James Pallister [p.1.6.8.9.6]

James Pallister was the sixth child of Robert Pallister & Mary Anne Cook born Jan-March 1861 at Belmont, Co Durham.

In 1871 the family were living at Perkinsville, Pelton, Co Durham where James’ father was a coal miner.

James was still living at home in 1881, now South Row, Ouston, Co Durham & he was described as an engineman.

James’ father had died by 1891 & James was living with his mother & 3 sisters at Cement Row, Ouston. He was now a winding engineman.

In 1901 James & his mother were still living at Cement Row & he was a colliery engineman.

In 1908 James married Sarah Hannah Johnson in Castle Ward, Northumberland. Sarah was born January 28th, 1878 in Middlesbrough, the daughter of Mary & William Johnson, a book agent.

In 1911 James & Hannah were living as 234 East St, Ouston & James was described as a pumping engineman underground. They had a 1 year old son Robert & James’ mother Mary was living with them.

Sadly James was killed in a mining accident at Ouston Winning Colliery on May 9th, 1923, aged 62, & after a service in the Wesleyan Church, Perkinsville, was buried at Holy Trinity Church, Pelton. Probate was granted on May 25th, 1923 to brother-in-law Robert Stephenson, mason & James' widow Sarah Hannah. His effects were £284.6s.11d. (An error on his headstone gives his death date as June 9th!)

Headstone of James Pallister

It is thought that son Robert emigrated to Australia in 1929. He was listed sailing from Southampton to Melbourne with his last given address as Government Instructional Centre, Claydon. There was great unemployment at this time in the UK & these centres were set up to give training before shipping them to Canada, Australia & other colonies on assisted passages. Robert was described as a fitter.
Robert enlisted in the Australian Infantry in Warranbool, Victoria, Australia in 1940 when his occupation was given as farm labourer. He gave his mother’s address as Woodbine Rd, Gosforth, Newcastle. Robert served in Palestine, Egypt & Greece & when discharged in 1945 gave his address as Spring Creek Rd, Koroit. He had married Margery Heather Hillis on June 15th, 1944 in Koroit, Victoria, Australia. (There is a record of William Pallister, aged 16, sailing from London to Australia on the SS Berrima on July 7th, 1927. He gave his address as 12 Wood St, Pelton Square, Co Durham & he had no occupation. This could be Robert’s brother William but no further record of William has been found to date.)

Widowed Sarah was living at 16 Santon St, Gosforth, Northumberland at the time of the 1939 register. With her were daughter Mary, a hardware shop assistant, & son James, a carpet & lino shop assistant.

Sarah died aged 94 in Jan-March 1972 in Northumberland South.

The children of James Pallister & Sarah Hannah Johnson were:

p.1.6.8.9.6.1 Robert Pallister born September 23rd, 1909 at Ouston, Co Durham
p.1.6.8.9.6.2 William Pallister born July-September 1911 at Ouston, Co Durham
p.1.6.8.9.6.2 Mary Pallister born December 5th, 1913 at Ouston, Co Durham; died February 1986 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne
p.1.6.8.9.6.3 James Pallister born December 30th, 1915 at Ouston, Co Durham; died February 1995 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne