Edward Chicken
Author of Collier's Wedding. Born Newcastle in
1698.Parish clerk at St. John's, teacher. Residence- White
Cross, Newgate Street.
Died 2 January 1746 buried St. John's Churchyard
Thomas Whittle
Residence= Cambo. Eccentric. Born Long Edingham?
Shibottle?, Ovingham?. Worked for a miller after arriving
on an old goat.
a "dsiciple of Bacchus" Painter. Died East
Shaftoe, buried Hartburn April 19,1736. Known for a song writing
wager with William Carstairs.
John
Cunningham
John Cunningham "whose name and fame will for ever be
identified with Newcastle", was born in Dublin in 1729.
His parents , who were of Scottish extraction, seem to
have had their share of "fortune's buffets and
rewards".-his father rising through winning a prize in a
lottery, and falling again as a bankrupt. The son
was recalled from the Grammar School at Drogheda-drifted
to the theaters, at seventeen wrote a play, "Love in a
Mist." which was performed at Dublin, and afterwards at
Newcastle--took to the stage, and finally settled at
Newcastle as a member of the dramatic company which then
travelled the North.
At Newcastle he seems to have won the friendship of Mr.
and Mrs. Slack, and for the Newcastle Chronoicle, of
which Mr. Slack was owner, he wrote short notices and
trifles in verse , which added to his income. In
1766 he published his poems by subscription. He
was advised by his bestfriends, to dedicate the volume
to the celebrated Mrs Montague, of Denton Hall (just
outside of Newcastle), but preferred to dedicate it to
David Garrick, and walked the distancefrom Newcastle to
London with a copy, elegantly bound, only to find
himself treated with indifference and neglect.
On June 20,1773 he took his last benefit at Darlington
and returned to Newcastle unwell, where, at his lodgings
in Union Street, on September 18th, 1773, he died, in
his 44th year, and wasa buried in St. John's
Churchayard, a monument being placed over his grave by
Mr. Slack, of the Newcastle Chronicle.
Some of the best songs in praise of
Newcastle are by writers to whom the old town,
however kind, stands but as a foster-mother.
Foremost amongst these must be classed Thomas Thompson,
who, in addition to being one of the earliest and best of
Tyneside writers, may be further honoured as one of the
founders of Tyneside song. Thompson, thus not a
native of Newcastle, was born in 1773 in the neighbourhood
of Bishop Auckland, where also his boyhood was passed, his
father, who was an officer, dying of a fever when his son
was young. To Durham as a youth he was sent to
finish his education and enter business. From Durham
to bustling, stirring Newcastle was but a step; that step
while quite a young man he took, and thus from early
manhood until his untimely death, Newcastle, whose praises
with such pride he sung, claimed him as her own.
Once settled in Newcastle (about 1790), his energy and
ability soon brought him to the front. The times
were stirring.
"Should haughty Gaul invasion threat"
struck the keynote of the period, nad Burns but
reflected the feeling which had been aroused by the
French threats when he joined the Dumfries Volunteers.
All over the country volunteer regiments were
forming. IN one of these,
"the Newcastle Light Horsse, " Thompson ,young as he was
(about twenty three), showed the position he had won in
the town by being appointed Acting-Quartermaster, and a
little later on Captain.
Curiously it is in connection with Burns that we come
upon the first trace of Thompson as a writer. He
mus have written much before, but as yet it is
untraced. Burns died July 21st, 1796. In the
Newcastle Chronicle, about six weeks later, an elegy on
his death appeared; it was signed J.H. In the
library of the Antiquarian Society, in Bell's "Notes and
Cuttings," from which thsi is condensed, it is said the
elegy was a vile heap of plagiarisms. Thompson,
young nad impulsive, in an anonymous sheet, pointed out
these plagiarisms. For that he got no thanks form
J.H. (John Howard), a teacher of mathematics who had
succeeded to the school of the famous Hutt.n...
Sixteen years after his confrontation with Howard
Thompson turns up again. In 1796 he was connected with
Mr. David Bell, wollen draper, at the lower part of
Middle Street Groat Market side. Five years later the
directory of 1801 lists him on the Quayside as a general
merchant trading as Armstrong, Thompson & Co.
Thompson became known for his volunteer work. His son
Captain Robert Thompson was less than four years old
when his father died. Thompson is mentioned in
1812 in Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards. He credited as
authoring the New Keel Row, Canny Newcastle and Jemmy
Joneson's Whurry also in 1812 he is noted as the author
of Election New Song. He prosperedas a merchant
with his offices in the Broad Chare and near the
Skinner's Burn, at the foot of Forth banks. He had a
large timber or raff yard and built Cotfield House on
the Windmill Hills, Gateshead. Thompson died January 9
1816 at age 43 during the flood while trying to protect
his property on the river. He is burried at Old St.
John's.
John Shield
Born Broomhaugh near Hexham 1768. He turns up on
Newcastle in 1800 running a large wholesale and family
grocery business.
In 1803 his name is on a petittion protesting
taxes. Shield is noted for his works about William Scott (Cull
Billy). He wrote
the famous successful appeal for his aid.
His Lord Size and Fair Delia appear in Northern Songster in 1806
and his song Oxygen Gas
was noted as being sung at the Theatre Royal.He
died August 6 1848 in his eightieth year.
"The Otway of the local muse". Born just
over the blue stane o' the brig. Gateshead. Father George
Selkirk= hairdresser in the Close.
John was clerk with Messrs. Strake and Boyd
Quayside. Known for the Bob Cranky songs written when he was in
his 20s. His songs
turn up on the Northern Minstrel or Gateshead
Songster 1806-7. Selkirk also wrote Swalwell Hoppin'. Returned
from London to Newcastle
around 1830.
Inquest of his death= Newcastle Chronicle Nov. 18,
1843-
"....on the body of John Selkirk aged 60 who
fell into the river near Sandgate on Saturday evening, and was drowned. The deceased was a person of
singular habits anddisposition, and had formerly been a respectable merchant in London; but
latterly was so reduced in circumstancesas to subsist upon the charity of the benevolent. For
some time in the past he had slept nights on the shavings of a joiner's shop in Sandgate, and refused to
accept parochial relief. On Saturday evening he was observed to carry a tin bottle to the river to
obtain water, when he unfortunately fell in...."
Burried November14, 1843 plot Number 655
Ballast Hills burial-ground
Stawpert is responsible for Newcastle Fair which
is to be found in Bell's Rhymes. He took up the
cudgels in defence
of The Bards of the Tyne against Charles Purvis.
He also wrote John Diggons and Trafalgar's Battle also in Rhymes
and
Angus' Garlands.Stawpert, according to
Bell's Notes was a clerk with Burdon & Rayne brewerrs,
Quayside. His songs were
written about 1805. Not much else is known of him.
Author of The Pitman's Revenge against Bonaparte
written 1804 (falsely attributed by some to Shield) .
Hairdresser in the Cloth Market. Sargent in one
of the Volunteer regiments. Sang the song to
his fellow volunteers at the Three Indian Kings, Quayside. Died=
June 20
1823, age 55. He is credited with authoring only
this one song. He is burried in St. Nicholas' Churchyard.
Born at Benwell near Newcastle. Resided in
Newcastle in 1812 as recorded by Bell. Author of The Colier's
Pay Week and other poems. He also
wrote The Tyne, Hydrophobia, Jean Jamieson's
Ghost, Colliere's Wedding Pitman's Pay and others. . A printer
who worked with Angus who printed Bell's work.
Not known as a dialect writer. Worked as printer
with Mackenzie and Dent and at home. Died= Grenville Terrace
Dec. 21, 1850 at age 785.
Obituary- "he had workded 60 years as a printer,
was the oldest member of the profession in the town, and was
much respected by a numerous circle of friends."
William Stephenson
Born June 28th 1763 Gateshead. One of the earliest
Tyneside writers. Apprenticed to James
Atkinson of Church Street- clock and watchmaking. Disabled
by severe accident, left watchmaking
to become a scholar and schoolmaster. His school was
opened on the Church Stairs, Gateshead.
1812 Quayside Shaver is include in Bell's volume along
with Skipper's Wedding (titled then= The Invitation)
1832- published a collection of songs dedicated to Rev.
John Colinson, Rector of Gateshead. This
includes: The retrospect and describes Gateshead. He also
wrote The Age of Eighty. He was known for
singing this song. Died- Gateshead, August 12, 1836 at age
73.
John Leonard
Author of one song in dialect: Winlanton Hopping.
Poet. Born Gateshead? Father George Leonard
was a Gardener. John was trained as a joiner.
Burial and date of death unknown.
Born Preston Near North Shields, April 10, 1788
An important songwriter. Parents died when a child brought
to Newcastle by an uncle at
age 3-4 years. Apprenticed to shoemaker in Dean street
possibly to the father of Willie
Armstrong. The Budget or Newcastle Songster was published
in 1816 by Marshall, in the Cloth
Market. This work contained 11 songs. Mitford is known
for: Cappy, The Pitman's Courtship and X.Y.
Mitford played the part of the bisiop in the coronation
held on the festival of St. Crispon
by the Cordwainers July 29, 1823 at the Freeman's
Hospital, Westgate. At this tim he quit
shoemaking and opened a public house on the edge of the
Leazes, near to the Spital tongues,
called: North Pole. While there he wrote the song:
The North Pole. Laterhe left the North Pole to
go to the more central Tailor's Arms at the head of the
Side. William Watson mentions him as being
there in 1834. Eventually Mitford retired to live in
his own house in Oyster Shell Lane at the head
of Bath lane. He died tehre on March 3 1851 at the age of
63 and is buried at Westgate Cemetary,
Arthur's Hill.
Robert Roxby
Famous in colaboration with Doubleday for fishing
songs. Roxby was the elder. Born Needless Hall and became a
clerk with Sir
W. Loraine and with Sir M.W. Ridley at banks in
Newcastle. Died= July 301846 age 79 and is buried at St.
Paul's burial ground
at top of Westgate Hill. In The Fisher's
Garland (signed by R.R. ) Roxby is responsible for the
manuscript and Doubleday the lyric.
Thomas Doubleday
Poet, politican and merchant. A poet both lyrical
and dramatic. Doubleday was prominent in the Reform Bill and
Chartist agitation.
He was not successful in business. He wrote: The
Auld Fisher's Lament in 1841 which may be autobiographical.
Doubleday is responsible for the lyric of The
Fisher's Garland which he produced with Robert Roxby. He lived
at Gosforth
outisde Newcastle. He died December 18 1870 at age
81.
Born Gateshead,St. Mary's Parish, Sept 8, 1797
Known as one of the Brightest of the Tyneside writers.
Father was a Newcastle sailmaiker. Robert was apprenticed
to William Spence,sailmaker
At age 21 in 1818 he received a silver medal from his
companions in appreciation for
his poetry. In that year he took us his freelage with a
musket for the defence of the town.
In 1817 he was drawn by ballot for the militia for this
duty he found a substitute Matthew
Winship a High Bridge shoemaker. Gilchrist's first book
Gothalbert and Hisanna
was published in 1822. In 1824 his Collection of Original
Songs, Local and Sentimental
was published by Mitchell. The second part appeared
in 1826 (his last publication) published by
W. Boag. Gilchist produced sacred works which show him to
favor the philsophy of
the Glassites. He married Miss Morrison. Gilchrist
took over his fathers business near the
Custom House on the Quayside in 1829. He was not
successful in the business prefering
the country and long walking tours. Gilchrisrt resided in
the old house facing Shieldfield Green.
In 1838 he wrote of the destruction which threatened his
house. The house was spared.
Gilchrist as a freeman took part in the "barges" event and
was foremost in the Freemen's steamboat.
He" had a slight cast in his eye and when telling a
humeorous story this eye did half the business"
Died= July 11, 1844 atage 47, buried = East Ballast Hills
burial ground.
Wrote Newcastle Noodles and Burdon's Address.
Born: Moorson's Court, Groat Market, Newcastle.
Apprenticed as painter. Went to edinburgh around
1830. Burdon's Address was published in Marshall's
Chapbooks, 1823. Newcastle Noodles was published
in Marshall's volume 1827. He was a nephew
of the scholar Dr. Morrison.
William Watson
Wrote Dance to thy Daddy and Thumping Luck to yon
Town and other songs.
A painter and politician.Residence= St. Martin's
Court, Newgate St. He wrote election songs for his favorites.
