Expansion of coal mining
The 19th century saw a great expansion of coal mining in the UK. The technology used by the industry also improved significantly – although it still left much to be desired.
Towards the end of the century the main colliery growth in Durham County was in large mines situated on the coast. By the time of the First World War mining was at its peak.
So, given that background, who were the people living in Ushaw Moor in 1881? Here are some of the names and details of the families; they indicate just how heavily people of the village relied on Henry Chaytor’s colliery – a pit that was soon to be thrown into conflict and turmoil by a very bitter strike:
Robert Wood [coal miner] his wife Mary and daughters Elizabeth and Jane.
Thomas Robinson [mining engineer] his wife Dorothy, daughter Louisa, son Robert and nieces Mary and Elizabeth Evans.
John Small [coal miner] his wife Bridget and children James, Mary, William, Catherine and Bridget.
John Todd and wife Mary with children John, William, Oliver, Mary and Hilda.
Andrew Finnegan [coal labourer], wife Elizabeth and child May.
Hugh Fitzpatrick [certified teacher] wife Jessie daughter Mary [pupil teacher] Grace, John, Hugh, Donald, Jessie, and Philip.
Thomas Jobling [coal miner] wife Elizabeth children Charles, Thomas, Elizabeth, Robert, Arthur, John, Oliver and Frederick.
William Charlton [coke manager] wife Elizabeth children George and Janet.
James Nichol [colliery clerk] wife Annie and children William, Edith and Emily.
William Oyston [colliery blacksmith] wife Margaret and children Thomas, Mary, Barbara and Sarah.
Robert Curry [mining engineer] wife Jane and children Robert [coal miner] James [coal miner] Thomas, Susanna and Edith.
Elias Mould [coal miner] wife Jane and children Sarah, John, Elias and Mary.
James Robinson [overman] wife Jane and children William, James, Charles, Margaret and Elizabeth.
Jackson Hudson [weighman] wife Martha son Harold [coal labourer] and James.
James Maddox, wife Elizabeth children George [coalminer] John [coalminer] Robert [coalminer] Sarah [dressmaker] Mary, James, Jane and Margaret.
John Hogg [overman] wife Margaret, son Charles [pupil teacher] son Thomas [coal miner – died in a colliery accident on 23/04/1883 aged 16] Sarah, Frederick, Elizabeth and Edwin.
Robert Turnbull [engineman] wife Mary and son William [engineman].
John Jackson [coal miner] wife Elizabeth and children Sarah and Robert.
Finally Elizabeth Maddox and children Mary, Ellen, Elizabeth, John and James.
In 1881 one of Ushaw Moor cricket team’s matches was against Brandon, will the following result:
Brandon 60 all out
Ushaw Moor
T Robinson bowled Thompson --------------------0
J Maddicks [spelling?] bowled Thompson--------0
J Westoe run out-------------------------------------0
T Taylor bowled Thompson-------------------------8
W Oyston bowled Thompson----------------------1
W Chaytor bowled Ramshaw----------------------1
T Stephenson bowled Ramshaw-----------------3
W Harrison not out----------------------------------3
R Curry bowled Thompson-------------------------8
R Maddicks [spelling?] caught Huntley-----------7
H Brown bowled Thompson------------------------6
Extra ---------------------------------------------------1
Total ---------------------------------------------------38
Best wishes
Wilf Bell
Towards the end of the century the main colliery growth in Durham County was in large mines situated on the coast. By the time of the First World War mining was at its peak.
So, given that background, who were the people living in Ushaw Moor in 1881? Here are some of the names and details of the families; they indicate just how heavily people of the village relied on Henry Chaytor’s colliery – a pit that was soon to be thrown into conflict and turmoil by a very bitter strike:
Robert Wood [coal miner] his wife Mary and daughters Elizabeth and Jane.
Thomas Robinson [mining engineer] his wife Dorothy, daughter Louisa, son Robert and nieces Mary and Elizabeth Evans.
John Small [coal miner] his wife Bridget and children James, Mary, William, Catherine and Bridget.
John Todd and wife Mary with children John, William, Oliver, Mary and Hilda.
Andrew Finnegan [coal labourer], wife Elizabeth and child May.
Hugh Fitzpatrick [certified teacher] wife Jessie daughter Mary [pupil teacher] Grace, John, Hugh, Donald, Jessie, and Philip.
Thomas Jobling [coal miner] wife Elizabeth children Charles, Thomas, Elizabeth, Robert, Arthur, John, Oliver and Frederick.
William Charlton [coke manager] wife Elizabeth children George and Janet.
James Nichol [colliery clerk] wife Annie and children William, Edith and Emily.
William Oyston [colliery blacksmith] wife Margaret and children Thomas, Mary, Barbara and Sarah.
Robert Curry [mining engineer] wife Jane and children Robert [coal miner] James [coal miner] Thomas, Susanna and Edith.
Elias Mould [coal miner] wife Jane and children Sarah, John, Elias and Mary.
James Robinson [overman] wife Jane and children William, James, Charles, Margaret and Elizabeth.
Jackson Hudson [weighman] wife Martha son Harold [coal labourer] and James.
James Maddox, wife Elizabeth children George [coalminer] John [coalminer] Robert [coalminer] Sarah [dressmaker] Mary, James, Jane and Margaret.
John Hogg [overman] wife Margaret, son Charles [pupil teacher] son Thomas [coal miner – died in a colliery accident on 23/04/1883 aged 16] Sarah, Frederick, Elizabeth and Edwin.
Robert Turnbull [engineman] wife Mary and son William [engineman].
John Jackson [coal miner] wife Elizabeth and children Sarah and Robert.
Finally Elizabeth Maddox and children Mary, Ellen, Elizabeth, John and James.
In 1881 one of Ushaw Moor cricket team’s matches was against Brandon, will the following result:
Brandon 60 all out
Ushaw Moor
T Robinson bowled Thompson --------------------0
J Maddicks [spelling?] bowled Thompson--------0
J Westoe run out-------------------------------------0
T Taylor bowled Thompson-------------------------8
W Oyston bowled Thompson----------------------1
W Chaytor bowled Ramshaw----------------------1
T Stephenson bowled Ramshaw-----------------3
W Harrison not out----------------------------------3
R Curry bowled Thompson-------------------------8
R Maddicks [spelling?] caught Huntley-----------7
H Brown bowled Thompson------------------------6
Extra ---------------------------------------------------1
Total ---------------------------------------------------38
Best wishes
Wilf Bell











