Thrice Widowed

This post represents a little diversion from the direct family line. In looking for documents of the Strong family, I found the makings of a story. We have already seen the Strong steam tug family, headed by John Strong (1772-1858). He had two wives, Elizabeth Fairs, who bore him four children, and died in 1812; and Hannah Elliot, with whom he had another nine children, and outlived him. Of his first wife, Joseph Strong (1808-1879), the "Master, Steem Boat", is my 3x great grandfather. Today, I turn to John Strong, the younger (1801-1866), who is my 4x great uncle, brother of Joseph Strong, and especially John's wife, Jane, who married and buried three husbands.

So far, we have the following for John Strong the younger:
       Born 6 Feb 1801 and baptized 8 Mar 1801 
       according to the parish register at Newburn, Northumberland

He is the son of John Strong, the elder, and his first wife Elizabeth Fairs, as indeed was Joseph. His mother died in 1812, and John (and Joseph) were raised by their father and step-mother, Hannah Elliot. This information, his 1851 England Census in Middlesbrough with his wife, and 1861 England Census in Birkenhead with his stepmother are reported in a previous post.

The London Gazette 19 Dec 1856 cites John Strong the younger's movements preceding the 1861 Census. The context is a bankruptcy hearing to be held at Lancaster Court 2 January 1857.
       John Strong the younger, formerly of Middlesborough, in
       the county of York, Steam Tug-boat Owner, and a short
       time in copartnership with James Martin, as Printers
       and Stationers, afterwards of No. 31, Bridge-street,
       Birkenhead, in the county of Chester, Steam Tug-boat
       Owner, and late of Warren-street, Copperas-hill, Liverpool,
       in the county of Lancaster, out of business, living in
       lodgings.

In 1851 John Strong is shown as married to Jane, born about Osmotherley, Yorkshire, which is near both Thirsk and Northallerton. While his age is given here as 50 years old, Jane is 25 years old. Given her age, I would expect to see this marriage occurring after civil registration became mandatory. A possible BMD Marriage Index in the same registration district as Middlebrough is:
       John Strong Jun1846 Stockton 24 244

While there are typically four grooms and four brides on each page of the register (and the index makes no attempt to match them at this date), the only match for first name is Jane Preston. The corresponding record in England, Select Marriages 1538 to 1973 has the additional data that the marriage is solemnized at St Thomas Stockton on Tees on 30 April 1846. Jane’s father is given as Thomas Preston, while John’s father - consistent with what we already know - is given as John Strong. The marriage certificate (which I do not have) would contain more confirmatory information on the occupations of John, the father, and John, the son, and maybe even useful addresses and witnesses.

John’s 1861 Census in Birkenhead lists him as married, not widowed, but with no sign of his wife. But, as it happens, there is a married Jane Strong on Commercial Street, Middlesbrough with no sign of her husband in the same census.
       James Marton Head        Mar  53  Printer Employing 2 Boys Durham Darlington
       Rachel Marton Wife        Mar  51                                          Yorkshire Thirsk

       Jane Strong Daur in Law Mar 32  Dress Maker                     Yorkshire Thirsk

(Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 3687; Folio: 3; Page: 6; GSU roll: 543172.)

This is interesting, since you will note that John had been briefly in partnership with James Martin as Printers and Stationers. The enumerator transcript has Marton, when it should be Martin, but this is clearly John's wife here. The father of the Jane Preston, married to John Strong in 1846, is given as Thomas Preston, whereas on this 1861 census Jane's "father-in-law" is James Martin. By father-in-law, I would suggest the census return intends step-father, which usage I have frequently seen in records of this period. Although I would hope to see a marriage record for Rachel Preston (widow) and James Martin, so far I have not.

The physical separation of John and Jane in 1861, and John's bankruptcy may be connected t0 their marriage not working out. It is interesting that they are each with their family of origin in 1861. The census was a week after Easter, so this is not a question of Mothering Sunday visits (which is the 4th Sunday in Lent). However, it is still possible that Jane was merely visiting with her parents in 1861, and intended to return to Birkenhead.

Ten years earlier, the 1851 England Census for James and Rachel Martin would appear to be East Row, Marshall’s Yard No. 3, Northallerton, Yorkshire.

       James Martin         Head  Mar 43  Printer Compositor  Durham Darlington

       Rachel Martin        Wife   Mar 41                                  Yorkshire Thirsk

       Christopher Martin Nephew     9  Scholar                     Durham Darlington

       James Paterson     Nephew     2                                   Scotland

(Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2377; Folio: 355; Page: 8; GSU roll: 8766687667.)

The couple’s names, places and years of birth, and James’s occupation connect this 1851 Census in Northallerton with the previously shown 1861 Census in Middlesbrough. Note also, the presence of James Paterson; the 1851 Census for John and Jane Strong possibly has his father and older sister, Alister and Elizabeth Patterson, with two tees.

John Strong died in 1866 in Birkenhead. His death record is:
       BMD Death Index Sep1866 Birkenhead 8a 269 Age:65

I have him in Birkenhead in 1856, 1861 and now 1866, so perhaps this was his continuous residence. We know that Jane was in Middlesbrough for the 1861 England Census, and wherever she was around this date, there is this record for the marriage of Jane Strong, in the same registration district as Middlesbrough.
       BMD Marriage Index Jane Strong Jun1869 Stockton 10a 179
 
By 1869, there are typically two grooms and two brides on each page of the register. In this case the possible grooms are Alexander Henry T Lewand or Isaac Bell. That the husband is Lewand is demonstrated in the 1871 England Census at Durham Street, Royal Hotel in Middlesbrough, Nos 2 & 4.
       Alex Henry Thos Lewand Head Mar 38 Licensed Victualler  Prussia
       Jane Lewand                     Wife Mar 37                                   Yorkshire Thirsk
(Source Citation: Class: RG10; Piece: 4890; Folio: 57; Page: 1; GSU roll: 848005.)

