Colin McMillan has provided the following:
In 1891 1 year old Albert Fagin was the youngest child of 42 year old William Fagan, an attendant at a lunatic asylum, and 39 year old Mary Fagan. Albert had three siblings; William Fagan junior was 17 and worked in the coal industry; George Fagan was 9 and Florence Fagan was 6. Every family member was born in Morpeth and their address was Flint’s Yard off 55 Newgate Street.
In 1901 the family were living at 3 Copper Chare, Morpeth. William jnr was no longer with them, George, then 19, was working as an iron moulder, Florence (16) was a domestic servant day girl and Albert was still at school. The family had increased with the addition of 6 year old Charles, who, like his siblings was born in Morpeth.
By 1911 the family had moved to 4 Shoulder of Mutton Yard. 63 year old William still worked as an asylum attendant. George, by then 30, continued as an iron moulder, Florence (26) does not appear to be employed, Albert was a house painter and Charles was an apprentice printer. Interestingly the census document shows that in the 39 years that William and Mary had been married they’d had nine children of which four had died. It appears that, assuming William jnr was still alive albeit living elsewhere, the Fagans had had four unsuccessful births.
Albert Fagan enlisted at Newcastle. At one time he served with the Scottish Rifles (service number 5975). However, he was serving with the 11th Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian) Regiment when he was reported missing on 12th October 1917. This date is now officially accepted as his date of death. He was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
Morpeth Herald 30/11/1917 carries a brief obituary:
News has been received by Mrs Fagan, of the Should [sic] of Mutton Yard, Morpeth, that her son, Private Albert Fagan, of the Royal Scots, (recently transferred from the Scottish Rifles), is reported missing since October 12th.
Albert Fagan is remembered in Morpeth on M17.01 M17.09 and M17.29
