John Brown 1775-1850 and Martha Robinson 1773-1839

John and Martha were the parents of Ralph Brown.  Most of what I know about them was gleaned from the baptism records of Ralph and his brother William at Bankside Chapel, North Shields, Northumberland, England.

Ralph was baptised on 17 April 1806 and the baptism record reads:

1806: Ralph son of John Brown, joiner, Hoydon Dock, parish of Wallsend, Ct N. by his wife Martha was born the 13th March and baptised the 17 April.


Witnesses: present John Bolam and Elisabeth Shotten both of Hoyden Dock.

William's baptism record was more helpful:

1803: William, son of John Brown, joiner, Hoyden Dock by his wife Marrion was born on the 18th August and baptised on the 12th September.


The father was born in the Parish of Alnwick and the mother in the parish of Wooler, her maiden name was Robison.


Witnesses present when the child was baptised John Bolam, ship carpenter and Robt Chaddock both of Hoyden Dock.

Although the mother's name is different, I'm confident that this is the same couple - there's no other John Brown in the Bankside Registers, and there is a marriage between John Brown and Martha Robinson in Alnwick (Northumberland) in 1799.

So far I've not found a baptism for either John or Martha/Marrion - as you might imagine there are quite a few John Browns and I haven't sorted through them yet.

Besides William and Ralph I've found no baptism records for children, but John is on the 1841 census with two young women living with him:

Mary aged 25
Martha aged 15

In the 1841 census no information is given about the relationships between people in a household, and ages are rounded down to the nearest 5 years. The older woman could be a child of the couple, it seems unlikely that the younger one is - Martha would have been between 48 and 53 when the younger Martha was born.

Ralph married in Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham, England in 1830 and this clue enabled me to find his father on the 1841 census in Easington Lane, part of the old parish of Houghton-le-Spring. I was also able to find their burials at Hetton-le-Hole Church (Hetton parish was carved out of Houghton in 1838, and Easington Lane was in the new Hetton parish). Martha died in October 1839 at the age of 66.  John died in May 1850 and his burial record states he was 75 years old.

On This Day ... 12 August

1824     Richard Hudson Wilkinson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Emerson Wilkinson and Jane Hudson.

1849     John Heighington died at Church Row, in Darlington, Co Durham.  He was 83 years old and was my 3 x great-grandfather.

1873     Margaret Horsley, nee Hood, died at Wells Yard, in Hartlepool, Co Durham.  She was 65 years old and was my 3 x great-grandmother.

On This Day ... 11 August

1799     Mary Todner was born in Washington, Co Durham, England.  She was the daughter of Ralph Todner and Mary Dand.

1854     Richard Robson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was the son of Mills Robson and Elizabeth Leeming.

1857     Isabella Read nee Child died at 12 Grosvenor Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was 41 years old and was my 3 x great-grandmother.

Wordless Wednesday - Norman Darby

Photograph from mid to late 1930s of Norman Darby.

On This Day ... 10 August

1809     George Horsley died in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was 82 years old.

1830     Thomas Revely Halliday died in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was the 11 year old son of John Halliday and Jane Hudson.

1994     Dora Ethel Hudson nee Wood died in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She was 96 years old and was the widow of Richard Wilson Hudson.

On This Day ... 9 August

1799     Elizabeth Hudson nee Wardell died in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England. She was my 4 x great-grandmother.

1807     Mary Coulson (nee Coulson) died in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1824     Emerson Wilkinson married Jane Hudson at Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland, Co Durham. Jane was the daughter of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 28th 1941

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

This is the third letter - the first starts here and the second here - and was written on 28 November 1941, less than two weeks before the Japanese invaded. I think this is the last letter Peggy received from Bill until Hong Kong was liberated.

28.11.41

Sweetheart.

A few lines before the mail goes, to show you I still love you.

I find I can post much later here, as I can send a messenger down with this any time before 3.30 pm. It's such a unsociable day, fine drizzle and cold also.

I am moving my kit today, I expect the old Chamfor Wood box to come in today some time. Now this bitch does not want to leave Stanley, she says Jillard Amal will cause too much trouble. as the old Wash amal that used to be at Stanley, you remember, the trouble of putting the Brooms out.

If she insists on not coming here, I'll have no alternative but give her the push.

I am liking the work here very well, a warder Bud wants to come back to it again if I had not been drawing acting pay, I would fight to stay here, the only snag are those damned old Qrs, which I am afraid will drive me mad, no curtains, four chair covers, grass matting, anyway I'll get over it.

Will be very busy paying out the staff in a few minutes time, hope I don't pay out too much. 

Kiss me now, all my love, Always and Ever, Bill xxxxx

On This Day ... 8 August

1845     George Gray was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of Sarah Gray.

1918     Harold Edgar Hudson was killed in action in France. He was the 20 year old son of Thomas Edgar and Frances Anne Hudson of Birmingham.

On This Day ... 7 August

1792     Thomas Coulson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Coulson and Isabella Bulmer.

1806     Thomas Joseph Whitehouse was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of Joseph Whitehouse and Ann Hobdey.

1811     Two week old Jeremiah Hudson died. He was the son of Lancelot Hudson and Jane Henderson.

On This Day ... 6 August

1792     John Kerss was born in Gateshead, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Alexander Kerss and Catherine Errington.

1798     Thomas Wren died in Wolsingham, Co Durham. He was 65 years old.

John Moor 1759-1810 and Hannah Wren

John Moor was born in 1759 in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England.  By 1782 he had moved to Newbrough, a few miles to the east in Northumberland. He married Hannah Wren at St Michael's and All Angels Church in nearby Warden on 26 August 1782.

Hannah was born in 1756 at Dean Raw, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland. Her family had also moved to Newbrough during the 1770s, and both John and the Wren family were living at Allerwash Redhouse in the chapelry of Newbrough.

The couple had several children, the first three born at Newbrough:

George Moor b1783
John Moor b1786
Isabel Moor b1788

and a further three born in Whickham parish, Co Durham, England:

Elizabeth Moor b1792
William Moor b1796
Hannah Moor 1799-1883

Sometime after the birth of Hannah, the family moved again, to Oxclose in the parish of Washington, Co Durham. By this time, John was working as a coal miner - there's no record prior to Oxclose of John's occupation.

John died in Oxclose on 10 March 1810, and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Washington, on 11 March 1810.

I haven't been able to find out when or where Hannah died, although it seems likely that the family remained in Washington parish as daughter Hannah married there in 1819.

On This Day ... 5 August

1805     George Hudson was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Hudson and Mary Todner.

1850     Robert Hood married Sarah Gibbons at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham.

1878     Albert E Pugh was born in Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Edward W Pugh and Ann Linton.

On This Day ... 4 August

1790     Mary Kerss was born in Gateshead, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Alexander Kerss and Catherine Errington.

