Mary Earnshaw was the seventh child of Thomas Earnshaw and Elizabeth Crosby, born 1842 at Dawdon Hall, & christened August 27th, 1842 at St Andrew's, Dalton-le-Dale, Co Durham.
Mary was living at home at the time of the 1851 & 1861 censuses at William St, Dawdon.
Mary married James Hall on January 2nd, 1866 at St Andrew’s, Dalton-le-Dale. Witnesses at the wedding were John Earnshaw, Mary’s brother & Thomas Harrison. James was christened October 25th, 1840 at Crakehall, N. Yorkshire, the son of Eleanor Isabella James & Proctor Hall, a blacksmith. Mary may have met James when he was a boarder with her Uncle George Earnshaw in 1861 when James was recorded as a cartman!
In 1871 Mary & James were living at William St, Dawdon (not many of the children ventured far from home!). James was at this time an enginesmith. They had 3 daughters – Elizabeth (5), Jane Earnshaw (2) and Mary Ellen (11 months).
By 1881 they had moved to ‘Old Farm’ House, Tudhoe Grange, Nr Spennymoor. James was now a soda water manufacturer and ale & porter merchant. Daughters Elizabeth (15), Jane E (12) & Ada (2) were at home but Mary E (10) was visiting grandmother Elizabeth Earnshaw. Also at home were their 2 sons James Proctor (8) & Frederick (5).
James was apparently in business with Thomas Banks, also of Tudhoe Grange, and traded as Hall & Banks soda water manufacturers & ale & porter merchants. Their business was liquidated in June 1883 according to the Northern Echo of June 9th.
By 1891 the family had moved to High Grange Rd, Tudhoe Grange. James’ occupation was described as an aerated water manufacturer. Living at home were Elizabeth (24), Jane E (22) a dressmaker, Mary E (20), James P (18) a gardener, Frederick (14) a bottler, Ada (12) & Thomas Earnshaw (6).
In 1901 they were living at Woodview House, Tudhoe Grange. James, 60, was now a market gardener. Mary was 58. Many of the children were still at home – Mary E (30), James (27) & Fred (25) who were mineral water bottlers, Ada (22) & Thomas E (16) who was a horsekeeper. Visiting at this time was daughter Jane E (32) who had married William Hopper in 1891, and with her were her 3 children – Winnifred (7), Fred (5) & Mary Hannah (2).
In 1902 daughter Ada married John Joseph Venners, a tailor, in Spennymoor.
James was still working as a gardener in 1911 & he & Mary were still at the same address in Tudhoe, Spennymoor. With them was son James, an aerated water manufacturer, working from home. It was noted on the census that Mary & James had had 7 children, only 6 of whom were still alive. Son Thomas had married Charlotte Gray in 1908 & was living in Spennymoor & working as a bottler in a mineral water manufacturers, presumably the family business.
Daughter Mary Ellen had married George Dryden, a bricklayer, in 1901 & in 1911 they & their 4 children were living in Tudhoe.
Mary died October 4th, 1912 at Wood Vue, Spennymoor & administration of her will was granted to widowed James, mineral water manufacturer. Her effects amounted to £307.10s. Mary was buried in Tudhoe Cemetery, Co Durham.
James died on May 12th, 1917 at Wood Vue Grange, Spennymoor & probate was granted on June 30th at Durham to son James Proctor, mineral water manufacturer. His effects amounted to £928.3s. James was buried in Tudhoe Cemetery, Co Durham.
Son James continued to be a market gardener like his father & in 1939 he was still single & living alone at Primrose Villa Cottages, Spennymoor.
Daughter Ada & husband John Venners were living at King James St, Spennymoor in 1939 with their daughter Nancy.
Son Thomas, wife Charlotte & family were living at Durham St, Spennymoor in 1939 & Thomas was now a county council labourer.
The children of Mary Earnshaw & James Hall were:
e.1.7.1 Elizabeth Hall born Jan-March 1866 at Dawdon, Co Durham
e.1.7.2 Jane Earnshaw Hall born Oct-December 1868 at Dawdon, Co Durham; buried August 31st, 1921 at Durham Rd, Cemetery, Stockton, Co Durham
e.1.7.3 Mary Ellen Hall born April 24th1870 at Dawdon, Co Durham; buried March 7th, 1947 at Thornaby-on-Tees Cemetery, N. Yorks
e.1.7.4 James Proctor Hall born October 11th, 1872 at Dawdon, Co Durham; died September 3rd, 1946 & buried in Tudhoe Cemetery, Co Durham
e.1.7.5 Frederick Hall born April-June 1876 at Williams St, Dawdon, Co Durham; died February 3rd 1907 & buried in Tudhoe Cemetery, Co Durham
e.1.7.6 Ada Hall born October 15th, 1878 at Williams St, Dawdon, Co Durham
e.1.7.7 Thomas Earnshaw Hall born February 18th, 1885 at Spennymoor, Co Durham; died December 24th, 1958 & buried at Tudhoe Cemetery, Co Durham