Smallpox in Durham

[Adamand]

In a posting that I made earlier I mentioned that I had indexed the gravestone inscriptions for Etherley. Here is one of great sorrow.How the parent coped I don't know:-
In Memory of the six beloved children of Robert and Margaret GRAY who died of smallpox at Phoenix Row,Etherley in the months of March and April 1872.
Charles Lewis Gray died 14/March/1872 age 7 years.
Mary Gray died 18/March/1872 age 4 years.
Watt Gray died  18/Mar/1872 age 5 years.
Robert Gray died 21/March/1872 age 15 years
Ann Elizabeth Gray died 12/April/1872 age 17 years.
Lincoln Gray died 12/April/1872 age 17 months
Also Charles Lewis Gray son of the above died 27/July/1863 age 10 days
I looked at the Barnard castle deaths and there were also children dying of smallpox in 1872 and 1874.

Adam

Adam

[stanmapstone]

It is a pity they had not been vaccinnated.
England's vaccination laws were passed in 1853 and 1863, which made infant vaccination compulsory. The Vaccination Act 1871 improved the organisation of vaccination against smallpox and introduced compulsory appointments of vaccination officers.  They were more widely enforced after 1874 to ensure an elimination of the disease.

Stan

[The Vicars Wife]

Hi Adam and Stan

I was reading somewhere lately that there was a massive outbreak of Smallpox in the West Auckland area.. and a lot of children died from it between 1870 and 1873..

Adam

I would love to know of all the Wilsons who have headstones up there as a lot of my family are from that area.. Wilson,  Vickers, Elliott.. Minns....McCutcheon  all inter related families all from Etherley and West Auckland..

Yours The Vicars Wife

[Adamand]

Hello vicars wife.There are four g/stones for WILSON. Death date from mid 1800's-
and early 1900's.
Three g/stones for VICKERS all early 1900's
Five g/stones for ELLIOTT mid 1800's and early 1900's.
Do you have names? or do you want them all sending?

Adam

[The Vicars Wife]

Hi Adam

All of them if possible..   

MY main line Wilson's ran a pub called the Bridge Inn at Etherley and I do believe from another source that the headstone lies somewhere near to the Church wall as you go up the path to the church entrance  or at least that was what I was told... lol

One of these days I'll get a look up there.. I know the area off years ago.. hubby worked up that way at Butterknowle quite a few years ago   but have'nt been up that way for years..

Look forward to seeing if I really need to visit..

Yours
The Vicars Wife

[Adamand]

Hello again. Here are the WILSON families gravestones.
4891.Numbers are my ref in case you need to ask more about the gravestone.
In memory of Margaret Ann daughter of William and Mary Wilson of Etherley who died Feb/1/1865 age 14 years "gentle? reader as you pass by as you are now so was I, as I am now so you must be, therefore prepare to follow me"
Also the above named Mary Wilson who died April/10/1890 age 68 years.
Also the above named William Wilson who died Feb/11/1894 age 69 years.

4880.In memory of Sarah Hannah Wilson of Thomas Place, daughter of John and Hannah Wilson who died at Etherley June/17? aged 48 years.
Margaret daughter of the above???. Also JohnWilsonwho died Sep/19/1843 age 5 years.

4890.In loving memory of John Thomas Wilson beloved husband of Hannah Wilson who died at Etherley Oct/10/1909 age 64 years " In life respected in death lamented" Also their five sons who died in infancy. Also the above named Hannah Wilson who died April/9/1913 age 68 years.

5096. Treasured memories of beloved parents Arthur Wilson 1895--1978
and Doris Wilson 1900--1994. And dearly loved son Jack 1922--2002. Resting in New Zealand. God Bless.
I am going out for the day and will look up the others later.

Adam

[The Vicars Wife]

Blimey

Adam.. wow

see if I can explain this right as my Wilsons are very compicated to say the least as there are that many Wilsons in here

4890 John Thomas Wilson and Hannah Wilson nee Wilson (LOL) they were the ones running the Bridge Inn and Ive only picked up 3 of their dead sons... ooooohhhh

and I think you have just sorted out Hannah's parents..

William Wilson and Mary 4891 are these two near each other just with them having consecutive numbers as this is Hannah's parents ?

John Thomas' parents were again John Wilson and Hannah Wilson nee Wilson lol but this is where i have to be careful and not get too excited as there was another John and Hannah Wilson at the same time as these two.. but makes me think that 4880 could be a one of mine also....

and Arthur has to be my bonus !
William and Mary dau Mary had an illigitimate child Robert Wilson
their other dau Hannah 4891 are my great great grandparents (JT and Hannah and William and Mary are my 3 x gt grandparents.. I said complicated was'nt in it...)

and according to a will I have here.... ohh wow the Arthur and Doris  and Arthur's siblings contested this will saying he had legal right being an Uncle of the deceased  and they got their share..

John Thomas and Hannah's son George married Mary J Maddison  and these two were first cousins as Mary (who had illigitimate child married William Maddison and Mary J Maddison was their dau....

and youve just resparked my interest in them again..

I think I really need to visit up there!

The Vicars Wife

[The Vicars Wife]

Hi Adam

I forgot to ask ??

Do you know where this Bridge Inn pub was situated?

as it just might be nice to see if the building is still there..

from a piccie on Durham website looks like it was a one story building so could now possibly be a bungalow.. !

Yours
The Vicars Wife

[Adamand]

I am back from a nice day at Hexham. Here are the other families with gravestones in the Etherley churchyard.
VICKERS
5019. In memory of Thomas beloved husband of Mary Vickers (poor and unreadable date even from the enlarged photograph)
5128. In loving memory of Joseph the beloved son of Edward Vickers who died April/11/1903 aged 28 years.
4930. In loving memory of Susannah Vickers daughter of Wm and M.A. Vickers
born March/13/1916 died Nov/2/1916.
ELLIOTT.
4993. IN LOVING MEMORY OF Matthew Elliott died ?/September/1931 aged 70 years. Also Rose Eleanor beloved wife of the above died 19/Jan/1928 aged 68 years.
5076. In loving memory of Alice Maud Howe beloved daughter of Walter and Frances Elliott died 28/Jan/1942 aged 25 years. Also Walter Elliott died 28/Feb/195? aged 71 years.
5093. In loving memory of Henry Elliott died 19/Mar/1947 aged 74 years. Also Rose Eleanor Elliott his beloved wife died 8/May1950 age 70 years.
5126. In affectionate remembrance of Eleanor the beloved wife of William Elliott
of Tudhoe house who died June/8/1876 age 64 years. Also the above named William who died at Tudhoe house March/10/1884 age 73 years.
5127. In affectionate remembrance of William Robert Elliott the beloved and only son of William and Eleanor Elliott who died at Tudhoe house 5/March/1877 aged 21 years. Also Elizabeth daughter of the above William and Eleanor Elliott who died Feb/8/1856 aged 1 year and 9 months.
Send me the URL for the durham website and I will see if I can identify the building.
Another Wilson.
4999. Loving memory of Isabella Gibson Wilson died 28/Dec/1929 aged 48 years.