The “Durham Website Online” states that few modern-day residents can claim deep roots in the Northeast region. Most are descendants of newcomers who arrived from elsewhere in the British Isles. The Shorthouse family is typically one of these.
While we do not have any specific evidence why families migrated, we can reasonably assume that the collapse of the mining industry in the Southwest of England between 1860 and 1890 resulted in a mass exodus to the developing regions such as Durham, where coal mines and industry were expanding at a rapid rate.
Frederick Shorthouse was born in Bedminster Somerset. His father John worked as an excavation labourer on railway construction. John married Sarah Oatway in Bristol.
Anne Osborn was born in Grampound Cornwall. Her father Joseph was a master carpenter with his own yard. Joseph married to a local girl Jenifer (Jane) Harris.
Their Marriage Certificate shows that Frederick was married on the 11 March 1873, in Sardis Chapel, Pontypridd (Father: John) to Anne Osborne (Father: Joseph) residence Tenyr Llantrisant. Witnesses: Thomas Osborne and Elizabeth Nicholls (Anne’s sister).
Census information and BMD records show they had twelve children. The year, places of birth and death illustrate how this family migrated over their lifetime.
Frederick Shorthouse
b. 1846 Bedminster Somerset Bayntons Buildings
d.1925 7 Pringle St, Trimdon Colliery, Durham, England.
Anne Osborn
b. 1854 Grampound Cornwall England
d. 1939 36 Station Road, Deaf Hill Trimdon Station, Co Durham, England
1 Sarah A Shorthouse
b. 1875 Mountain Ash Wales
d.1891 54 Lumley Street, Middlesbrough Yorks. UK
2 Edith Shorthouse
b. 1878 Wigan d.1879 Wigan
3 Mary Shorthouse
b. 1878 Wigan Lancashire d.1881 Burnley Lancs.
4 William Thomas (Tom) Shorthouse
b. 1880 Wigan Lancashire d.1967 Newcastle General Hospital
5 Ellen (Nellie) Shorthouse
b. 1882 Easington Lane Hetton Le Hole.
d. 1966 5 Marton Moor Road Nunthorpe, Cleveland
6 Jane (Jennie) Shorthouse
b. 1884 Easington Lane Hetton Le Hole. d. 1970 Bulli, NSW Australia
7 Arthur Shorthouse
b. 1887 Easington Lane Hetton Le Hole d.1956 Chatswood, NSW Australia
8 Frederick (Fred) Shorthouse
b. 1889 Easington Lane Hetton Le Hole. d. 1916 The Somme, France
9 Minnie Shorthouse
b. 1891 Easington Lane Hetton Le Hole d.1955 Hartlepool, Co Durham
10 John Shorthouse
b. 1893 Trimdon Colliery Co Durham d.1893 Trimdon Colliery Co Durham Age 6 Weeks
11 Joseph (Joe) Shorthouse
b. 1895 Trimdon Colliery Co Durham d.1916 Avesnes-Le-Comte, Pas De Calais, France
12 Annie Shorthouse (unmarried)
b. 1896 Trimdon Colliery Co Durham. d. 1977 Highfield Hospital, Chester Le Street Co Durham
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