We would like to thank James Pallister Johnson, great grandson of James Harker Pallister, for information supplied on this page.
James Harker Pallister was the fourth child of William Pallister & Sarah Harker born at Heworth, Co Durham in Oct-December 1855.
James & his parents & his brother & sisters were living at Heworth Colliery in 1861.
In 1871 the family had moved to Usworth & were living at Railway Row. James was living at home with his 2 brothers & 3 sisters. His father William, a coal miner died later that year, aged 48.
James married Mary Ann Dixon in Oct-December 1876, the marriage being registered at Stockton. Mary was born November 18th, 1856 at Neasham Hall, Darlington, Co Durham, the daughter of Hannah & James Dixon, a farmer.
James & Mary had a son, James Dixon Pallister, born in Oct-December 1877 who sadly died in infancy in the same year.
By 1879 James & Mary had moved to the Gateshead area of Co Durham as their second son, also called James Dixon, was born at Wardley.
In 1881 James & Mary & son James were living at Metal Bridge Village, Ferryhill, Co Durham & James was a coal miner. A daughter, Sarah, was born in July-September 1882.
James sadly died, aged 28, in April-June, 1884 at Ferryhill, the cause of death being nephritis.
The children of James Harker Pallister & Mary Ann Dixon were:
p.1.6.3.6.1.4.1 James Dixon Pallister born July-Sept 1877 at Stockton; died Oct-December 1877 at Stockton
p.1.6.3.6.1.4.2 James Dixon Pallister born July 21st, 1879 at Wardley, Gateshead, Co Durham died June 9th, 1950 at 8 Thinford Street, Metal Bridge, Ferryhill.
p.1.6.3.6.1.4.3 Sarah Pallister born August 30th, 1882 at Thinford Cottages, Metal Bridge, Ferryhill
Mary remarried in April-June 1885, the marriage being registered at Stockton. Her second husband was Alexander Bray. Alexander was born c1851 in Cornwall.
In 1891 Mary & Alexander were living at Moore St, West Cornforth, Sedgefield, Co Durham. Alexander was a miner. Living with them were Mary's children James Dixon Pallister & Sarah Pallister. Mary & Alexander had a 1 year old daughter Mary Hannah.
By 1901 Mary had returned to Metal Bridge, Ferryhill & she & Alexander now had 3 children – Mary, Alexander (8) & Florence L (1). Alexander was described as a coal miner/hewer. Sarah Pallister was still living with her mother & step-father. Son James Dixon Pallister (listed as a commission agent) had married Alice Gregg earlier in 1901 & they were living with Alice's widowed father, Jonathan Gregg, a coal miner, at East Howle, Ferryhill.
Alexander died in July-September 1908, aged 57, his death being registered at Sedgefield.
In 1911 widowed Mary Ann & son Alexander & daughter (Florence) Lily were living at 5 Thinford St, Metal Bridge, Ferryhill. Son Alexander was a coal miner putter & Lily was at school.
Mary's son from her first marriage James Dixon Pallister, was also still living in Ferryhill in 1911 with his wife Alice & they now had 5 children living – Mary Jane (9), Alexander (7), James (5), Alice (3) & Hilda (1). James was now a coal miner/hewer. James & Mary went on to have 4 more children - Sarah (b.1911), John (b.1914), William Gregg (b.1916) & Bert (b.1918).
Mary's daughter Sarah Pallister had married John Martin (a coal miner/hewer) in 1903 & at the time of the 1911 census they were living at 4 The Blocks, Metal Bridge, Ferryhill with their 2 children – Albert Victor (6) & Mary Annie (2).
The 1939 register shows Mary living with her son James Dixon Pallister & his family at 46 Davy St, Ferryhill, Sedgefield. Mary was described as incapacitated.
Mary died in Oct-December 1939, aged 82, her death being registered in Durham South East.