This year, Francis Armourer, of Newcastle, coal fitter, had living three brothers and one sister, whose united ages amounted to 360 years or thereabouts, and were healthy persons. [LRS]

August. — A grant passed the great seal, to Mr. William Newton, of Burnopfield, and Mr. Thomas Stokoe, of Bryan’s Leap, in the county of Durham, both gentlemen of great experience in the coal works, for a new invented method of drawing coals, stones, &c., out of deep pits or mines. [LRS]

November 4. — Died, at his house at Elswick, Mr. John Hodgson, linen draper, of Newcastle, and a considerable coal-owner on the river Tyne. The following is the character given of this gentle man in a newspaper of that time: "He was a man of excellent talents in business, and unwearied in their application, which he prosecuted through a great variety and extent of affairs with uncommon ease, calmness, and regularity; proceeding without hustle or noise, and successful without pride or ostentation; and, as he always observed the strictest probity and honour in his dealings, managing with care and circumspection ; exact in his accounts, and punctual to his engagements, his conduct obtained the highest credit and confidence, and he was universally beloved. During the time of his illness, an uncommon concern and solicitude for his recovery appeared among all ranks of people, which ended in a more general lamentation for his death than what usually accompanies that of a private person. He was, indeed, a most worthy example in every part of life, a great benefactor to his country, by promoting its commerce, and a happy support to many families concerned in his employments; a courteous and affable acquaint ance; a kind and benevolent neighbour; a firm and hearty friend; a tender and affectionate husband, and a most loving and indulgent father. The general respect he so justly merited, occasioned a large number of gentlemen and others to pay the last solemn mark of it by attending his corpse to the place of interment, in the Quaker’s burial ground, in Pilgrim Street." [LRS]

 

 

• LRS — Local Records or Historical Register of Remarkable Events by John Sykes, Published in 1833 in two volumes