1841     Susanna Child (nee Shore) died at 12 Court, 1 House, Navigation Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, following a fall downstairs. She was the wife of John Child and was 57 years old.

1852     Harry Becher was born in Cork, Ireland. He was the son of John Richard Hedges Becher and Lucinda Jane Elizabeth Hull.

1873     Hugh Pugh died in Claremont, Ontario, Canada. He was 96 years old.

Wordless Wednesday - A day at the beach

DJ Pugh, his wife Delilah and children Phyllis and Colvin on the beach at Aberystwyth.

On This Day ... 3 August

1790     Dinah Hood was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Thomas Hood and Mary Robson.

1910     Alfred Woodham married Mabel Chapman at Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada.

On This Day ... 2 August

1804     Hannah Hudson died at William Street, Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England. She was only 1 year old, and was the daughter of Thomas Hudson and Mary Todner.

1806     Isabella Coulson (nee Pounder) died in Hartlepool, Co Durham. She was the wife of Robert Coulson, and died of consumption at only 31 years old.

1864     Thomas Rodie Hudson Dalrymple married Jane Hill Whyte Todd at Auchleach, Stonykirk, Wigtownshire, Scotland.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 26th, 1941

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

This is the second letter - the first starts here - and was written on 26 November 1941, less than two weeks before the Japanese invaded.

Page 1 is here
Page 2 is here
Page 3 is here

Page 4

Well here is page 4, wish me luck in filling it. The trouble this way is still very [unreadable], I wish things would quieten down, we may have a chance of getting you back then, but not in these troubled times. I have got the telephone fixed up, only you see what they are doing with me, send me away from it.

Please you received the peticoat, and nothing to pay, it should be good at $12, Kiss me now.

What's wrong with Peter, tell him he must eat otherwise he will not grow to be a big Man.

A young Revenue Officer has just come inside, 15 months for demanding money, Scott by name, I don't know him, his wife is down in Australia. A big shock for his wife. Another P.O.D. head has just died, only 42, Bishop by name, the evacuation is the cause of a lot of this.

I can't write what I think in this letter, about the one who lives with you, I'll have to wait until you are safely back from Port Augusta, you do not say how long you are going for, will it be a fortnight. I'll try and write on Sunday, I'll see how things go on, I may come out here on Sunday afternoon, this furniture here reminds me so much of you, unlike the ? place I am going to and it's surroundings.

Good night Sweetheart, I do miss you more than words can express, if only I had you back I would not care. Nice double bed weather, any hopes Peg.

All my love Dear, kiss Peter for his Daddy, and tell him to eat more.

Always and Ever,

your Bill xxxxx

On This Day ... 1 August

1819     Joseph Hood married Elizabeth Bradley at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1842     Christopher Thomas Pugh was born at Hospital Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of John Pugh and Charlotte Harrison.

1917     Sidney James Darby married Emily Wilson at St Mary the Virgin Church, Ashford, Kent, England. Sidney was the son of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

On This Day ... 31 July

1802     Jane Leeming was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of John Leeming and Mary Huntridge.

1846     Emma Darby was born in Freeman St, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was the daughter of Henry Darby and Ellen Haywood.

On This Day ... 30 July

1801     Ann Wren was born in Simonburn, Northumberland, England. She was the daughter of William Wren and Ann Sisterson.

1836     Jane Jones was born in Mochdre, Montgomeryshire, Wales. She was the daughter of John Jones and Martha Bowen.

Thomas Pattison and Elizabeth Burrell

Thomas Pattison was born in 1756 in at Penny Fine in Lamesley parish, Co Durham, England. He was baptised at St Andrew's Church, Lamesley on 17 October 1756.

On 20 December 1788 Thomas married Elizabeth Burrell at St Andrew's Church.

Thomas and Elizabeth had several children:

Hannah Pattison b1790
John Pattison b1791
Thomas Pattison 1793-1793
Thomas Pattison 1795-1866
Sarah Pattison 1796-1796
(possibly) William Pattison 1798-1798

Thomas and Elizabeth lived initially at Penny Fine, and later at Cow Close, both in the parish of Lamesley. Both areas on old maps appear to be agricultural, so it's possible that Thomas worked in farming, but I've found no reference to any occupation.

So far, I've found no reference to any further children, or to the deaths of Thomas or Elizabeth. I've also not yet found any record of the birth of Elizabeth.

On This Day ... 29 July

1832     Martha Jones was born in Mochdre, Montgomeryshire, Wales. She was the daughter of John Jones and Martha Bowen.

1849     Ralph Milbank Hudson was born in West Boldon, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Ralph Milbank Hudson and Elizabeth Robson.

1908     James Lamb married Margaret Burdis in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. James was the son of John Lamb and Margaret Gerrard.

On This Day ... 28 July

1752     John Powell married Mary Lloyd at St Cynllo's Church, Nantmel, Radnorshire, Wales. They were my 5 x great-grandparents.

1799     Richard Hunter was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Hunter and Eleanor Horsley.

1874     Frederick Dawson married Catherine Edith Hudson at St Mary's Church, Easington, Co Durham, England.

Wordless Wednesday - Schoolfriends

These young ladies were schoolfriends of Phyllis Pugh.

On This Day ... 27 July

1809     Thornton Bulmer was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Francis Bulmer and Alice Harding.

1811     Roland Gray Coulson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Coulson and Isabella Bulmer.

1881     John Jones died at Lodge Farm, Llandinam, Montgomeryshire, Wales. He was 82 years old and was my 4 x great-grandfather.

On This Day ... 26 July

1795     William Huntridge married Mary Soulsby at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1880     James Patterson married Ann Bulmer at St Mary's Church, Easington, Co Durham.

1905     James Judson Ward married Alice L Linton in York Co, Ontario, Canada.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 26th, 1941

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

This is the second letter - the first starts here - and was written on 26 November 1941, less than two weeks before the Japanese invaded.

Page 1 is here

Page 2 is here

Page 3

Page 4 is here

Gowland is out of Hospital, but no leave was recommended. Did you know that Parry is only getting 16 weeks, a shame I think, seeing how sick he has been.

I am so glad Nelly gave you a Chinese Chow, you will have to show him big M.G. expect he will be after a job from him when he gets down, as he says he will have to find work when he settles down. Anyway they are going to live in a street, true to their form as they are Dreadnoughts! never mind Dear, I wish them all the luck possible.

You seem to have been the busy Housefrau that Sunday morning, how I wish I could have been there to help Cream and Fish certainly go together, get what I mean. By all means Peg, if Ada can put you up, go with them, how I wish I could come down, and enjoy the company of all of you, will have to see what I can do next year, in the way of my heart and B.P.!