There is one visitor and several servants in addition, presumably all connected with the hotel that Alexander Lewand is running. Jane has aged only 5 years in the decade, but that is not unusual in census data, and this is almost certainly the Jane of the 1861 Census, previously shown. 

Alexander Lewand lives only two more years. The BMD Death Index has:
       Alexander Henry T Lewand Dec1873 Stockton 10a 34 Age:42

And a corresponding record from Natl Prob Cal has: Alexander Thomas Henry Lewand innkeeper died 20 October 1873 at Middlesbrough probate 11 November 1873 to Jane Lewand, widow.
The widow Lewand married again, this time within a year. The BMD Marriage Index has:
       Jane Lewand Sep1874 Stockton 10a 83 (to Henry Davey A Pring)

The corresponding record in England, Select Marriages 1538-1973 has the additional data that the marriage is solemnized in Middlesbrough on 8 August 1874. The groom is Henry Davey Adolphus Pring (father Malachi Pring); the bride is Jane Lewand (father James Martin). This last piece of information ties the last two marriages back to the Jane Strong, "daughter-in-law" in the household of James and Rachel Marton (i.e. Martin), and the business partner of John Strong.

But is this the same Jane as the first of the three marriages, who gives her father as Thomas Preston? As suggested above, possibly Thomas is her birth father, and James her stepfather. The first evidence to look at will be the 1846 marriage certificate to see if the groom, John Strong is our John Strong the younger, although at $14, it seems an extravagance to order it. But with no record of any children, and thus no direct descendants, how many family historians out there will be interested in finding out?

Only three years later, Jane is widowed once again, after which I lose track of her. The BMD Death Index for her third husband has:
       Henry Davey Adolphus Pring Dec1876 Middlesbrough 9d 334 Age:35.

One wife, Jane (possibly) Preston, three marriages and three funerals - her husbands getting younger by the decade. 

North British Accents

One of my first jobs was with British Sugar in Norfolk. I remember a time when I travelled to Newcastle with a colleague who had a strong Norfolk accent. Near our destination, somewhere between the Tees and the Tyne, he stopped to ask directions, and neither he nor the road-workers could understand each other's accents! I was, however, able to translate for us. And I wonder sometimes how my ancestors would have sounded, our accents separated by both time and distance, and whether I could understand their speech.

The previous post established a strong (no pun intended!) likelihood that the father of Joseph Strong ("Master Steem Boat", and my 3x great grandfather) is John Strong (formerly Keelman, and later Steam Boat Owner). John Strong would be husband of, first, Elizabeth Fairs, the mother of Joseph, and three brothers; and, second, Hannah Elliot, mother of nine children.

 

The hypothesized life of John Strong runs as follows:
       born about 1772 in Ryton, Durham (according to his marriage to Elizabeth Fairs)
              or Newburn, Northumberland (according to his 1851 England Census);
       marries 1. Elizabeth Fairs in Newburn, Northumberland, near Scotswood 1796;
              they have four children in Newburn;
       widowed between 1807 and 1813
       marries 2. Hannah Elliot and moves to Heworth (near Felling Shore), Durham before 1814
              they have eight children in Heworth, Durham;
       moves to Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, between 1830 and 1838;
              they have one more child, born in Middlesbrough;
       moves once more after 1851 to Birkenhead, Cheshire;
       dies 10 March 1858 in Birkenhead.

The data so far are consistent with this sequence of events. But just to complicate things, parents John and Ann Strong baptize a daughter, Ann, at Newburn on 18 Dec 1796, so likely there is more than one John Strong around in Newburn in the 1790s.

In effect, there are two sets of data, one for a family of John Strong and Elizabeth Fairs, and another for a family of John Strong and Hannah Elliot. This post details the evidence of their sharing the same John Strong.

 

First, John Strong, stepson of Hannah Elliot (1861 England Census), to John Strong, son of Elizabeth Fairs (1801 baptism) share the following:
       (1.) name (John Strong);
       (2.) year of birth (1801, consistent with infant baptism);
       (3.) place of birth (Scotswood, Northumberland).

Connecting this with my ancestry, obviously Joseph Strong of the 1807 baptism is a brother of John Strong of the 1801 baptism. This Joseph Strong and the census returns for my 3x great grandfather share:
       (1.) name (Joseph Strong);
       (2.) consistent year of birth (about 1807, consistent with infant baptism);
       (3.) place of birth on censuses is Heworth, Durham (1851) and Felling Shore (1871),
              which, while not identical to the baptism - given as Scotswood - is consistent with
              a supposed upbringing in Heworth.

In addition the Joseph of the census returns is connected with this supposed family of John and

Hannah (Elliot) Strong in the following ways:
       (1.) his Steam Tug work;
       (2.) moves out of Middlesbrough around the same time.

