Pearson, John (1820-1871)

Family

John Pearson was born at Blagill, near Alston in 1820. He was the oldest son of parents Robert Pearson Jr. (1793-1837) Miner, and Hannah Hall (1797-1866). His grandparents were Robert Pearson Sr. (1762-1835) Miner, of Garrigill and Mary Emerson (1763-1822) of Stanhope.

John’s father, Robert Pearson Jr. died in 1837, when John was 17 years old.

In 1841, John (age 20) was living at Banks (Benks) near Alston with his widowed Mother and his brothers and sisters. He is recorded as being a Lead Miner, as were his younger brothers Robert https://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/content/people-2/lay-people/surnames-beginning-with-p/pearson-robert-1823-1879 and Thomas. https://www.myprimitivemethodists.org.uk/content/people-2/lay-people/surnames-beginning-with-p/pearson-thomas-1825-1886

John married Sarah Ridley on the 20th of September 1850 at Alston.

In the 1851 Census, John (age 29) was recorded as being a Lead Miner and was living at Loaning Head with his wife Sarah (24) and their young son Robert (1 month).

In the 1861 Census, John (age 40), Sarah (34) and their children Robert (10), Elizabeth (8), Mary (6), Joseph, (4) and Hannah (1) were now living at Fourdargue near Alston. John’s occupation was a Lead Miner.

The 1871 Census listed John (age 50) as a Lead Miner and Farmer. The family were at Fourdargue and consisted of his wife Sarah (44) and their children – Robert (20) a Lead Miner, Joseph (14) a Bobbin Winder, Hannah (11), John R (8), Thomas (6) and Sarah J (3).

John Pearson died on the 15th of November 1871.

The 1881 Census showed John’s widow, Sarah (age 54) at Fourdargue as the Head of Family and she was listed as a Farmer of 21 Acres. The following children were still living at home with her – Joseph (23) Coal Miner, John Ridley (18) Farmers son, Thomas (16) Labourer at Lime Works, and Sarah Jane (13) Scholar.

On the 19th of October 1889, the Hexham Courant newspaper recorded this marriage : “At Alston Primitive Methodist Chapel, Thomas Wm. Lowe, Clitheroe to Sarah Jane, daughter of the late John Pearson, Fourdargue.”

References

Alston Circuit 1845 Q2 May – Jul

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers

Newspaper Articles Relating To Lead Mining In The North Pennines 1712 To 1940 by David McAnelly
https://archive.org/details/newspaper-articles-relating-to-lead-mining-in-the-north-pennines-1712-to-1940/mode/2up