Shona
22-10-12, 16:36
Some years ago, a war memorial was rescued from a skip. It ended up in an attic until recently. I'm helping the owner to try to figure out where ir came from, so it can be re-instated.
Here are the notes I've made. Comments, thoughts, suggestions, please.
JOHN JAMES BIGGAR
Private 2349, 6th Battalion (Territorials) Northumberland Fusiliers
Died of wounds: 6 August 1915
Born in Newcastle
Son of Robert and Mary Ann Biggar
Enlisted in Newcastle
Buried: St John’s Westgate and Elswick, Newcastle
Medals: Victory, British
1911 census - 21 Victoria Street, Newcastle
Robert Biggar, head, 54, checker for railway company, born Ancroft
Mary Ann Biggar, wife, 52, housework, born Newcastle
John James Biggar, son, 21, shunter for railway company, born Newcastle
Elizabeth Biggar, son, 18, clerk, drapers shop, born Newcastle
Catherine Biggar, son, 18, shop, stationers, born Newcastle
JAMES CRAIG
Private 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry; attested 49954 West Yorkshire Regiment
Killed in action: 4 September 1918
Born: Fecklington, Northumberland
Son of James and Ann Terry Craig
Enlisted: Newcastle
Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial
Medals: Victory, British
Service records:
Enlisted 1917, a few months short of his 18th birthday. NOK: Father, James. He was injured at Etaples, France, 5 April 1918. Returned to battalion on 15 August 1918. Confined to barracks for three days on 19 August for drinking from his water bottle while on parade.
In 1919, the army sent the Craig family a form to complete giving details of members of the family - he had two brothers, John and William, aged 21 and 18 respectively in 1919. Sister, Blanche, 22. Address: 131 Portland Road.
The form was witnessed by CC Goodlet, Presbyterian Minister, 11 Moorfield, Newcastle.
WILLIAM CLUTTON
Private 43108 9th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Died of wounds: 22 March 1918
Born in Whithorn, Wigtonshire
Husband of Isabella Davison
Enlisted in Newcastle
Commemorated: Poziers Memorial
Medals Victory and British
Born Scotland, 1889, William married Isabella Giles, 24 February 1912, St Andrew’s Church, Newcastle.
GEORGE DAVISON
Lance Coroporal 26302 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
Died of wounds: 12 October 1918
Born in Newcastle
Son of William James and Mary Davison
Buried: Carnieres Communal Cemetery Extension
Medals: Victory and British
George’s father was a barman, Address: 42 Scotswood Road in Newcastle.
ERNEST CRAWFORD HADDEN
Private 37298 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish); attested Private 1391 Northern Cyclist Battalion
Killed in action: 5 June 1917, aged 27 years
Born in Gateshead
Son of James Crawford Hadden and Margaret Paterson Hadden
Commemorated: Arras Memorial
Born 17 March 1890 in Gateshead – son of James Crawford Hadden and Margaret Peterson Hadden (nee Goodlet). Private Hadden’s father was born in Dungannon, N Ireland. The couple married on 11 March 1885 – banns according to Gateshead Presbyterian Church. Margaret, born Dirleton, West Lothian, 26 July 1863.
1911 census - 15 Ely Street, Gateshead
James Crawford Hadden, head, 51, print compositor, born Dungannon, Northern Ireland
Margaret Paterson Hadden, wife, 47, born West Fenton, Dirleton
Isabella Hadden, son, 24, clerk, Co-operative, born Gateshead
Ernest Crawford Hadden, son, 21, certified assistant teacher, born Gateshead
John Goodlet Hadden, son, 17, student teacher, born Gateshead
Herbert Fowler Hadden, son, 15, clerk – works fire office, born Gateshead
Annie Goodlet Hadden, dau, 10, school, born Gateshead
Frank Lindsey Hadden, son, 4, born Gateshead
HADDEN, Ernest Crawford, of 174 Ladykirk Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, private 20th Northumberland Fusiliers, died 5 June in France. Administration (with will) Newcastle-upon-Tyne 21 January to James Crawford Hadden, trade union secretary. Effects £133 19s 6d.