Second, around this time I was looking for a death record for John's first wife Elizabeth Fairs, which has presumably occured between 1807 (when Joseph was born to Elizabeth) and 1814 (when Elizabeth was born to Hannah). I followed up on a lead on a private tree on ancestry, and was not disappointed. The tree's owner, Judith from Wirral, Merseyside kindly sent me this photograph of a headstone at St Mary's Heworth, Durham. This is the resting place of Elizabeth Fairs, wife of John Strong, and mother of William (1798), John (1801), Anthony (1803), and Joseph (1807) of the baptisms at Newburn, Northumberland, previously cited.

The elements have damaged the left side of the inscription in particular, and here is
a transcript of what we can read, or infer.

       SACRED
       to the Memory of ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN STRONG

       […Daug]hter of WILLIAM FAIRS,
       […died] Jan. 11, 1812, aged 34 years.
       [… HI]S SON DIED JUNE 12, 1817 AGED
       19 YEARS.
       [… H]ENRY HIS SON DIED YOUNG.
       […] above WILLIAM FAIRS
       [w]ho died Feb. 5, 1836, aged 81 Years.
       ANTHONY SON OF THE ABOVE
       JOHN STRONG
       DIED APRIL 6TH 1850 aged 47 Years

This further narrows down John's move from Northumberland, since Elizabeth was buried in Durham in 1812. The headstone appears to have been inscribed in the order in which the various deaths occurred, except Henry's for which no date is given, but which presumably occurred between 1817 and 1836. Presumably, those memorialized are:
       Elizabeth Strong (nee Fairs), abt 1778 to 11 Jan 1812, wife of John Strong
       [...Hi]s Son must be William Strong, abt 1798 to 12 Jun 1812, son of John and Elizabeth
       Henry Strong, August 1819 to November 1819, son of John and Hannah*
       William Fairs, abt 1745 to 5 Feb 1836, father of Elizabeth Fairs
       Anthony Strong, abt 1803 to 6 April 1850, son of John and Elizabeth

*Heworth parish records have young Henry baptized (15 days old) on 22 Aug 1819, and buried (aged 15 weeks) 16 Nov 1819.

Thus, children of John and Elizabeth are buried with children of John and Hannah, indicative that the father is the same John Strong.
      
We can now account for the births and deaths of all four sons of John Strong and Elizabeth Fairs, baptized in Newburn, Northumberland:
       William Strong, born in 1798 died - on the headstone - in 1817, aged 19 years.
       John Strong, born in 1801 would be Hannah’ stepson in the 1861 England
       Census, and BMD Death Index has:
              John Strong Sep1866 Birkenhead 8a 269 Age:65.
       Anthony Strong, born in 1803 - on the headstone - in 1850, aged 47 years.
       Curiously, the BMD Death Index has no death registration, although the parish
       does have a burial record; according to law, it was illegal to bury someone
       without a death certificate or coroner’s order.

       Joseph Strong, born 1807 is the 1851 Census “Master Steem Boat” in
       Middlesbrough, and BMD Death Index has:
              Joseph Strong Mar1879 Market Drayton 6a 642 age:73
              (where his daughter lived at the time).
 

Third, while, this in itself is compelling evidence for the family as we have reconstructed it, in addition, we can look back at Robert Strong’s birth registration in Greenock. In this document, the mother of Robert is given as Susannah Strong, formerly Hughes (when we would have expected Jane Strong, formerly hughes) and the informant is Susannah Redhead, listed as Robert’s cousin. Judith is a Redhead family genealogist. She suggested that the informant is Susanna Nurser (1822-1890), wife of William Redhead (1818-1881). From the tree she has researched, William Redhead's mother is Dorothy Elliot, sister of Hannah Elliot, wife of John Strong. Census returns show William and Susanna Redhead living in Greenock around the time of Robert’s birth.

Thus Joseph Strong and William Redhead are first cousins, or rather step-cousins. And, it is in this sense that Susannah Redhead can claim to be Robert Strong’s cousin (she is married to his 1st step-cousin once removed!). This last piece of data corroborates the link between our Joseph Strong, "Master Steem Boat" and the other children of John Strong, Sr. by both Elizabeth Fairs and Hannah Elliot. And it also confirms that this record belongs to our Robert Strong. The substitution of Susannah for Jane as the given name of Robert’s mother is probably a clerical error, and I wonder if Susannah's Middlesbrough accent and the clerk's Glaswegian were mutually confusing!

Fog on the Tyne

J. M. W. Turner: Keelmen Heaving in Coals by Night (1835)

Emily Strong (1883-1944) is the great grandmother I never met. Her maiden name passed as a middle to my Grandpa Stuart. Previously on this blog, I have traced her father, Robert Strong (, the youngest son of Joseph Strong; and then back down through Robert's oldest brother, Joseph, to Major-General Sir Kenneth Strong - my 2nd cousin twice removed. Another post remembers Emily's nephew, Robert Maxine Strong, who perished in the sinking of SS Empire Impala in 1943.

Today, and in a series of posts, I turn to Robert's father, Joseph Strong with a reconstruction of his family of origin. My technique, such as it is, involves searching census data for a surname (in this case, Strong), and date of birth around that of the known sibling (in this case, around 1810), and then correlating the individuals discovered in this manner with baptismal (and other) records.

