Matilda Graham

Matilda Graham Born 21st January, 1903 at Southwick, Sunderland and known all her life as Millie. Her father was the manager of a brick-works at the time and the family lived on the site. She married David Ernest Stansfield on 16th August, 1924 at Holy Trinity Church, Southwick, Sunderland and they had: Raymond David 13th June, 1925 at Gateshead; and June Mildred 4th June, 1928 at Seaton Burn, Northumberland, before moving to Whitley Bay where the children grew up. Unfortunately the marriage did not work out and they separated about 1944 and divorced in 1949. My mother tells me of the time when Millie, to get a job in Boots, lied about her age and said she was five years younger than she was. When she came to retirement after a lot of years Boots said she was too young to retire. Millie married again late in life to William Pinder about 1967 and they spent their old age together. She died 14th May, 1995 aged 92 at Durham.

George Graham Born 30th December, 1864 at Dubmire, Newbottle, Co. Durham. He trained to be a blacksmith when leaving school, but eventually became the manager of a brickworks at Southwick, Sunderland. He married Mary Rowley 18th March, 1890 at the Register Office, Sunderland and they had: John James 1890 at Castletown, Sunderland; George 1892 at Castletown; William 1895 at Castletown; Mary Jane (Mary) 1898 at Castletown; Pheobe (Peggy) about 1900; Matilda (Millie) 1903 at Southwick; Ann Maria (Nan) about 1907; and Elizabeth (Betty) 1912. During the 1st World War the brickworks closed because the army took over the buildings to house soldiers. The family moved to Nelson Street, Southwick and George took work where he could, on building sites or in shipyards, to keep them. He played the concertina and sang, playing at weddings and parties. George and Mary were very happy, creating a loving atmosphere in their home. He died 20th June, 1944 and was buried at Southwick Cemetery, Sunderland.

John Graham Born 1822 at Aycliffe, Co. Durham, son of a weaver, he became a weaver himself, but soon turned to other things. He was at one point a brick maker/spike maker, but later was a contractor for an iron and brick works employing 11 men and 6 boys. He married Mary Dawson 9th March, 1846 at St. Luke's Church, Ferryhill, Co. Durham and they had: William 1846 at Ferryhill; John 1849 at Sunderland; Catherine Ann 1852 at Sunderland; Mary Jane 1854 at Hylton; Robert 1856 at Hylton; Margaret 1858 at Hylton; Elizabeth 1860 at Newbottle; Thomas 1862 at Fencehouses; and George 30th December, 1864 at Dubmire, Newbottle, Co. Durham. Mary died and John remarried Elizabeth, and in 1891 they were living with John's youngest son George and his wife in Castletown. Continue to John Graham's family sheet.

Mary Dawson Born about 1822 - 1825 in Ferryhill, daugher of a pitman. She married John Graham 9th March, 1846 at St. Luke's Church, Ferryhill, Co. Durham and they had: William 1846 at Ferryhill; John 1849 at Sunderland; Catherine Ann 1852 at Sunderland; Mary Jane 1854 at Hylton; Robert 1856 at Hylton; Margaret 1858 at Hylton; Elizabeth 1860 at Newbottle; Thomas 1862 at Fencehouses; and George 30th December, 1864 at Dubmire, Newbottle, Co. Durham. Little is known of Mary - she died before George grew up. Continue to Mary Dawson's family sheet.

Mary Rowley Born 2nd February, 1872 at Thornaby, Yorkshire. While still a child the family moved around for a few years until they settled at Castletown, Sunderland when she was about 10. She married George Graham 18th March, 1890 at the Register Office, Sunderland and they had: John James 1890 at Castletown, Sunderland; George 1892 at Castletown; William 1895 at Castletown; Mary Jane (Mary) 1898 at Castletown; Pheobe (Peggy) about 1900; Matilda (Millie) 1903 at Southwick; Ann Maria (Nan) about 1907; and Elizabeth (Betty) 1912. Mary was a very practical and sensible person, she helped at births and was always there when someone needed help. Mary and George were very happy creating a loving atmosphere in their home. Mary died 1st March, 1958, aged 86, at Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland after breaking her hip. She was buried at Southwick Cemetery, Sunderland with George.

James RowleyBorn about 1837 at Wednesbury, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, he became a puddler in the iron trade. He married Matilda Meek, a young widow, 27th August, 1866 at St. Matthew's Church, Walsall, Staffordshire and they had: Fanny born about 1866 at Wolverhampton; Richard born about 1869 at Walsall; Mary born 2nd February, 1872 at Thornaby, Yorkshire; Pheobe born 1874 at Bishop Auckland; John James born 1876 at Bishop Auckland; Samuel born 1878 at Stockton; Joseph born 1881 at Tudhoe, Co. Durham; Ann Maria born 1883 at Castletown; Thomas born 1887 at Castletown; and Isaac born 1889 at Castletown. His mother was probably called Mary.

Matilda Meek Born 22nd February, 1846 at Darlaston, Staffordshire. She married Thomas Lunn in 1863, but after Thomas' death married James Rowley 27th August, 1866 at St. Matthew's Church, Walsall, Staffordshire and they had: Fanny born about 1866 at Wolverhampton; Richard born about 1869 at Walsall; Mary born 2nd February, 1872 at Thornaby, Yorkshire; Pheobe born 1874 at Bishop Auckland; John James born 1876 at Bishop Auckland; Samuel born 1878 at Stockton; Joseph born 1881 at Tudhoe, Co. Durham; Ann Maria born 1883 at Castletown; Thomas born 1887 at Castletown; and Isaac born 1889 at Castletown. Continue to Matilda Meek's family sheet.