These he wrote between
1820 and 1840. His song Newcassel Races was
publshed in Marshall's Collection in 1827. Fordyce
published his later works(1842). Thumping Luck an
important song is said to have been written in London.
Died= St. Martin's Court, Newgate St. Feb.4, 1840,
age 44. Buried St. John's Churchyard.
Wrote Lizzie Mudie's Ghost and other songs.
Born= Painter Heugh, Newcastle, 1804.
Fater=shoemaker in Dean St. Bound to Mr. Wardie a
painter at the White Cross Newgate St. worked as
journeyman. Known as Willie Armstrong.
Songs were about alughable extravagances involving Keelmen
and Pitmen. A singer who was known for singing his
own songs. Armstrong was a member of the Stars
of Friendship social club. Went to London
around 1833-4. A "rough and amusing writer" The earliest of
his songs known is the Jenny Howlet published in
one of Marshall's Chap-Books in 1823. The rest of his
songs were published in Marshal (1827) and Fordyce
(1842).
Wrote Newcassel Props one of the best of the old
Tyneside songs. Born in the Side, Newcastle, Jeb 5 1800.
Father=cheesemonger.
William became a draper and hatter who worked with
Mr. Bowes, the Bridge End, Gatesehad. Later after trying
business on his own
he joined his brother Timothy as a grocer at the
corner of High Bridge in the Cloth Market. A collection of his
songs was published in
1829 dedicated to Robert Bell, Esq. Mayor of
Newcastle. He sympathisedwith the agitagion proceeding the
passage of the Reform Bill
of 1832. Of his political songs is England Awake.
Oliver took part in social gatherings at public houses with
tradesmen after business hours.
He was very popular as both singer and writer.
Such groups were- Sons of Apollo, Stars of Friendship, and the
Corinthan Society.
His songs were highly popular. Died= Oct. 29 1848,
burried= Westgate Cemetery, Arthur's Hill.
Thomas Marshall
Apprenticed as brush-maker with Mr Laidler,
Carpenter's Tower and later worked as journeyman there.
First published a collection of his songs in 1829.
The best known- Blind Willie, Euphy's Coronation. Both
mention local eccentrics. Marshall is described as
slight, dark and a little under the middle height.
Died around 1866 at around age 60 at his residence
Shield Street, Shieldfield of a paralytic attack. Buried
All Saints Cemetary January 2 1867 right-hand side
of the main walk one-third of the way up and about ten
yards from the edge of the walk. At breaks at work
he would sing with a favorite being- Thumping Luck to
Yon Town. He was a member of the guild of
bellringers of All Saints Church. Most of his songs were written
before or at around age 21. He was born on
Silver Street.
Trapper Boy, Schoolmaster, Merchant and Poet
Born Gateshead Low Fell, November 14,1773.
Went to the pits at age 8 as a trapper boy. The last
piece he wrote when over 80 years of age
was The Market Day. Wilson educated himself and became a
schoolmaster. He eventually became
a Clerk on the Quay and then bacame a partner with Mr.
Losh. 1807 the parntership became
Losh, Wilson and Bell. He moved to a residence on
the place where he was born: Fell House
where he spent the rest of his life. Routledge
produced an edition of his works. The first part of
his
Pitman's Pay came out in Newcastle Magazine in 1826 with
two other parts coming out in the
next two years. His earliest pieces date to
1824.
Died= 9 May 1858 age 85. Buried- St. John's Gateshead
Fell.
Known for The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth. Born=
North Shields. Practiced as a medical man.. 1838= Published
Poetic Fragments.
Retired to the Lake District. Died there= Aughst
16, 1881. Buried= Crossthwaithe churchyard.
Born Edinburgh, Sept. 26,1794.
Wrote Sandgate Pant and Hydrophobie and others. Moved to
Newcastle when
young. Apprenticed as printer with Mr. Angus in the
Side. Write children's nursery rhymes
for penny and halfpenny books. Wrote about the great
frost 1813 in a song with partner
thomas Binney in 1814.. Emery wrote first two
verses. Worked as a journeyman for many years
in the town. His songs which became very popular wre
written at this time. Around 1850 he
started business on his own as a printer in Silver Street.
He pursued this for about 20 years.
A year before he died he moved to larger premises at the
foot of Pilgrim Street. Died- March 20
1871 at age 77. Buried- All Saints' cemetary after a large
funeral. Emery wrote a song each year
for his fellow work mates at Lamberts in Grey Street
for their anual trip. He worked at Lamberts
before going out on his own. Hydrophobie was first
published in "Original Local Songs" published by
Edgar in 1825. Marshal in his 1827 edition of songs
lists Emery as one of a trio of local bards who break
into
song concerning the removal of the fishwives from the
Sandhill. His Jean Jamieson's Ghost appeared in
Fordyce 1842 .
T. Moor
T. Moor was a shoemakere who carried on business
at Denton Chare. A bass singer of note and member of the choir
of St. Andrew's. Mrs. Leybourne yet
remembered as a popular favorite, singing both at the Theatre
Royal and public concerts was his daughter. He
wrote only one song- The Skipper's Dream. Robert Emery,
the
famous Tyneside writer when having too much to
drink used to regularly sing this song. Emery may have had
something to do with the writing of the song.
William
Stephenson, Jun.
Son of a song writer. Born Gateshead Sept. 2 1797
worked as a printer first at the Bridge End, Gateshead.
Published The Tyneside Minstrel a collection of
local osongs in 1824 with contributions from his father and
others. Stephenson supplied hawkers with songs and
other works. His Beggars' Wedding is found in The
Tyneside Minstrel. He wrote under the letter S and
X proudicing sentimental songs. These include:
The lass that shed a tear for me and Ellen. He
published his fathers volume of poems and songss in 1832. Also
around 1832 he worked on the sixpenny monthly
newspaper magazine The Gateshead Intelligencer. This work
Started in 1830 and ended in 1833. Stephenson's
works got him int trouble with the Gas Company and was
forced to make an appology. Died= May 20, 1838 age
40. He is noted as being much respected.
Known as Bobby Nunn. Profession- slater. Due to
falling off of a roof he lost his eyesight. He worked as a
muscian- a fiddler.
In addition to playing the fiddle he sang and
composed songs. Robert Emery wrote about him in The Sandgagte
Lassie's Lament.
He performed his own songs. Died- Queen
St.,Castle Garth, Newcastle, May 2, 1853 age- 45. "A Newcastle
man, and had the Burr in all its delightful purity"-
W.h. Dawson. Nunn is not considered to be an
intelectual. His main skill was as performer. He was famed for
playing for women's
events, boxes or benefit clubs. A heavy looking
man, a great favorite at resorts. During the day Bobby turned
wood for turners and cabinet-makers.
He also made bird cages. Died= 1853. He wrote:
Sandgate Lass on the Robery Banks and Blind Wilie's Death.
The earliest publisher
of his songs is Fordyce 1842. He was known for
singing: The Poor Aud Horse and The quarter of Currans but these
songs have been lost.
John Brodie Gilroy
Famous for his son The Noodle. This seems to be
his only song. He was Foreman atLambert's Printing Office, Grey
Street. He was well read
with ready wit and great natural ability. He was
famous for extradordinary sayings uttered when he was
angry. He is known for being warm hearted and generous
beyond his means but he had a hot and firey temper. He led a
pure andsinless life. Died- Early 1853 at age 35. Buried- with
his trousers and boots on, Westgate
Hill Cemetary.
Native of South Shields. Seaman- from age of 12.
Taken prisoner during French war, confined in North of
France.
Shoemaker, chartist, co-operative store keeper,
second-hand bookseller. His business was in South Shields Market
Place.
He was known as being sober, intelligent, sharp
witted, and a public institution. A poet with most of his
work appearing
int the Shields Garland of 1859. died 1867.
"Bard of the Tyne and Minstel of the
Wear"
Born Bailiffgate, Newcastle Upon Tyne,
Sept. 24,1808.
Authored some of the most important local
songs. (see his autobiography).
Lost parents at early age. Mother died
when he was 6 father when he was 8. Father prepared
for priesthood at Stoneyhurst College but
due to health did not complete this course of study
and became a Catholic School
teacher. Robson was sent to apprentice as a plane
maker. Lifting
a heavy log of wood he severely sprained
himself and was forced to become a schoolmaster.
He was a poet fom an early age. In 1831 he
published Blossoms of Poesy his first work with
Poetic Gatherings coming out in 1839, The
Monomaniac in 1847, Poetic Pencillings in 1852
Hermione the Beloved in 1857 and
Evangeline or the Spirit of Progress in 1869.
He became a celebrated poet and a friend
of prominent poets of the day. He received a gift
of twenty pounds from the queen. Two
musical friends convinced him to start writing in the
dialect.
In 1849 he wrote the life of Billy Purvis.
In 18490-50 he edited The Bards of the Tyne which was
a collection of local songs. This work
included some of his own songs. Prince Lucien
Bonaparte
commissioned him to create a version of
the Song of Soloman in Lowand Scotch.
Robson contributed to Chanter's Comic
Almanack and he wrote a weekly letter which was always
signed- A retiort Keelman and written in
local dialect for the North of England Advertiser.
In the middle of 1869 while having
Evangeline printed Robson suffered a paralytic stroke.
He
improved somewhat but it lead eventually
to his death on August 26, 1870 at age 62. He is
buried
in Jesmond Old Cemetery. Enter the gates
turn to the left about ffity yards on the left is his
grave.
Born Liverpool, brought up in Stockbridge.
About him Joe Wilson wrote- "Comic iv iv'rything, clivor
at owt."
Moved to Newcastle at age four. At age seven his father
died. Corvan was brought up by his mother.
Known as Ned. His works Ne place now te play and the
Death of Billy Purvis are thought to be autobiographical.
He was known for extravagance and nonsence. He
worked as a sail maker. As a youth Corvan was fascinated
by
Billys or the Victoria Theater and after sailmaking did
not work out he joined Billy Purvis's dramatic company.
With the company he played violin in the orchestra and
sung comic and local song. Corvan also painted scenes
and worked at bill sticking. He was not successful
as an actor and did only small parts. Corvan was
most successful
with his songs. An early song was He wad be a Noodle which
was successful. He then became an important
part of the compayn at about age 20. Around 1850 the
Railway Company purchased the public grounds from the
City Corporation. (The Forth). Part of this near the
Infirmary was let to Madame Tournaire for use as a circus.
The circus was changed into a concert hall called the
Olympic (Managed by a Mr. Howard) when the circus
was
not in session. Corvan left Billy and joined the Olympic
company as a singer. He was very successful. At this
time his songs Oh, what a price for sma' coals and Ne
place now te play wre popular. Soon after he wrote
Asstrilly or
the Pitman's Farewell and Asstrilly's Goold Fields which
were also very successful. Corvan is known as being the
first
to compine both writing songs and singing them in
character as a profession. With sucess in this line
he quit his
dramatic pursuits. With this popularity Corvan traveled
the North singing his Tyneside songs. He was also
successful
on the road. Eventually he settled in South Shields
operating Corvan's Music Hall, Wapping Street for several
years
befor giving it up to return to local singing.
Corvan brought speaking or pattere into his songs.
He would draw with chalk
on the blackboard accompanying his drawing with
patter. Corvan produced the song The Fire on the Kee
which was
also very popular. During this song he dressed as a
female street hawker looking for her son Jimmy. One man
almost
laughed himself to death or close to it. Died at his
residence, Newgate Street just below St. Andrew's Church
age 35 buried-
St. Andrew's Cemetary. In addition to writing and
performing Corvan was a good painter and painted sea
pieces and landscapes.
Born Gateshead, 10 February 1835
Sent to Oakwellgate Colliery as trapper-boy. Soon went on
to the Goose Pit (The Gyuess). Ridley worked there
for 10 years befor moving to Messrs Hawkes, Crawshay and
Co as waggon-rider where he stayed for three years
leaving after a severe injury following an accident
involving a wagon which went out of control and
crushed
him. He was thereafter unfit for regular work.
Ridley then turned to his abilities as a singer of Irish
comic and
old Tyneside songs. He worked professionally first att the
Grainger Music Hall where he brought his first
local song- Joey Jones. This was very popular. Later at
the Wheat-sheaf Music Hall (later the Oxford) he was
also successful.
Following this he performed at the Tyne Concert Hall newly
opened by Mr. Stanley where he came up with the
reole of Johnny Luik-Up the Bellman. At this he was very
successful as his likeness to the real person was very
close.
