Person Page - 251

     James Gatt Blair was born on 23 March 1919 in 36 Market Street, Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, at 7:00pm. Apparently on the reverse of a his birth certificate there is a note written "Local food Office" stamp ration book issued 12 April 1919 Banff.¹ He was the son of James West Blair. He married Florence Jean Allison, daughter of Robert William Allison and Florence Jane Spedding, on 2 June 1943 in St Andrews, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, Witneses signed the register R W Allison and Albert Langlands (Husband of bride's sister Una Allison) Vicar officiating was A B Parry Evans.¹ James died on 29 December 1999 in 8 Crispin Court, Sedgefield, Durham, England, aged 80.¹ James was buried on 7 January 2000 in Darlington Crematorium, Darlington, Durham, England.¹

     Robert William Allison was a Company Secretary for Wilson's Forge, Bishop Auckland. He married Florence Jane Spedding.

     Florence Jane Spedding was born on 2 January 1889.¹ Florence had one brother William. Their mother died of appendicitic when she was 17 years old in approx 1906 and she cared for William.¹ She married Robert William Allison. She was a school teacher. She died in Lady Eden Hospital, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland on 8 January 1958 Her home was 4 Thorncliffe, South Church, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, aged 69.¹ Florence was buried in Darlington Crematorium, Darlington, Durham, England.¹

     John William Coatman was born on 4 January 1879 in Hunwick, Durham, England.¹ He married Mary Elizabeth Neal on 25 December 1907 in Primitive Methodists Chapel, Tenters Street, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, John was a miner of New Hunwick.^1,2 John died on 2 December 1945 in 5 Helmington Terrace, Hunwick, Durham, England, aged 66 Hemiplegia, arterio sclerosis; Daughter Winifred present at death.¹ John was buried in St Paul's, Hunwick, Durham, England.¹

     Mary Elizabeth Neal was born on 31 October 1886 in 47 Ward Street, Sunderland, Durham, England.¹ In the census of 31 March 1901 in Cringle Dykes Farm, Hunwick, Durham, England, she was listed as the servant to Frank Hedley and his family.²

She married John William Coatman on 25 December 1907 in Primitive Methodists Chapel, Tenters Street, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, John was a miner of New Hunwick.^1,3

Mary was lovely lady and one the village called on if there was death to lie out the deceased on deliver a new baby. Her mother was Elizabeth Elliott who married Parmeanos Neal, who was born 17 June 1860, he was an Inn keeper. His death card read:- "In affectionate Remembrance of Parmenas Neal of Durham City who died 9 March 1890 aged 29 years. Farewell, dear Wife, my life is past, May you and I unite at last. Mourn not for me nor sorrow take, But love our Children for my sake" Elizabeth then married a man called Shaw and lived at Hett Village near Croxdale where she had a further two children - Maurice Dale Weldon Shaw and Hilda Shaw. Mr Shaw badly treat Elizabeth and her four children so one day she hired a horse and cart, left her husband a note and returned to Hunwick to her mother. Shaw never tried to contact her, it is not know what happened to him. After only a few months Elizabeth Elliott died of cancer at the age of 38 years, and the children were left to the mercy of the grandmother. She gave little Maurice away at the age of 4 years to a family that badly treat him but a cousin from Newcastle came and took him away hence the family connection with Newcastle. Mary then worked as dairy maid at Hedleys farm in Hunwick..³



She died of a stroke on 30 June 1964 in 2 Brooklands, Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, aged 77.¹ Mary was buried on 3 July 1964 in Darlington Crematorium, Darlington, Durham, England.¹

     Lester Coatman was born on 30 August 1909 in Lane End, Hunwick, Durham, England.¹ He was the son of John William Coatman and Mary Elizabeth Neal. He married Beatrice Irene McDougall, daughter of George Duncan Thomas McDougall and Lily Mabel Horton, on 4 October 1941 in Salvation Army Citadel, St Pancras, London, England.¹ Lester died on 1 October 1963 in Royal Free Lawn Road Hospital, Hampstead, London, England, aged 54 Diabetes meditus, diabetic hepropathy.¹

     Beatrice Irene McDougall was born on 17 August 1910 in 33 Belmont Street, St Pancras, London, England.¹ She was the daughter of George Duncan Thomas McDougall and Lily Mabel Horton. She married Lester Coatman, son of John William Coatman and Mary Elizabeth Neal, on 4 October 1941 in Salvation Army Citadel, St Pancras, London, England.¹ Beatrice died on 17 August 1998 in Edenbridge, Kent, England, aged 88.¹

     William Studholme M Johnson married Dorothy May Greethead, daughter of Charles Edwin Greethead and Dora May Richards, in 1944 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^1,2

     Albert John Mossie Brown was born on 16 January 1908.¹ He was the son of John Thomas Brown and Mary Ann Kerslake Bidgood. He married Elsie Taylor, daughter of Luke Taylor and Martha Amelia Tighe, on 25 August 1933 in Christ Church, Hampstead, London, England.¹ Albert died on 28 September 1971 aged 63.¹

     Elsie Taylor was born on 26 January 1910.¹ She was the daughter of Luke Taylor and Martha Amelia Tighe. She married Albert John Mossie Brown, son of John Thomas Brown and Mary Ann Kerslake Bidgood, on 25 August 1933 in Christ Church, Hampstead, London, England.¹

     Geoffrey John Brown was born on 2 May 1935.¹ He was the son of Albert John Mossie Brown and Elsie Taylor. Geoffrey died in 1976.¹

     John Thomas Brown was born in 1882.¹ He was the son of Edward Henry William Brown. He married Mary Ann Kerslake Bidgood, daughter of John Bidgood, on 7 April 1907 in The Bible Christian Chapel, Waterloo Road, Lambeth, London, England.¹ He was a borough employee, a furrier, warehouseman and later a park attendent.

     Mary Ann Kerslake Bidgood was born in 1881.¹ She was the daughter of John Bidgood. She married John Thomas Brown, son of Edward Henry William Brown, on 7 April 1907 in The Bible Christian Chapel, Waterloo Road, Lambeth, London, England.¹ Mary died on 25 November 1940 in Redruth, Cornwall, England, Syncope, heart disease, valvular incompetence.¹

     John Bidgood was a policeman.

     Edward Henry William Brown was a furrier, warehouseman and master tailor.

     Luke Taylor was a coalminer-stoneman who worked below ground. He married Martha Amelia Tighe.