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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Durham => Topic started by: Patsy Beech on Sunday 26 February 06 01:01 GMT (UK)
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Hi Folks,
Can anyone please help me to find out if Lord Londonderry had a coalmine in Rainton?
The reason behind the request is trying to find out why & how my Thompson's moved from Ireland to Co. Durham. Someone has suggested to me that Lord Londonderry helped people who had lived on his land in the Comber area of County Down by paying their fare, providing housing and a job in Rainton at his coalmine around the time of the potato famine in Ireland. Is there any way I can find more information or confirmation of this? Would there be any records filed away somewhere?
Yours with fingers crossed.
Patsy
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Patsy:
At the Rainton Colliery, which is the property of the Marquis of Londonderry, there are three pits from which coal is raised, named the Adventure, Alexandrina, and Meadow pits, sunk in the years, 1817, 1824, and 1824 respectively. The seams worked are the Five Quarter, High Main, Maudlin, and Low Main, the Hutton seam being practically exhausted. The coals produced are Londonderry Wallsend, Pittington Wallsend, and Londonderry Primrose, for household purposes, and the Hartley for steam purposes. Number of stationary engines in use is 31 ; boilers, 38 ; number of men and boys employed, 1185 ; houses occupied by workmen, 835.
Whellan's 1894 Directory of County Durham
Here are a few items for you.
http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/literature/seaton.php
http://www.durhamrecordsonline.com/literature/new_seaham.php
http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/historygroup/page4.phtml
http://www.skylighters.org/seaham/
Hope this helps.
Pat
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Dear Pat,
Thank you so much for the information, and the web links which I had not come across before. It is all helping to build a picture of my Thompson's which so far have proved difficult - so many of them to sort out who's who!
I am sorry I did not reply sooner, but I am having trouble with the mains power supply to the old computer - it will have to go in for repair, but I do want to be without it!!!!!!!!
If there are any other Thompson's from the Rainton area I would love to hear from them - Gladys Ada Thompson married Robert William Joyce c1936 and I must have 2nd cousins somewhere from the County Durham area!
Thank you again Pat for the help.
Best Wishes, Patsy
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Patsy:
You are very welcome. I am glad I was able to be of some help.
Perhaps you should post a new message with Thompson in the title. Hopefully, it would get some more responses.
Best of luck.
Pat
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County Durham has available on line papers of Lord Londonderry. It can be a bit tedious going through but it may be worth it.
My ancestors worked as schoolmasters in several of Lord Londonderry's schools which were set up in the mining villages. Eventually, two of them became partners in various Londonderry enteprises.
Sharon
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Thank you clazey. I will give the County Durham site a try.
Mains power to computer now fixed - I just need broadband now to speed things up! Are we ever satisfied?
Best Wishes,
Patsy
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Hi - there were many more pits that eventually formed Rainton Colliery than those listed by Whellan. The workings extended to Pittington, Moorsley and Fence Houses, one or two of the smaller pits being worked under licence.
There is a book - 'The Londonderry Papers - Catalogue of Documents deposited in the Durham County Record Office by the 9th Marquess of Londonderry' published by Durham County Record Office in 1969 and available for just a few £s which gives much background information on the Londonderrys and their ancestors.
Alan.
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I will definitely check this out...thank you...
sharon
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Thank you Folks for your continued interest and help - my husband's comment was no not another book! He has just extended the book shelves yet again!!!!!
The connection to Fence Houses was really interesting as that is where my Thompson family lived - still probably do - if only I could find them! George Ernest Thompson born 1883 (Uncle Ernie to my Dad) had something to do with the local council, because my Dad could remember people knocking on his front door (possibly during WWII) asking about housing - jog any memories out there in 'RootsChat Land?'
Happy searching to ALL.
Patsy
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I can remember a Councillor Ernie Thompson living in Fence Houses, he was a member of Houghton Urban District Council and he worked at Lambton D Pit.
Wearsider.
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Thank You Wearsider for the name of the pit in which Uncle Ernie worked. It all helps to add to the family storey. I expect the pit closed long ago along with so many others!
Still looking for any Thompson relies in the North East - are you out there?
