Johnathan Gedge was born 13 October 1850. Briggate Mill, Worstead, Norfolk. Son of Christopher Gedge and Sarah Ann Spanton. He was a “Sinker” by trade at the time of his first son’s birth in 1889. A sinker is not a coal miner but is part of the crew that build a new shaft downwards for a new coal mine, deep enough for the miners to fan out and dig into the coal seams. That perhaps explains why he was in Brazil in that he had a special skill. He married Margaret Senior at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Chester-le-Street, County Durham. 23 April 1889. Margaret daughter of John Senior and Elizabeth.
1st Son was Christopher Gedge born, The Terrace, Birtley, County Durham, 25 August 1889. Christopher Gedge married Agnes Strain 1911. Agnes died 1918. After her death Christopher is known to have been in Burma on and off for 20 years.
2nd Son was Joseph Gedge, born 1891 and married Lily Johnson 1912. Joseph was born in the Pelton area of County Durham and research continues on him.
3rd Son was John Gedge, born East Stanley, Stanley, County Durham 11 October 1892 and baptized in the Primitive Methodist Church, Stanley, 1 December 1892.
4th Son was George born in Brazil and his details are mentioned previously. It is very likely that father Johnathan died or was killed (accident?) in Brazil.
I found no record of any child born in Brazil or the death of Johnathan in Brazil. Any indication of company records would be useful!
Hi,
Thank you so much for the information. I can fill in some sections. Christopher Gedge was my Grandfather, and as you say, he married my Grandmother, Agnes Strain. They had three children, namely, My uncle Jack, my Aunt Margaret (known as Peggy) and then my mother, who was Elizabeth (but informally known as Betty). Unfortunately, her Mother ,Agnes, died very soon after my Mother was born, so my Mum did not really know her Mother at all. It was left to their Grandmother (Margaret) to bring them all up.
My Uncle Jack went on to marry Jenny Brewster, my Aunt, and they had two daughters Doreen and Joan, who are my cousins and who are still living in the Newcastle area.
Peggy married and had a son, my cousin, who is called Robert (Bobby).
My Mum moved to Scotland, where she met and married Robert Burt and they had only one child, namely myself, called Ian Burt.
Now for Joseph, the second son. He, as you say, married my Aunt Lily, and they had an only daughter called Rhoda, who was my Mum's cousin. Rhoda married Robert Robinson and they had two daughters named Rosalie and Heather.
Now for the third son, namely, John, well I know from my Mum, that he was killed in an accident in the Mine where he worked. I also know from my Mum that his father (Johnathon) was , also killed in an accident in the Mine.
I do not know exactly when the family moved back to the Newcastle area, but you are correct again, saying that my Great Grandmother Margaret, did remarry, and to a gentleman by the surname Doy. I remember their son, named Tommy and he married a lady called Maud(I did not know her maiden name), but they did have a daughter called Elaine, who unfortunately died a few years ago.
I would like to thank you for all the information which you have provided. If it is possible, I would like to contact any of George's family, if just to say "hello". Thank you.
If you think that I could provide any other information, it would be my pleasure to do so.