First off, I do now have the birth certificate for Robert Strong (my 2x great grandfather) from scotlandspeople.gov.uk. Born in Middle or New Parish, Greenock Scotland. The Scottish birth

certificate reads:

       Robert Strong

       1856 July nineteenth 11h PM

       3 Trafalgar Street, Greenock

       father: Joseph Strong, Steamboat Master

       mother: Susannah Strong maiden name Hughes

       reported by: Susannah Redhead Cousin x her mark present [at birth]

Either Jane went by the alternative name of Susannah (attested nowhere else), or there is a clerical error in the record, possibly because Susannah Redhead reported the birth. It does not seem likely to me that our Robert Strong has a different mother to his siblings.The exact manner in which Susannah Redhead and Robert Strong are cousins will be explored later.

And now for siblings of Joseph Strong (my 3x great grandfather), whose 1851 England Census describes as "Master Steem Boat". The most specific reference for a place of birth for Joseph comes from the 1871 England Census with Felling Shore, Durham. Felling is on the south bank of the Tyne near Heworth. Census searches for Strongs born around 1810 in Heworth or Felling found the family of one John Strong, born about 1772 in Newburn, Northumberland, which is near Scotswood.

The 1851 England Census for Commercial Street, Middlesbrough (along the same street as Joseph and Jane Strong) gives:

       John Strong        Head   Mar 79 Steam Boat Owner  Northumberland Newburn
       Hannah Strong   Wife     Mar 58                                 Durham Heworth
       Robert Strong      Son    U     35 Steam Boat Owner Durham Heworth
       William Strong   Son      U     34 Steam Boat Owner Durham Heworth
       Nicholas Strong  Son     Mar  30 Steam Boat Owner Durham Heworth
       Thomas Strong   Son      U    25 Steam Boat Owner Durham Heworth
       Henry Strong      Son      U    21 Steam Boat Owner Durham Heworth
       Mary Ag Strong Daur      U    13                                Yorks Middlesbrough
       Ann Hamilton    Servant U    22 House Servant        Cumberland Carlisle

(Source Citation: Class:HO107; Piece: 2383; Folio: 246; Page: 40; GSU roll: 87061.)

 

The same year, and also on Commercial Street, Middlesbrough is:

       John Strong            Head  Mar         50 Steam Boat Owner Northumberland Scotswood
       Jane Strong            Wife   Mar         25                                Yorks Osmotherley
       Alister Patterson     Visitor Widower 37 Furniture Broker    Scotland
       Elizabeth Patterson Visitor                5 Scholar                    Scotland
       Jane Thompson      Servant U         17 House Servant         Yorks Middlesbrough
(Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 2383; Folio: 242; Page: 33; GSU roll: 87061.)

So, three households of Strongs associated with steamboats (including our Joseph), making it difficult to resist the temptation that they have family connections. By 1861, while our Joseph Strong is living in Greenock, the other two households are in Birkenhead. The 1861 England Census for 127 Bridge Street has:

       Hannah Strong       Head      Widow  66 Steam Tug Proprietor Durham Heworth
       John Strong            Stepson  Mar      60  Not employed            Northumberland Scotswood
       Robert Strong        Son         Un        44 Steam Tug Proprietor  Durham Heworth
       Hannah Bell          Daughter  Mar     37 Supported by Hannah Strong
                                                                                                          Durham Heworth
       Thomas Strong      Son         Un        36 Steam Tug Proprietor Durham Heworth
       Hannah Akenhead Gd Daugh           16 Supported by Hannah Strong
                                                                                                          Yorkshire Middlesbrough
       Mary Akenhead     Gd Daugh           14 Scholar                       Yorkshire Middlesbrough
       Hannah Bell           Gd Daugh           14 Scholar                       Yorkshire Middlesbrough
       Elizabeth Bell        Gd Daugh             9 Scholar                        Yorkshire Middlesbrough
       Elizabeth Fegan     Servant               37 House Servant            Wales
(Source Citation: Class:RG 9; Piece: 2641; Folio: 131; Page: 59; GSU roll: 543004.)

John Strong, Sr. must have died between the two censuses. The FreeBMD Death Index has:
       John Strong Mar1858 Wirral 8a 331

And this is confirmed by the England and Wales, National Probate Calendar in 1858:
       John Strong                  7 September                                             The Will
                                                    of John Strong formerly of Middlesbrough in
           Effects under L4,000       the County of York and late of 127 Bridge
                                                    -street Birkenhead in the County of Chester
                                                    Steamboat Proprieter deceased who died
                                                    10 March 1858 at Bridge-street aforesaid was
                                                    proved at Chester by the oath of Hannah
                                                    Strong of 127 Bridge-street aforesaid Widow
                                                    the Relict and one of the Executors.

One can imagine that in 1861 Hannah was none too pleased to be supporting the families of two daughters! The presence of step-son, John, Jr. suggests that his father had been previously married. The 1851 census has Hannah twenty-one years younger than her husband, and the 1861 census has her only six years older than this step-son.

While next door at 128 Bridge Street, Birkenhead are:

       Nicholas Strong        Head      Mar 40 Steam Tug Proprietor Durham Heworth
       Maryann Strong       Wife         Mar 39                                    Northumberland Bedlington
       Sarah Strong            Daughter  Un  14 Scholar                       Durham Heworth
       Hannah Strong         Daughter        12 Scholar                       Yorkshire Middlesbrough
       Mary G Strong         Daughter        10 Scholar                        Yorkshire Middlesbrough
       Elizabeth Strong       Daughter         5 Scholar                        Cheshire Birkenhead
       Margarett Strong      Daughter         4                                     Cheshire Birkenhead
       Margaret Colebourn Servant    Un  26 House Servant            Lancashire Liverpool
(Source Citation: Class: RG 9; Piece: 2641; Folio: 131; Page: 59; GSU roll: 543004.)