Printer, bookseller and compositor James Crawford Hadden died was interested in family history and put this advertisement in the 'Missing Friends' column of the 'Belfast Weekly News,' May 20 1893:
HADDEN: Information desired as to the whereabouts of any of the descendants of my grand uncle, Alexander Hadden, who left Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, for Philadelphia, USA, somewhere about the year 1800(?). American papers please copy. Address, James Hadden, 49 Claremont North Avenue, Gateshead-on-Tyne, England.
Margaret Hadden's maiden name was Goodlet. Her brother was Revd Charles Cockburn Goodlet - a Presbyterian minister, born in Tweedmouth. He died in Tynemouth in 1950.
ALEXANDER LANDSBOROUGH
9th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
Killed in action: 23 April 1917
Born in Kelton, Kirkudbrightshire
Son of John and Williamina Landsborough
Lived in Castle Douglas, Kirkudbright
Enlisted in Newcastle
His father was a postman.
RUEBEN NELSON
6/4116, 1/6th Battalion Nortjhumberland Fusiliers
Killed in action: 15 September 1916
Son of Eliza Nelson
Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial
Medals: Victory and British
1911 census - 68 Clarence Streert, Newcastle.
Eliza Nelson, head, widow, born in Newcastle
Henry Nelson, son, 33, harness maker, born in Newcastle
Frances Nelson, son, 25, born in Newcastle
Mary Nelson, dau, 20, born in Newcastle
Reuben Nelson, son, 18, (joiner? tailor? jailor?), born in Newcastle
John William Nelson, son, 15, wire winder, born in Newcastle
Mother married 34 years, eight children, six living.
ROBERT THURSTON
?
GEORGE EDWARD WEDDELL
Private 8660 ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Killed in action: 16 November 1916, aged 19 years
Born in Newcastle
Son of William and Mary A Weddell, 259 Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle
Lived in Newcastle
Enlisted in Newcastle
Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial
Medals: Victory and British
1911 census – 192 Philips Street, Newcastle
William Weddell, head, 45, cash porter (railway company), born in Chatton, Northumberland
Mary Annie Weddell, wife, 45, born in Barnsford, Northumberland
Thomas William Weddell, son, 16, born in Newcastle
George Edward Weddell, son, clerk (commission agent), born in Newcastle
Douglas Weddell, son, 8, school, born in Newcastle
ALAN MacPHERSON
Second Writer m.15860 (Ch), HMS Diligence, Royal Navy
Died from disease: 17 February 1919
Born in Newcastle
Son of John and Mary McPherson
Buried: All Saint’s Cemetery, Jesmond Road, Newcastle
1911 census - 1 Worsely Gardens, Newcastle
John McPherson, head, 49, machinist in ???? factory, born Alvis Inverness-shire
Mary Jane McPherson, wife, 47, born in Newcastle
Alan McPherson, son, 18, traveller (wholsale provisions), born Newcastle
Ann Gladys McPherson, dau, 17, pupil teacher, born in Newcastle
Leslie John McPherson, son, 11, at school, born Newcastle
Married 19 years, three children, three surviving.
JOHN WILLIAM NELSON
Able seaman, RN Volunteer Reserve, Anson Battalion
Died of wounds: 12 June 1916
Son of Eliza and the late Reuben Nelson, 40 Clarence Street, Newcastle
Buried: Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Died of wounds in the 6th Casualty Clearing Station (wounded on 12 June 1916 by an enemy shell falling into dugout.
Anson Battalion War Diary
‘A whizz-bang entered a dugout and caused three casualties in D Company. ABs Webb killed, Nelson wounded and died same day, Mackay wounded and died 14th.'
An electric winder born on 6 April 1895. Next of kin and home addresses, mother, Eliza 68 (later 40) Clarence Street, Shieldfield, Newcastle.
