Henry Tinson

Died 29th Sept 1849

Above :The birth of  James  is registered in  1797, along with brother Richard

Henry Tinson was born in Lechlade, Gloucestershire to James and Mary Ann/ Marianne Tinson. James was baptised on 23/9/1797 in Lechlade, together with his brother Richard, on the same day. Richard became an Ostler in Lechlade. James and Mary Ann Gearing were married on 7th September 1818, both unable to sign their names, marking the register with a cross instead.

On the 1841 census the Tinson family was found in High Street, Lechlade. Henry, their first born was now 20, followed by George Alexander Gearing baptised 1/5/1825, Sarah Knight baptised 24/12/1827, James b 1829 and Amey Gearing baptised 24/12/1832.

  

                                                                                                          Above: register of Henrys birth in 1820

 

Father James was a servant at the time of Henry’s birth, on 29th September 1820. When brother George was baptised, James had been promoted to a postillion, a person responsible for driving a coach and horses by riding one of the horses, especially when there was no coachman present. James died in 1846 and was buried in St. Lawrence Church Yard, Lechlade. Son George joined the Royal Marines and moved to London. Daughter Amey married James Hudson, also a soldier in the guards and moved to Manchester.

Henry came to Alnwick before 1847, as we found a marriage for him and Martha Fettes, on 2nd March of that year. Henry was a groom by trade, so following in his father’s line of work.

Martha was a local girl from Bondgate, born on 10/2/1826 to Matthew Fettes and Elizabeth Robson. Her parents were married in St. Michael’s Church on 20/10/1816. Matthew was a husbandman or labourer. They had five children altogether, and were the only Fettes in the Transcripts, (so not a local name, Q Scottish ?). The children were: Jane b 1817, James b 1819, Jane Isobel b 1821, Martha b 1826 and Matthew b 1828. The children were all baptised in the Green Batt Meeting House.

Henry Tinson died in alnwick on 29th September from cholera. He had been living in Ogle Terrace and was only 29 when he died. He was buried in a mass grave to the rear of St Michael’s Church. Eighteen months later on the 1851 census for Ogle Terrace, we found a Margaret (ie not Martha) Tinson (widow) and a pauper of Alnwick, and two children.                                               

Henry James Matthew Tinson was at least 2 years old, he was hence born 1848-9. The other son, James was 14 months old on the March 1851 census, so was born after his father died . Both boys had, however been born in Gloucestershire.

We think Margaret/Martha must have been refused help by the authorities in Gloucestershire after Henry died, so she had returned to Ogle Terrace. It must have been a dreadful journey with two babies, and must have taken a long time.

Son Henry grew up and went to the Dukes School, which was then located in Green Batt, presumably as the school helped poor boys. Henry left school in 1863 and became a telegraph clerk in the Royal Navy, but died in Alnwick in 1873, age 25. James died in 1863 age 12. Poor Martha had a miserable life.