He performed all over the North. His songs sold well
in cheap editions. He was known for The Bobby Cure and
Johnny Luik-Up. Children
sang these songs in the streets. After a short 5
year career his health started to fail. Died- at his
residence in Grahamsley St.
Gateshead, Friday, Sept. 9, 1864 at the age of 30-.
Buried- St. Edmund's Cemeterey. Ridley was not known as a
writer
of songs with literary merit instead, he is celebrated as
a performer and writer of songs which were extremely
popular
and were sung. He had a fine voice and great powers of
mimicry. Ridley's premature death is much regretted.
While
Allan does not draw particular attention to it his song
the Blaydon Races has become the anthem of Geordie Land
a
tribute to his special ability to write songs that would
be sung and remembered. For his characters click here
A temperance worker who brought the movement to
Newcastle. A newcastle native
he worked as a printer and sold books from his
shop in Dean Street. Rewcastle printed
the Temperanace Advocate an early temperance work.
He wrote- As I woke one morning and
It was in Dark December among others. including
Jackey and Jenny and others. His songs
were sung by fellow temperance worker Fenwick
Pickup. Rewcastle retired from bookselling
and took a position of responsibility with the
Newcastle Corporation. Died- Oct. 4 1867 at
age 66. Buried- St. John's Cemetary. Rewcastle's
songs were never published as a collection.
Edward Elliott
Known as E.E. Writer of witty and humourous
songs of great popularity. Alcoholic at an early age.
Defeated alcoholism and became a temperance worker
and advocate. Lectured on the topic.
He told autobiographical stories of his illness.
Died April 29, 1867 age 67 buried Earsdon Churchyard.
His songs include The Sheep-Killin Dog,and
Whitley Camp.
Michael Benson
Member of the Stars of Friendship fraternal
organization. Known as probably the oldest master printer
in the town. Known for his address- The Birth of
Friendship's Star which was delivered at the
anniverseay dinner Christmas Day, 1828.
Born Nov. 29, 1841 at end of Stowl Street, Newcastle.
Father- Joiner and cabinet myeker and mother a straw
bonnit myeker.
Both Newcastle natives. Became a printer at age 14. Wilson
had long ejoyed
songwriting. His first book came out at age 17. Wilson
celebrated the dialect.
He opened his own printing business at age 21 and was
successful
with his: Wor Geordy's Account o' the Greet Boat Race
atwixt Chambers an' Green
and soon thereafter he published a number of Tyneside
Sangs. He is known for:
Aw wish yor muther wad cum, The Row upon the Stairs, the
Gallowgate Lad and Dinnet clash the
Door which were all successful. His first professional job
was at Pelton on December 1, 1864
followed by work at the Oxford Music Hall and then at Tyne
Concert Hall, Newcassil.
After that Wilson toured the north with great
success. In 1869 he married and due to the
strain of travel he settled down in 1871 to serve as the
landlord of the Adelaide Hotel, Newcastle.
This did not work out and after a year he was back
touring. He became ill and died at his home
Railway St. at age 33.
Wilson was probably the most successful of the Tyneside
song writers. He specialized in homely
songs. Wilson was popular far and wide. He was
successful in moving beyond the eccentrics
to focus upon the everyday life of the working
clases. A collection of his works appeared in 1890.
"Mr
Joe Wilson, who
has attained a great repute as the author of many
popular local songs, was born in Newcastle on November
29, 1841; "but," writes Mr Wilson,
"twentyminnits
efter aw had myed me forst ippeerince, te the
stonishmint o' neybors, wor Tom showed his fyece te
dispute wi' me whe shud be the pet o' the family—an' he
sweers he is te this day, becas he's yungist." Their
father was a joiner and cabinet-maker, and their mother
a strawbonnet-maker. The former died when thirty years
of age, leaving the latter with four fatherless children
to provide for and bring up. "At fourteen," the poet
tells us, "aw went te be a printer. Sang writin had lang
been me hobby, an' at sivinteen me forst beuk wes
published. Since that time it's been me aim te hev a
place i' the hearts o' Tyneside
people, wi' writin' bits o' hyemly sangs aw think
they'll sing." The great Scottish poet was possessed of
a similar ambition in his early days, for he speaks, in
one of his best pieces, of having—
"A wish—I
mind its power—
That I for puir auld Scotland's sake
Some usefu' plan or beuk could make,
Or sing a sang at least."
But
Mr
Wilson set up as a
master-printer as well as a song writer, and, however
it might be with him in the former capacity, he soon
entered upon a successful career in the latter line.
"Aw wish Yor Muther wad cum," "Dinnet clash the Door,"
"The Row upon the Stairs," "Geordy, haud the Bairn,"
and numerous other songs, which now flowed from his
pen in rapid succession, at once gained for themselves
a warm place in the estimation and affection of many
Tynesiders, from which they are not likely soon, if
ever, to be removed. Mr Wilson
is likewise a good singer— indeed, he should be
heard rendering his own pieces—and he began to accept
engagements at music-halls and concerts, where he
became a great favourite. He was married in 1869, and,
two years later, he became landlord of the Adelaide Hotel, New Bridge
Street, Newcastle, where, ever and anon, he delights
his numerous old admirers, while winning for himself
additional friends, by writing, singing, and
publishing some new song further illustrative of the
manners and customs of Tyneside, and fitted to give the author a
yet warmer "place i' the hearts o' Tyneside people." A complete edition of his
songs has been published by Mr Thomas Allan, of Dean
Street".
-William
D. Lawson, Lawson's Tyneside
Celebrities: Sketches of the Lives and Labours of
Famous Men of the North , 1873
Alans Tyneside Songs
JOE WILSON
FROM
an autobiographic sketch of Joe Wilson, which he
published at the request, as he tells, of a few old
friends, we extract the following, as furnishing. in
the most interesting manner, the leading events in
the life of this most popular Tyneside bard :--
"Me
fether wes a joiner an' cabinet myeker, an' me
muther a straw bonnit myeker. an' byeth natives o'
the canny aud toon o' Newcassil. Aw wes born on the
29th o' Novembor 1841, at the end o' Stowl Street;
but &11' twenty
minnits efter aw had myed me forst ippearince,
te the astonishment o’ neybors, Wor Tom
showed his fyece, te
dispute wi' me whe shud be the ‘pet o' the family,'-
an' he sweers he is te this day, becas he’s the
yungist!
“At fowerteen aw went te be a printer. Sangwritin'
had Iang been me hobby. an' at sivinteen me forst
beuk was published. Since that time it's been me aim
te hev a place i' the hearts o’ the Tyneside people
wi' writin' bits o' hyemly sangs aw think they'll
sing. At twenty-one aw started business for me-sel
as a printer; and at twenty-two aw myed me forst
success i' publishing, wi' ‘Wor Geordy’s Accoont o'
the Greet Boat Race atwixt Chambers an' Green;' an'
next aw browt oot me forst number o' Tyneside Songs.
Later on i' the syem eer aw wrote ‘Aw wish yor'
muther wad cum,' throo seein' me bmther-in-law
nursin' the baim the time me sister wes oot, nivor
dreamin' at that time it wad turn oot the ‘hit’ it
did.
“ ‘The Row upon the Stairs,’ ‘The Gallowgate Lad,'
an' 'Dinnet clash the Door’ wes me next successes:
the last one (me mutber bein' the subject) nearly
lickin' ‘Geordyhaud the Bairn.'
“Me
forst perfessional ingagement wes at Pelton, i'
December 1864; me second at the Oxford Music Hall;
an' me thord at the Tyne Concert Hall, Newcassil.
Since then aw’ve been i’ nearly ivry toon i' the
North. an', aw’s happy te say, wi' the syem success
aw’ve had i’me native place."
Joe Wilson's Autobiography only comes down to 1867.
Two years later he married; and although he still
continued singing his songs as successfully as ever
at the various concert halls in the North, yet the
travelling from place to place, and the absence from
home it necessarily caused, made it less agreeable
now than before. This feeling strengthened with
time, till, in the year 1871, he settled in his
native town as landlord of the Adelaide Hotel.
Joe's
career as a landlord. was short. After little more
than a year he gave it up, and started his concert
life again. Never robust. his health began to fail,
and after a lingering illness he died at his
residence, Railway Street, in his thirty-third year.
Beyond
all comparison Joe Wilson has been the most
successful of Tyneside song-writers. His wish to
have a place in the hearts of the Tyneside people by
writing homely songs they would sing has been amply
gratified. His name throughout the North is a
household word; and far beyond the North, in distant
lands, wherever North countrymen are settled, there
his songs are prized; their truthfulness to Tyneside
life vividly recalling the old home far away. The
songs of the older local writers generally relate to
particular occurrences, eccentric characters, and
the like; Joe Wilson, while not neglecting these,
has gone further, and has presented to us pictures
of the everyday life of the great mass of the
working classes of Tyneside. "The Row' upon the
Stairs," “Geordy, haud the Bairn," " Dinnet clash
the Door," “We'll nivor invite them te tea ony
mair,'" etc., are truly photographs in verse of
Tyneside working-class life, and so faithful is the
delineation. that they only, the subjects of his
pictures, can fully appreciate their truth and
accuracy. Although now the author of hundreds of
songs, his later efforts show no falling off: "The
Time me Fethur wes bad," " Be kind te me Dowtor,"
etc., only strengthen and increase a reputation that
must ever remain one of the brightest in the annals
of Tyneside song.
The
above, to which a little has been added, appeared in
the 1873 edition of this coIlection. For a fuller
life of Wilson the reader is referred to the new
collected edition of his works (1890), Of that
edition, it may be added. it has been noticed most
favourably by the highest literary papers of the
day-The
Athenaeum, Literary World,
The Spectator,
The Saturday
Review, and others.
under
construction
1890- Joe Wilson, (author) Songs and
Drolleries.
LIFE OF JOE WILSON.
LIFE 0' JOE WILSON (AS FAR AS IT'S GYEN). A SHORT SKETCH
PUBLISH'D AT THE RICKQUEST OV A FEW AUD FRINDS.
ME fethur wes a joiner an' cabinet-myeker, an' me muther
a straw bonnit myeker, an' byeth natives 0' the" canny
aud toon 0' Newcassil." Aw wes born on the zcth 0'
Novembor 1841, at the end 0' Stowl Street, close agyen
Darn Crook, an' not a hundrid miles frae Gallowgate, but
twenty minnils efter aw had myed me forst ippeerince, te
the stonishmint 0' the neybors, Wor Tom showed his
fyece, te dispute wi' me whe shud be the "pet 0' the
famly," an' he sweers he is te this day, becashe's the
yungist! Aw cannet egsactly rickollect what teuk place
at that remarkabil time, but aws warn'd the wimmin foaks
wad heh thor drops an' cracks the syem as ivor, not
forgettin te drink the hilth 0' the new-born twins, an'
wishin me muther seun better agyen, ivor se monny times
ower. Shortly efter wor borth, wor foaks teuk't i' thor
heeds te shift, te Gallowgate, an' it wes here where me
fethur dee'd, at the arly age 0' thorty-one, leavin me
muther .wiv a famly 0' fower, besides her-sel, te bring
up the best way she cud; Tom an' me at that time not
bein three eers aud. Weel can aw mind the struggils me
muther had, but she work'd wiv a gud heart, an' nivor
flinched frae the task afore her, her consint study bein
for the gud 0' her bairns. Tom an' me wes varry young
when we forst went te St. Andrew's Scheul, i' Peercy
Street, where a few eers efter, for the benefit 0'
me-sel an' wor foaks, aw wes myed a free skollor. But
Tom diddent fancy't.-It wes the forst time aw had wore
different claes te him; an' it had been me muther's aim
te keep us drest alike, for the likeness betwixt him an'
me wes sumthin wunderful, an' the blunders it creates is
varry laffabil. At fowerteen aw went te be a printer;
an' shortly efter that we left Gallowgate, the street se
famous for greasy
bpawls, legs 0' mutton, sowljors, an
milishamen, te leeve " farther doon the toon,"
Sang-writin had lang been me hobby, an' at sivinteen me
forst beuk wes publish'd. Since that time it's been me
aim te hey a place i' the hearts 0' the Tyneside people,
wi' writin bits 0' hyemly sangs aw think they'll sing.