Bother of Reuben who also died.
Conclusions:
From these accounts it seems as if the memorial comes from a Scottish Presbyterian church in Newcastle.
Revd Charles Goodlet, brother of Margaret Hadden (who's son Ernest Crawford Hadden died in the war), who was a witness on correspondence following the death of James Craig, was the minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Newcastle.
The building on Northumberland Road is used by the University of Northumberland.
The congregation had its origins in the Ebenezer Chapel/Wall Knoll congregation which was founded in 1730. In 1843, just after they'd built a new chapel on Argyle Street, there was a major split. A minority of the
congregation wanting to adhere themselves to the Church of Scotland while the majority wanting to stay with the Presbyterian Church in England.
The courts ruled in favour of the minority - the new building should be Church of Scotland - it was then named Caledonian Chapel. The majority of the congregation plus minister went off and formed a new congregation.
At first, the new congregation met in the Music Hall (on Nelson Street) but in 1847 they built a new chapel, Trinity Chapel, on New Bridge Street. This was replaced in 1896 by a new Trinity Chapel on Northumberland Road.
In 1933, they were joined by the congregation of College Road Chapel (which closed and was sold to Armstrong College).
Trinity Chapel closed in 1970.
However, there are other possibilities.
1) Margaret Paterson Goodlet married James Crawford Hadden at the Presbyterian Church on Alison Street in Gateshead.
2) Arthur’s Hill Presbyterian Church (abt 1 mile west of the city centre). Revd John McNeil BD, minister of Arthur’s Hill Presbyterian Church, former minister of South Bridge UF Church, Airdrie, was born in Glasgow on 31 March 1874. Died at Wandsworth Military Hospital in London on 27 September 1917. If Arthur’s Hill was the church, shouldn't McNeil be mentioned?
3) Gordon Road Presbyterian Church, Byker. Area heavily redeveloped. The church records for this church stop in 1985.
4) Jesmond Presbyterian Church – records stop in 1974.
Here are the notes I've made. Comments, thoughts, suggestions, please.
JOHN JAMES BIGGAR
Private 2349, 6th Battalion (Territorials) Northumberland Fusiliers
Died of wounds: 6 August 1915
Born in Newcastle
Son of Robert and Mary Ann Biggar
Enlisted in Newcastle
Buried: St John’s Westgate and Elswick, Newcastle
Medals: Victory, British
1911 census - 21 Victoria Street, Newcastle
Robert Biggar, head, 54, checker for railway company, born Ancroft
Mary Ann Biggar, wife, 52, housework, born Newcastle
John James Biggar, son, 21, shunter for railway company, born Newcastle
Elizabeth Biggar, son, 18, clerk, drapers shop, born Newcastle
Catherine Biggar, son, 18, shop, stationers, born Newcastle
JAMES CRAIG
Private 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry; attested 49954 West Yorkshire Regiment
Killed in action: 4 September 1918
Born: Fecklington, Northumberland
Son of James and Ann Terry Craig
Enlisted: Newcastle
Commemorated: Tyne Cot Memorial
Medals: Victory, British
Service records:
Enlisted 1917, a few months short of his 18th birthday. NOK: Father, James. He was injured at Etaples, France, 5 April 1918. Returned to battalion on 15 August 1918. Confined to barracks for three days on 19 August for drinking from his water bottle while on parade.
In 1919, the army sent the Craig family a form to complete giving details of members of the family - he had two brothers, John and William, aged 21 and 18 respectively in 1919. Sister, Blanche, 22. Address: 131 Portland Road.
The form was witnessed by CC Goodlet, Presbyterian Minister, 11 Moorfield, Newcastle.
WILLIAM CLUTTON
Private 43108 9th Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Died of wounds: 22 March 1918
Born in Whithorn, Wigtonshire
Husband of Isabella Davison
Enlisted in Newcastle
Commemorated: Poziers Memorial
Medals Victory and British
Born Scotland, 1889, William married Isabella Giles, 24 February 1912, St Andrew’s Church, Newcastle.
