This is a photograph containing my Great Grandad, William Sullivan, (born approx 1875), Identified by my dad as the gentleman bottom right of the picture. Although looking at the photograph, I think the man top right looks more like our family line… William Sullivan fathered children with Mary Allison; they were never married (quite a scandal in those days), therefore all the children bore Mary’s surname of Allison. I am not sure why they didn’t marry. I have no idea who the other men on the photograph are.
William Sullivan lived in Housewife Lane, Stockton as a child, his father was called Patrick Sullivan who I believe may be an Irish descendent. The family eventually moved to Swainby Road not sure where this photograph was taken but will be in the Stockton or Norton area. My Dad told me stories of how they never had money but always had food on the table from doing any type of work that they could put their hand to. For example, In the 1930’s (the great depression), when my Dad was a lad, no one had money, people threw themselves off Newport Bridge in despair my Grandad (Thomas Allison) and his friends would swim to the lifeless bodies and push them to the banks of the Tees on the Middlesbrough side because they got paid more money than Stockton would pay. Don’t know how true this is, I’d be interested to know. I think this photograph demonstrates the closeness of these families, no money but still smiling.
Photograph and information courtesy of Gail Watson.
Hi Gail, A couple of thoughts on the no marriage topic. Ireland in the 19th century war very predominantly Roman Catholic. Perhaps Mary Allison was not; at the time marriage would have been near impossible. A good many Irish immigrants achieved ‘equality’ and found immigration easier with the cooperation of their priest and local vicar in Ireland (or similar means). Their births were effectively re registered in Presbyterian churches (or similar) from RC with a nod. The two times when there was a big influx of Irish into this area was to do the Thornaby cut in the Tees (finished 1813) and during the Potato Famine of 1847. Both the dates would likely apply to William’s ancestors -a possible route for you to follow. The possibility of William being married previously can probably be resolved by contacting St Mary’s; although the dates don’t appears to allow enough space for this alternatively try the Register Office in Stockton with a guess and they will check for you.
I think there’s a link between the Sullivans and the Brennans from that area. Philomena (Ena) Sullivan marring Peter Brennan in the 1920s. I have the details somewhere.
Hi, i can remember Biddy and Billy very well, they were my grandparents best friends, all lived in the Housewife lane area before moving to Swainby and Danby Road, Biddy and William had a photograph hung up on thier wall of Biddy’s relative Patrick Sullivan and my grandad Robert Casey, this photo would have been taken when both mates joined K.O.S.B 1912, Biddy and William’s son’s Billy and Jacky were my dads mates (also called Robert Casey) as a young lad I would walk past Biddy’s and always got a kind word and she always told me I looked like a Casey, all very nice people.
Wished Id’ known about the photo of my grandad Robert and William when we all lived close by each other, never did see my grandad Robert as he died 1939, his mate Pat Sullivan died 1916 on the Somme battlefield.
All the best Derek.
Hi Derek I remember Biddy and her son Jackie very well me and Jackie’s daughter were best friends, I still see her in town always went in Biddy’s we used to play on her piano and her daughter Mary me and Jean use to go up to the convent every night where she worked, oh what are you two after gave us an apple or orange we use to buzz such happy days.
Hi June, there were some lovely people living in Swainby & Danby Road, so many of those folks back then came from Housewife Lane & other old parts of Stockton, many remained friends until the good Lord needed them. I had a wonderful happy childhood in both roads with some of the most wonderful lads and lasses, a great area to grow up in, left me with a bank full of great memories and still to this day chuckle at what we got up to.
All the best.
Derek
Hi Derek just saw your reply not been on this site lately yes very nice people in them days we had nothing but happy.
Did you know or know Peter Casey not saw him for quite a few years now lovely man thanks for your reply Derek.
Hello Derek hope you are keeping well, yes there was a lot of lovely friendly people who lived in Swainby Road and Danby Road and yes I can remember the young Higgins lad drowning such a sad incident.
Can anyone remember Biddy and Billy Hughes from Dandy Road?
Yes I can can’t exactly remember Billy but Biddy yes I was best friends with her granddaughter Jean. Happy days.
My grandad William Sullivan married Elizabeth Allison (24/Aug/1912, St Marys) Norton Road after they had the kids; Norah, catherine, Thomas (my dad) because they where not married, they kept the mothers maiden name.
Sometimes people didn’t marry in Victorian times because one or other of the partners had been married (like my own Grandfather). Divorce in those days was virtually impossible so some simply abandoned their spouses rather than stay in an unhappy marriage. Hope this helps.
The bit about the bodies is true. I knew Jimmy Kelly, official “boatman” at Head Wrightson and he said he always pulled them out on that side because of that. Apparently he knew where the current would pull them and obviously would find them there.
It’s true that Jimmy Kelley actually knew by the currents of the river and the days passing where a body would emerge. He then would take to the Thornaby side where he got 7/6d (old money), Stockton paid 5/-. I was very friendly with Jimmy and would travel to and fro on his ferry. He charged 2/6d per week or 6d if you only traveled once.
I also knew Tommy Allison very well. We both used the Brown Jug and he always stood at the Bar with us.
All the Allison’s used the Brown Jug. Tom was always up stairs in the lounge with his mates; Jack Hughes, John Foster, John Mills, ect. had some great times in that pub with some great people.
I loved the Brown Jug, my boyfriend at the time Barry Aitchison used to take me in there, we’d sit upstairs in the lounge and play dominoes with Billy from Derwent Street.
Carol, Billy from Derwent Street was my father-in-law, Bill Hepple. I was in his school of domino players.
Hi Carol are you on Stockton_ians people?