At twentyone aw started business for me-sel as a
printer, an' at twenty-two aw myed me forst success i'
pubJishin, wi' ""Vor Geordy's Accoont 0' the Greet Boat
Race atwixt Chambers an' Green." It wes this eer me nyem
first figor'd i' the titlepage 0' Chater's Comick
AlmanackJ' an' next aw browt oot me forst number of
Tyneside Sangs. Later on i' the syem eer aw wrote" Aw
wish yor Muther wad cum," throo seein me brother-in-law
nursin the bairn the time me sister wes oot, nivor
dreaming at that time it wad turn oot the" hit" it did.
"The Row upon the Stairs," "The Gallowgate Lad," an'
"Dinnet Clash the Door" wes me next successes; the last
one (me muther bein the SUbject) nearly Iickin "Geordy,
haud the Bairn." Me forst perfessional ingagemint wes at
Pelton i' Decembor 1864; me second at the Oxford Music
Hall, an' me thord at the Tyne Concert Hall, NewcassiI.
Since then aw've been i' nearly ivry toon i' the North,
an' aw's happy te say wi' the syem success aw've had i'
me native place,-aw cuddint wish for owt better, an'
it'll always be me study te desarve the syem ower agyen.
"May nivor warse be amang us."
. Nov. 29th, 1867.
Such is Joe's brief characteristic autobiography of his
early years. To it a little may be added before
proceeding with the later period of his life. To begin,
Joe omits to say that his father, besides being a
native, was also a freeman of Newcastle. This freelage
he inherited; consequently as a freeman, Joe had the
rights of the old inhabitants of the town. Although thus
linked with the standards of Newcastle, his father's
family originally belonged Alnwick, John Burnett of
"Nine Hours" and "Labour Bureau" renown, an old "Duke's
scholar," being a relation. His mother, Miss Knox of
Ouseburn, was true Tyneside, her family being old
residents in Newcastle. Frank Robson, of Market Lane,
Pilgrim Street, to whom Joe was bound, was a printer in
a very small
way; he seems never to have got fairly established, and
finally closed after Joe had been about four years with
him. Possibly it would be in this office that the
laughable incident of "The Man wi' the Broon Top-Coat"
took place (see page 444). Several printing offices saw
Joe through this closing, amongst others the Newcastle
Guardian office, where he worked a short time. It would
be at Robson's office, when seventeen, that his "first
beuk" would be printed; it was a small venture of eight
pages, and doubtless would be set up in his spare
moments to distribute amongst his friends. About this"
first beuk" it may be further mentioned (a fact which
does not appear in the autobiography) that it was a book
of sentimental songs and poems. Strange as this may
appear to those who only know Joe as a writer of
Tyneside songs, yet it is the fact that it was as a
writer and singer of sentimental songs that he first
made his mark. Later on, when in Tyneside song he found
his true vocation, he gathered and destroyed all the
copies he could find of this early sentimental venture,
his twin-brother not being able to save one, only
preserving the following lines, which formed part:·THE
TWIN-BROTHERS' BIRTHDAY. BY JOSEPH WILSON.
JOE TO HIS TWIN BROTHER, THOMAS WILSON.
Dear brother Tom,
Our birthday's come, And now we're seventeen; 'Mid
smiles and tears, Seventeen long years Have glided like
a dream Since first we saw a mother's smile Beam on us
like a ray Of pleasing hope throughout life's path, To
cheer us on our way. And now we gaze Upon those days,
Which memory paints so fair, When we have played, And
often strayed Far from a parent's care; We think upon
our childhood's days, Affection then expands Throughout
our breasts, with brother's love We grasp each other's
hands.
Together we Will ever be As we have everbeen; Let
yearsroll on, We think upon Each fondand cherishedscene,
Sincefirst we cameinto this world, Together, yet one in
heart, Let us then hope, and trust in God, We ne'er
willhave to part. Gifted with a sweet tenor voice,
singing was Joe's delight, and to be a choir boy his
great desire. At St. Peter's, where he applied, owing to
some reason or other he failed; but at All Saints' he
succeeded in his application, and there for years he
sang in the choir, only leaving after he had grown to
manhood. To this period of his life doubtless many of
the moral touches which point his songs owe their
origin, as "Life's winter may bring happy days te sum,
But still rememberthis, tho.'croonedwiearthly bliss,
Thor's anuther an' a better world te cum." Concerts
known as "free and easies," held in publichouses at this
time, were common; there was also a series of Saturday
evening concerts in the Lecture Room known as the
People's Concerts. Joe's love of singing drew him to
these. One of his popular pieces at these concerts was
"Paddy's Adventures in his Sleep," a comic medley. This
might be called his first hit. It might also be called
an extra, as "Nelly Gray," " I'm leaving thee in sorrow,
Annie," and the ordinary sentimental songs of the day
were what Joe generally sung. When the Working Men's
Club was established, Joe was amongst its first members,
and wrote a rhyming appeal for its support. To
counteract the attractions of the public-house " free
and easies " the club started popular concerts. Joe was
a leading spirit in this; he regularly sung, and here
the character of his singing changed. Sentimental songs,
which up to this time were all he sung, now gave place
to local. Bob Chambers, then in his glory, was Joe's
idol, and on him he wrote his first local song. It was
but the beginning; its success carried him on; the
sentimental was discarded, local now was his only fancy.
"Peg's Trip," "Sally Wheatley," "Aw wish yor Muther wad
cum," these were quickly written, and sung by him at the
club. This was his
turning-point; shortly after he gave up amateuring and
took entirely to the stage. When Joe, giving up his
amateur singing, cast himself for support on the
public as a Tyneside writer and singer, he showed the
faith he had in himself.
JOE WILSON SINGING. [From a Photograph. P, M. Laws,
Newcastle.]
The field was by no means unoccupied. George Ridley,
famous for his "Bobby Cure" and" Johnny, luik up,"had died
two months before, but there was Ned Corvan, a popular
idol, still to the fore, ready to contest with him the
possession
of the stage;
while as a song-writer, J. P. Robson, justly famous, was
wielding his pen as brightly as ever. Joe succeeded in
spite of all opposition; he struck out a new vein.
Corvan copied the old Tyneside writers, with their broad
humour and burlesque tone in treating of local subjects.
Robson, more finished, was of the same school. Joe
dropped the burlesque altogether; he enlarged the scope
of Tyneside song, and showed that the dialect could be
used for more than subjects of an extravagant or
burlesque character. "Jimmy joneson's Whurry" and" Bob
Crankey's Adieu," admirable specimens of the old, were
to have companions of a later type in" Dinnet Clash the
Door" and" Aw wish yor Muther wad cum." His first
professional engagement, he writes, was at Pelton, but
that was only for one night; his real professional
career may be said to date from his appearance at the
Oxford Music Hall. The" Wheat Sheaf," long carried on by
Mr. Balmbra, was about to pass into the hands of Messrs.
Bagnall and Blakey. Joe for years had been a member of
the Highland Society, a benefit society held at the
house of Mr. Baird. Sir John Fife regularly took the
chair at their annual meetings, and Joe, in Highland
fashion, was the Bard of the society, and sat at the
chairman's right hand. After Sir John Fife's death Mr.
Bagnall was made chairman, and there heard Joe sing. He
wished to engage him for the opening of the "Wheat
Sheaf," which they had re-named " The Oxford." Mr.
Blakey, his partner, feared Joe was not strong enough to
be heard in the hall; but Mr. Bagnall, who had got a
high opinion of Joe, engaged him, and the result
justified him, as Joe was a great success. Mr. Bagnall,
pleased with his success, went behind the stage and
congratulated him upon the hit he had made. After
leaving him, Mr. Bagnall was surprised when he got back
to the front to see Joe already there. "Hallo," he
cried, "how have you got here, Joe?" "Aw'm not Joe,"
said the party addressed. " Not Joe," said Mr. Bagnall,
puzzled; "if you are not Joe, then who in the world are
you?" " Aw'm Tom," was the reply. It was Joe's twin
brother, as pleased as anyone at the hit of the night.
The wonderful ikeness between the two, unknown at the
time to Mr. Bagnall, had led to his confounding them.
Nightly for three months Joe sang at the Oxford, and on
the occasion of his benefit a lady friend gave him a
large dressed doll with which he came on to the stage
and sung his" Aw wish yor
Muther wad cum." Up to that time he had always sung the
song with two handkerchiefs made up into the figure of a
doll. Joe often sang at the Oxford after this, and always
spoke kindly of Mr. Bagnall as one of his best friends.
The representatives of the old and the new did not always
agree. J. P. Robson weekly wrote a letter in the dialect
for the North oj England Advertzser. In it he made
areference to Joe, who at the time was engaged at the
Oxford Music Hall. The reference annoyed Joe; he
considered it unfair; vexed he went to the Advertiser
office, and finished his visit with something like the
following; "Keep me oat 0' yor paper, dinnet menshun me
nyem at all; awjust want te be let alyen." Despite this
brush, Joe, above jealousy and incapable of unfairness, in
his acrostic on Robson (after his death) paid a generous
tribute to his genius; and, when a monument was raised to
Robson's memory by his many admirers, Joe, ill at the time
and unable to walk, but anxious to see it, went in a cab
to the cemetery to see the memorial of his great rival,
and weak at the time, according to one that was with him,
was much affected. "Ambition, that last infirmity of noble
minds," has its companion in the poet's love of praise.
Joe had his share of this failing. Never a boaster, never
offensive, the high opinion he had of the merits of his
own works came out in conversation so naturally, and
apparently so unconsciously, that while at first the ear
caught it, yet after a while it ceased to be noticed. The
rapidity with which Joe composed his songs was surprising.
Once at his printing-office, while his twinbrother inked
the roller for him while he pulled the handpress, he -kept
between the pulls jotting down on a sheet of paper. The
song thus jotted down as he worked was "The Lanlord's
Dowter," There was a certain fitness between this song and
the place in which it was written, as joe's
printing-office was in a room forming part of the"
Travellers' Rest," a public-house in Marlborough Crescent
kept by his sister's husband. Early in r865, visiting Mr.
and Mrs. Hair -old friends-while at tea something in the
conversation appeared to set him on ; he kept every now
and then jotting down in his pocket-book. What he thus
jotted down, after tea he read to them. "It's Time te Get
Up" was the song he had thus written; and so around the
tea-table they first heard the laughable troubles of young
Mary Brown and her sleepy Ned. His twin-brother, lately
married, and his wife,
were of the party. Doubtless this set the conversation
into the channel which brought out the song. Their hostess
on this occasion came to her death in a tragic manner some
years later. The famous sculler, James Taylor, and family
were leaving for America. Mrs. Hair and other friends were
at the "Central" seeing them away, when, in shaking hands
at the carriage-window the engine moved, Mrs. Hair was
thrown down, and falling between the platform and the
rails, was killed on the spot. About nearly all of Joe's
songs there could be told little incidents like these. He
accidentally put his foot upon a young woman's dress, and
"Maw Bonny Gyetside Lass" was the result. The same young
woman took ill of a fever, and was not expected to
recover. Joe went to see her, and " Meggie Bell" was
written. Again a friend mentioned a conversation he had
had with his sweetheart's father. The same night" Be kind
te me Dowter " was written. About these humble love
affairs it may be added they went the way of many more
exalted ones" The courseoftrue loveneverdid run smooth."
It was only for "One neet ;rack Thompson sat beside his
canny sweetheart's fethur,' and H 1Ve'Il hev a crack, the
aud man said, since here we've met together," led to
nothing; it was the end instead of the beginning. Nearly
all Joe's songs like these have a foundation in fact, and
relate either to incidents or persons that came under his
notice. About the songs this also may be added: the order
in which they were written is pretty much the order in
which they are printed except the boat-racing songs, which
are gathered together at the end. Off-hand, so to speak,
as these songs were written, they were no rough drafts,
but the finished songs as we have them. After a song once
took shape with Joe, he seldom or never altered it; as the
tree fell it lay. Once he brought a song, which he thought
he might touch up. He took it away; when he brought it
back, what had been a mere incident in the song-a woman
lamenting amongst her troubles that her son had listed-had
been worked into the central idea. The song thus revised
was" Jack's Listed
i' the Ninety-ire." But this was a rare case; Joe seldom
could see where even a trivial alteration could be made.
In 1862, when the present publishers, encouraged by the
success of printing a song by W. H. Dawson on the opening
of the Stephenson Monument, brought out a new edition of
local songs, Mr. Beall, who printed it, when busy
occasionally engaged Joe as an extra hand. Joe about that
time had started for himself at Marlborough Crescent, and
appears to have had a little time to spare. It would be at
this office in Marlborough Crescent that he would print
the first numbers of his own songs. On the cover he had"
The Canny Newcassil Foaks' Fireside Budget: Joe Wilson's
Tyneside Sangs and Ballads." Each number consisted of
eight pages. Besides being his own printer, he also at
this time did a little of his own bookselling, calling
upon the shopkeepers and supplying them with his songs.
