester le Street and in 1823 in Harraton Outside. The extent to which these movements were by choice for better wages or enforced by pit closures or not being able to be taken on at the yearly re-hirings (much like the agricultural labourers were hired by the year - would need much research.
Stephen HANN (Banksman or Brakesman) was married 17th June 1802 in Washington, County Durham to Frances PATTERSON and they had children:
Margaret Hann 20 April 1803 in Oxclose, Washington, County Durham.
Stephen Hann c. 12 April 1804 in Washington, County Durham.
Anne Hann c. 17 August 1806 in Washington, County Durham.
James Hann 11 August 1810 in New Penshaw, County Durham.
John HANN c. 1813 in New Penshaw, County Durham.
Elizabeth Hann c. 20 January 1815 New Penshaw, County Durham.
Henry Hann 1819 in Chester le Street, County Durham.
Frances Hann c. 8 October 1823 in Harraton Outside, County Durham.
John HANN (Overman) was married in 1835 Easington, County Durham to Jane JOHNSON who was born 1835 in Penshaw or Haswell County Durham and they had children:
Frances Hann c. 1836 in Littletown, County Durham.
Sarah Hann c. 1838 in Haswell, County Durham.
Stephen Hann c. 1841 in Haswell, County Durham.
Ann Hann c. 15 December in Shotton, County Durham.
Margaret Hann c. 1844 in Shotton, County Durham.
Jane Hann c. 15 November 1846 in Shotton, County Durham.
Elizabeth Hann 1 January 1849 in Haswell, County Durham.
Martha HANN 20 April 1851 in Gurney Villas, Coundon Grange, County Durham. Martha married Edward COTTERILL.
John Hann c. 1855 in Blackboy, County Durham.
To be continued -----------------
