Past and Present

    by Janet McNeilly  © 2002

                   Eleanor Glendenning

 Eleanor was born on the 31st of October 1869, at Parkgate, Darlington, the daughter of Robert Glendenning and Elizabeth Blackburn. She was baptised at St John's Church on the 1st of December 1869.

In 1871 was living with her family at 55 Parkgate, Darlington, her father being employed as a beerhouse keeper.

In 1881, according to the census, Eleanor was the 4th of 8 children and was living at 52, Park Place, Darlington.
On the 1891 census she is shown as living at 63 Model Place, Darlington, employed as a twister at the wool factory and now has another brother.

St Augustine's RC Chapel

Eleanor Glendenning was 21 years old when she married James McNeilly at St Augustine's Chapel Darlington on the 3rd of October 1891. He was 30 years old. According to her Grandson, Peter McNeilly, Eleanor was disowned by her father when she married James.( Although her father died a year before she married- he was obviously not very keen on James, believing that Eleanor was marrying beneath herself). Peter does not remember much about his Grandmother only that he did not visit much due to some possible fall out between his parents and Grandparents. One story is that Eleanor was believed to be quite fond of her drink.

1901 census shows -
14 Albert Street, Darlington
James McNeilly 39 coalfiller N.E.R. born Scotland
Eleanor McNeilly wife 30 born Darlington
William McNeilly son 7 born Darlington
Henry McNeilly son 5 born Darlington
John A McNeilly son 2 born Darlington

1911 census - 2 Carters Row, Darlington
James Mc Neilly head 47 married for 18 years coal filler NE railways born Glasgow Lanark
Elenor Mc Neilly wife 39 ( 6 children born, 4 still living, 2 dead) born Darlington Durham
William Mc Neilly son 17 single coal filler NE railways born Darlington
Henry Mc Neilly son 15 scholar born Darlington
James McNeilly son 9 scholar born Darlington
Nora L Mc Neilly daughter 5 scholar born Darlington

Eleanor and James moved into 19 Sir ED Walker Homes for the elderly in Conniscliffe Road, Darlington on the 11th of November 1930. Eleanor was widowed in December 1938 and on the 1st of February 1939 moved into number 17 Sir ED Walker homes - presumably a smaller house. The Electoral Register for 1939 shows Eleanor McNeilly and Rebecca Garbutt at 17 Sir E D Walker Homes.
She died on the 8th of January 1941 at 17 Sir E D Walker Homes, aged 71 years. The cause of death was heart failure following a coronary thrombosis. The death was registered by her son in law S G Baker of 17 Millbank Road, Darlington. She was buried at Darlington's West Cemetery on the 10th of January 1941 - grave reference T 4S 322

Eleanor and James had 4 children:-

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