And, going back to the 1841 England Census on Commercial Street, we have:

       John Strong          60 Ship Owner  N[ot born in the county]
       Hannah Strong     50                      N
       Elizabeth Strong  25                      N
       Robert Strong      25 Engine Man  N
       William Strong    20 Sailor             N
       Hannah Strong    15                       N
       Thomas Strong    15                       N
       Henry Strong       11                       N
       Mary Strong         3                        Y[es, born in the county]
(Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 1258; Book: 3; Civil Parish: Middlesbrough; County:

Yorkshire; Enumeration District: 1; Folio: 22; Page: 39; Line: 15; GSU roll: 464234.)

Here are some birth and baptism data for this family, from England, Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, including a series of baptisms in Heworth, Durham, south of the Tyne, for children of John Strong and Hannah, given here with their respective dates of baptism.

       Elizabeth Strong 11 Sep 1814
       Robert Strong     13 May 1816
       William Strong   26 Oct 1817
       Henry Strong      22 Aug 1819
       Nicholas Strong 15 Oct 1820
       Hannah Strong   13 Jul 1823
       Thomas Strong   25 Sep 1825
       Henry Strong     17 Jan 1830

These are clearly the same family as the 1841 Census above, missing Henry (born 1819) – who must have died before 1830, since they give the name to another child – and Nicholas (born 1820) – who is among them in 1851 – and with the addition of Mary Ag[nes] who was born in Middlesbrough. Her birth certificate gives the name of their mother, Hannah Elliot.

       Mary Agnes Strong BMD Birth Mar1838 Stockton 24 189

Birth Certificate reads:

       March 27th Morning 5 o’clock Middlesbrough/

       Mary Agnes Strong/ Girl/
       John Strong/ Hannah Strong formerly Elliot/
       Steam Boat Owner
       X The Mark of Hannah Strong Mother Middlesbrough/
       March 29th

Mary Agnes Strong was baptized 28 Apr 1838 West Acklam, Yorkshire

Looking for a baptism for the stepson, John Strong, yields a set of four for children of John Strong and Elizabeth Fair(e)s in Newburn, Northumberland, north of the Tyne:

       William Strong   born  1 Feb 1798   bapt. 20 May 1798
       John Strong       born   6 Feb 1801   bapt. 8 Mar 1801
       Anthony Strong  born 30 Apr 1803   bapt. 22 May 1803
       Joseph Strong    born  11 Jun 1807   bapt. 26 Jul 1807

From the Register of Baptisms of the Parish of Newburn, Northumberland:

"Joseph Strong of Scotswood [born] June 11 [baptized] July 16 [1807] 4th Son of John Strong Keelman Native of Ryton Parish by his Wife Elizabeth Faires of St Johns New Castle Tyne"

The John of these baptisms makes a good candidate for John, Hannah’s stepson. And the Joseph of these baptisms makes a good candidate for our Joseph Strong, the “Master Steem Boat” of the 1851 England Census, and father of Robert Strong. There is a marriage record for John Strong and Elizabeth Fairs at Newburn, Northumberland 18 April 1796. Thus, it appears likely that John Strong, husband of Elizabeth Fairs, remarried after her death to Hannah Elliot, along with a move across the Tyne from from Newburn, Northumberland to Heworth, Durham, and eventually to Middlesbrough, Yorkshire.

The Tyne Keelmen loaded coal from the pits into shallow draught boats (called keels) and out to the waiting colliers which would transport the coal by sea, mostly to London. They were paid by the keel-load of about 20 tons, which had to be loaded onto the keel, transported to and unloaded into the collier. This was necessary because the Tyne was too shallow to load colliers from the banks. By the end of the eighteenth century, the use of short piers (or coal staithes) enabled direct loading of coal from the shore to the collier, reducing the available work for the keelmen. The introduction of steam tugs in the nineteenth was yet another blow to the keelmen. It would appear that John and his family followed the trend of industrialization, joining the steam tug business, and moving south to the Tees as increasingly coal was loaded from Middlesbrough.

The fog on the Tyne slowly lifts. Next time, a gravestone...

Intelligence Gathering

Several years ago, I acquired a book for almost-free that a public library was discarding, Intelligence At The Top by Major-General Sir Kenneth Strong. He was chief of intelligence for General Eisenhower in North Africa and then Europe. I bought the book for its military history value rather than any connection with the name. Recently, with a Wednesday evening to spare, I figured it wouldn't take long to find out if the major-general was closely related to the Strong family of my great grandmother Emily and her father Robert. More on that later, but first a little more about Robert Strong and his family of origin.

Intelligence gathering begins with the 1901 and 1911 censuses for Robert Strong, which give his wife's name as Amelia, and - great for genealogists - his father-in-law as Abraham Hemingway. Thus, his wife was Amelia Hemingway, and their marriage record is easy to find as BMD Marriage Index Mar1882 Barrow-in-Furness 8e 970. Just as Middlesbrough , Yorkshire experienced huge growth in the nineteenth century, so too Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire grew from a population of 2,700 in 1831 to 58,000 in fifty years. Barrow is not far from Carnforth, and you may remember (from the previous post) that Abraham had worked for the Furness Railway.