So Sweetie Pie has a sore toe, well I hope it's better now, my face is nearly healed up now, I told the Old Man I fell, when alighting from a bus, Cdr!

I haven't been to the flicks for over a week, maybe when my face heals up, I have to go to the bank on Friday cos I draw the pay for the staff, will have to pull my cap well over my eyes, or else send Stuart down, I hate to be seen in public, showing scars. Yes it's my own fault Dear, and I don't ask for sympathy!

On This Day ... 25 July

1877     David Pugh died at Tynddol Farm, Llanbadarnfynydd, Radnorshire, Wales at the age of 71.  He was my 3 x great-grandfather.

1814     Edward Darby married Ann Whitehouse (nee Hobdey) at St Philips Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. They are my 4 x great-grandparents.

1831     John Wren Vipond Jackson married Agnes Hodgson at St Stephen's Church, Wolsingham, Co Durham, England.

On This Day ... 24 July

1793     Ann Yeal was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Robert Yeal and Dinah Hood.

1897     Alice Victoria Darby was born at 55 Fazely St, Birmingham, Warwickshire. She was the daughter of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

1905     Edward Bernard Gwyn Thomas was born in Bryngwyn, Radnorshire, Wales. He was the son of local rector William Thomas and Sarah Jane Pugh.

On This Day ... 23 July

1642     Cuthbert Burnop married Ann Smith at St Giles's Church, Durham, Co Durham, England. They are my 8 x great-grandparents.

George Gerrard and Janet Fyffe

Just a short one this week, as I don't know much about this couple.

George Gerrard married Jannet Fyffe at Barry Church, Barry, in the county of Forfar (now Angus), Scotland on 28 August 1796. George was a miller, working at Barry Mill. The couple settled in Barry, and had seven children there.

Margaret  1797-??
William 1799-??
David 1801-??
James 1803-1863
Mary 1806-??
George 1808-??
Janet 1815-??


George died in November 1837, having retired from working in the mill. Janet died a few months later, in March 1838. Both were buried at Barry Church.

I haven't yet managed to identify the baptisms of George or Janet, and neither burial gives an age at death to help narrow down the year of birth to make this task easier, so for the time being this is the end of the line for the Gerrards.

On This Day ... 22 July

1811     Jane Halliday was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of John Halliday and Jane Hudson.

1821     Richard Coulson married Ann Horsley at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham.

1911     Frederick Charles Sanders married Kate Lillian Darby at St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Long Acre, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Kate was the daughter of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

On This Day ... 21 July

1802     Ralph Haddock was born in Penshaw, Co Durham, England.  He was the son of Thomas Haddock and Anne Todner.

1827     Ann Barkwell was born in Spring Gardens, Sunderland, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Robert Barkwell and Ann Hudson.

1970     Richard Wilson Hudson died at Concord Repatriation Hospital, near Sydney, New South Wales, England. Dick was the son of Robert Hunter Hudson and Margaret Mossom, and emigrated to Australia after many years living and working in Hong Kong.

Wordless Wednesday - Gone Fishing

D J Pugh, sometime in the 1920s. Love the suit and tie!

On This Day ... 20 July

1697     Thomas Davison married Jeane Jackson at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.  They are my 7 x great-grandparents.

1807     Ralph Todner was born in Washington, Co Durham. He was the son of Ralph Todner and Mary Dand.

1907     Harry Hudson was born at 49 Crimdon St in West Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was the son of Robert Hunter Hudson and Margaret Mossom.

On This Day ... 19 July

1774     George Herring married Margaret Hastings at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.  They are my 5 x great-grandparents.

1807     John Halliday married Jane Hudson at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co Durham.

1812     Thomas Coulson married Margaret Colling at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 26th, 1941

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

This is the second letter - the first starts here - and was written on 26 November 1941, less than two weeks before the Japanese invaded.

Page 1 is here

Page 2:

Page 3 is here
Page 4 is here

He was boasting about how he had worked his leave, of how he had the Government by the way he had applied, but little does he know that Bud had told how he had typed all of Cockeye's applications even to him drawing a month's pay in advance, so how Vi thinks she is going to get a lot of money out of him, God alone knows.  He boasted that he owed no money to anybody, but when I asked him for the 1.60 I had paid for his Taxi fare, he got a shock, and did not like it, anyhow, I got it from him. He could have cut my throat, he even shows his nastiness.

I beat it to catch the last bus at 10.30, so I got away sober, the others went on till late, and how Cockeye got back, I don't know or care. Anyway Peg, you have my full permission to leave, only I hope you have left some arrangements about Ada collecting your mail, cos i would hate them to fall into others hands. I do hope you managed a nice holiday chez Mrs Laing, I am dying to hear of your news, and journey.

Your letter came too late concerning the allotment, as I had already made £3.0.0 a month to your Mother, which I have been informed has been approved, so your Mother will get her first pay in February 1942.

From time to time I will try send Australian pounds, only they are very hard to get, and they are now $12.60 to the pound, and when I went on leave they were only $11.00, anyway I'll do my best to help my Sweetheart out. I have not seen Spoors for over a fortnight, so our friendship ends, he was very trying at times, and since he is acting P.O., he thinks nobody should speak to him, also I got fed up with him talking about the Committee! if I had not have taken my leave he would have never have got there, only you can't tell him.

On This Day ... 18 July

1801     David Gerrard was born in Barry, Angus, Scotland. He was the brother of James Gerrard.

1841     Thomas Lane Lilley married Catherine Read at St Phillips Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.  Catherine was the sister of Silvester Read.

Twenty five years later, on 18 July 1866, their daughter Elizabeth married Thomas Allen in Gillingham, Kent, England.

On This Day ... 17 July

1726     George Horsley married Mary Wilkinson at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.  They are my 6 x great-grandparents.

1866     John Lamb married Margaret Gerrard at St John's Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. They are my 2 x great-grandparents.

1904     William Henry Darby married Jessie Hephzibah Pugh at St Bartholomew's Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. They are my great-grandparents.

On This Day ... 16 July

1889     Henry Thompson married Louisa Halliday at St Michael's Church, Sunderland, Co Durham, England.

1910     George Hudson married Charlotte Cooper at the Register Office, Hartlepool, Co Durham. George was the son of Robert Hunter Hudson and Margaret Mossom.

1914     Frederick Albert Darby married Elizabeth Hughes at the Register Office, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Fred was the son of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

Thomas Hood 1763-1832 and Mary Robson 1768-1849

Thomas Hood was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England in 1763, and was baptised at St Hilda's Church on 11 December 1763. He was the son of Joseph Hood and Dinah Watt. It's likely that Joseph was a fisherman, and his son followed him into the trade.

