Thomas Earnshaw [1.6.2]

Thomas Earnshaw was the second child of Robert Earnshaw and Ann Richardson born Jan-March 1872 at Seaham, Co. Durham.

Thomas lived at home at Seaham Park, Seaham in 1881 but by 1891 the family had moved to Grange Terrace, Ryhope and Thomas was working at the paper mill.

Thomas married Mary Elizabeth Clark on September 14th, 1898 at St Paul’s, Ryhope. Mary, known as Elizabeth, was born Sunderland in April-June 1875, the daughter of Elizabeth & Thomas Clark, a caretaker. Thomas was a paper maker & Elizabeth was a paper finisher & both lived at Grangetown at the time of the wedding. Witnesses at the wedding were Robert Earnshaw, Thomas’ father (X) & Sarah Annie Clark, Elizabeth’s younger sister.

Thomas & Elizabeth's first child Robert was born at 7 Regent Terr, Ryhope (Grangetown) in 1899.

In 1901 Thomas & Elizabeth were living at Stockton Terrace, Ryhope with their 1 year old son Robert & Thomas was a labourer at the paper mill. They were neighbours of Thomas’ sister Elizabeth Earnshaw, now married to Henry Wright, a paper finisher.

At the time of birth of their second child, Elizabeth, they were living at 6 Stockton Terr, Grangetown &, according to Ward’s directory of Sunderland, this was still Thomas & Elizabeth’s home in 1905/06.

From 1909-1912 Thomas was living at 11 Leechmere Rd, Grangetown & was described as a papermaker. At the time of the 1911 census Thomas & Elizabeth had 3 children – Robert (11), Elizabeth (9) & Thomas (5). Living with them was Thomas' youngest brother Ernest Earnshaw, a house painter.

By 1913 Thomas had moved to 29 Leechmere Rd, Grangetown. Thomas & Elizabeth were neighbours of brother Frederick Earnshaw & sister Elizabeth Wright. Thomas became a fitter by 1923 according to Ward's directory of Sunderland.

Thomas died June 15th, 1925, aged 53 & was buried at St Aidan’s, Grangetown, Co. Durham. Probate was granted in Durham on July 20th, 1925 to widow Mary Elizabeth. His effects were £1,163.12s.4d.

Elizabeth continued to live at 29 Leechmere Rd after the death of Thomas & lived there the rest of her life.

Elizabeth died April 13th, 1935, aged 59 at the Royal Infirmary, Sunderland & was buried alongside Thomas at St Aidan’s, Grangetown. Sadly, Elizabeth was knocked down by a pedal cyclist & suffered head injuries from which she died in Sunderland Royal Infirmary shortly after admission. (Sunderland Daily Echo & Shipping Gazette, April 13th, 1935) Probate was granted on May 30th, 1935 to son Robert Earnshaw, civil servant. Her effects were £948.0s.8d.

Daughter Mary Evelyn married Robert Thomas Errington in July-September 1938 at Sunderland. Robert was born August 19th, 1913 in Sunderland, the son of Elizabeth Smith & Thomas Robertson Errington. The 1939 register shows Mary Evelyn, a glass manufacturer’s clerk & typist, living with Robert’s parents at 44 Wearmouth Drive, Sunderland. Also listed with them was Thomas Errington, born 1910 a shipwright & Bernard R Errington, a cabinet makers machinist. The whereabouts of Robert is unknown. Mary died at the home of her widowed sister Elizabeth Brandon in Ryhope.

Son Thomas married Emma Hutchinson, native of Sunderland, on April 29th, 1939 at Heston, Middlesex. In 1939 Thomas & his wife Emma were living at 101 Junction Rd, Andover. Thomas was a carpenter.

The children of Thomas Earnshaw and Mary Elizabeth Clark were:

e.1.6.2.1 Robert Earnshaw born November 29th, 1899 at 7 Regent Terr, Ryhope (Grangetown), Co Durham; died August 17th, 1960 at The Royal Infirmary, Sunderland
e.1.6.2.2 Elizabeth Earnshaw born January 28th, 1902 at 6 Stockton Terr, Grangetown & christened February 27th, 1902 at St Paul's, Ryhope; died April 4th, 1972, at 45 Thomas St, Ryhope
e.1.6.2.3 Thomas Earnshaw born February 6th, 1906 at 11 Leechmere Rd, Grangetown & christened March 8th, 1906 at St Paul’s, Ryhope; died January 1967 at Isleworth, Middlesex
e.1.6.2.4 Mary Evelyn Earnshaw born January 29th, 1915 at 29 Leechmere Rd, Grangetown & christened February 23rd, 1915 at St Aidan’s, Grangetown, Co Durham; died February 10th, 1966 at 45 Thomas St, Ryhope