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Joseph had followed in his father's footsteps and was earning his living as a Slater, when on the 30th May 1885 he married Alice Butler, his place of residence at the time of the marriage was 40 Oakwellgate, Gateshead. Alice was the daughter of Peter Butler, a Clock & Watch maker of Garden Street, Gateshead. Over the 41 years of his short life and even after his death there were constant errors made when his name was placed on official documents, he started as Meighan, quickly moved to Meekham, then on to Meigham, in a newspaper report of his death at Tynemouth in July 1903 by drowning he became Joseph Mighan. The children of Joseph & Alice were ; Frederick Michael b. 16th April 1886 at Hymers' Court, Gateshead. John b. 7th June 1890, sadly John died from Marasmus on the 8th April 1891at Hymers Court. The following children are recorded in the 1901 census as living at 37 Ann Street, Gateshead. Elizabeth b. 7th May 1893...... Francis b. 23rd June 1895......Catherine b. 2nd September 1897 William Keith b. 1st February 1898...... Joseph b. 8th May 1900. To keep up the consistency of mis-spelt names, Joseph was transcribed in the 1901 census as Josep Deigham!
Frederick was living at 38 Allhusen Terrace on 15th June 1909 when he married Catherine, daughter of Peter Anderson a widower of Chandless Street,Gateshead, her mother Catherine nee McNally had died in December 1890 aged 31yrs when young Catherine was only 4 year old. Looking at the marriage certificate I notice that the name fiasco was still evident at this time, my grandparents were married as Meigham. Their family started with a daughter Alice Mary born 15th April 1910 at 89 Abbey Street, Gateshead followed in 1912 by Elizabeth at 86 St. Cuthberts Road, then in September 1914 my father Francis Frederick was born at Tinn Street, according to the certificate, Frederick was by this time a member of the Durham Light Infantry, but in October 1916 when triplets Peter, Joseph & William were born he is a "Munitions worker" living in 5 Stanley Street. Sadly, the triplets did not survive. In 1917 when their third daughter Beatrice was born on 10th December at 13 Hardwicke Street, Frederick was now "265797 Private Meighan F. M. 4th Northumberland Fusiliers", in 1919 he was "Ex Private 4th N.F. when his 4th daughter Catherine was born on the 4th November, finally in 1923 a 4th son Peter Noel was born at 13 Hardwicke Street on the 13th March. Sometime later the family moved to Hull in Yorkshire as the marriage certificate of Francis Frederick gives his civilian address was at 33 Exmouth Street, Hull. He was at the time serving in the Royal Air Force service No.628278
Once again there was an error on their marriage certificate, my grandfather's christian name had been entered as Francis Michael instead of the correct Frederick Michael and it goes without saying that the surname was once again spelt incorrectly, this time it was Meighen. Happily , two years later when I was born the certificate issued was for the first time error free. Francis Frederick Meighan died from cancer at King George Hospital, Newbury Park, London on the 27th February 1987 aged 73 yrs.
Please contact me if you can offer any information that may assist in my quest. UPDATE I have recently been contacted by Four cousins ! Anthony, Alison, Val & Mike who live in Newcastle upon Tyne & Co. Durham & Co.Mayo. and have been extremely helpful and generous with their family history knowledge
Updated: 2nd May 2009
T.Meighan ©2009 |
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