Henderson Family Line

William Henderson abt. 1791 – Undetermined

William was born sometime around 1791 in Northumberland, unsure when or where exactly.

In 1815 he met and married Margaret Curtis, it would be 10 years before we see any documents of baptisms for any of their children. This does not mean that in those years children were not born it may just be that the records no longer survive or that the children died very early on.

In 1825 we see the first documentation of children Eleanor and Robert. At this time the family are living in Hartley near Seaton Sluice. This is the location of the Hartley Bottle Factory where William worked as a glass/Bottle maker. The factory at that time was the largest producer of bottles in Europe.

Sometime around 1826/7 it is possible that his wife Margaret passed away as records show that William married his second wife Margaret Hogg on 6th November 1827. His 3rd child was born October 1827 and I am usure if the mother was his first wife before she passed away or a child born out of wedlock to his second wife.

As the child was born in Byker we can assume by this point the family was living here, Byker at that time was home to large glass and pottery factories where William would have worked. He had a further 2 children with his second wife, Ralph and Jane and in 1841 we see the family living in St. Lawrence, Byker where William was still working as a glassmaker. I am unable to determine a date for William’s death.

Eleanor Henderson 1825-1904

Eleanor was born in March 1825 in Hartley, Seaton Sluice. She was baptised at Earsdon Church on the 5th April 1825.

When Eleanor was 1/2 years old her mother passed away and her father remarried. The family moved to Byker and in 1841 are living on St Lawrence Street, this street runs off of Glass House Street where William Crawford lived.

In 1842 when Eleanor was just 16 years old, she started a relationship with William Crawford, a potter from Glass House Street. As Eleanor is later working as a potter transferrer it is likely that they met in the factory. By April Eleanor was pregnant with their illegitimate child, William Crawford Henderson was born 25th November 1842.

Interestingly the birth certificate lists the father as William Crawford. This would only be done if the pair were married (they were not) or if the father was present at the registration. This implies that William was taking a responsibility for his son, even possibly revealing that they may have intended to marry. William Crawford moves to Staffordshire for work before 1851, could they have intended to marry on his return? Or did Eleanor meet her future husband James Fairweather Cunningham and decide not to marry William, we will never know.

We do know that Eleanor was married in October 1844 and by 1851 was living on Chapel Street, Byker with her 4 children but her son William Crawford Henderson is not there, Eleanor still appears to be working as a transferrer.

Around 1855 the family move down to Deptford, London on the banks of the Thames. Probably due to her husband James` work – he was a shipwright. They lived in London for about 15 years at one point living on Peel Terrace, Creek Road, Deptford, London. By 1871 Eleanor and her children were living at 15 Victoria Street having moved back up to Sunderland, it appears that James is still working in London. He later re-joined his family.

Eleanor stayed in the Hebburn area living on Shields Road, Shamrock Street and Tennant Street and finally 121 Ellison Street until her death on 12th October 1904. She left £107 to her son Ralph. It is unknown if she had any kind of relationship with her first son William Crawford Henderson.

William Crawford Henderson 1842 – 1904

William was born on 25th November 1842, he was an illegitimate child. He was baptised at St Peters Church in Byker on 19th December 1842.

I have tried to locate William over the next few years but cannot verify his whereabouts or who raised him. His mother married and moved to London not long after his birth but did not take him, he is not listed with William Crawford either. One theory is that a couple named Joseph and Ann Henderson raised him, supporting this is a census with the correct names and also William became a bricklayer like Joseph, problem with this is that on investigating Joseph and Ann do not fit any other ancestors and also have a complex marriage.

On 3rd March 1862 William marries Elizabeth Trotter, on the marriage certificate William lists Joseph Crawford, Potter, as his father. It would appear that he was aware of who is father is and had a form of relationship with him, as seen in some evidence below. The couple lived at Prudhoe Place in Newcastle where William worked as a stone mason.

William and Elizabeth had seven children Lawson, William, Robert Crawford, Thomas Crawford, Mary Jane Crawford, John Crawford and Joseph Crawford. Another indication of his relationship with his father is the children all having Crawford for a middle name, very common for this in these times and possibly a way for William to honor is father even if the children are Henderson`s.

By 1871 the family are living at 6 Vine Lane, Newcastle but move to Gosforth around 1872 where they lived off Gosforth High Street on South Cross Street. William would appear to have had a Bricklaying and sweep business. He has also employed his father’s widow (3rd wife) as a servant, more evidence to suggest that he had a relationship with his father. He died in 1904.

Robert Crawford Henderson 1871 – 1916

Robert was born on 22nd April 1971 at 6 Vine Lane, Gosforth. On 9th September 1895 he married Martha Gray at Newcastle Register Office. The first of their 3 children was born in 1897 Mary Elizabeth, Joseph Gray and Anthony Gray.

The family lived at 8 Ash Street when married but by 1901 they moved back with Robert’s father and his brother Joseph on the High Street after the death of their first child. His brother Joseph had previously been incarcerated in Abbot Memorial School in Gateshead. This is a detention school for children who had got into trouble with the law.

Robert worked as a tramway driver. Gosforth was home to the Gosforth Tram Company, opening in 1878, who’s buildings are still visible on the high street. Initially they would have been horse drawn trams.

On the 4th July 1898 Robert and Martha lost their daughter Mary to severe diarrhoea, she was only 15months old, Martha would have been 6 months pregnant with her son Joseph at this time. He was born in the October but by 15th February 1901 at the age of 2 years old Joseph dies from Scarlett fever and acute tonsilitis.

It is possible that around this time Robert began drinking heavily, this is possibly why he is no longer a tram driver but working as a labourer in the tram stables. This would have involved looking after the horses. Another reason for this is the change from horse drawn trams to electric/steam trams, it could have resulted in him not being qualified to drive the trams.

In 1903 his brother Thomas was convicted of burglary; he was caught breaking into the Brandling Arms Pub in Gosforth. The was sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment and hard labour. After his father’s death in 1904 the family move to 19 Irton Street, Gosforth where Robert worked as a general cartman. The move may reflect his decline due to alcohol as they are required to rent out one of the only 2 bedrooms they have to a lodger for money. On 16th December 1916, at the age of 45 Robert died of Hepatic Cirrhosis and exhaustion due to heavy drinking.

Anthony Gray Henderson 1902 – 1967

William was born 26th January 1902 at 98 High Street, Gosforth.

He later moved to 19 Irton Street with his mother and father. When Anthony was 14 years old his father died and he took over providing for his widowed mother. In 1921 they were still living at 19 Irton Street and Anthony was working at the nearby Hazelrigg Colliery as a coal boy.

In April 1929 he married Gladys Lillian Pearson and the have two children Robert and Sylvia.

By 1939 the family lived at 76 Elsdon Road, Gosforth and Anthony was working as a general labourer and his mother was still with him although she would pass away the following year.

Anthony passes away January 1967 at the age of 67.

Robert Henderson 1931 – 2018

Robert was born on the 25th December 1931. He lived at 76 Elsdon Road, Gosforth with his parents, sister and his grandmother.

On 15th August 1953 he married Mary Walton at the Methodist Church, Gosforth. They had 3 children Anthony, Kenneth and Michael.

Robert worked a variety of jobs; he was a van driver for Greggs and worked as a barman at the local pubs.

Robert passed away on 24th March 2018 at Gosforth.