Hi Peter,
Something you have to beware of is that there is an area of Newcastle called Shieldfield which is often corrupted to Shefield. However, George senior is shown in the 1841 census as having been born outside Northumberland so I think it's safe to assume he was from Sheffield in Yorkshire. I suspect that he was a young man working as a cutler there (bear in mind that this was during the Napoleonic war) who was drawn in the ballot for the militia and went to serve with a militia regiment in Newcastle (militia regiments were not allowed to go on foreign service). Whilst there he met and married Mary Rutter in 1806 and they had their first child when he was still a soldier. When William was baptised George’s military service had ended and he was therefore described under his civilian trade.
It seems fairly certain that George was in the 3rd West Yorks Militia for I have uncovered a series of newspaper articles which attest to their presence in Newcastle in 1806.
Tyne Mercury 28 January 1806
‘DEATHS
Friday se'nnight, at Doncaster, Serjeant Birley, of the Third West York Militia; and on Sunday his remains were interred with military honours. The same evening William Ibbotson, late drum-major in the above regiment, and who followed Birley to the grave, dropped down in the street, and expired a few minutes afterwards.
Tyne Mercury 18 February 1806
‘MARRIAGES
Wednesday last, at York, Capt. Samson, son of the late Dr. Samson, of Beverley, and captain in the third West York militia, to Miss Anna Story, fourth daughter of George Story, Esq. of Bishopwearmouth, in the county of Durham.’
Newcastle Courant 3 May 1806
‘NEWCASTLE MAY 3.
The Third West York regiment of militia is on the march from Hull for Darlington and Durham’
Tyne Mercury 23 September 1806
‘LOCAL EVENTS
On Tuesday last the Provincial Grand Lodge for Northumberland of Free and Accepted Masons, under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England, the Prince of Wales Grand Master, met at Mr. Holburn's, Scotch-Arms, in this town, whence they, moved about twelve o’clock, in masonic procession, to Mr. Colbeck’s, the Chancellor’s-Head, where, after the duties of the lodge were performed, near 200 brethern sat down to a sumptuous dinner. Alter dinner an oration, adapted to the occasion, was delivered by the D. P. G. M. many loyal and appropriate toasts were given, and the afternoon was spent with that hilarity and harmony which characterizes the true mason.—A part of the band of the 3d West York Militia, and other musical brethren, attended, and added much to the conviviality of the day.’
Tyne Mercury 30 September 1806
‘MILITARY NEWS.
On Friday next, the 3d West York, militia march from this town to Sunderland ; the 2d Lancashire from Sunderland to Tynemouth ; and the Sussex from Tynemouth, to this town.
On Friday last as a private of the 2d Weft York militia was drawing his gun in an entry in Newgate street, in this town, the piece unfortunately went off, and shattered his hand in so dreadful a manner, that immediate amputation was found necessary. We understand that the officers of this regiment, in cases of the above nature uniformly display great liberality, by making such an addition to the pension as enables those who happen any accident to live comfortably during the remainder of their lives.’
You might find a muster roll for his unit either in the National Archive or in the West Yorks County Record Office. I think that shortly after that time George left the militia (or deserted – quite common) and at that point he was about to start a job as a coal miner so described himself as a cutler, his old occupation. William would have been baptised in Earsdon for that was Mary’s home parish and where the coal mine would have been.
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