On Christmas Day 1785 he married twenty year old Mary Harrison at St Hilda's Church. Thomas and Mary had two sons together:

Joseph born 5 May 1786, who died in February 1789.
Thomas Hood born 28 September 1787 (died December 1822)

Mary died in early October 1787, most likely as a consequence of childbirth.

Thomas remarried on 27 December 1788. His second wife was Mary Robson, the daughter of John Robson, a shoemaker, and Jane Coulson. Mary was born in 1768, in Hartlepool, and was baptised at St Hilda's Church on 21 February 1768.

Thomas and Mary had 9 children together:

Dinah, born 3 August 1790
Mary, born 21 September 1792, died April 1816
Joseph, born 14 March 1795, died April 1876
Benjamin, born 9 September 1797
John, born 4 February 1800, died 1 October 1803
Dorothy, born 5 November 1802, died June 1876
Elizabeth, born 31 May 1805, died August 1873
Margaret, born 21 April 1808, died 12 August 1873
Jacob, born 18 February 1812

Thomas died in August 1832, a victim of one of the cholera epidemics which hit England in the mid 19th century. He was 69 years old.

Mary survived that cholera outbreak, and continued to live in Hartlepool. In 1841 she was living with her youngest son Jacob (also a fisherman) on the High Street in Hartlepool. She died on 8 October 1849, like her husband the victim of cholera.

On This Day ... 15 July

1794     Richard Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England.  He was the son of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner.

1886     Ralph Palliser Milbanke Hudson was born in The Cedars, Sunderland. He was the son of Ralph Milbank Hudson and Eliza Westropp Palliser.

1889     William H Pugh married Mary Jane Winnacott at Whitby, Ontario, Canada.

On This Day ... 14 July

1835     Edward Pugh married Jane Evans at St Anno's Church, Llananno, Radnorshire, Wales.

1852     Ralph Hudson died in Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham, England. He was 62 years old.

1863     James Gerrard died at Water Street, Elswick in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. He was 60 years old and was my 3 x great-grandfather.

Wordless Wednesday - DJ Pugh

On This Day ... 13 July

1901     James Pugh died at Stowe Village, Shropshire, England. He was my 3 x great-grandfather.

On This Day ... 12 July

1801     Thomas Dalrymple was born at Old Luce, Wigtownshire, Scotland.

1824     Thomas Thompson married Mary Wealand at St Michael's Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England.

1919     Frederick Edgar Jeffrey married Elma Martha Sonley at Prince Albert, Ontario, Canada.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 26th, 1941

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.


This is the second letter - the first starts here - and was written on 26 November 1941, less than two weeks before the Japanese invaded.


Page 1
Page 2 is here

Page 3 is here

Page 4 is here

No 8, Wednesday 26.11.41
F Flat, Government Qrs, Arbuthnot Rd.


Sweetheart,


3 letters from you, they arrived on Monday 24th numbers 6, 7 and 8, written on November 9th, 12th and 16th. Well I am still living at Stanley, but I am afraid I must go to V.G. soon, as I must be on call most of the time. Bud finished yesterday, so I have been on all alone today. Actually I had not a lazy day. I hate to go and live with anybody else, especially in that old dump, I will miss my own home love, and I find out that he will not be going before Monday, so I want to stick out as long as I can here.  I guess this will not be a very long letter, and don't be surprised if Willie does not write you this Sunday, you will understand why. I have not seen M.G. to tell him what Ada is doing, as I leave here every morning on the 7.30 van, and catch the 5pm bus back.


I expect I'll see him over the weekend, so I will tell him all about what Ada is buying. I know he is taking the two easy chairs down, and all cutlery, glass and pots and pans, so tell her not to buy a lot of those things. 


The Lads at V.R.P. gave Bud a dinner party last night, so they asked me to go, old boasting Cockeye turned up he was not asked, and he was tight when he turned up. He is a low minded beast, and I am sure there is something wrong with him down below.


He was boasting about how he had worked his leave, of how he had the Government by the way he had applied, but little does he know that Bud had told how he had typed all of Cockeye's applications even to him drawing a month's pay in advance

On This Day ... 11 July

1758     Ralph Todner married Mary Dunn at St Mary the Virgin, Longframlington, Northumberland, England. They were my 4 x great grandparents.

1795     Thomas Haddock married Anne Todner at All Saints Church, Penshaw, Co Durham, England.

1819     John Horsley married Elizabeth Weastell at St Hilda's Church, Co Durham.

On This Day ... 10 July

1842     Elizabeth Hull was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England.  She was the daughter of Robert Hull and Jane Hudson.

1859     Lancelot Hudson married Ann Mushens at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co Durham, England.

1883     Edward Lloyd Brunt married Alice Powell at St Garmon's Church, St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales.

On This Day ... 9 July

1825     Elizabeth Ann Haddock was born in Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Haddock and Mary Hudson

1883     Elizabeth Sarah Darby was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was the daughter of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

1895     William David Pugh married Emma Mary Louisa Morrow in Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

George Horsley 1770-1851 and Margaret Herring 1776-1855

George Horsley was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England in 1770, and baptised at St Hilda's Church on 30 December 1770. He was the sixth of nine children of William Horsley and Margaret Lackenby.

His future wife Margaret Herring was also born in Hartlepool, in 1776 and baptised at St Hilda's on 24 November 1776.  Her parents were George Herring and Margaret Hastings.

I haven't got any records of profession of either set of parents, but Hartlepool at this time was a fishing village, and it's likely that the men were fishermen (and that the families had been fishermen for generations). The Herring family could hardly be anything else!

George and Margaret married on 17 February 1795 at St Hilda's Church in Hartlepool. They had 10 children together:

John Horsley 1795-??
George Horsley 1797-1868
Elizabeth Herring Horsley 1800-1876
Thomas Horsley 1803-1877
Mary Horsley 1805-1814
William Horsley 1807-1845
Ann Horsley 1810-1841
Robert Horsley 1813-1814
Margaret Horsley 1815-1835
Robert Horsley 1819-1885

George probably worked as a fisherman for most of his life. In his later years, he watched the port of Hartlepool change dramatically from a small fishing village in the 1830s to a bustling port and shipbuilding centre by 1850. Like many fishermen, he transferred his knowledge of the local currents to work as a pilot, helping visiting ships in and out of the harbour.

George worked as a pilot right up to his death in 1851 at the age of 80. Margaret survived him by a few years and died in 1855. Both were buried in St Hilda's Churchyard. Margaret left a will dividing her property among her children.

On This Day ... 8 July

1798     Ralph Todner was born in Fatfield, Co Durham, England. He was the first son of Ralph Todner and Mary Dand and only lived for 2 days.