I have that marriage certificate for Robert Strong and Amelia Hemingway. Robert's occupation is given as Publican, his address as 2 Rawlinson Street, and his father is Joseph Strong, Sea Captain. Amelia's address is 28 Salthouse Road, and her father is Abraham Hemingway, Engineer. If you search a google map, you will see the addresses are quite close to each other. The streetview for 2 Rawlinson shows that it is still a pub, The Queen's Arms. The couple were married in St Luke's Church, Barrow-in-Furness, shown above, which unlike the pub, closed for regular services in 2008. The witnesses were Abraham Hemingway and Hannah Marshall.

For the 1881 England Census both Robert Strong and the Hemingways lived at the addresses given above. And here is the household of Robert's brother, Anthony:
     Anthony Strong       Head   Mar   31       Publican              Yorkshire, Middlesbro
     Mary A                   Wife    Mar   29                                  Lancashire, Walney
     Anthony                  Son                3                                   Lancashire, Walney
     Margaret                 Daur              2                                   Lancashire, Barrow
     Jane                        Daur              1                                   Lancashire, Barrow
     Robert                    Son                2 mos                            Lancashire, Barrow
     Robert                    Brother Unm  25     Boatman               Scotland
     Sarah J Hankwood Servant Unm  32     General Domestic  Worcestershire, ?

Robert is here Boatman, although maybe Barman is nearer the truth, and perhaps this is a transcript error. However, by 1891 Anthony is described as Waterman, and in 1901 as Ferry Boatman, so perhaps this is what Robert was doing in 1881. By 1911 Anthony is a Pleasure Boat Owner, testimony to Barrow's re-positioning as a tourist resort. As we saw, Robert later became a stationary engine driver for the railway, specifically, a driller.

Anthony's wife in 1881 is Mary Ann, who died a few months later (BMD Death Index Sep1881 Barrow-in-Furness 8e 445 Age:28). With four young children to care for, Anthony quickly remarried (BMD Marriage Index Mar1882 Barrow-in-Furness 8e 961) to Margaret Swainson Huartson, and they are found together in subsequent census returns through 1911.

I have not yet found a census record for Robert Strong in 1871, but the 1861 Scotland Census has the following from 10 Laird Street, Greenock:
     Joseph Strong       Head         53   Shipmaster     England
     Jane                      Wife          40                        England
     Joseph                   Son          18    Engineer        England
     Sarah                    Daughter   16                         England
     John                      Son          13    Scholar          England
     Hannah                 Daughter   10    Scholar          England
     Anthony                Son           11    Scholar         England
     Robert                  Son            5                          Greenock, Renfrewshire
     Agnes Dulton        Servant     21                          Glasgow, Lanarkshire

This is the same family as that found on Commercial Street, Middlesbrough in the 1851 England Census:
     Joseph Strong      Head   Mar 45 Master, Steem [sic] Boat  Durham, Newcastle
     Jane                     Wife    Mar 33                                         Durham, Hartlepool
     Sarah                    Daur           7  Scholar                            Yorks, Middlesbro
     William                 Son             3  Scholar                            Yorks, Middlesbro
     John                     Son             3  Scholar                            Yorks, Middlesbro
     Anty                    Son              1  Scholar                            Yorks, Middlesbro
     Catherine Martin  Servant  U  17                                         Yorks, Middlesbro

In 1851, Joseph (junior) turns out to be visiting in the household of Robert Gargett on East Street, Middlesbrough, although I do not know their relationship with the Strongs. It would be tempting to conclude that William Strong, missing in the 1861 Scotland Census, had died in the interim. However, a William Strong, born about 1848 in Middlesbrough shows up again in the 1881 England Census in Barrow-in-Furness, so I'm expect he was merely visiting elsewhere in 1861. And note that William and John are twins; they become Butcher and Tailor respectively, both living in Barrow by the 1881 England Census. I can find no further record of Sarah. But I do find more for Joseph (junior) below.

Hannah of the 1861 Scotland Census married journalist Tom Payne Marshall (BMD Marriage Index Dec1875 Ulverston 8e 1227) and is one of the witnesses on Robert and Amelia's marriage certificate. After Joseph Strong (senior) died, his widow Jane shows up in the 1881 England Census with Tom and Hannah.

Here are the BMD Birth Index references for the above Strongs:
     Joseph Strong Mar1843 Stockton 12 258
     Sarah Strong Mar1845 Stockton 12 254
     John Strong Dec1847 Stockton 24 262
     William Strong Dec1847 Stockton 24 262
     Anthony Strong Dec1849 Stockton 24 288
     Hannah Strong Jun1851 Stockton 24 344

Unable to find a Scottish Birth Index for Robert Strong, I sent for Hannah's birth certificate, which gives her birthday as 31 March 1851 on Commercial Street, Middlesbrough. Her father is Joseph Strong, Master Mariner, and mother Jane Strong, formerly Hughes. Which is interesting since the LDS database, England Marriages 1537-1973, shows the marriage of Joseph Strong and Jane Hughes on 25 April 1837 at West Acklam, Yorkshire, the parish church for Middlesbrough. However, there are no further details such as fathers' names. In the 1841 England Census for Durham Street, Middlesbrough, I find Joseph Strong (30), M[aster?] Mariner and Jane Strong (20). Their immediate census neighbors are a family headed by one William Hughes (40) Baker, possibly her father.