After he gave up printing he passed his songs to Howe
Brothers, Gateshead, where he had worked, and they printed
(with Mr. Fordyce, who did a few of the later nnmbers),
what up to the present has been the only edition of his
songs to be had, Joe himself setting the greater part of
the type. While he worked at Howe's, for an almanack which
they printed about 1860,he wrote two companion pieces,
which appeared side by side, "Aud Nelly's Advice tiv her
Dowter," and" Bob Hobson's. Advice tiv his Son." Although
these in his volume he prints as recitations, "Bob Hobson"
first appeared in the almanack as a song to the tune of
"The Spider and the Fly." He seems to have been at home at
this Gateshead office; there they recollect how at
tea-time he used to set, not the table, but the fireside
"in a roar." Sitting around the fire at their teas, if the
humour seized him, a trifle was enough to set him on.
Anything lying about, perhaps a bill they were printing,
he would take it up, and proceed in such a cornie way to
read it, that often their teas were never finished for
laughter. His eyes, which were large, brimmed over with
fun and drollery, and as he abandoned himself to the
humour of the moment, voice; gesture, and wit all combined
to make his mock performance irresistible. One result of
these outbursts of humour was that something like the
following was often heard at tea-time. "Joe, aw'rn not
gawn te sit beside ye; aw want me tea the neet; aw'm gawn
upstairs." Although thus full of life and merriment, he
was constitutionally weak; and while other printers stood
at their work, Joe had a seat, and laughingly
excused himself by saying he could do more sitting than
they could standing. In 1869, "basking in the sunshine of
an early fame," as his friend W. H. Dawson wrote, he
married, Miss English, of jarrow, being his choice. This
marriage by-and-by brought changes. His life as a
professional, singing allover the country, took him much
from home. While single, that did not matter, but now with
a wife and child it was different. Always a keen lover of
his home, his feelings at this period may perhaps be best
shown by a verse from a song he afterwards wrote" Lass,
aw'm sorryaw's not wi' yeFairly forcedte be away; Frae me
little wifean' fam'Iy, How aw spend the varry day Myeksus
wundor, ay, an' wundor, An' keep narvisas can be, For aw'd
like ye, an' aw's sartin Ye'll kiss little Joe for me." He
took the worse with this separation, as he had just had a
long spell of settled life. For nine months he had been
manager of a new concert hall at Spennymoor, and now that
ended, there was only the old travelling before him. Being
at this time at the height of his popularity, he
determined to give up his wandering concert life, and
settle in his native town as the landlord of a
public-house. A suitable place-the Adelaide Hotel in New
Bridge Streetwas offered him, but the ways and means in
Joe's, as in many other cases, was the difficulty; but,
anxious to be settled, he sought the help of his friends.
Oddly enough, for his present purpose two of these were
teetotallers. They hesitated not so much at helping as at
the form it took-to be joint guarantee for the landlord
was getting rather too closely connected. But Joe pressed.
If he could only get set away he was sure to do, he had so
many friends. He would start a Free-and-Easy, and finally,
"Ye say ye wad like te see us de weel, an' now here's a
chance that'll be the myekin on us, an' ye'Il not help."
No suggestion of any other business would do; he was set
upon the Adelaide. A compromise was come to; instead of a
guarantee for so much, the amount was advanced as a loan
(afterwards honourably repaid), and in 1871 the Adelaide
got its new landlord. His liking for the familiar Joe was
shown by the
ingenious way he arranged the letters of his name above
the door; they appeared thus, JOSEPH WILSON. At a rough
glance the large letters read JOE \VILSON, while a nearer
reading showed the legal requirements of the full name
above the door had been met. For a time all went well,
then the temptations of a publican's life told upon him;
friends would treat him. The difficulty of saying no, and
saying it in time, increased; while the trials of a
landlord from his half-drunken customers were at times
more than he could bear. As unfit for rough, personal
struggles as he well could be, once overhearing a rude
remark applied to his wife who assisted him in the
business, he "let flee" with the cry, "Tyek that;" and
speaking further about it, said, "Man, had he been twice
the size, it wad hae been the syern ; aw was that narved."
About a twelvemonth of this life was more than enough.
Worsened in every way, disappointed and sickened with the
whole business, he gave up the Adelaide-his ideal of the
life of a landlord shattered. It was about this time that
a friend, meeting him, asked how he was getting on in his
publichouse. "Badly," was the reply; "if aw drink wiv
iv'rybody that asks us, aw's a drunken beast; if aw
dinner, aw's a surly beast,-aw'll heh te be oot on't," Up
to this period upon the drink question he had been amongst
the moderates; his songs are full of kindly allusions to
drink; the spirit of them all being moderation; as " A
drink 0' beer the heart 'ill cheer, An' myek the
momintsglad," " Aw like the man that tyeks his gill, An
decencyhauds dear." These may be taken as samples, but at
the Adelaide he had seen how difficult, and more, how
dangerous, this moderation was. He was not above learning;
his songs henceforth were to have a different tone. He
changed completely, turned a teetotaller, and joining one
of the Good Ternplar bodies, never afterwards flinched
from his order. or " 'What's thenext case,'saidthe
magistrate,buthe seemedte knaw, aw think, It wad be like a
the uthers, throe the drink-the wearydrink." This was now
the spirit of his writings. Temperance Songs, Readings,
and Recitations, the result of this change,
were produced about this time. These, like the rest of his
writings, were no fancy sketches, but real pictures of
everyday Tyneside life. The names of many, as "Cum hyem
wi' me," " Drink ne mair," "What a fyeul ave been," "De
withoat it for once," tell their every-day tale; while in
" Clivor Men," he thus champions the abstainer against the
drinker :
" Ye may talk aboot c1ivormen bein greet drinkers, An'
reckon yor-selas a one 0' that sort, An' run doon tetotal
te chepsthat's not thinkers, But, hinny, what sayye te
Cowenan' Burt?
So dinnet brag se whenye talk aboot drinkers, Or dinnet ye
run the tetotalers doon ; Thor's men that's abstainers can
proveas greet clinkers, An' myek thor-selsknawn te the
world i' renoon. Sobriety myeksa man's heed always
clearer, He's welcum,respected, knaws hoo te behave; Te
byeth frinds an' familyhe'll ivor be dearer,It dissent
need whiskeyte myek a man brave."
While in this earnest fashion fighting for his new love,
he had yet another fight to face, and one that caused him
much anxiety. When he gave up the Adelaide, he had given
up his livelihood, such as it was; and now the question
rose, how was he to live? Some of his friends advised him
to try the press. His popularity as a writer was
undoubted; he might study shorthand, and once on the press
he was secure. He got Pitman's "Phonographic Teacher." Mr.
Hayward, of the Express, was seen; he was favourable, and
would do what he could; but in a couple of weeks Joe
returned the shorthand guide. "It wes ne use; he wes sure
he cud nivvor lam." Positive as he was in lines he had
tried and where he knew his powers, he yet was naturally
diffident. This decision was the more to be regretted as
his "Man wi the Broon Top-coat" showed he could shine in
story as well as song. The press idea had to go. For a
time he followed his old trade ofprinter with Mr. Fordyce,
who just then had an order to print an edition of Tyneside
Songs. Joe worked for a while at this congenial job, and
then a longing for the old life seemed to come over him-a
longing to have an audience again under his spell, and
once more to hear their applause ringing in his ears as he
sung them his homely songs. That he might not be too
dependent on his concert hall engage
ments he arranged an entertainment of his own, to give in
schoolrooms, etc. He got a magic lantern. Stuart-Bell, of
the Wear Music Hall-a friend of whom Joe always spoke most
kindly-let him make slides from his paintings of " The
life of a ship from the cradle to the grave." To these he
added temperance and local slides (portraits and views),
and combining with them a selection of his own songs, made
a very interesting entertainment. He gave a few
performances, the first being at the British Workman,
Nursery Cottage, Scotswood Road, on February 6th, 1874. It
was a success, and he had high hopes of it; but failing
health and a pressure of concert hall engagements, kept it
unfortunately in the background. He had been so long
absent from the concert halls that he was much sought
after, and went through the north singing his songs, on
one if not two occasions going as far as Glasgow. It was
at Glasgow, while singing on the stage (I think at the
Britannia), that he first felt acutely the presence of the
disease that was fated to bring him, like his father, to
an early grave. He was singing, when suddenly there shot
into his side a pain so keen, he felt, as he put it, "as
if a knife had pierced him." After a rest he strengthened
a little, and sung at several places, but gradually he
grew weaker, until all engagements had to be given up. The
Royal Star Theatre, Stockton-onTees, was where he last
sung. There he had his benefit on Friday, September 4th,
1874. This benefit, to the credit of the manager it may be
added, was not part of Joe's engagement; but seeing he was
ill, it was kindly offered so that Joe might be helped
through his illness. While he was thus finishing what was
to be his last engagement, in the Literary World (London),
of August 28th, 1874, the following notice of him and his
songs appeared :"Newcastle·upon.Tyne has always been
famous for its local poets, who, in homely words and
strange vernacular, reflect the passinghumoursof its
busypopulation. It is a smoke.enveloped town, but the
centre of immense activity; and its thousands of grimy
workmen are full of fun, enterprise, and honest thought.
Joe Wilson,a localpoet, is one of their favourites; and no
wonder, for he is a genial spirit. He knowshis
fellow-workmen,and is not ashamed oftheir lowlylot. We
wouldnot for a momentcompare him with Elliott, Capper,
Waugh, Barnes,or Robert Burns, all of whom found
inspiration in local themes; but he is a poet for all
that, and, to those who can interpret the local dialect,
his works affordno smallpleasure."
Joe was much pleased with this notice, which showed his
fame was extending; it cheered him a little under the
depression his illness cast upon him, and it was the more
gratifying in coming, as far as he and his friends were
concerned, unsought. He had now returned to his home at
Newcastle, but finding after a time that he was getting
worse rather than better, he resolved to accept the kind
offer of Mr. Rowland Harrison, Tyneside writer and
vocalist, who at that time kept the Commercial Hotel at
Winlaton, and go and stay with him for a time as a change.
While there his friends in Newcastle interested themselves
in getting up a benefit concert. This came off on October
roth, 1874. As all who took part gave their services, his
friends, Mr. W. H. Dawson, Mr. J. M. Marr, and his
publishers, were enabled to take up to Winlaton a sum
which greatly cheered poor Joe, who fretted about the
future of his wife and children. While at Winlaton, in the
last letter his publishers received from him
(unfortunately not dated, but written about October zSth,
1874), he writes that the doctor gives him "good heart of
ultimate recovery." He refers to the concert, mentions he
has written to Mr. Elliott, Chief-Constable of Gateshead,
(always friendly to him, and who had been at Winlaton to
see him), and then adds, "I am glad to know that I am not
forgotten, and that some inquire after me,for I really
think that I deserve somethinf{ to pull me through the
winter." The conclusion of this letter is here given and a
fac-simile on the opposite page ;" I would like to see my
children reared. It might be done, and I hope it may; but
it cannot if I have to make my living on the stage. But.r
might take engagements for one nz;~ht at a time if I
recover. And I hOfe Imay,jor so many have tried to make me
lose heart. 1should like to pull through to please my
friends, such as George-Dawson, and yourself, and your old
friend-Joe, ready to write for you whenever well." The
change to Winlaton, unfortunately, failed to do him good.
His and his twin-brother's birthday was drawing near;
wherever they had been so far, they had always contrived
to keep this birthday together; he resolved to come back.
