Photo: Brian Chandler

Colin McMillan has provided the following:

He was living at Mason’s Arms Yard, Manchester Street, Morpeth in 1891. He was 9 years old at the time and lived with his parents and siblings. His father was 38 year-old George Blackhall, a coal miner born in Morpeth and his mother was Amble born 38 year-old Hannah. His older sisters were Elizabeth, 16, not employed; Jane, 14, a servant, and Isabella, 12 and still at school. William was the next oldest at 9 and was the only boy. He had two younger sisters: Mary A., 7, still at school and 2 year-old Hannah. All the children were born in Morpeth.

By the time of the 1901 census 19 year-old William, a coal miner putter, was living as a boarder in the household of 31 year-old John Kelly, a coal miner hewer, at 22 Medway Street, Hirst, Woodhorn, Ashington. Other members of the household were John’s 26 year-old wife Elizabeth and their three sons: Edmund, 4; John, 2 and 11month old George. Kelly was an Irishman although his wife was Morpeth born and the children were born at Hirst.

Ten years later, William, now 28, was back in Morpeth living at 13 Manchester Street, close to where he lived as a child. He still worked as a coal miner but was now married with a family. His wife was Edinburgh born Fannah Blackhall who was 23 and their children were Hellen, 3, and 5 month old Eva, both born in Morpeth. They had had another child who died.

The CWGC list a Private Blackhall, W.H., service number 23/686 of the 2nd Garrison Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers who drowned at Sunderland on 21st January 1917 aged 34.

At the time that the CWGC were putting their lists together William’s widow, now Fannah Matthews, was living at 13 St. Marks Street, High Stanners, Morpeth.

William Blackhall is remembered in Morpeth on M17.01, M17.02, M17.09, M17.21 and M17.29

The CWGC entry for Private Blackhall