1804     William Haywood married Ellen Perry in Wombourne, Staffordshire, England. They are my 4 x great-grandparents.

1897     Emily Wilson was born at 36 Gravel Walk, Ashford, Kent, England. She was the daughter of Kate Wilson.

and happy birthday to my mum, Judy.

On This Day ... 7 July

1771     Robert Bates married Thomasine Wren at St Stephen's Church, Wolsingham, Co Durham, England.

1822     Ellen Haywood was born in Masshouse Lane, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. She was the daughter of William Haywood and Ellen Perry and was my 3 x great-grandmother.

1837     James Pattison was born in Newbottle, Co Durham, England. He was the youngest son of Thomas Pattison and Ann Moor.

Wordless Wednesday - Jessie Pugh

Jessie Pugh around 1904.

On This Day ... 6 July

1798     Elizabeth Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Hudson and Ann Bell.

1828     William Hudson married Elizabeth Taylor at Christ Church, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England. William was the son of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner.

1855     Henry Magee Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was the 16 year old son of Lancelot Hudson and Isabella Wilkinson.

1868     George Horsley died at Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was 67 years old and was my 3 x great-grandfather.

On This Day ... 5 July

1759     George Todner married Hannah Johnson at St Giles's Church, Netherwitton, Northumberland, England.

1793     Mary Horsley was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of James Horsley and Jane Hood.

1881     Mary Pugh nee Nicholls died and was buried at Mesyrhelem Baptist Church, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the wife of Price Pugh.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 6th, 1941.

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

The first letter is dated Thursday 6 November, 1941, just over a month before the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. This is page 4.

Page 1 is here.
Page 2 is here.
Page 3 is here.

I am getting on fine, here I am on page 4, methinks I will be able to write again on Sunday.


Next week will be a heavy one, Friday 14th Geordies den, Saturday 15th the Aitkenhead Shield at K.B.B.C., Sunday  "Geordies" v "Langford" at Bowls, but I think I will miss that. Now don't be surprised if I don't write on that Sunday. Nice to give you plenty of warning. You see Dear, I am not now worrying about the P.W.I. job, I have my acting pay, yet the younger ones are not doing a thing about it, I have had my fight, it's up to them now Peg. The others don't know I am getting this pay, when they do, there will be some moaning!


I am just going to have another beer, yes I had one about 6pm, its now 7 pm, I expect soon Tai will be saying "Master dinner", I can smell it cooking, its good also. Am glad you got my Registered Letter, but it certainly took time enough to go. I allowed it 14 days, and I am sorry it did[n't] arrive in time for Peter's birthday.


Am I a nice Daddy to send money, I don't know what and how I have been doing with my pay before I had my leave I could not save a red cent. Talking of cents we have now 10cts and 5cts paper money, now they look very nice, but wait until they get old and worn.  Here is a couple for Peter to show his pals.


Hurry along with a few snaps, I am longing to see how you both look. Should I have another photo taken, a new big one, in my new suit. Glad you got the Cookery Book, now I hope soon you will receive the petticoat they had to be made to order Popeye had your measurements. Dinner is served "Master sick caru". Add a few love apples.


Love Willie


Half an hour later, I feel like a little Pig, my belly sticks out, is that rude. Nothing much on the news, the Reds are holding the Bosche, [??] he is. May I say, promise, X my fingers, that I will write on Sunday.


Love to my Peter and my Sweetheart, Ever and Always, Your Daddy Bill.


Gowland is still in Hospital, tired I think. B

On This Day ... 4 July

1728     Lancelot Hudson married Margaret Thew at St Peter and St Paul's Church, Longhoughton, Northumberland, England. This couple are my 5 x great-grandparents.

1800     Ann Coulson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Thomas Coulson and Isabella Bulmer.

On This Day ... 3 July

1604     George Sewell married Jane FLECK at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. This was George's third marriage. George is my 10 x great-grandfather.

1642     John Sewell married Alis Williamson at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool. John was the son of George Sewell, and this was John's third marriage. This couple are my 9 x great-grandparents.

1808     Ann Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham. She was the daughter of George Hudson and Catherine Kerss.

1848     Elizabeth Darby was born at Freeman Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.  She was the daughter of Henry Darby and Ellen Haywood.

On This Day ... 2 July

1792     Elizabeth Hudson was born in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner. Her younger sister Margaret was born in Sunderland in 1798.

1898     Catherine Hudson was born at 7 Dalton Terrace, West Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Robert Hunter Hudson and Margaret Mossom.

1905     Frederick Robert Peters married Elizabeth Sarah Darby in St Bartholomew's Church, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. Elizabeth was the daughter of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

Matthew Wilson 1756-1823 and Jane Richardson d1801

Matthew Wilson was born in 1756 probably in North Yorkshire, England. In 1786 he married Jane Richardson at St Agatha's Church, Easby, Yorkshire.

The couple settled in Richmond, North Yorkshire and had several children there. According to the baptism records of his children, Matthew was working as a labourer, probably on a farm (on one baptism he was recorded as a "husbandman", so working with farm animals).

The children are:

John Wilson 1787-??
Mary Wilson 1788-??
Thomas Wilson 1790-??
Ann Wilson 1792-??
Ellen Wilson 1794-1874
Margaret Wilson 1798-??

Jane died in January 1801 and was buried in Richmond.

Matthew continued to live in Richmond, raising his children. At some point he appears to have moved to Darlington, Co Durham (like his daughter Ellen who moved there around 1822/23), and he died there in March 1823.

I know very little about this family, and haven't yet been able to find a baptism for either Matthew or Jane, so I'm unable to get back past them. I've also been unable to trace any of the children other than Ellen.

On This Day ... 1 July

1786     John Johnson married Isabel Todner at All Saints Church, Penshaw, Co Durham, England.

1795     Stormy Thompson was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham. He was the son of John Thompson and Dinah Coulson.

1806     Margaret Horsley was born in Hartlepool. She was the daughter of John Horsley and Margaret Coulson.

On This Day ... 30 June

1803     James Gerrard was born at Upper Mill, Barry, Angus, Scotland. He was the son of George Gerrard and his wife Jannet Fyffe.

1820     Henry Child was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of John Child and Susanna Shore.

1846     Dawson William Turner married Ophelia Dixon at St Michael's Church, Bishopwearmouth, Co Durham, England.

Wordless Wednesday - on the beach

Hong Kong, around 1937. My Dad's the happy one. Don't know who his friend is.

On This Day ... 29 June

1810     Mary Hall was born in Ouseburn, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. She was the daughter of George Hall and Mary Haswell.

1833     Edward Lister married Thomasin Craswell at St John's Church, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England.