Best Wishes,
Patsy
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Hi there
I can't remember where I read it but Lord Londonderry brought in workers from outside the area to work in the pits when his workforce went on strike. I believe he evicted striking miners from their house so as to locate his new workers. The incoming workers had no idea they were going to be strike breakers.
this site will give a bit of back ground on Lord Londonderry for you I hope.
My g g grandma's sister was cook for Lord Londonderry.
http://www.keystothepast.info/durhamcc/K2P.nsf/K2PResults?readform&FT=londonderry
bye
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This a letter written to Mr Corbett the Mine Manager at Rainton Collieries
"Lord Londonderry And The Rainton Colliery
Lord Londonderry has addressed the following letter to his chief mining agent :—
"Londonderry House, Park-lane, W., April 27. 1896
Dear Mr. Corbett,
I note in your letter of the 22nd your remarks as to the cottages (460 in number) that I have rented from various owners while I have been working Rainton Colliery, and which cottages I am bound by agreement to hand over empty to their various owners on May 13, or, in default, continue to pay rent for them.
I feel that the very serious losses I have sustained by working Rainton Colliery solely for the benefit of the workmen, that I am really not in a position to incur additional expense by continuing to pay rents for cottages which are absolutely useless to me, inasmuch as the colliery in connexion with which I rented these cottages is closed.
Under these circumstances I had hoped to have heard from you that arrangements had been arrived at between the owners of these cottages and the workmen who occupied them, that, by the occupiers paying rent for them as I have done, they could continue in occupation. It grieves me to hear from you that the men utterly decline to take this course. I fully realize their disinclination to pay rent for cottages that have hitherto always been rent free, and which, had I been able to continue the working of Rainton Colliery, would so have remained, and gladly, were I in a position to do so, would I continue to pay the rents. But this cannot be. I have severely crippled myself so far as Rainton is concerned, for, as my previous statement has shown, it is the workmen, and the workmen only, who have benefited by the working of Rainton during the past few years, and it is, consequently, hardly fair to ask me to incur any further loss.
Under these circumstances, What is my position ? As far as I understand it, it means that to carry out my agreement with the owner of the cottages it is my duty to hand over the cottages empty on May 13.
I have seen from reports in the local papers that at their meeting the occupiers have decided to pay no rent, but to remain in their cottages until they are evicted. If this be so, you well know how repugnant it would be to me to be forced to adopt such a course, and, in order to avert it, I will incur still further loss by the following proposal, which I trust they will accept.
If they will become the tenants of the owners of the cottages I will guarantee to the owners of the cottages two months' rent, on the distinct understanding that at the expiration of that period they (the occupiers) either continue to pay such rent as they may arrange with the owners or hand over the houses empty to them.
I think it is hard on me, after the losses I have sustained in working the colliery, that I should be put to still further expense ; But so anxious am I to do all in my power to meet the wishes of my late employйs (many of whom I am glad to think have found fresh employment in the neighbourhood), that I authorize you to make this proposal on my behalf.
Believe me, very truly yours,
Londonderry."
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Thank you Rootschatters for the information about Rainton & Lord Londonderry. He certainly does not sound like a man you would mess with!
I am still looking for my Thompson's who I now know still live in the area, as Ernie Thompson's descendents have recently made all the arrangement for Aunty Jenny's funeral in Houghton-le-Spring. Fingers crossed they contact me sometime.
Thanks again for your continued help.
Best Wishes,
Patsy
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In researching the clazey connection to Lord Londonderry, and property owned by John Oswald Clazey in Forfarshire, Angus...Lord Londonderry seems to have been perceived as a German sympathizer during World War I and I suspect that the views did not change up to the prelude to World War II. The property in Forfarshire, is now a correctional facility. According to local legend, as the place was more a "hunting lodge" or place in the country...folks objected to the "German Eagles" set on pedestals at the entrance to the estate and stormed the place. There has been no evidence to support that according to an employee at Forfarshire who did quite a bit of research for me.
Lord Londonderry was more than likely a product of the times...educated at elite schools and completely isolated from the lot of the common people except when it threatened his pocketbook. The schools were his charity...and it probably increased his production.
Sharon