McKenna family of Hill Top, Dipton

[Tickettyboo]

Hill Top may have been a poor area but Catherine did leave a will and probate was granted 1910

Her effects were recorded as totalling £1910 10s 7d - which was a fair old chunk of change in those days.

Her executor would have been able to release funds from her estate to cover the cost of burial. A copy of her will (£1.50 via https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills ) 'may' give clues as to why they were buried at Jesmond Old Cemetery.

Boo

[JenB]

Here are the relevant grave register entries at Jesmond: Thomas D3 5 and Catherine the next entry D4 1.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-CSW1-X?cat=828520&i=786&lang=en
The note against their names indicates, I think, and as Alan has mentioned, an exhumation and removal to another plot.

[JenB]

Consett Guardian, 8th May 1908

[Tickettyboo]

There was also a notice in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle 4th May, page 2
Which says he was to be buried at Jesmond Old Cemetery

Boo

[JenB]

There is a record of exhumation and reburial from 1971 for Ward III, Section 4D, No. 1 [plus annotation that may be UNCON] Four names are listed including Catherine McKenna.
Ann Walton 1860
Margaret Nattrass 1905
C McK 1908
Mary Eliz Layton 1953

Apparently a large number of bodies were exhumed in the early 1970's in order that some of the land could be used for a new dual carriageway, which was never built.

[JenB]

Hill Top may have been a poor area but Catherine did leave a will and probate was granted 1910

Her effects were recorded as totalling £1910 10s 7d - which was a fair old chunk of change in those days.

It seems that she had owned property at Hill Top.
Consett Guardian 18th September 1908

[JenB]

The 1901 and 1891 censuses indicate that Catherine was born at Hill Top, Dipton.

It looks as if she was the daughter of Henry O'Neil a publican of Hill Top (hence, presumably your interest in this family, Neville  )

RG 10/ 4955/141/47

1871 census, Hill Top

Henry O'Neil, head, mar, 57, publican, Ireland
Mary do, wife, do, 46, Scotland
John Maswell, stepson, unm, 17, coal miner, Northumberland, Newcastle
Catherine O' Neil, daur, unm, 7, Durham Collierley
Arthur do, son, 5, do do
Eleanor McKenna, niece, do 18,, general servant, Northumberland, Newcastle
Alexander Morgln, boarder, do, 21, tailor, Ireland

[Tickettyboo]

Here are the relevant grave register entries at Jesmond: Thomas D3 5 and Catherine the next entry D4 1.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-CSW1-X?cat=828520&i=786&lang=en
The note against their names indicates, I think, and as Alan has mentioned, an exhumation and removal to another plot.

Looking at these grave register entries along with the info JenB posted about the 1871 census, I wonder if the choice of burial at Jesmond was because at least some of Catherine's family were buried there?

In the next grave to Thomas McKenna there is a Mary O'Neill buried 09 Oct 1904 - she was Catherine's mother
In the same grave as Thomas there is an Arthur O'Neill buried 17 Jan 1906 and he was Catherine's brother

Boo

[AlanBoyd]

Catherine and Arthur were both baptised at Brooms, Our Blessed Lady & St Joseph.
Parents Henry O'Neil and Mary [Maxwell]
The church is 2 miles down the road from Hill Top towards Lanchester.