1934     Hartland Thomas Pugh married Martha Anne Reynolds at St Padarn's Church, Llanbadarn Fynydd, Radnorshire, Wales.

On This Day ... 28 June

1834     Mary Ann Jones was born at Hendre Farm, Mochdre, Montgomeryshire, Wales. She was the daughter of John Jones and Martha Bowen

1856     Adelaide Pugh was born in Uxbridge Township, Ontario, Canada. She was the daughter of Hugh Pugh and Hannah Smith.

1969     Frederick Albert Darby died in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was 77 years old. Fred was a son of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 6th, 1941.

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

The first letter is dated Thursday 6 November, 1941, just over a month before the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. This is page 3.

Page 1 is here.
Page 2 is here.
Page 4 is here.

I am a bit ashamed of setting you to buy that Pipe, at 25/- they are now $15 here, of course some of the "Comoys" cost as much as $35. When I wrote you they were only $13.50, so you see how the price of things are going up. Precious, I am on a Curry Prawn tonight, used to be 60 cts a pound, today I had to pay $1. Went out last night, the three "Must-get-there's" paid my Boyebay Store Bill (will leave it to you to argue about those stockings) anyway I bought three Tootal ties for $4.50. Alf bought three and John six, over $20 would of trade he got out of us yet no 10% slate.

I hope Ada has found a place for M.G., wouldn't it be nice if Vi would get out, and have the place for all of you, maybe I am expecting too much! True we were lucky in getting Abbott St, a place like that would do you fine. I have yet to buy the bag for Mrs Bard, yet there is plenty of time left. Fancy Peg Hudson remembering the Cabin in George's garden, anyway I never took you there on dark nights but it's only because I did not know you! I used to give sin all a big bunch of flowers!

Of course now that Frank (my heart is getting soft) is going down there for good, why not try further afield! What about asking the Nolly's if anything is going in their district, you could all muck in together, of course different Beds, naturally if would have to be! 

How is that bad tempered son of mine, I hope the ear trouble has gone, it can be very painful at times. I feel sorry for you Peg, in having all these troubles, it's a shame I am unable to share them, I missed him as a Baby, now I am missing his boyhood days. And still those headaches, I do so wish you could shrug them off, I get worried about them, also these head colds of yours, I suppose because I don't get them, I can't understand why other people should. Here I am sitting in my undies, and not a wee bit cold.

Last night I or we went to the flicks, I wore a heavy coat, yet I had to take it off. "Mail Train" was the film, Gordon Harker, and very good it was, a English picture. I bought some more of my beloved Bandman, I got four tins, so I am ok for weeks.

On This Day ... 27 June

1792     George Hunter was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Hunter and Eleanor Horsley.

1796     Grace Logan was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England. She was the daughter of Henry and Margaret Logan.

1854     Weltkin Hudson nee Winlow died in Sunderland, Co Durham, England. She was 71 years old and was the widow of Ralph Hudson.

On This Day ... 26 June

1790     Elizabeth Horsley was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of Matthew Horsley and Mary Pounder.

1874     William Edwards married Jane Pugh in Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

1976     Gertrude Ann Price nee Hughes died in South Wales. She was 85 years old. Gertrude was the daughter of Morgan Hughes and Jane Eliza Powell.

On This Day ... 25 June

1837     Mills Robson married Elizabeth Leeming at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

1848     Robert Heightley Hudson married Margaret Breckon at Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland, Co Durham, England. Robert was the grandson of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner.

1899     Harold Pugh was born in Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Judson Adamrun Pugh and Louisa C Annis.

Alexander Kerss 1758-1831 and Catherine Errington 1765-1844

Alexander Kerss was born in 1758 in the village of Coldstream, Berwickshire, on the Scottish side of the border between Scotland and England. He was the son of Robert Kerss, a cooper (barrel maker) and his wife Janet Wood.

Probably as a young man, Alexander moved 60 miles south to the town of Gateshead, Co Durham where he worked as a "sugar baker" - my guess is he was a baker who baked cakes as well as bread. When he was about 30 he married Catherine Errington.

Catherine was born in 1765 in Ravensworth, in the parish of Lamesley, close to Gateshead. She was the daughter of Robert Errington and Mary Barras.

Alexander and Catherine married at St Mary's Church, Gateshead on 6 January 1788. For the rest of their lives they lived in Gateshead, probably on Hillgate next to the river Tyne, where Alexander owned some land. Their family of 9 children were all born in Gateshead:

Robert 1788-1860
Mary 1790-??
John 1792-1852
Alexander 1794-1818
Thomas 1796-??
Samuel 1801-1802
Samuel 1803-??
William 1805-1874
Catherine 1808-??

The children were all baptised in local Presbyterian churches (generally known as  "Scotch churches"), initially Silver Street Presbyterian Church in Newcastle (the other side of the river Tyne from Gateshead), and later Half Moon Lane Chapel in Gateshead.

Alexander died at the age of 73 in 1831, and was buried at St Mary's Church. Catherine continued to live in Gateshead, until her death at home in Church Walk in 1844 at the age of 78. Alexander's will (here) stated that he owned two houses and a bakehouse (plus some land with a third house) on Hillgate and Church Walk. All the property was left to Catherine for her life, before then being divided between the surviving children.

On This Day ... 24 June

1758     Abraham Todner married Susan Moody at St Michael's Church, Felton, Northumberland, England.

1771     John Hobdey married Catherine Bowater at St Thomas Church, Dudley, Worcestershire, England. They were my 5 x great-grandparents.

1797     Jane Huntridge was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of William Huntridge and Mary Soulsby.

On This Day ... 23 June

1819     William Longstaff married Elizabeth Hudson at Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland, Co Durham, England. Elizabeth was the daughter of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner.

1891     Gertrude Ann Hughes was born in St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales. She was the daughter of Morgan Hughes and Jane Eliza Powell.

1906     Ralph Henry Hughes Hudson died in Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. His death is commemorated on a family gravestone in his home town of Sunderland, England.

Wordless Wednesday - the old man and his gamp

My dad's caption on this photo of him is "the old man and his gamp" - taken in Hong Kong December 1937

On This Day ... 22 June

1782     William Read married widow Mary Todner (nee Dunn) at Holy Trinity Church, Washington, Co Durham, England.

1835     Thomas Wren Lister married Mary Watson at Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland, Co Durham.

1881     Charles Silvester Darby was born at 119 Victoria Road, Aston, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

On This Day ... 21 June

1942     Ernest Nellist married Dorothy Nettie Darby at Kingswood Meeting House, Wythal, Worcestershire, England. "Toots" was my grandfather's sister.

1890     Robert Hudson was born in Middleton, West Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the second son of Robert Hunter Hudson and Margaret Mossom.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 6th, 1941.