Accordingly, on November 27, he returned to his home at
Railway Street, Newcastle, where the two brothers, on the
29th, kept what was to be their last birthday meeting. As
may be readily imagined, the meeting would be a sad one;
little by little his hopes of recovery were weakening. He
had been anticipating r875 with high hopes. He was clear
of
the Adelaide and its associations, and was busy with
literary work. He had his eye on Hartley's Clock Almanack,
a yearly publication in tbe Lancashire dialect, and was
preparing material for a Tyneside one on similar lines. He
had its title-page drawn up; it ran thus-" Joe Wilson's
Comic Tyneside Almanack, full 0' the Funniest kind 0' Fun,
Laffable Sangs, Comical Stories, Queer Drolleries, an'
Sittera, Be Joe Wilson, the Real Tynesider." His illness
interrupted this: the hopes and anticipations with which
he
FAC'SIMILE OF CONCLUSION OF JOE WILSON'S LETTER.
was preparing to greet 1875 are here printed for the first
time. It is an interesting fragment of his unfinished
project
"Gud luck te sivinty-five! Mayweall contented thrive, An'
wi' lucky cuts contrive Te keep health an' strength alive;
Myek worhyemsa bissyhive, As honestlywe strive, An' mayne
bad luck deprive, Us ov owt we'd hev arrive, But
victoriouslysurvive, An' throo care an' trouble drive, I'
the year 0' sivinty-fiveI"
Of all the good wishes he is here so lavish of, none were
fated to be his. As the winter set in, Joe got worse; he
grew weaker and weaker, despite the care and attention
with which he was nursed; and finally, on Sunday, February
rath, 1875,he died, quietly, as if going to sleep, at the
age of thirty-three years. His early death excited general
regret. His funeral at Jesmond Old Cemetery was largely
attended, and over his remains and those of his infant
son, who died two months after him, and was laid in the
same grave, a plain monument is erected. This, which is in
the form of a broken column, after recording the dates of
his birth and death, has the following from his
autobiography carved upon it
"iT'S BEEN ME AIM T' HEV A PLACE I' TH' HEARTS 0' TH'
TYNESIDE PEOPLE, WI' WRITIN BITS 0' HYEMLY SANGS AW THINK
THEY'LL SING." JOE WILSON.
After the funeral, to make some provision for his widow
and three children, an appeal was made to the public. The
editor of the Dally Chromde was treasurer. All classes
contributed, the amounts varying from twopence. In about
two months, one hundred pounds was raised, which helped
the widow very much in her single-handed fight for herself
and family. The Newcastle press was most appreciative.
Their notices, which are very interesting and form an
important part of this sketch, may fittingly be introduced
here ;
From" The Northern Daily Express," Feb.
18, 1875.
" The interment of the remains of the late popular local
poet and vocalist, Joe Wilson, who died from consumption
after a lingering illness, took place yesterday afternoon
in the Old Cemetery, Jesmond. The funeral procession,
consisting of the hearse, two mourning
From: a Photograph
THE GRAVE OF JOE WILSON.
coaches, about a dozen cabs, and a large number of persons
on foot, assembled in front of the house of the deceased.
The cortege then moved forward to Jesmond Old Cemetery,
where all that remained of the once popular poet was
consigned to its parent earth. Amongst the large concourse
of people present we noticed Mr. Rowland Harrison, Mr. W.
Derbyshire, Mr. W. Elliott; proprietors of the New Tyne
Concert Hall, Messrs. Bagnall and Blakey; a number of the
representatives of the theatrical and musical pro· fession
of the town and neighbourhood, besides numerous other
friends of the deceased, many of whom had come from a
distance to pay their last tribute of respect to his
memory. Mr. Elder, Mr. J. M. Marr, Mr. Kirby, and Mr.
Thomas Allan, officiated as pallbearers. On reaching the
grave, the Burial Service of the Church of England was
read over the corpse in a solemn and impressive manner by
the Rev. W. W. F. Keeling, curate of St. Stephen's. The
deceased was much and deservedly respected by a large
circle of friends, who were to be found especially amongst
the working classes on Tyneside, to whom he had endeared
himself by the touching pathos of his simple songs." From"
The Daily Chronicle," February 15, I875. "One of his
earliest appearances before the public was at an amateur
concert given in the Lecture Room many years ago for the
benefit of Ned Corvan, who was at that time ill. Joe sang
his own songs, which struck the audience as novelties, and
the manner in which he rendered them won for him many
admirers. His voice was sweet though somewhat thin, but he
had a very happy way of imparting varying shades of pathos
and humour to suit the words of his melodies, which was
very pleasing and telling with the audience."
From: "Newcastle Weekly Chronical," Feb.
20, 1875 THE GOSSIP'S BOWL.
"Poor Joe Wilson will be regretted by thousands of my
readers, and as they sing over his 'bits 0' hyemly sangs'
they will reflect that no common man has gone from amongst
them. I don't think there are many men with such a tuneful
faculty as Joe. His songs have become household words on
Tyneside, and for many a mile round about. He was a good,
genial, and always welcome spirit. He made you laugh until
you nearly cried. He was none the worse because his talent
was rough and uncultivated. He spoke to the hearts of his
readers all the more readily on that account. I t is a
wonderful faculty that of song-writing. Only very few men
have possessed it, and certainly few local poets ever had
it in greater perfection than Joe; his productions are
songs merely, and not poems. They don't pretend to be
anything; but they are just the sort of thing for the
people for whom they were written."
From" The Newcastle Daily Journal."
Saturday, Feb. 20, 1875.
"Proud as the inhabitants of Newcastle are of their great
men, it has too often happened that, like the prophets of
old, they were not during their lifetime' without honour,
save in their own country.' But this is not so with men
whose productions refer to the daily life and habits of
the people. Their songs and poems go right to the hearts,
to the hearths and homes, of their readers; and though the
obscure provincialisms of the Newcastle dialect place a
limit to their fame, their celebrity during their
lifetime, and after their death, though confined within a
narrow area, is amongst admirers whose esteem has
something: of a family tinge. Of all the racy songwriters
of Novocastrian celebrity, I think none have taken such a
peculiarly popular position as Joe Wilson, who breathed
his last on Sunday afternoon, at the early age of
thirty-three, a few years younger than either Burns or
Byron, neither of whom, talented though they were, could
have possibly written his songs. Far below great poets of
wide fame, Joe Wilson honestly and effectively did the
work he was qualified to do, and instead of becoming, as
he might easily have been, a miserable far-off echo of a
Byron, or a Scott, he just yielded to the fresh burst of
native song that welJed up within his heart, and by
faithfully reflecting his vivid impressions of the humble
life and scenes of his boyhood, has immortalised himself,
at least in Newcastle, by a series of sor.gs of a
thoroughly unique description. 'The Gallowgate Lad,' 'The
Row upon the Stairs,' and other songs, will never be
forgotten in Newcastle; they have become standard songs,
and will be sung long after more pretentious compositions
have passed into oblivion. The thoroughly human character
of Wilson's compositions must strike every reader. What,
for instance, can excel the humorous description of the
embarrassed good-man left to nurse' the bairn'
'He haddint its muther's ways; He sat both stiff an'
numBefore five minutes wss past, He wished its muther wad
cum! ' 'The Row upon the Stairs' is of a different
character, and is full of local humour. Not the least
merit of the deceased poet was the purity of his muse,
Often rough and racy-necessarily vulgar in language-there
is no approach to impropriety. His face was bright and
genial, and the writer, though not personally acquainted
with him. will not soon forget one occasion when he met
Joe in a shop at Newcastle, where he was purchasing a pair
of boots. Joe was in a funny mood, and compelling a
companion to sit down, proceeded to take his measure in
the most comical style of extravaganza. The gestures and
the dialogue are now forgotten, but the vis comica,the
wild drollery, were absolutely irresistible, and stopped
all business for a few minutes •... He will be sorely
missed, long remembered, and mourned as a
=ifted singer and a kind, genial man."
From the North of England Advertiser,"
Feb. 20, 1875.
"In announcing the demise of Joe Wilson, the well-known
and ever-popular song-writer and vocalist, we know that a
chord of sympathy will be struck in many thousands of the
hearts around Tyneside who have listened with enraptured
ears to his cheerful homely strains. There are few places
in Northumberland and Durham where he has not made his
name a household word. With the slightest possible tinge
of dialectism, his effusions were such as to appeal to the
narrowest minds and the most enlarged sympathies. 'Native
here and to the manner born,' he looked around him on his
fellow-man, saw his foibles and failings, wove them into
verse, and let the world hear his voice, This is the true
province of the poet, whatever may be said about any 'mute
inglorious Milton.' But Joe disclaimed being a poet. As he
said to us some years ago: •I don't call myself a poet, I
call myself a song-writer.' But however he may have
narrowed his sphere in his own estimation, there is little
doubt he had some slight sprinkling of the divine infiatus
in him. "At at early age Joe went, with his twin-brother
Thomas-who survives him, younger 'by something like twenty
minutes' -to St. Andrew's School in Percy Street.
Remaining there a few years as an ordinary scholar, he was
elected to be a free scholar. In all charity schools, as
they are called, in connection with the Church the
children retain the costume of the period when they were
founded. Joe, therefore, would be decked out in corduroys,
green jacket, braided with red, and a green cap, something
similar to a Scotch bonnet. There is no disgrace in
wearing these habiliments, however uncouth they may be
held at the present day; for be it remembered Newcastle's
great architect and restorer, Richard Grainger, born under
similar circumstances, had to be what is termed' a green
scholar.' Benevolent individuals subscribe to the funds of
the school, and according to the amount of their
snbscriptions they can nominate scholars to be free,
generally taking care to elect the most deserving by their
necessities. It is perhaps to be regretted that the
recipients of such charity are made so objectively
conspicuous. "At the age of fourteen Wilson was put to the
business of a printer. We have just a hazy recollection of
a mild and gentle youth coming between us and his first
master, Frank Robson, some nineteen years ago, little
dreaming that that youth in after years would come to look
upon us as a friend, and would eventually, as it were,
'become father to the man.' But so it was. Whatever truth
there may be in the assertion that the poet is born, not
made,
it is undeniable that a connection with printing has
fostered the blossoms of genius in many a one. This must
have been the case with Joe, for he tells us that at the
age of seventeen his first book was printed. "From that
time to some nine months ago, when he was seized with the
illness that has cut offhis usefulness, he continued to
throw off his effusions. Of course we do not look upon
him, and as he expressed it, as one who ever thought of
striving for the laureate wreath, or of even attaining a
niche among the galaxy of great names who have made their
native land redolent with the glory of their fame. The
poetic faculty may be granted to many; to be enrolled
among the supreme of any land is granted to but few. Joe's
sympathies lay within a narrower radius; his object was to
depict the scenes of which we are the midst; to have,' as
he expressed it, 'a place in the hearts of the Tyneside
people,' by having the privilege of writing homely songs
which he thought they would sing. That he has attained the
object ofhis simple ambition is undeniable; wherever the
ling'o loci is understood Joe's songs are welcomed and
appreciated. Respecting the character of his songs much
may be said. While coarseness was a main feature in the
elder bards of 'Canny Newcassel,' Joe never brings the
blush to the cheek of maiden modesty. Without presuming to
condone the vices of our elder bards, we would say he
thereby lost much of that grasp and manly vigour which
possessed his elder brethren of the local lyre. But one
reason why we admire Joe's songs so much-irrespective of
the modest, unassuming, and amiable personal qualities of
their author-is the depth of moral tone that pervades
them. Indeed his hardiesse in that respect has been to us
a matter of surprise. Some, with his facilities of
expression, would have tried to uphold the drinking
propensities of the music·halls. Within their walls, Joe
said, Be careful-if ye want te rise, Be canny wi' the
beer.'
"Old Fletcher, of Saltoun, exclaimed-' Let me make the
songs of the people, and I care not who make their laws.'
Compared with the frothy, unmeaning, and ephemeral trash
termed comic songs, Joe's stand out in shining contrast.
He seeks to convey no double meaning; whether the advice
be given to male or female, there is no ambiguity in his
language or expression. " Joe may be said to have struck
out a new line of local song. Our elder bards were wont to
take for example the characters they saw before them, when
'Canny Newcassel' could boast its worthies, and which the
pencil of a Parker could so well depict. In those days the
schoolmaster was abroad, and the lips gave utterance to
the well-spring of the heart. Things are much altered in
that respect, and we cannot help lamenting, with Dr.
