Great Uncle of
W.P. 'Bill' Richardson
The last child of Thomas Howey and his wife Georgiana
(nee Turnbull), James was born in the second quarter of
1877 at Usworth, Co. Durham.
He was baptised at Holy Trinity, Usworth on 17th June
1877, the entry says that the family lived at Usworth
and that James' Dad worked as a weighman.
The 1881 census showed him with his family at High
Usworth, aged 3, with his parents and the other three
children who are still at home.
By the time of the 1891 census he was 13 and living with
his family at number 38, Railway Terrace in Usworth. He
was working and his occupation was listed as 'Token Boy
at Colliery'.
His father, Thomas, died in 1893, when James was just
fifteen and his mother, Georgiana, died three years later
when James was 18.
On 27th August 1896, James married Annie Hodgson at
Usworth Parish Church. James was 20 and Annie was 21, he
worked as a miner. Their witnesses were John Southern and
Isabella Hodgson (Annie's sister).
By the time of the 1901 census James and Annie were
living in Wash Houses, in Birtley. James was 25 and listed as a
'Stoneman in coal mine' below ground. A stoneman
was a person who makes excavation in "stone" i.e. hard
strata other than coal. Annie
was 26 and the other members of the household were her
widowed mother Isabella (54) and Annie's sister Margaret
(21) as well as her brothers, Heath (18), James (16)
and Charles (10). Quite a houseful, especially
considering the house only had 4 rooms.
James and Annie had a son in 1902, Stephen Hodgson
Howey, so sad, he died less than a year after his birth.
They had another son, Thomas in 1904.
The census of 1911 showed James and Annie living at 11
Westgarth Terrace, New Washington. The census return
said they had been married for 14 years, they'd had two
children , one of whom was still alive. James was 33 and
worked as a 'Coal Miner - Stoneman'. Annie was 36 and
their son Thomas was 6.
In July 1915, James and Annie had their last child, who
they called Annie.
Sadly, James' wife died on the 19th of August 1915, not
long after the birth. Her death was registered
by her husband and the address was given as 25 Front
Street, Usworth. James was left a widower with two young
children, though I am sure he had help from family and
friends looking after two children and doing a full time
job in the mine must have been difficult.
James re-married on 26th May 1917, his second wife was
Sarah Jane Pigg, the daughter of another miner. They
were married at Usworth Parish Church. James was
recorded in the parish marriage register as being a 40
year old widower, who worked as a miner. Sarah Jane was
35 and a spinster. Their witnesses were Edith Pigg
(Sarah Jane's sister) and George Copeland.
James died on 6th May 1936, he was 58
years old and his death was registered in the Chester le
Street registration district. He was buried at Hily
Trinity, Usworth on 9th May 1936 and the parish burial
record showed his address as "Glanton", Wellbank
Road, Usworth.
Probate was granted to his widow, Sarah Jane, on 6th
June 1936. His effects amounted to £1511:5s:4d.
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