John Atkinson - The subject of a song, he was from Murton near Appleby and was the servant of Thomas Howson, a miller. He courted the Miller's sister, and at the same time, courted and wed another, encouraged by a "friend" Thomas Skelton, who actually married them to save the fees. He broke the heart of Howson's sister and she bled to death. This song, The Barnardcastle Tragedy, sung to the tune of "Constant Anthony" appears on page 11 in Joseph Ritson's Bishopric Garland or Durham Minstrel, on page 39 in (Sir) Cuthbert Sharpe's Bishoprick Garland and page 271 in John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards; and tells the story and serves as a warning to other lovers.
Captain John Bolton of Bulmer, near Castle Howard - The subject of a song/poem. John Bolton was an Irishman, and Lieutenant in the 1st regiment of the West Riding militia.[1] He took Elizabeth Rainbow, a single woman from the Foundling hospital at Ackworth as an apprentice. She became pregnant with his child and he strangled her with his hands and a cord and soldier's fife. Captain Bolton hanged himself in York Castle before the death sentence could be carried out. The song "A True and tragical song concerning Captain John Bolton &c" appears on page 24 of Joseph Ritson's Yorkshire Garland and sung to the tune of "Fair lady, lay your costly robes aside"
Rowland Burdon - The subject of a song/poem and also a Member of Parliament. The work "Sunderland Bridge" is written by "M W of North Shields!. For more details see "M. W" in part 1
Thomas Burdon, Lieut. Colonel of the Tyne Hussars - The subject of a song/poem, Lieut. Colonel of the Tyne Hussars and knighted by the Prince Regent in May 1816, Mayor of Newcastle 1810 and again in 1816, as noted on page 618 of Eneas Mackenzie's history of Newcastle and Gateshead.[2] A short bio also appears on page 199 of Thomas Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings
Thomas Burt MP - The subject of a song/poem and also a Member of Parliament for Morpeth 1874-1918. He appears in two works by Robert Elliott
Thomas Carr - The subject of several songs. T. Waller Watson brought a successful action at Newcastle Assizes, August 1823, against Thomas Carr, Captain of the Watch, for assault and false imprisonment. Carr was fined, but after failing to pay was himself imprisoned. The local poets loved it and wrote several songs about it. Among the songs written about the incident are the following :-
"Tom Carr and Waller Watson - or Tom and Jerry at Home" by W Oliver - page 451 in France's book, on page 137 in Marshall's book and on page 148 in Fordyce's book
"Johny Sc-tt & Tommy C-rr" (writer unknown) - on page 139 in Marshall's book and on page 150 in Fordyce's book
Robert Gillespy, farmer - The subject of a song/poem. He was the farmer from Low Weetslade, near Dudley, Wideopen, Newcastle, who, on his way to school in Crow Hall in 1818, noticed two workmen cutting down hedges and picked it a twig with the idea of using it as a make-believe riding whip. He took it home with him and stuck it in the ground. At the time of his death in 1878 it had grown into a huge Willow Tree, about which Cresswell wrote his song
The brickmaker Peter and his bride Jenny Gowen - The subject of a song/poem. The brickmaker Peter borrows a horse, and absconds (or elopes) with his girlfriend Jenny Gowen. The couple return after four days with the (worse for wear) horse, discover the girl is with child and eventually persuaded grandmother to agree to a marriage. The song "Pelton Garland" sung to the tune of "Maggy Lauder (or Lawther)" appears on page 71 of Joseph Ritson's Northumberland Garland and page 190 of John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards
James Lennon - The subject of the song "The Collier's doom" by Marshall Cresswell. The song was written in memory of 33 years old James Lennon, who was killed in an accident at Dudley Pit on 31 December 1879. It shows the esteem in which the local people of his village held him. A brief detail appears on page 95 of Cresswell's Local and other Songs and Recitations'
Robert de Nevill - The subject of a song/poem, Robert de Nevill (or de Neville), Second Baron of Raby (ca1220 – 1282), was the son of Geoffrey Fitz-Robert and his wife Margaret.[3] The song "Lamentation on the death of Sir Robert de Nevill, Lord of Raby, in 1282" appears on page 64 of Joseph Ritson's Bishopric Garland or Durham Minstrel
Thomas Petty - The subject of a song/poem - see Roger Wrightson, below
James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater - The subject of a song/poem and an Earl, executed for treason as a Jacobite. Two songs/poems titled "A song on the Lord of Derwentwater" and "Verses ……. The unfortunate James, earl of Derwentwater" (authors unknown) both appear on page 225 of John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards
Martha Railton and Roger Wrightson - see Roger Wrightson - The subject of a song/poem - see Roger Wrightson, below
Elizabeth Rainbow of Ackwoth - see Captain John Bolton of Bulmer near Castle-Howard - above
Capt John Sim - The subject of a song/poem, Captain Sim of Dundee, of the ship Antaeus, took the bar at Tynemouth during a violent storm, For this intrepid achievement he was awarded a silver cup on 1 September 1833 and the song was sung at this event. The song "Sim of Dundee" by John Shield of Newcastle, sung to the tune of "Newcastle Races" appears on page 415 of France's Songs of the Bards of the Tyne together with the brief note of the event.