Bruce, that' our manly Doric will soon be a thing of the
past.' c*
'I have lately,' says a writer in Household Words,
'been dawdling through an old book-an old weazen,
yellow-leaved book, commemorating the pleasantries of the
remarkably business-like and money-making waggish town of
"canny Newcassel," Incompatible as the two first qualities
would seem with the last, "canny" Newcassel possesses them
all. Those who have the pleasure of numbering among their
friends some of those worthy fellows, with the stalwart
forms, the gruff voices, the cool heads, the warm hearts,
the at first almost incomprehensible, but afterwards
sonorous and colloquial, dialect, hight Newcastle, or
Newcassel men, will remember what prodigious wags these
North-countrymen were and are. They will call to mind the
droll songs delivered in apatois, which to the Southerner
would be Sanscrit; the jokes of the pitmen, the facetious
stories of Jemmy this, and daft Andrew that. Who has not
read that yearling of barbarous humour, The Bairnsla
Fouks' Annual? I have a great respect for Tim Bobbin, for
the illustrious Pattie Nat, of Manchester, and for the
Lancashire humorists generally; but for pre-eminence in
sober facetise, and sly waggishness, I will decidedly back
the children of that coaly merry town ofthe High Level
Bridge.' "While speaking of the dialectism of our native
town and our departed friend's writings, we cannot refrain
frommentioning a circumstance which, in one sense, seemed
to touch him deeply. Pointing out to us, in a volume of
recitations published by a London firm, one of his own-if
we mistake not, 'Bob Hobson's Advice tiv his Son,' from
which we have already quoted, his remark was-and Joe
generally spoke in the vernacular of Tyneside-' Aw waddint
hae cared if they'd gien it as it wis written, but they've
put it inte Yorkshire.' They were welcome, so far as we
nnderstood him, to take any amount they liked from his
writings, but his love for his native tongue could not
bear to see them transmogrified into another that could
not give <tnyclearer exposition of his ideas. "It is
often treading on dangerous ground when it becomes the
province of the journalist to speak of a friend lately
deceased, Here, however, we can make no mistake. With
tender heart and enlarged sympathies, Joe was more
inclined to make a friend than an enemy. ' , In manners
gentle, of affections mild, In wit a man, simplicity a
child,' he sought the good feeling of everyone, and
thousands on Tyneside will now count on having lost one of
the 'cannyist' and gentlest offriends. " After having
endured something like nine months of a.wasting sickness,
which to his friends, if not to himself, it was palpable
could only have one termination, he quietly sunk to rest
on Sunday night, February 14th, about a quarter past five
o'clock. His friends had been looking for it during the
day. His end was
calm, or, as they expressed it, 'He only seemed to be
going to sleep.' Thus passed away one of the most gentle
spirits that ever breathed. "Although Joe Wilson has
passed away from amongst us, his name is destined to hold
a place in our local literature. His songs, originally
published in the form of penny chap-books, so common forty
years ago, have lately been collated into a volume, which
will be an enduring monument of his genial nature and his
untiring industry."
Local Letter, "North of England
Advertiser," Feb. 20, 1875.
"Keeley" on the death ofJoe Willson.
"DEER SOR,-Aw've just cum frae seein won 0' the cannyist
creetors layd doon tiv his last rest thit ivor breethed
the breeth iv life-aw meen Joe Wilson. "Poor Joe wis cut
off i' the bloom iv his manhood, when he'd nobbit seen
thorty-three summors, when, as ye mite say, he wis in the
varry summer iv his xistence. But a clood earn, sma' at
forst; but it get hord as it went on, an' when the sun owt
still te hey been warmin the wurld, the darkniss gethord
roond, an' lang afar the harvist wis spent, the awd NME,
thit tyeks hand iv a' wiv his hyuck, had cut doon the stem
whin it wes fast ripenin tiv a heed. , Man cumith up as a
floor, an' is cut doon.' An' varry offins the fairist
floors suffor myest whin the canker entors the rut, Sic is
the destiny iv man; he is born, blossims, an' fades, an'
is seen ne mair. " But Joe Wilson hes left a nyem ahint
him thit winnit suin dee oat. Aw mite tell ye the nyems iv
a vast iv his sangs, but thor a' clapped doon i' the buik,
se, aw winnit. But onny man thit hes been left at hyem te
norse the bairn naws the trooth iv Aw wish yor Muther wad
cum;' eigh, an' monny pleyces oat iv Sanghit hes seen a
'Row ippon the Stairs.' But the voyce thit lent a charm te
thim is kwiet noo, an' 'ill be hard ne mair, An'
mensefilly wis he layd doon in Jesmind Simmortoree amang
the floors an' trees; an' the bordies sung as the dust wis
shuvild on his coffin. Had they onny I D thor wis anuther
singin-bord had cum te tyek up his kwawtors there?
"THE RETOIRT KEELMAN." This, arid the preceding sketch
from the North of England Advertiser, were both written by
William Henderson Dawson, a bookbinder, at one time
occupying the old workshop of Thomas Bewick, in St.
Nicholas' Churchyard. When J. P. Robson died, Dawson
succeeded him as "The Retoirt Keelman," and wrote the
local letter in the North of England Advertiser until his
death in 1879. For the Advertiser he also wrote "Walks
about Old Newcastle." In addition he was the author of
many good Tyneside songs. These press opinions, so
flattering to the memory of the bard, may fittingly be
brought to a conclusion by adding the opinion of Dr.
Robert Spence Watson. Dr. Watson's is a name known
throughout the North. Some time after Wilson's death he
delivered a lecture, entitled "A Gossip about Songs," and
towards the end of that gossip he spoke some kindly
appreciative words of Joe. That part of his lecture, by
the kindness of Dr. Watson, we are now enabled to give.
After speaking a little about the old local songs, "Canny
Newcassel," "Jimmy joneson's Whurry," etc., he
proceeds:"And nowjust a word in conclusionabout those of
the present day. It says much for our popular taste that
Joe Wilson should stand firstamongstour bards, forhis
influenceis a sound one. He wassimpleand genuine, and won
his popularity withoutany condescension to the supposed
foibles of his audience. What a capital song, for
example,is 'Aw wishyormuther wad cum,'a bit ofpure,
absoluterealismof a good kind. Geordyhas to 'haud the
bairn' whilst his wife goesto get the coals and flour. It
was 'sair agyen his will,' for 'He haddint its muther's
ways, He sat both stiffan' num,Beforefiveminuteswespast,
He wished its muther wad Cum l' The song tells his many
trials, his perplexity, struggle, and final triumph
through kindness. 'It's ne use gettin vext' is his wise
conclusion,and then ,At last,-its gyente sleep, Me
wife'ill not say aw's num, She'll think aw's a real gud
nurse'But-yes, in spite of victory'Aw wish yor muther wad
cum!' " Previous editions of Joe Wilson's songs were
really editions for the million. Issued (the first fifteen
by himself) in penny numbers, or five of them stitched
together as a part for sixpence, they sold amongst the
working-men of Tyneside by
thousands; while the volume, also made up from the penny
numbers-an unsatisfactory makeshift at best-had a large
sale. It is intended now to issue an edition worthier of
the merit of the songs. At one time it was thought that a
selection would be best; that idea was given up, and all
are reproduced. To the original volume of songs are now
added the Temperance Songs, and the Stories which appeared
in his "Budgit," thus making as near as possible a
complete edition. In so much, doubtless, there is plenty
of chaff amongst the wheat; time may be trusted to winnow
the whole and make the work of selection easier, if at
some future time one should be needed. So far time has but
little weakened the popularity of Joe's songs. Fifteen
years after his death, the School Board Inspector, Mr.
Thomas Burns, in a volume of poetry just published,
describing one of his visits to the poor, incidentally
mentions how, in climbing the stairs, "Aw wish yor Muther
wad cum" saluted his ears from one of the rooms of the
tenement. Many of the poets sprung from the people go far
afield for the subjects of their songs. Joe, in direct
opposition to this, finds the subjects of his songs around
him. He sings only of the scenes and of the people amongst
whom he lives; and of these it may be said that his songs
in their truthfulness are photographs in verse of their
everyday life. It is in the town that he gets his
inspiration: he sings of the streets and their many
aspects of life; in them he muses on "What that man might
heh been," as a "wasted life" passes before him, or as a
different scene meets his eye he laughs at " Dolly's Lowse
Peddikit." From the crowded tenement he hears the "war of
tongues," and on his ear there jars the "clashing of the
door" in the one-roomed house of the poor. It is of scenes
like these that he delights to sing. He may not have the
fancy or the imagination of some, but undoubtedly he has
the gift, still rarer if not so precious, the gift of
weaving into verse songs which the people delight to sing.
The clannishness of the North is strong in Joe; the spirit
in which Thompson fifty years before sung of "Canny
Newcassel" is the spirit of his young successor. To the
fair structure of Tyneside song he has added a new wing.
The foundations of the old, laid nearly a hundred years
ago by Thompson, Shield, and Selkirk, adorned at a later
day by Gilchrist, Midford, and
Emery, has in our own day been strengthened and still
further adorned by the addition of Joe's "homely and
domestic." Like the old writers, he was proud of the town
of his birth, and his songs, like theirs, reflect that
feeling. His volume goes even beyond that; it reflects
that wider feeling which is shown when his northern pride,
shining through his line, he breaks out"For when aw sing,
Tyneside it hes te be."
To the Editor of the" Weekly Cl,ronicie."
" SIR,-Last week saw the
erection in Jesmond Old Cemeteryof the memorial-stone to
Joe Wilson, the local song·writer. The position of the
stone is a little to the right (about fortypaces from the
chapel door); there, modestlyhid amongst the trees on the
left (about fifteenpaces from the edge of the walk), the
stone is seen. Jesmond Cemeteryis rich in locallyhistoric
remains, an interesting account of whichwas given in the
T-Vcek1yChronicle about two or three yearsago. In addition
to Joe Wilson's, its walls shelter the remains of another
local poet; I refer to the late J. P. Robson, a more
educated, though not a more prolificsong·writer. The
general public mayby this time have forgotten J. P.
Robson, but his 'Polly's Nick-Stick.' and the 'Pawnshop
Bleezin'-two rollickingsongs-will foreverremainin the
memoriesof Tynesiders. I am glad to say that the courteous
superintendent, Mr. Everatt, intends to take the graves
ofthe two poets under his specialcare. "J. H." "NEWCASTLE,
July assr, 1890." "J. H.," James Horsley, author of the
"Lays of jesmond," writer of the above letter, is himself
a local song-writer, and has written many bright, genial
songs in the dialect. A.
Joe Wilson's 'Tynes ide Songs and
Drolleries'.
INTRODUCTION It is with pleasure that I write an
introductory foreword to this facsimile edition of Joe
Wilson's 'Tynes\ide Songs and Drolleries'.
At a period when there is a revival in folk music it is
fitting that the songs of Joe Wilson should once more be
brought to the attention of both the connoisseur and the
layman. Of the Newcastle song-writers. Joe Wilson holds
place above his contemporaries Ridley, Robson and Corvan
in being able to demonstrate the use of dialect song to
report simple everyday situations without recourse to
burlesque and extravagance. In many ways he was more than
a writer of 'homely songs'; he had the gift of the poet
and can rank with the best of the country's dialect poets.
Nor should it be forgotten that Wilson was capable of
writing prose work and the collection of readings and
short stories at the end of the volume clearly show his
competence in this art form. Like most of his
contemporaries he died at a tragically early age and it is
to be wondered what he might have achieved given normal
longevity. At the age of fourteen. Wilson became
apprenticed to a printer, his first book of songs being
published when he was seventeen. At twenty-one he set up
his own printing business and published his first number
of Tyneside Songs.
(v)
Early editions of his songs were published in the form of
ld. chapbooks and the first fifteen he printed and
published himself. As an alternative to the penny numbers,
five issues could be bought together roughly bound for the
price of 6d. They sold amongst the working men of the
Tyneside area in their thousands. Joe Wilson still remains
a legend on Tyneside and in the North-East. He was not
only a competent song-writer but also an artiste, and
toured many Clubs and Concert Halls. For a period of nine
months he managed a Concert Hall in Spennymoor, Co.
Durham, and he sang as far afield as Glasgow. His last
professional appearance was at the Royal Star Theatre,
Stockton-on-Tees, on 4th September 1874. Of his songs
known today, one immediately springs to the mind of any
Tynesider and North-Easterner, the famous 'Keep yor feet
still Geordey hinny', which ranks in popularity with 'The
Blaydon Races' and 'Cushie Butterfield'. When Balmbra's
was re-opened a few years ago, as an 'Old Tyme Music
Hail', this song featured regularly on the Bill, and it is
indeed a Tyneside Classic. Of the other songs the most
outstanding are 'Aw wish yor muther wad cum', 'The row
upon the stairs', 'The Gallowgate lad' and 'Dinner clash
the door'. There is a fund of local history material in
Wilson's writings. Poems and songs can be found about his
artiste contemporaries Ridley, Robson and Corvan, and such
famous strolling players as Billy Purvis, buried in
Hartlepool with a tombstone presented by Lord George
Sanger. References can be found to local personages,
occasions, and disasters such as the proposed visit of
Garibaldi to
Newcastle; The New Hartley Pit disaster of 1862; lines to
George Stephenson. Allusions are made to well-known
Newcastle place-names: Grainger Street. Gallowgate, Leazes
Park and Jesmond Dene. Finally. it can be said that Joe
Wilson achieved his desire "T'hev a place I' th" hearts 0'
th' Tyneside people. wi' writin bits o'hyemly sangs aw
think they'll sing'. The traditions of Joe Wilson are
continuing to-day with men like Alex Glasgow who
collaborated with Alan Plater and Sid Chaplin in the
recent successful West End musical play 'Close the Coal
House Door'. The Tyneside and North-East will never be
without its own brand of folk music.