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

The first letter is dated Thursday 6 November, 1941, just over a month before the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. This is page 2.

Page 1 is here.
Page 3 is here.
Page 4 is here.

So far as you will see Peg, I have been writing twice a week, I was not going to write until Sunday, but with having two letters this afternoon, I thought I must drop you a few lines, knowing how you like to receive them, anyway Dear you continue your weekly letter, and I will promise to write once, and if I have letters to answer, twice a week.


Both Harry and M.G. refuse a present from the Club, so there won't be any smokes for them. They don't even go inside the Club now, but sit outside on the stone wall, and have their drinks. M.G. is bringing your machine down, and I lent him a big packing case, so see that you get it, it will come in handy when you have to return, if ever. Anyway, it will do if we have to pack up any time for England or Timbuctoo.


I just know how you would feel, if I could get away, only Dear there is nothing wrong with Willie. I'm as fit as a lopp on a cold night. [...] Again, I am just back from leave, so that means I would have to pay part passage money. That's why Cookey can't get away, 'cos he has not got a cent to his name. Anyway she seems to be having a good time, and a damned shame the way she is spending her money, the more they get the more they expect, I am pleased my sweetheart is not like that. Did Mrs R smile the day she came to Tiffin, she certainly thinks her ? does not smell!


Don't worry what you say about M.G. and you living with him, he is all for it Peg. I mentioned to him when I heard that Cockeye was going down, that you would have to find new digs, he at once said, "Look here Bill, why can't Peg and Peter muck in with Ada and me", so you see Dear we have already discussed the possibility of it. One thing Dear, he is very fond of Peter, he will grow fond of you as time goes on, only I don't want any grey haired kids in the family!

On This Day ... 20 June

1832     John Jones married Martha Bowen at All Saints Church, Mochdre, Montgomeryshire, Wales. They were my 4 x great grandparents.

1842     Charles Compton married Sarah Horsley at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England.

On This Day ... 19 June

1755     William Todner married Isabel Gibson at St Helen's Church, Longhorsley, Northumberland, England.

1776     John Makepeace married Elizabeth Wren at St Michael & All Angels Church, Warden, Northumberland, England.

1825     Samuel Haywood married Mary Ann Hazell at St Mary's Church, Handsworth, Staffordshire, England.

On This Day ... 18 June

1760     Edward Pugh died in St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales.

1792     John Powell married Jane Owens at Nantmel, Radnorshire.

Ralph Todner 1738-1780 and Mary Dunn 1738-1828

Ralph Todner was born at Ninriding Moore, in the parish of Mitford, Northumberland, England in 1738, and was baptised at St Mary Magdalene Church in Mitford on 29 March 1738. He was the youngest of six children.

By the age of 20, Ralph had moved to Woodhead, in the parish of Longframlington, Northumberland, and was working as a coal miner.

On 11 July 1758, Ralph married Mary Dunn at St Mary the Virgin Church, Longframlington. Years later Bracey Robson Wilson reported that at the wedding "there were nearly a hundred guests, and that the celebrated Jemmy Allen, the Duke of Northumberland's piper played at the merrymaking."

Mary was born in Woodhead in 1738 (baptised 9 July 1738 at Longframlington).

Following their marriage the couple lived at Woodhead for a couple of years, then slowly moved south as Ralph worked at a succession of coal mines. Their moves can be tracked through the births of their children:

Jane, 1759, born at Woodhead, Longframlington
William, 1761, born at Long Witton Cleugh, Hartburn, Northumberland
Mary, 1764, born at Wylam, Ovingham, Northumberland
Patience, 1767, born at Chartershaugh, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham,
Prudence, 1770, born at Chartershaugh
Ann, 1773, born at North Biddick, Washington, Co Durham,
Ralph, 1775, born at North Biddick
Isabella, 1778, born at North Biddick

By 1778, Ralph was no longer working as a coal miner - he was now a ferryman, ferrying people across the river Wear between North and South Biddick. It's not clear if he stopped coal mining when he left Chartershaugh or if the change in jobs happened later. It's also not clear why he changed jobs - I suspect that ferryman at Biddick didn't pay anything like as well as coal miner. Perhaps he'd been injured working underground?

This possible injury may also explain his early death. Ralph died in September 1780 at the age of 42, and was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Washington. A couple of years later, Mary remarried, this time to William Read. Following his death Mary continued to live in North Biddick, becoming a celebrated innkeeper (according to Bracey Robson Wilson).

Mary eventually died in June 1828, at High Felling in Jarrow parish, and was buried at Washington.

On This Day ... 17 June

1756     Thomas Todner married Isabel Robson at St Michael & All Angels Church, Felton, Northumberland, England.

1870     Frederick Jones married Jane Powell at St Garmon's Church, St Harmon, Radnorshire, Wales.

1885     Frances Amelia George, nee Chapman, died of phthisis (tuberculosis) in York County, Ontario, Canada. She was only 26.

On This Day ... 16 June

1856     George Barnes Haddock married Eleonora Catherine Bradley at Kirkby Stephen, Westmoreland, England.

Wordless Wednesday - Picnic in the New Territory 1936

L-R Unknown, Peggy Hudson, Peter Hudson, Martha Clark.

On This Day ... 15 June

1787     Dinah Horsley was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of James Horsley and Jane Hood.

1816     Lancelot Hudson married Sarah Joyce at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co Durham, England.

1826     Stephen Pugh married Sarah Price at St Cynllo's Church, Llanbister, Radnorshire, England.

On This Day ... 14 June

1888     Robert Hunter Hudson married Margaret Mossom at the Register Office, Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. They were my great-grandparents.

1938     Norman James Darby married Phyllis Afonwy Pugh at Salem Baptist Chapel, Hay-on-Wye, Breconshire, Wales. They were my grandparents.

Amanuensis Monday - letter from Bill Hudson to Peggy November 6th, 1941.

My grandfather Bill Hudson worked as a prison officer in Hong Kong from 1921 to 1941. He was still in Hong Kong in December of 1941 when the Japanese invaded and occupied the colony. My grandmother Peg and my father Peter had been evacuated to Australia in July 1940. Peg kept the last couple of letters Bill wrote from Hong Kong prior to the Japanese invasion, along with the letters he wrote immediately after liberation.

Most of the letters are long, so I'm going to serialise them over the next few weeks.

The first letter is dated Thursday 6 November, 1941, just over a month before the Japanese invaded Hong Kong.

This is page one.
Page 2 is here.

Page 3 is here.

Page 4 is here.