A search with familysearch.org (LDS) for births and baptisms of surname Strong, parents Joseph and Jane gives one series of baptisms belonging to a different couple of the same names. Cross referencing their children's names with the England censuses shows that the father is a coal miner, living in Lamesley near Wickham, Durham.

Of more interest, the following records, from the same search, likely belong to the family of my 3x great grandparents:
     England Births and Christenings
          William Strong son of Joseph and Jane Strong
               West Acklam Christening 17 March 1838; burial 14 September 1840
          John Hughs Strong son of Joseph and Jane Strong
               West Acklam Christening 28 July 1839
          John Strong and William Strong sons of Joseph and Jane Strong
               Middlesbrough, Yorkshire Christening 30 October 1847
     Scotland Births and Baptisms
          Thomas Strong son of Joseph Strong/Jane Hughes
               Birth 24 February 1859 Greenock, Renfrewshire

From this, if they are all for the same family, it would appear that their first two children, William and John had died, and they later re-used the names for the twins. The Scotland birth is likely their child. Joseph and Jane (nee Hughes) Strong were in Scotland from 1856 at the latest (i.e. when Robert was born) and did not leave until 1861 at the earliest (i.e. census time). Between these dates Thomas was born. I have found no more records for him. An 1871 census transcript for Joseph and Jane and family would probably yield some good information.

England Births and Christenings also give this record which could belong to either of the families:
     Hannah Strong daughter of Joseph and Jane Strong
               Middlesbrough Circuit Primitive Methodist Christening 6 April 1851

I can now add the following BMD Birth Index entries for:
     William Strong Mar1838 Stockton 24 188
     John Hughes Strong Sep1839 Stockton 24 200
And their BMD Death Index entries are, both from freebmd and both difficult to read:
     William Strong Sep1840 Stockton 24 154 (or 134)
     John Hughes Strong Sep1839 24 156?

And finally, back to Major-General Sir Kenneth Strong. His wikipedia entry gives parents John Strong and Ethel May Dobson. He was in fact their only child.

Their marriage record show John's father as Joseph Strong, Market Gardener and Fruiterer. The 1901 England Census gives just such a person at 157 Dalton Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Joseph Strong, Widower, born about 1844 in Middlesbrough, Market Gardener. I don't have his 1891 census return, but I can trace his family back through 1881 and 1871 censuses. The only Joseph Strong born around this time and at this place would be Robert Strong's oldest brother, making the major-general my Grandpa Stuart's second cousin. To confirm this, I would need only the marriage certificate for Joseph Strong and Jane Bond, BMD Marriage Index Sep1865 Ulverston 8e 926. Until then, I am relying on Joseph's place of birth and age from various censuses, and the Barrow-in-Furness connection among Robert's brothers.

It turns out that when Intelligence At The Top was published in the 1960's, Ultra, the decryption of the German Enigma code (among others), was still classified, preventing Sir Kenneth from mentioning it. This compromises some of the history, but now I have a family connection with the book!

Major-General Sir Kenneth Strong

Remembering Those Lost

In the 70s during the summer break, I used to spend a week or so in Upminster with Nan and Granddad Green. While staying with them, I would also visit with Nan and Grandpa Stuart, and remember an occasion when Nan Stuart took me up to see the Tower of London. She also showed me the Tower Hill Memorial commemorating sailors of the Merchant Navy killed during World War II, and the name of a relative who had perished. The name and exact relationship I never remembered. For many years I had though it was a Stuart, but now that the internet lists the names of those sailors, I cannot find a Stuart who could be related. But, in working up the Strong family, I think now I know who the sailor was.

My great grandfather Douglas Stuart Kapadia (Grandpa Stuart's father) died when I was 19 months old, and while I do not remember, I spent at least a day with my family at his house shortly before that over Christmas 1964. His death is recorded in BMD Death Index Mar1965 Romford 5a 505 Age:75 and in the National Probate Calendar:
STUART, Douglas of 10 Maybush Road Hornchurch Essex died 4 January 1965 at Harold Wood Hospital Essex Probate 9 March Ipswich to Douglas Strong Stuart marine clerk.

Douglas Strong Stuart was his oldest son and my Grandpa. The death certificate for Douglas Stuart Kapadia records his name as Douglas Stuart - not the first Kapadia we have met who changed his name - such that his middle name became his last. Announcement of the name change appears in the London Gazette 7 January 1921, page 248.

Douglas Stuart Kapadia's wife was Emily Strong, and had died in 1946. The BMD Marriage Index (of which I have the certificate) has:
     Emily Strong and Douglas Stuart Kapadia Sep1913 W Ham 4a 201.

From the marriage certificate I can confirm the 1911 England Census household for Emily, one which had seemed the most likely all along. The lines of evidence in this marriage certificate (14 September 1913 at St Barnabus Church in Little Ilford) are:
     1) father's name: Robert Strong
     2) father's occupation: Engineer
     3) address: 241 Shrewsbury Road
     4) witness: Mary Janetta Strong (sister to Emily in the 1911 household)

Here is the census household at 241 Shrewsbury Road, Forest Gate:
     Robert Strong           Head                 54  Married
                                                     Driller L. T. & S. Railway      Greenock, Renfrew
     Amelia                      Wife                  48  Married                 Manchester, Lancs.
     Mary Janetta             Daughter           28  Single                     Barrow in Furness, Lancs
     Emily                         Daughter           27  Single                     Bowness, Westmorland
     Robert Abraham        Son                  20  Single 
                                                      Secretary of Public Company Carnforth, Lancashire
     Eva                            Daughter         12 Single  At School       Carnforth, Lancashire
     Abraham Hemingway Father-in-Law 83 Widower
                              Retired Loco Superintendant Furness Railway Halton, Yorkshire

The L. T. & S. is the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway which I remember taking many times from Leigh-on-sea to Upminster. The 1911 England Census returns available on ancestry.com are scans of the original householder copy, and you may click on the image below to appreciate Robert Strong's handwriting.

