2001

Past and Present

21 March 2009

James McNeilly 1901 - 1965

James was born on the 3rd of September 1901 at 14 Albert Street, Darlington, the fifth of six children born to James McNeilly and Eleanor Glendenning. He was baptised at St Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, Darlington on the 29th of September 1901.

St Augustine's R C Chapel

Baptismal entry, in Latin, taken from St Augustine's Parish Registers

He was more commonly known as Jimmy.

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

He started work for the railways, as a fireman, on the 20th of May 1920.

Darlington Yearbook + Business Directory of 1921 shows James McNeilly at 1 Chancery Street, Darlington.

In 1925 he was still living at 1 Chancery Street, Darlington when he married Emily Ormerod, daughter of Robert Scott Ormerod and Sarah Hopper, on the 29th of August at Greenbank Methodist Church, Darlington.

Jimmy and Emily had 3 children:-

	Elizabeth - born and died in 1929. She died at 19 Valley Street, Darlington on the 19th of February 1929, aged 3 days, as the result of inanition. Her father, James, was in attendance at her death. Inanition = Exhaustion and wasting due to complete lack or non-assimilation of food, from a disorder of the digestive apparatus
	Peter born in 1933. Baptised at St Hilda's Church, Darlington. Peter married June Summersides and they had 2 sons, John Ian in 1968 and David James in 1972. Peter and June separated, June later committing suicide. Peter married Maureen Quinnell nee Walker whom he had met at work and when Peter retired they moved to Spain.
	Robert James ( my father) born in 1937. Baptised at St Hilda's Church, Darlington. He married Margaret Patricia Barras ( my mother) in 1960 and they had 2 children, Janet Elizabeth (me!) in 1961 and Stephen James in 1963.

Jimmy, Emily and family lived at 20 Eskdale Street, Darlington, a house which had belonged to Emily's Grandfather, Moss Ormerod, since sometime in the 1870's. Jimmy continued to work for the railways, working his way up to an engine driver.

1960

Jimmy, centre of photo, with son Robert and wife Margaret on the left and Emily and Margaret's father Harry E Barras on the right.

1963

Jimmy and Emily with Grand daughter Janet Elizabeth.

Jimmy died on the 13th of December 1965 at the Memorial Hospital, Darlington, aged 64, as the result of bronchopneumonia and chronic lymphatic leukemia. He was buried on the 15th of December 1965 at Darlington's West Cemetery - grave number W - 8F - 367 where his wife, Emily, was also to be buried some 24 years later.

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