Thursday 6.11.41
No 3


Sweetheart,


To-day has been a red letter day for all of us, as I think everybody had a letter, the first mail to arrive for over a fortnight. I had two lovely ones, posted 20th and 27th Oct, No 3, the 27th was unnumbered so it must have been No 4. You bet I was pleased to have them. I also had a sea mail letter, and a "Rix", the one containing Peter's school Book which I think very good indeed. I will write him a sea mail next week in answer to his, that was in your letter, which you wrote on Oct 5th.


I only wish I could have had your letters yesterday, it would have saved me the trouble of seeing the Boss, re the move from here. Anyway, it's too late now, the result being that I can stay here, if I have the phone moved at my own expense, I had to argue a long time before he would give way. He said they were senior officers Qrs, and should be occupied as such. I mentioned that Ryan and Plumb were senior to Spoors, yet they had not to go. Anyway I had to say that I was fed up with moving, and when he heard from me, that this would be my fourth move in 4 years, he sympathised with me, so I promised to pay for the phone being moved. Now I find out that he intends to put Pile up there, only he can't apply for a phone for Pile, because officially I am there, and not allowed a phone here. Anyhow Jew Boy said he would try and fix it for me, if he can't I will have to move over. Q must have been getting onto Pat, because he asked how I posted my letters, and on saying  via Rangoon, he said but isn't that route closed. He never knows Peg, he never buys a paper, now has he got a Radio. 


Anyway Darling, Q will be getting news as quick as you now, because he says he must write Rangoon way now, it will break his heart to pay extra postage. I was going to buy you another £10.0.0, only I hear there is very little Australian money in the colony, and what there is, is $11.90 for a pound, I thought I would buy this, and let my teeth wait, I also have a new suit to pay for, so that will take my acting pay of £60, which I hear today, I got paid up from 15.9.41, so in {...} I drew $90, very nice too in these hard times.

On This Day ... 13 June

1832     Joseph Whitehouse was born at Meriden St, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Whitehouse.

1841     Thomas Onions was born in Birmingham. He was the son of John Onions and Hannah Cooper.

1933     Archibald Eustace Jones married Mary Myfanwy Gwenllian Pugh at Salem Baptist Chapel, Hay-on-Wye, Breconshire, Wales. Gwen was my grandmother's sister.

On This Day ... 12 June

1815     Robert Kerss married Frances Hunter at Holy Trinity Church, Sunderland, Co Durham, England.

1845     George Heron Horsley married Isabella Robinson at St Hilda's Church, Hartlepool, Co Durham.

On This Day ... 11 June

1836     Richard Hudson married Susanna Potter in St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co Durham, England. Susanna was born Susanna Morrow and was the widow of William Potter. Richard was the son of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner.

1951     Hudson Hall Wilkinson, a great-grandson of Richard and Patience Hudson, died at Wangaratta, Victoria, Australia. He was 78 years old.

1906     John James Caseley married Margaret Lamb at Trinity Presbyterian Church, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England.  Margaret was the daughter of John Lamb.

Lancelot Hudson 1737-1784 and Elizabeth Wardell 1733-1799

Lancelot and Elizabeth are my 4 x great-grandparents. Lancelot was born in 1737 in the parish of Edlingham, Northumberland, England. His birthplace is stated in the parish register as Overthwarts, which appears on 19th century maps to be a farm. His father, also Lancelot, was a "hind" - a skilled farm worker so living on a farm makes sense.

I have no information on Lancelot's childhood. By 1764, in his late twenties, Lancelot had moved to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, a small town in Northumberland.  There's no record of the work Lancelot was doing in Newbiggin, but the town was a fishing and cargo port and it's position on the edge of the Northumberland coalfield makes it likely that it was a coal port in the second half of the 18th century. His known occupations later in life suggest that he was working in the port in Newbiggin.

On 13 December 1764, Lancelot married Elizabeth Wardell at St Bartholomew's Church, Newbiggin. I have no information about Elizabeth before this point. She was around 30 when she married Lancelot, but I've found nothing to indicate where or when she was born.

The couple had their first two children in Newbiggin - Thomas baptised in mid-1765 and Elizabeth baptised in late 1766. After Elizabeth's birth, they moved south to the growing town of Sunderland, Co Durham. They settled initially in Numbers Garth, on the edge of the rapidly growing town of Sunderland, but in the parish of Bishopwearmouth. Two more children were born here, Lancelot in 1768 and Richard in 1770. The family moved house into the parish of Sunderland, where three more sons were born - William in 1773, a second William in 1775 and Ralph in 1778. Records indicate that Lancelot was involved in the coal trade here, as a keelman and a coal caster.

Lancelot died in April of 1784, aged only 47. The burial record doesn't indicate how he died. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church in Sunderland. Elizabeth stayed in Sunderland, raising their younger children (William was only 8 when his father died, and Richard was 14). She eventually died in 1799, at the age of 66. By this time she was living in Bishopwearmouth (possibly with her eldest son Thomas who was also in Bishopwearmouth by this time). She was buried with her husband in Holy Trinity graveyard.

The children:

Thomas 1765-1827
Elizabeth 1766-??
Lancelot 1768-1812
Richard 1770-1821
William 1773-?? (presumed to have died as an infant)
William 1775-1824
Ralph 1778-1783

On This Day ... 10 June

1792     Alice Horsley was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. She was the daughter of George and Elizabeth Horsley.

1821     Richard Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham. He was 51, and was my 3 x great grandfather.

1895     Sidney James Darby was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was the son of William James Darby and Elizabeth Read.

On This Day ... 9 June

1782     Thomas Hudson married Mary Todner at Holy Trinity Church, Washington, Co Durham, England.

1809     Ann Hudson died in Sunderland, Co Durham. She was the daughter of Richard Hudson and Patience Todner and was a few weeks short of her first birthday when she died.

1840     Henry Darby married Ellen Haywood at Handsworth Parish Church, Handsworth, Stafforshire, England. They were my 3 x great-grandparents.

Wordless Wednesday - after the Hong Kong typhoon

Martha Clark and her grandson Peter Hudson view the damage after a typhoon hit Hong Kong in 1936

On This Day ... 8 June

1804     Thomas Taylor Lakinby was born in Hartlepool, Co Durham, England. He was the son of Thomas Lakinby and Martha Robson, born 5 months after his father's death.

1885     Hugh Pugh died at Llanbadarnfynydd, Radnorshire, Wales and was buried at Bwlch-y-sarnau. He was 73 years old.

1916     Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Chipchase Roberts died fighting in World War One in France. He was 42.

On This Day ... 7 June

1808     George Wren was born in Ryton, Co Durham, England. He was the son of John Wren and Ann Brown.

1830     Richard Davison married Mary Halliday at St Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Co Durham, England.

1847     Edward Darby died in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. He was 79 years old and was my 4 x great-grandfather.