In 1901, with the father-in-law's household at Keer Villas in Carnforth, Lancashire, we have:
     Abraham Hemingway  Head          Widr 73
                                           Retired Railway Engineer         Yorks., Halton
     Robert Strong             Son-in-Law M    43
                                           Stationary Railway Engineman  Scotland
     Amelia                        Daur            M    38                    Lancs., Manchester
     Emily                          Gd Daur       S     14                   Westmd, Bowness
     Eva                            Gd Daur       S      2                     Lancs., Carnforth
     Robert Abraham        Gd Son         S     10                    Lancs., Carnforth

And in 1891 at 11 Hunter Street, Carnforth:
     Robert Strong  Head  M 34
                                     Driver Railway Stationary Engine   Greenock, Scotland
     Amelia             Wife  M  28                                           Manchester, Lancashire
     Mary J            Daur          8                                           Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire
     Emily              Daur         7 [should be 4]                        Bowness, Westmorland
     Robert A        Son           7 mos                                     Carnforth, Lancashire
     Jane Howarth Boarder    22  Dressmaker                       Preston, Lancashire

Carnforth, Lancashire was an important railway junction in the 19th century. More recently, the railway buildings operated for a time as a museum, and still service steam locomotives. Three of the Strong children were baptized at Christ Church, Carnforth. In 1911 the Strongs reported that 4 of their 5 children were still living. Here are records I have found so far pertaining to all five, including Amelia Strong who died in infancy.

Mary Janetta Strong
     BMD Birth Index Dec1882 Barrow in Furness 8e 826
Emily Strong
     BMD Birth Index Dec1883 Kendal 10b 672
     BMD Marriage Index Sep1913 W Ham 4a 201 to Douglas Stuart Kapadia
     BMD Death Index Emily Stuart Mar1944 Romford 4a 679 Age:60
     National Probate Calendar died 8 January 1944;
              probate to her husband "Douglas Stuart ship owner" 17 March 1944
Robert Abraham Strong
     BMD Birth Index Sep1890 Lancaster 8e 774
     Baptism at Christ Church, Carnforth 21 September 1890
     BMD Marriage Index Sep1915 Wellingborough 3b 363 to Winifred E Dunkley
     BMD Death Index Dec1918 Blofield 4b 431
Amelia Strong
     BMD Birth Index Sep1893 Lancaster 8e 783
     Baptism at Christ Church, Carnforth 3 September 1893
     BMD Death Index Dec1893 Lancaster 8e 578 Age:0
     Burial at St Oswald's, Warton 23 December 1893 Age:3 mos
Eva Strong
     BMD Birth Index Jun1898 Lancaster 8e 795
     Baptism at Christ Church, Carnforth 22 May 1898

Robert Abraham and Winifred E (nee Dunkley) Strong had a son: Robert M Strong BMD Birth Index Jun1917 Rochford 4a 1076. This appears to be the only Strong-Dunkley child in the index, which becomes easy to explain since a search for Robert A Strong in the BMD Death Index gives a death in December quarter 1918. A websearch for his name shows the photograph of a gravestone at St Michael, Pitsea recording 2nd Lieutenant Robert A Strong Royal Air Force, who died 1 December 1918 age 28, shortly after the war ended. The caption says he served with 273 Squadron which had been formed from flights of the Royal Naval Air Service. Air Ministry records at the National Archives, which I have not yet paid to read, index his date of birth as 2 September 1890 (Ref: AIR 76/488/87769). According to a discussion thread on one forum, his flying helmet is still extant! The couple would be my great grand uncle and aunt.

As for their son, we find 3rd Officer Robert Maxine Strong of the SS Empire Impala arriving in New York 4 July 1942, presumably as part of a wartime convoy which transported materiel for the Allied war effort. On 7 March 1943 SS Empire Impala, part of convoy SC-121 in the North Atlantic, was ordered to stop and pick up survivors of the torpedoed SS Egyptian, and was herself torpedoed by U591 and sank. All 46 crew were lost (and 46 of 49 from the Egyptian), among them Robert Maxine Strong who is listed on the Tower Hill Memorial Part XIV Panel 42 and in the remembrance book as the son of Robert Abraham and Winifred Ethel Strong (The Tower Hill Memorial has 11 March, although the convoy history in wikipedia has 7 March 1942).

The National Probate Calendar has:
STRONG, Robert Maxime [sic] of 23 Guildhall-road Bournemouth died on or since 11 March  1943 on war service. Administration Winchester 3 April to Winifred Ethel Strong widow.

Robert Maxine Strong would have been my Grandpa Stuart's first cousin. My grandpa told me he had served with the British 8th Army in North Africa, driving trucks. By early 1943 their adversaries, commanded by Rommel had retreated into Tunisia. Meanwhile the Battle of the Atlantic was about to turn in the Allies' favor, which, of course, was little consolation for all the losses. So now I can be fairly sure of the name Nan Stuart showed me all those years ago.