Robert Gardner

Died 27th September 1849 

Robert Gardner was born in Lesbury, near Alnwick, on 15th June 1776. He was part of a large family, born to Robert Gardner and his wife Alice . They were a farming family.

Robert Jnr married Jane Milburn from Simonburn, near Hadrian’s Wall and settled in Lesbury. They had at least four children, all born in Lesbury, where they were also farmers.

Christian was their first-born daughter in 1809, and another Robert was born in 1811. Edward was born in 1814 when they were living in Marsden House when his father was described as a husbandman. Jane was the last child we found, born in 1817, when they were living in Hawkshill farmhouse(now B&B)

On the 1841 census, Robert and Jane were both 65 and living at the corner of Howick Street and Lisburn Street. They were “living on their own means “, that is retired. Their oldest daughter, Christian was still living at home and was still unmarried, now thirty. Robert died in the Cholera outbreak, on September 29th and was buried in one of the mass graves, at the rear of St. Michael’s Church.

His sons had also moved to Alnwick. Son Robert was now married to yet another Jane, and worked as a merchant’s clerk. Edward was now an agricultural labourer in Hulne Park, working for the Duke of Northumberland. Jane, their youngest daughter was now Jane Wilson and still living in Lesbury.

In 1851, Christian was 41 and still unmarried, living in Lisburn Street, with her mother. Christian was then working as a dressmaker to supplement her mother’s pension.

Ten years later Christian was back in Lesbury “lodging “ with her sister Jane and husband John Wilson and their 5 children.

On the 1871 census Christian was still with the same family but she died later that year on 2nd November, and was buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Lesbury.