-GORDON R. FLETCHER, A.L.A.. Borough Librarian. County
Borough of Hartlepool Public Libraries. November 1969.
Wikipedia
Joe Wilson (29 November 1841 – 14 February 1875)
was a Tyneside concert hall song-writer and performer in
the mid-19th century. His most famous song is "Keep yor
feet still Geordie hinny". He was a contemporary of George
"Geordie" Ridley. He wrote and sang in the Geordie dialect
of Newcastle upon Tyne, his native speech.
Biography
Joseph "Joe" Wilson was born just before his twin brother,
Tom, in Stowell Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. His father
was a cabinet-maker, his mother a bonnet-maker.[1] He
enjoyed singing from an early age and had a fine treble
voice, which led to his becoming a choir boy at All
Saints’ Church.[citation needed]
At age 14, he went to work as an apprentice printer with
Howe Brothers of Gateshead. He started writing songs as a
hobby, and by age 17 published his first book, managing to
publish and distribute it independently. He later arranged
for the printing to be done at Howe Brothers.
Wilson started performing professionally in 1864 and
became a regular at the Wheat Sheaf [a] in the Cloth
Market. He later moved to the newer, larger Tyne Concert
Hall.[1]
He then toured the North of England, selling his
home-produced song-books like most artists of the day (for
a halfpenny each).
He married in 1869, and two years later tried settling
down to a less itinerant lifestyle. In 1871 he became
publican of the Adelaide Inn[b] on New Bridge Street,
Newcastle.[3]
He was a publican for about a year, then he went back on
the road, singing and writing. His act now included many
"teetotal" songs, as he had taken the pledge.[4]
Commercial Hotel, Winlaton
His health failed when he contracted tuberculosis, as his
father had.[5] A friend and
colleague Rowly Harrison, publican of The Commercial in
Winlaton, allowed Wilson to stay with him,[citation needed] as his pub
was at a higher elevation, and therefore thought to have
cleaner, more bracing air.
Joe Wilson died of tuberculosis in Railway Street,
Newcastle, survived by his wife and three young children.[5] He
was buried in the Jesmond Old Cemetery where a monument
marking his grave was erected sometime afterward. The
inscription on the monument is in his own words: "It's
been me aim t'hev a place i'th' hearts o' the Tyneside
people, wi' writin' bits o'hyemly sangs aw think they'll
sing."
Legacy
Joe Wilson was probably the most prolific of all the
Geordie songwriters of the time.[6] He performed his own
works in the various halls of entertainment around the
region until he became too ill. Many of his songs were
published in his book Songs and Drolleries, and
also in Allan's Tyneside Songs and Readings.
Works
Wilson's songs were published during his lifetime, as well
as after his death. This is a partial list from Songs
and Drolleries.
"Keep yor feet still Geordie hinny" to the tune of
"Nelly Gray"/"Maggie May"
Ralph Blackett
Held a high position upon the Quay but lost this.
A hymn writer in his youth he also wrote peotry. He was a
regular contributer to Charter's Almanack and
Annual. His first song was in dialect- Jimmy's Deeth which
won a prize from the Weekly Chronicle and was sung
at the Tyne Thgeatre pantomime.
Blackett was reserved to strangers but generally
kind and genial. He was a man of refined ideas
who was a prolific writer. Died- Middlesborough,
Dec. 29, 1877 age 47.
Died January 25, 1879, age 52.
Bookbinder at St. Nicholas' Churchyard at the workshop of
Thomas Bewick wood engraver. Wrote a song on
the inauguration of Stephenson's Monument in 1862. This
song was successful. Also in 1862 he
assisted in the first addition of Allen's great work.
Dawson was well known for his knowledge of local
lore and songs. He wrote a letter for the Newcastle
Guardian and succeeded Robson in writing his letter
-The Retoirt Keelman for the Advertiser. He wrote Walks
round Old Newcastle which are filled
with local references. He also wrote for The Local
Poets of Newcastle for which he provided a series of
articles both biographical and critical some of which were
stories nad songs and poems. Died- Jan. 25 1879 age
52. Buried St. John's Cemetery, Elswick.
John Kelday Smith
Died June 12, 1889 at his home Temperance Row,
Shieldfield, age, 54.
Native of Orkney but brought to Newcastle while in
his infancy. Writer of local songs. Wrote for Charter's comic
pulication, Ward's Almanack and
the Weekly Chronicle. Won a prize for a song
about the Gateshead Working Men's Club and for an essay on
working men's clubs. He is known
for his song- Whereivvor hae They Gyen.
Matthew Dryden
Wrote Perseveer or, the Nine Hours Movement. Died
at his home Herbert St. age 46. Born Belford. Father
had an interest in a local Colliery. Father
dide when Matthew was in his teens. Dryden eventually came to
Newcastle to work at Sir. W. Armstrong's where he
worked till his death. He joined the nine hours strike in
1871. He was a good singere of local, Irish and
sentimental songs. He was popular especially
with Joe Wilson's songs. Dryden gave concerts to
benefit the strike fund. His songs on Elliott the
Pegswood sculler were popoular. When the
strike end he went back to Armstrongs and had worked there
for 30 years when he died.
Born Alnwick, orphaned in Newcastle as child.
Songs and poems have been collected and published.
His biography has been written by Mr. hastings.
Native of Alnwick but left orphan in Newcastle at
young age. Worked as stable boy, cabin boy and other work.
He was known for telling stories of
his early life as stable boy.Horsley worked for a while
with Robert Ward on the Advertiser and Directory.
After working with ward he worked withMr. Andrew Reid
where he worked until his death on the
well known Reid's Railway Guide His first song was written
when he was just over twenty. This
was Geordy's Dream or, the Sun and the Muen. His next song
came out when he was almost 50.
He was known for his songs about Jesmond and wrote songs
until his death. He died in 1891 and
is buried in St. Andrew's Cemetery.
Born Gateshead, died June 16, 1891, North Shields age
45.
Clerk with his relative Ralph Blackett on the Quay. Known
as a mimic and elocutionist.
After short carier as actor he retuurned to Newcastle
where he played dramatic roles
and was popular. He was a commercial traveller with
manhy firends. He could provide
both Scottish and Tyneside entertainment. He had endless
stories. He died after
an operation for an absess in the head, North Shields,
June 16, 1891, age 45. Buried Preston
Cemetary. Known for cheerfulness. He is known for only one
piece- Bill Smith at Waterloo.
This was derived from an American story.
Born- Dunston
Died Dunston Sept 24, 1872 age 51
Buried- Dunston churchyard.
Contributed to Allan's work.
Started as clerk at Central Station. Father North-Eastern
man printed the first railway ticket.
Left railway company to become a traveller for a large
brewery. Wrote many songs for Charter's and
Ward's Almanacks
winning prizes from each. A clever painter and created the
engravings featured in Allan's work of:
Starkey, Billy Purvis, J.P. Robson, and Geordy
Black. Dunston is just outside of Gateshead.
Born King William Street, Gateshead, June 23,1841.
Author and comic singer starting at 23 years of age.
Worked at teh Victoria Music Hall, Newcastle.
He was successful at this and then went to the Oxford
Music Hall, Newcastle, the Wear Music Hall,
Sunderland, Stockton, Darlington, Glasgow and other
places.
He was known for The Coal Cartman, I'm going down the
Hill, The Drum Major, The Lass I met at Shields
and
The Death of Renforth. He was known for his broad
humour, facial expression attitudes and alterations of
his voice. He wrote both lyric and music. Known as
Rowley. He worked as landlord of the Geordy Black
in
Gateshead and the Commercial Hotel at Winlaton and
manager of his own concert halls. He had a large
marquee for singing and entertainments at the Temperance
Festival on the Moor in Newcastle. He worked at The
People's Palace and The Empire. He is well known for the
song and character role of Geordy Black.
Born March 14 1842, Newcastle.
Famous for his dictionary of Northumberland words, past
and present.
Writer of Tyneside Songs and readings which he wrote to
relax from working on
his great dictionary.
The Dictionary was serialized in the Chronicle and is a
monumental work.
Heslop worked as an Iron Merchant. He was a native of
Newcastle and an
old Grammar School boy. Born- March 14, 1842. He wrote:
Howdon for Jarrow,Newcastle Toon Nee Mair, A tow for Nowt,
The Singin' Hinney,
The Tyneside Chorus,
Born Mid Atlantic on Waterloo day 1829.
Father was in the Chemical trade on the Tyne and on
his way to India to work for the East India Company
when his child was born. His mother was a daughter of
Dr. Brummell.
Blind willy sung of him- "Dr. Brummel
upon the Sandhill, He gov Sir Maffa a pill."
In Newcastle Props a song by Oliver
Blind Willy is referenced : "O weel aw like te hear him sing 'Bout young Sir Matt andDr. Brummell.
The family returned from India after 12
years. John started at Sowerbvy's Glass Works,
Gateshead. Later he
became representative of John Rogerson
and Co. He was a member of the Bewick Club holding
office of Hon. treasurer. He contributed as an amateur
to the annual exhibition. He is known for water
colors of rural scenes.He is also known as a public
speaker performing for his club. Stephenson
specialized in dialect.
Born Newcastle, Dec. 11, 1826.
Apprenticed to caminet maker. Went to sea as ship
carpenter. Hay contributed a song to
Clark Russell who mentioned it in his work Sailor's
Language.Hay was famous for recitations including his work
-Board of Trade ahoy. Another well known work was Thge
Shoddy Ship appeared in the Nautical Magazine.
Hay contributed to the Northern Poetic Keepsake as early
as 1856. He worked in liverpool as a school tutor and
worked in
the building of the Great Exhibiton in londong in 1862.
Hay also worked as a journalist. He returned to Newcastle
and was active in local historical research into the
location of graves of writers. He contributed to
research for
Allan's work. He also produced work in dialect such
as - The Dandylion Clock, and The Illektric Leet.
Worked as a clerk on the Tyne. A bohemian who
associated Wit Joe Wilson, Rowland Harrison, John
Taylore and Ralph Blacket.
Used gthe pen name- Mrkg. Fudjiv- a cryptogram of his
name. He was awarded Carter's gold metal
for his song- The Old Cot on the Tyne. He also Wrote The
M.P. for Jarra and The Ltter from Hannah. In 1877 he
migrated to the metropolis
where he served as a member of the detective police.
1849-1919
"The Bard of the Durham Coalfield", The Pitman's
Poet. Bow-legged, lively, huge family great thurst.
Worked as pitman, wrote songs, had them printed as
broadsides which he sold on weekends in the
pubs at a penny a copy to make his beer money. Son
William said of him- "Me dad's Muse was a
mug of ale".
Worked as trapper boy in the pit by the age of
9 having to be carried to work because of painful crooked
legs.
At age of 12 worked as bony boy singing his songs to the
ponys. Armstrong became a master at barbed verses.
Lived at Tanfield Lea for most of his life. Famous
and called upon to write songs for special events while
young he
wrote about strikes- occasional songs, as well as songs on
domestic or comic themes. He is responsible for:
The Skuil Board Man, Hedgehog Pie, The Ghost that Haunted
Bunty,Wor Nanny/s a Maizor, The Durham Lockout,
Durham Gaol, The Row Between the Cages, Marla Hill
Ducks and others.
the following notice of Charles Purvis has
been found in Bell's "Notes and Cuttings": — "Charles
Purvis came
to Newcastle from near Otterburn, and after being
schoolmaster, and
afterwards clerk to a merchant upon the Quayside, set up
business
as a general merchant, in which business he in a short
space of time
failed, leaving a few empty barrels to pay his creditors
with."- Allan
C.P. is known for his song: "Bards of the Tyne"
Source- Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings....,
Thomas and George Allan, NewcastleUpon Tyne, 1891.
