Margaret Pallister was the fifth child of John McCree Pallister & Barbara Hall born July 4th, 1883 at 14 Gibson Terrace, Ryhope & christened August 29th, 1883 at St Paul’s, Ryhope, Co Durham.
The family were still living at 14 Gibson Terr, Ryhope in 1891 where Margaret’s father John worked at the colliery as an engineman. Margaret had 3 older brothers & a sister at home as well as a younger brother & baby sister. It was noted on the census that Margaret was blind from childhood. The 1911 census was to reveal that Margaret was in fact blind from 3 weeks of age.
In 1894 Margaret (known as Maggie) was granted the elementary certificate of The Tonic-sol-fa College, London in the blind candidates singing examination. (Sunderland Daily Echo, June 4th, 1894)
Margaret was still living at home with her parents at Gibson Terrace at the time of the 1901 census but later that year her mother died, & the following year her father also died.
In January to March 1906 Margaret married George Hutchison at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. George was born February 24th, 1880 in St Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland, the son of Betsy & Alexander Hutchison, a dairyman. The 1901 census lists George, a basket maker, with his parents in All Saints, Newcastle & he was described as blind from childhood.
In 1911 Margaret & George were living with George’s parents at Major House, Byker Village, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Both George, a basket maker, & Margaret, a chair cainer, worked at the Workshops for the Blind. Also living there were George’s widowed sister Janet Charlton & her 4 children, his sister Margaret & her husband Henry Harper, & 2 of his parents grandchildren, Thomasina & Lillian Carr.
The 1939 register shows Margaret & George living at 14 Renwick St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. George was still a basket maker. Son Alexander was living at 359 Chillingham Rd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1939. He was noted as married & was a joiner.
Margaret died, aged 78, on October 23rd, 1961 at 14 Renwick St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Administration of her estate was granted to son Alexander Hutchison, a joiner, on December 29th, 1961. Her effects were £415.9s.
George died, aged 83, on December 24th, 1963 at 14 Renwick St, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Administration was granted on February 18th, 1964 to son Alexander Hutchison, a joiner, & his effects were £571.
The children of Margaret Pallister & George Hutchison were:
p.1.6.3.1.1.7.5.1 Alexander Hutchison born November 13th, 1912 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
p.1.6.3.1.1.7.5.2 Betsy Hendry Hutchison born Oct-December 1914 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne; died April-June 1917 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne
p.1.6.3.1.1.7.5.3 Margaret Hutchison born Jan-March 1924 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne