Thomas Earnshaw was the second son of Thomas Earnshaw and Elizabeth Crosby. There is a christening for Thomas on August 31st, 1828 in the parish of Easington, Co Durham, the abode given as Pesspool. It was noted in Durham Records Online that in the 1851 census he claimed to have been born at Dawdon Hall in 1828, the year of the founding of Seaham Harbour, which would have made him one of the first children born in the new settlement.
In 1841 Thomas was living with his parents at Dawdon Hall.
On May 18th, 1850 Thomas married Jane Turnbull at Thornley, near Tow Law, Co Durham. Jane was born Hunwick, Co Durham in 1831, the daughter of Joseph Turnbull. Thomas & Jane lived at Hunwick for a short time after their marriage where their first son George was born & christened.
In 1851 they were living at Back North Terrace, Dawdon with the first of 9 children - son George (7 months). Thomas was a farm labourer.
In 1861 Thomas and Jane were living at the gas works, Dawdon, his occupation being given as a labourer. They had 4 children, George (10), Thomas (7), Elizabeth (5) and Robert (10 months).
By 1871 Thomas was a gasmaker and living at Haswell with wife Jane, sons George (20), and Thomas (17) both screemen at the colliery, Robert (11), John (8), Jane (5), William (3) and James (11 months). Daughter Elizabeth had died in 1869 aged 13.
In 1881 Thomas and Jane were living at Elemore Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham. Thomas was described as a general labourer. At home were Robert (21) a general labourer, John (18) coal miner, Jane (15) domestic servant, William (13) a general labourer, James (10) and Frederick (4).
Thomas and Jane were still living at Elemore Lane in 1891. By this time he was a labourer at the coalmine. Living at home were sons John (28) a stone quarry labourer, William (23) and James (20), both coal pit labourers, and Frederick (14).
Thomas died in Jan-March 1893 & was buried at Houghton-le-Spring.
Son John was working at Hetton Colliery in 1894 when he & 4 other men were injured. The 5 men were repairing the framework connected with the pulleys over Blossom Pit, Hetton-le-Hole. Whilst in the act of winching up the heavy timbers, the derrick pole broke causing the timber to fall on the men. Two men were seriously injured, but all made a recovery. (Shields Daily Gazette, March 26th, 1894)
In 1901 widow Jane (69) was still at Elemore Lane with sons John and James at this time.
Jane died aged 74 in July-Sept 1906 at Elemore Lane & was buried at Houghton-le-Spring.
After the death of their mother, sons John & James came to live with their brother Frederick & his wife Elizabeth & their family. In 1911 they were all living at 5 Seymour Terrace, Easington Lane, Hetton-le-Hole. John was a labourer above ground & James was a stone worker, both at the colliery. Brother Frederick was a coal miner hewer.
Son James decided to marry in Oct-December 1929 in Houghton. His wife was Margaret Wardle. They were living at 80 The Lawns, Seaham at the time of the 1939 register & James was now a retired coal hewer.
The children of Thomas Earnshaw and Jane Turnbull were:
e.1.2.1 George Earnshaw christened
September 26th, 1850 at Hunwick, Co Durham; died Oct-December 1926 in Easington, Co Durham
e.1.2.2 Thomas Earnshaw born Oct-December
1853 at Dawdon, Co Durham; died April 25th, 1934 at Thorpe Bay, Essex
e.1.2.3 Elizabeth Earnshaw born December 23rd, 1855 at Dawdon, & christened
January 13th, 1856 at St John’s, Seaham; died Jan-March 1869
e.1.2.4 Robert Earnshaw born at Gas House, Seaham Harbour on May 27th,1860
& christened June 17th, 1860 at St John’s, Seaham, Co Durham, buried January 5th, 1887 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole
e.1.2.5 John Earnshaw born April 9th, 1863 at Dawdon, & christened April
29th, 1863 at St John’s, Seaham, Co Durham; died Jan-March 1921 at Lily White Terrace, Easington Lane & buried at Houghton-le-Spring, Co Durham
e.1.2.6 Jane Earnshaw born 1865 at Dawdon & christened June 21st, 1865
at St John’s, Seaham, Co Durham; died November 25th, 1930 at 7 Courthope Rd, Hampstead
e.1.2.7 William Earnshaw born
1867 at Dawdon & christened November 6th, 1867 at St John’s, Seaham,
Co Durham; buried September 18th at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole.
e.1.2.8 James Earnshaw born November 9th, 1870 & christened December 4th, 1870 at Haswell, Co Durham; died February 15th, 1950 at 80 The Lawns, Deneside, Seaham, Co Durham
e.1.2.9 Frederick Earnshaw
born September 3rd,1876 at Haswell, Co Durham; buried March 9th, 1956 at St Nicholas, Hetton-le-Hole