GEORGE DAVISON
Lance Coroporal 26302 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards
Died of wounds: 12 October 1918
Born in Newcastle
Son of William James and Mary Davison
Buried: Carnieres Communal Cemetery Extension
Medals: Victory and British
George’s father was a barman, Address: 42 Scotswood Road in Newcastle.
ERNEST CRAWFORD HADDEN
Private 37298 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers (Tyneside Scottish); attested Private 1391 Northern Cyclist Battalion
Killed in action: 5 June 1917, aged 27 years
Born in Gateshead
Son of James Crawford Hadden and Margaret Paterson Hadden
Commemorated: Arras Memorial
Born 17 March 1890 in Gateshead – son of James Crawford Hadden and Margaret Peterson Hadden (nee Goodlet). Private Hadden’s father was born in Dungannon, N Ireland. The couple married on 11 March 1885 – banns according to Gateshead Presbyterian Church. Margaret, born Dirleton, West Lothian, 26 July 1863.
1911 census - 15 Ely Street, Gateshead
James Crawford Hadden, head, 51, print compositor, born Dungannon, Northern Ireland
Margaret Paterson Hadden, wife, 47, born West Fenton, Dirleton
Isabella Hadden, son, 24, clerk, Co-operative, born Gateshead
Ernest Crawford Hadden, son, 21, certified assistant teacher, born Gateshead
John Goodlet Hadden, son, 17, student teacher, born Gateshead
Herbert Fowler Hadden, son, 15, clerk – works fire office, born Gateshead
Annie Goodlet Hadden, dau, 10, school, born Gateshead
Frank Lindsey Hadden, son, 4, born Gateshead
HADDEN, Ernest Crawford, of 174 Ladykirk Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, private 20th Northumberland Fusiliers, died 5 June in France. Administration (with will) Newcastle-upon-Tyne 21 January to James Crawford Hadden, trade union secretary. Effects £133 19s 6d.
Printer, bookseller and compositor James Crawford Hadden died was interested in family history and put this advertisement in the 'Missing Friends' column of the 'Belfast Weekly News,' May 20 1893:
HADDEN: Information desired as to the whereabouts of any of the descendants of my grand uncle, Alexander Hadden, who left Cookstown, County Tyrone, Ireland, for Philadelphia, USA, somewhere about the year 1800(?). American papers please copy. Address, James Hadden, 49 Claremont North Avenue, Gateshead-on-Tyne, England.
Margaret Hadden's maiden name was Goodlet. Her brother was Revd Charles Cockburn Goodlet - a Presbyterian minister, born in Tweedmouth. He died in Tynemouth in 1950.
ALEXANDER LANDSBOROUGH
9th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment)
Killed in action: 23 April 1917
Born in Kelton, Kirkudbrightshire
Son of John and Williamina Landsborough
Lived in Castle Douglas, Kirkudbright
Enlisted in Newcastle
His father was a postman.
RUEBEN NELSON
6/4116, 1/6th Battalion Nortjhumberland Fusiliers
Killed in action: 15 September 1916
Son of Eliza Nelson
Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial
Medals: Victory and British
1911 census - 68 Clarence Streert, Newcastle.
Eliza Nelson, head, widow, born in Newcastle
Henry Nelson, son, 33, harness maker, born in Newcastle
Frances Nelson, son, 25, born in Newcastle
Mary Nelson, dau, 20, born in Newcastle
Reuben Nelson, son, 18, (joiner? tailor? jailor?), born in Newcastle
John William Nelson, son, 15, wire winder, born in Newcastle
Mother married 34 years, eight children, six living.
ROBERT THURSTON
?
