4-Eglingham Churchyard Section-A-Row-1- 4-Thompson
Transcription
Watch and pray (ribbon inside circle)
In Loving Memory of ELIZABETH, wife of ROBERT THOMPSON, shepherd of Shawdon Wood House, who died June 29. 1879, aged 42 years, Also of JOHN, their youngest son who died at Shawdon Wood House Feb. 14 1888 aged 11 years.
“Be ye also ready”,
Also the above ROBERT THOMPSON who died at Lumby Law, Jan 13. 1912, aged 74 years. Also of ELEANOR ANN their youngest daughter, who died at Lumby Law July 12th 1920, aged 49 years.
D. McMillan & Co. (Mason’s name on left panel of plinth)
Commentary
Family History
THE SHEPHERDING FAMILY
ROBERT was born on 3rd September 1837 in Beanley. He was one of the ten surviving children of Samuel Thompson and Elizabeth Forster (A1-3) and their third boy. His father was for “over 50 years faithful shepherd to the Messrs Storey, Beanley” (B2–3 and B4-1). Aged 24, Robert was also shepherding at Beanley.
In 1861, Robert married ELIZABETH Wilkinson (born 1837 at Norham) and they began their married life at Cartington South Farm, Rothbury. By 1871, they had 5 young children Mary, Elizabeth, Samuel, Esau and Eleanor Ann. The family were living in a farm cottage at Shawdon Wood House in 1879 when Elizabeth died on the 29th June aged 42 years. It was only 25 days after giving birth to Jane, their seventh and last child. Jane was brought up elsewhere.
Still working as a shepherd at Shawdon Wood House in 1881, widower Robert was living with his children Mary, a farm worker, Samuel an assistant shepherd and scholars Esau, Eleanor, Robert, and John together with their housekeeper.
Robert’s youngest son JOHN (born 24th July 1876), died on 14th February 1888, aged 11 years. A year later in 1889, Samuel’s father also died leaving Robert a tenth of his personal estate which was valued at £203.2s 11d.
In 1891, Robert’s single brother Joseph, a general labourer, was recorded staying at the Shawdon cottage with the family: shepherd Robert and his three children; Esau and Robert who were both working as agricultural labourers and their sister Elizabeth who was the family’s housekeeper. By 1901 and aged 63, Robert had moved to Lemmington Mill, Edlingham and was recorded as working as a farmer. Living with him were his unmarried children Esau and Robert, both farmers, and Eleanor who now kept house for them all.
By 1911, Robert, now 73 and still working as a farmer, had moved to Lumby Law, Edlingham with his single children Esau, a farmer, and Eleanor their housekeeper. Lumby Law farm is adjacent to the line of the Alnwick and Cornhill railway. Also helping on the farm were Robert’s teenage grandsons, Robert and John Thompson who were both horsemen. They were his son Samuel’s children. Samuel was married to Sarah Anderson from Milkhope farm high in the Cheviot Hills. Sarah was the youngest of the 10 children of John and Ann Anderson. Elizabeth Anderson (A1-2) was her sister.
Robert died at Lumby Law on the 13th January 1912 aged 74 years. Probate was granted to his son Esau, and Robert’s effects were valued at £527 17s 6d. Esau took over the running of the farm (B25-6).
In 1920, Robert’s daughter, ELEANOR ANN (born 6th March 1871), died at Lumby Law on the 12th July aged 49 years. Her probate was also granted to Esau. Her effects were valued at £1,784 13s 4d.
Six of Robert’s siblings are buried in St Maurice’s churchyard. ANDREW (married Elizabeth Scott) D 4-4, MARY (married Thomas Woodcock) B19-5, SAMUEL (married Eleanor Henry) A1-5, ELEANOR (married William Dunn) A4-5, GEORGE (married Mary Dunn) A1-3 and A3-3, ELIZABETH A1-3.
Carolyn Brewster 2025
References: Ancestry. Sarah Wilson (2005) Reflections: The Breamish Valley and Ingram.
Alnwick Guardian and County Advertiser, 27 January 1912
LUMBYLAW
There has passed away from our midst Mr Robert Thompson of Lumbylaw, a general and obliging man and a diligent and industrious farmer. He was brought up as a shepherd at Beanley, he being the third son of the late Mr and Mrs Samuel Thompson, the famed shepherd, who served so long and faithfully under the Storey family at Beanley. Mr Thompson worked his way up under considerable difficulties. He lost his wife a good many years ago and was left with a large family to bring up. He has farmed Lumbylaw Farm, near Eglingham, for several years now. Although he had attained the allotted span, being 74 years of age, yet his death came somewhat unexpected. He recently had rather an alarming attack of blood poisoning which he recovered from, but which left him weak and he caught a chill to which he succumbed. He has left a respectable family of grown up sons and daughters to mourn his loss
CENSUS 1861 – Beanley
Samuel Thompson, head, aged 51, shepherd, born at Branton
Elizabeth Thompson, wife, aged 49, born at Newbrough
Andrew Thompson, son , aged 27, unmarried, Agricultural Labourer, born at Bolton
Mary Thompson, daughter, aged 25, unmarried, agricultural servant, born at Beanley
Robert Thompson, son, aged 24, unmarried, shepherd, born at Beanley
Elinor Thompson, daughter, aged 16, agricultural servant, born at Beanley
Thomas Thompson, son, aged 13, shepherd, born at Beanley
Joseph Thompson, aged 10, scholar, born at Beanley
