Great Uncle of
W.P. 'Bill' Richardson
James Gilliland was born
on 11th May 1866 at East Rainton, Co. Durham. His
parents were David Gilliland, a miner, and his wife
Eliza (nee McCollough).
He was baptised on 21st May 1866 at West Rainton Parish
Church, or at least his baptism was recorded in the
parish register though there is a note that says he was
baptised 'privately'. Possibly it was thought James
would not survive and therefore he was baptised at home
by whoever was present.
In the 1871 census James was recorded as age 4, living
with his family at Whitelee in Crook and Billy Row, Co.
Durham. He was listed as a scholar.
The 1881 census showed that the family had moved to
Grahamsley in Crook and Billy Row and James was 14. He
was working as a labourer.
By the time of the 1891 census, the family had moved
again and were living in Gladstone Terrace in Sunniside
in Crook and Billy Row. James was 24 and was listed as a
coal miner. Elsewhere in Sunniside, at Front Street was
the post office, run by John Gardiner who was listed as
'Coal Miner and Post-Master'. John's 19 year old
daughter, Mary Elizabeth was listed as 'Letter Carrier'
In 1892, James Gilliland married Mary Elizabeth Gardiner
who no doubt gave up letter carrying to look after her
husband.
In the 1901 census, James and Mary Elizabeth were
recorded as living at Burnhopfield Colliery, Tanfield,
Co. Durham. James was 34 and was working as a
Checkweigher at the colliery.
They had four children. Hugh was 6, John James was 4,
and they were born in Crook. David was 3 and the baby
was Edith Evelyn, aged just 9 months. The three youngest children
were born in
Tanfield, so it looks like the family moved there
sometime between 1897 and 1898. They also had another
child, Annie who was born in 1899, but sadly died soon
after birth.
James' wife, Mary Elizabeth, died in the third quarter
of 1905, his son David died aged 9 in 1907.
In 1908, James re-married. His second wife was Catherine
Gray, who was the school teacher daughter of a colliery
joiner. Their marriage was registered in the Lanchester
District, James was 42 and Catherine was 27.
The census of 1911 recorded James and Catherine at 69
Mitchell Street, Birtley,Co. Durham. James was 44 and
listed as a 'Political Registrations Agent' , Catherine
was 30 and the record says she was born in Rothbury,
Northumberland.
The four surviving children from James' first marriage
were listed in the household, Hugh (16) worked as a
clerk, John James (14) was at senior school, Edith
Evelyn (10) was at school and Ernest was 7. James and
Catherine had a little boy, George, who was 10 months
old.
In 1916, James and Catherine had another child, Mary E.
James Gilliland was very involved with politics and the
miners' union. After the death of W.P. Richardson in
1930, James became Compensation Secretary for the Durham
Miners' Association and was President of that
organisation sometime in the 1930s. He
was a member of Tanfield Urban District Council for nine
years and in 1925 was elected to the Durham County
Council representing Birtley. He became an alderman and
worked on Council until 1951. In 1932 he was appointed
as a J.P. and was awarded the O.B.E.
James died on the 27th December 1952 at his home in
Lower Barn, Durham City. He was 86 years old. He was
buried at South Road Cemetery, Durham.
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