Herbert Stockhore, the pretend author - The subject of a song/poem, Herbert Stockhore, a private in the regiment, is the "pretend" author of the song "A new song called Hark to Winchester on The Yorkshire Volunteer's farewell to the good folks of Stockton" sung to the tune of "Push about the Jorum", appears on page 35 of Joseph Ritson's Bishopric Garland.
George Stoole - was noted as being a "worthy gentleman" living between Gate-side Moor and Newcastle, yet he was accused of, arrested for, and condemned to death in Newcastle for the theft of cattle. At that period, the theft of animals was considered to be very serious. The theft of horses had always been considered to be extremely serious, and been punishable by death. More recent laws of the 1740s put the theft of sheep and cattle into a similar category. The song "A Lamentable Ditty on the death of worth George Stoole" sung to "a delicate Scottish Tune" and appears on page 43 of Joseph Ritson's Northumberland Garland
Joseph Swan - The subject of a song/poem, Sir Joseph Wilson Swan was a British physicist and chemist, most famous for the invention of the incandescent light bulb. The song "The Illektric Leet", by Alexander Hay and sung to "Billy O'Booke's the Boy" appears on page 562 of Thomas Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings together with a short bio on Swan.
Peter Watson - The subject of a song/poem, a common shoemaker who opposed the claims of the Government Clergy for the Easter Dues or "Clerical Tax". The song "To Mr Peter Watson - Who lays powerful bats on the knaves with fire-shovel hats on" is written by Henry Robson. It appears on page 133 of Fordyce's The Tyne Songster complete with details of the event, and also on page 122 of John Marshall's Collection of Songs, Comic, Satirical with the same details.
Mr T Waller Watson - The subject of several songs. T. Waller Watson brought a successful action at Newcastle Assizes, August 1823, against Thomas Carr, Captain of the Watch, for assault and false imprisonment. - see Thomas Carr (above) for further details
Ernest Wilberforce - The subject of a song/poem, Ernest Roland Wilberforce was the first Anglican Bishop of Newcastle after the diocese creation in 1882 (until 1896 when he moved to become Bishop of Chichester). The song "Newcastle Toon nee Mair by Richard Oliver Heslop and sung to the tune of "Nae luck aboot the hoose" appears on page 532 of Thomas Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings
George Wilson, the Blackheath pedestrian - The subject of a song/poem and an athlete (a road walker). He appears in the song is "On Russell The Pedestrian" (author unknown) - see Russell (above) for further details
Roger Wrightson and Martha Railton - The story is told in the song "The patern of true love or Bowes Tragedy" sung to the song of Queen Dido, and appears on page 18 of Joseph Ritson's Yorkshire Garland with a lengthy bio preceding it on page 15. The subject of a song/poem. Roger Wrightson (Junior) (son of the landlord of the Kings Head Hotel, Bowes) courted Martha Railton (daughter of the widowed landlady of the George Hotel, also in Bowes). In February ?(or March) 1714 (or 1715) Roger was taken ill and "dyed" of fever a couple of weeks later. Martha was heartbroken and took to her bed only to die shortly after. They were buried in one Grave on 15 March 1714, both aged 20 years". Just before Martha died, a friend Tom Petty tried to comfort her.