GEORGE EDWARD WEDDELL
Private 8660 ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment)
Killed in action: 16 November 1916, aged 19 years
Born in Newcastle
Son of William and Mary A Weddell, 259 Beaconsfield Street, Newcastle
Lived in Newcastle
Enlisted in Newcastle
Commemorated: Thiepval Memorial
Medals: Victory and British
1911 census – 192 Philips Street, Newcastle
William Weddell, head, 45, cash porter (railway company), born in Chatton, Northumberland
Mary Annie Weddell, wife, 45, born in Barnsford, Northumberland
Thomas William Weddell, son, 16, born in Newcastle
George Edward Weddell, son, clerk (commission agent), born in Newcastle
Douglas Weddell, son, 8, school, born in Newcastle
ALAN MacPHERSON
Second Writer m.15860 (Ch), HMS Diligence, Royal Navy
Died from disease: 17 February 1919
Born in Newcastle
Son of John and Mary McPherson
Buried: All Saint’s Cemetery, Jesmond Road, Newcastle
1911 census - 1 Worsely Gardens, Newcastle
John McPherson, head, 49, machinist in ???? factory, born Alvis Inverness-shire
Mary Jane McPherson, wife, 47, born in Newcastle
Alan McPherson, son, 18, traveller (wholsale provisions), born Newcastle
Ann Gladys McPherson, dau, 17, pupil teacher, born in Newcastle
Leslie John McPherson, son, 11, at school, born Newcastle
Married 19 years, three children, three surviving.
JOHN WILLIAM NELSON
Able seaman, RN Volunteer Reserve, Anson Battalion
Died of wounds: 12 June 1916
Son of Eliza and the late Reuben Nelson, 40 Clarence Street, Newcastle
Buried: Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, France
Died of wounds in the 6th Casualty Clearing Station (wounded on 12 June 1916 by an enemy shell falling into dugout.
Anson Battalion War Diary
‘A whizz-bang entered a dugout and caused three casualties in D Company. ABs Webb killed, Nelson wounded and died same day, Mackay wounded and died 14th.'
An electric winder born on 6 April 1895. Next of kin and home addresses, mother, Eliza 68 (later 40) Clarence Street, Shieldfield, Newcastle.
Bother of Reuben who also died.
Conclusions:
From these accounts it seems as if the memorial comes from a Scottish Presbyterian church in Newcastle.
Revd Charles Goodlet, brother of Margaret Hadden (who's son Ernest Crawford Hadden died in the war), who was a witness on correspondence following the death of James Craig, was the minister of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Newcastle.
The building on Northumberland Road is used by the University of Northumberland.
The congregation had its origins in the Ebenezer Chapel/Wall Knoll congregation which was founded in 1730. In 1843, just after they'd built a new chapel on Argyle Street, there was a major split. A minority of the
congregation wanting to adhere themselves to the Church of Scotland while the majority wanting to stay with the Presbyterian Church in England.
The courts ruled in favour of the minority - the new building should be Church of Scotland - it was then named Caledonian Chapel. The majority of the congregation plus minister went off and formed a new congregation.
At first, the new congregation met in the Music Hall (on Nelson Street) but in 1847 they built a new chapel, Trinity Chapel, on New Bridge Street. This was replaced in 1896 by a new Trinity Chapel on Northumberland Road.
In 1933, they were joined by the congregation of College Road Chapel (which closed and was sold to Armstrong College).
Trinity Chapel closed in 1970.
However, there are other possibilities.
1) Margaret Paterson Goodlet married James Crawford Hadden at the Presbyterian Church on Alison Street in Gateshead.
2) Arthur’s Hill Presbyterian Church (abt 1 mile west of the city centre). Revd John McNeil BD, minister of Arthur’s Hill Presbyterian Church, former minister of South Bridge UF Church, Airdrie, was born in Glasgow on 31 March 1874. Died at Wandsworth Military Hospital in London on 27 September 1917. If Arthur’s Hill was the church, shouldn't McNeil be mentioned?
3) Gordon Road Presbyterian Church, Byker. Area heavily redeveloped. The church records for this church stop in 1985.
4) Jesmond Presbyterian Church – records stop in 1974.