Two Florence Nightingales living in Ushaw Moor in 1901
Florence Nightingale Number1
The younger Florence, aged 9 and born in Waterhouses and was part of the Nightingale family that occupied both 2 and 3 West Street Ushaw Moor.
Her father was John Nightingale a 42 year old colliery Undermanager; born in Northumberland he had gained his manager’s certificate on 26/02/1893. His managerial experience included overseeing the ‘Busty’ which would be abandoned 43 years later – well after his involvement!
Florence’s mother was 35 year old Sarah; she was born in St. John’s Chapel in Durham.
Florence had a lot of siblings: Alice [born in Waterhouses], Edith [b Esh], James W [b Waterhouses], Margaret [b Ushaw Moor], Mary J [b Waterhouses] and Phillis [bWaterhouses]. One of Florence’s grandfathers was called James Nightingale; he was born in 1822 at Chilton, County Durham, spent part of his life as a gardener and was married to Phillis [born in 1820].
Two of the Nightingale’s immediate neighbours, back in 1901, were John Herron – a stationary Engineman and Billy Thompson – a colliery engineman.
FLORENCE NO 2
The other Florence Nightingale was born in Tow Law in 1890, lived in South View, Ushaw Moor with her 53 year old dad [he was born in Northumberland and by this time worked at Ushaw Moor Colliery].
Florence had two elder brothers – Thomas [17] and John J [20]. They were both born in Tow Law and both worked at Ushaw Moor Colliery.
Florence had two sisters – Ethel [15 and born in Tow Law] and Hannah [20 – born Waterhouses].
We can surmise that this family was not in absolute dire poverty – bearing in mind the size of it and the number of workers.
Their immediate neighbours were:
[1] Mr John Stobart aged 41 – he was married to Mary – aged 41; they had a daughter – Jane aged 12 and
[2] Tommy Walker 42 [coal hewer Ushaw Moor] and his wife Ann [42]. They had four sons –Joseph 22 [putter/hewer Ushaw Moor], Thomas 18 [putter/coal hewer at Ushaw Moor], Solomon, 15 [bank lad] and John aged 4.
Tommy and Ann also had two daughters Sarah [9] and Florence [2]. So of the eight people living in the house we can see that four of them were in paid employment. Ann Walker would have been very busy looking after them especially bearing in mind the various coal mining shifts and that John was only 4 – I wonder whether Mrs Walker got much sleep.
All of the adult Ushaw Moor males mentioned above would know James Curry because he was the Rapper Man; his job was to get them to wake up and work! He lived at 6 William Street which incidentally was only three doors away from the Trotter family; one of whom was a three months old infant that, I believe, would go on to be the school teacher that some people can still remember. I believe he was the Trotter that, at least once, infuriated my grandfather on the cricket field!
WB
I believe the Rapper Man supervised the cage and communicated with the Winder Man via a pulley system called a rapper. May well have been another name for the early ' caller.'
ReplyDeleteAh, So that's where we get ("Arl gan doon" and "Rapp" on his door, - Or give him a "Rapp" as you are passing?,
ReplyDeleteInteresting Wilf. My father was born -William joseph Nightingale. I have his birth certificate but his mother Lillian is the only guardian and it states - Father unknown.
ReplyDeleteReason being is~ Lillian Nightingale worked as a maid for some well to do Lord.
Dad always said i was related to Lord Nelson but also from the Nightingales to -Florence.
Story is that Lillian (like most maids) got pregnant.
Guess my dad was fortunate and didnt get flushed or buried in the garden.
Lillian was paid off and kept the child but in those days secrecy was a must.
Lillian could not afford to keep my Dad so my Great grandad John Curly and his wife Mary (nee Maloney) took him in and brought him up.
The picture i posted of my Grandfather Albert Turner and his wife Agnes.
Well Agnes was the daughter of John and Mary Curly. They were rich and lived in a place called Chorely.
Albert turner served in the war but after returning he got mixed up with some wheeling and dealing with antiques and then when they went to the house they found his Whiskey Still. So he went to jail for 2 years, Mainly the whiskey brewing.
At that time they had 3 kids and this left grandma in a difficult state so my mother also Agnes, was sent to live at My Great Grandparents place in Chorley.
So my mother grew up in the same house as my dad and played as kids.
Dad was sent off to war and became a prisoner in Changi prison after capture by the japs and then when the war ended he returned and fell in love with my mother and she became pregnant.
They both knew they were not brother and sister but when they announced they were going to marry they were told that they shouldnt as there was a relationship.
They eloped and married in Ipswich. I believe the relationship was distant and came from the Maloney side but have no evidence of this hushed up propaganda.
I have endlessly tried to trace the nightingale side but when shit like that happens and rich people make payments it seems lips seal and paperwork gets lost and your at a dead end.
Bugger when you think how many illegitimate kids (Bastards as called back then) are born today.
By the way, do you know that the Presley family have more Elvis kids born every year.
I was called Florence at school (Bloody arseholes)LOL.
Thanks for the post wilf, who knows, some Nightingale might come out of the woodwork.
I think you are very likely right Percy. Certainly In Lancashire the knocker up man got the miners out of bed.Good stuff. I stand corrected by the looks of it.
ReplyDeleteDave Clarkson brings John Laurie ( of Dad's Army ) back to life with a lovely Scottish brogue. .
ReplyDelete