Heworth St Mary
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Lewis Evans was born 1882 at Old Washington, County Durham, one of 10 children of whom only 8 survived, 5 sons, 3 daughters, 2 deceased, one a little girl Elizabeth who died at approximately 1 year of age in 1892. His father and mother both originated from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, John Evans was born at Berry Hill, in 1849, Annie Meek in 1857 at Littledean Wood. Their families migrated to the north east where they met and married in 1876 in the district of Durham. Working as a miner, John’s family settled at Allison’s Place, Washington, near Chester-le-Street, unfortunately John died in 1899, his widow Anne in 1901 was living at 85, Spout Lane. Anne worked from home for her own account as a dressmaker, her eldest sons Joseph (24), William Lewis (18) and also John only 13 all worked at the colliery below ground. William’s mother remarried at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1902 Evan Evans and appears in the 1911 census as married (9 years), living at 15, Havelock Terrace, Usworth Station Road, Washington, where she continued her profession as a dressmaker supported by her youngest sons Alfred (21) a coal hewer and Eli (17) a screener at the pit head, Evan Evans is not listed with them.
William Lewis Evans had left his mother’s home in 1902 when he married Annie Penaluna, born 1884 at Washington, in the district of Chester-le-Street. His wife gave birth to Thomas Penaluna Evans in 1903, Christine 1904, Elizabeth Ann 1905, William Lewis Jnr 1908. Joseph was born in 1911 whilst he was working as a miner away from home, living as a boarder along with three others at 5, West Street, East Stanley, the home of widow Fanny Clark, her 4 children and nephew William Kew.
William’s son Norman was born in 1914, that same year whilst working as a miner at Heworth Colliery he enlisted at Felling, May 1st 1914 aged 31 years 7 months and was assigned as Private 2046 to the 9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. He did not serve abroad but remained in the local area. Private 2046 William Lewis Evans was discharged April 7th 1916 his services no longer required.
Private W. L. Evans Durham Light Infantry died December 23rd 1916 and was interred with military honours at Heworth (St. Mary’s) Churchyard, County Durham. His widow living at 38, Holly Street, Felling, Gateshead, commissioned an additional inscription at a cost of 3 shillings 9 pence, it reads, ”Thy Will Be Done” and received the sum of 5 pounds 5 shillings from the Army Pay Office, December 3rd 1919.
At the time of her husbands demise Annie was pregnant with their 7th child. Annie Evans gave birth to a son she named Eli, in 1917, this may well have been in honour of her husband’s brother Private 4265 Eli Evans 1/9th Durham Light Infantry,151st Brigade, 50th Northumberland Division, who was killed on active service September 15th 1916 on the first day of the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, on the Somme in France. He left a widow Sarah Annie nee Knowles, they had married in 1913, however their son John Evans born February 25th 1914 died that same year. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,246 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France. Sarah Annie received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Of William and Annie children two emigrated to Australia, Thomas Penaluna Evans died in the state of Victoria aged 81 in 1984, Joseph Evans in N. S. W. in 1989 aged 87, daughter Christine passed away at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in 1977 aged 73 years, details as regards others unknown.
Annie Evans nee Penaluna resident at 26 Booth Street, Felling, Gateshead died aged 65, July 26th 1949.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Lewis Evans is remembered at Heworth on H92.03, H92.04 and H92.07
