Hetton Front Street, about 1910. The Sunderland District tram has been renumbered 31 but it is really number 8. This tram had been involved in a fatal accident on Botcherby bank at Silksworth. They kept it in the car sheds for two years then sent it out renumbered so that nobody would know it was the 'unlucky' tram. Hand coloured photograph and caption from Malcolm Fraser.
Margaret (Peggy) Dobson, born Margaret Hague (Haig) in East Herrington on 5 May 1794. She married Thomas Dobson in St Lawrence's Church Pittington on 13 March 1813. He worked as a farm labourer in the Shadforth area then Elemore, Easington and finally Hetton. Thomas died in 1853 in Hetton.They had 9 children. Daughter Mary married George Defty in 1859 they had a son called George who also had a son called George born 1889 and I think he is the boy in the photo.She died 14 August 1895 aged 104 while living with her daughter Mary, now a widow in Richard St, Hetton where she ran a green grocer/fruit shop. Mary lived until she was 80.Extract from an 1896 newspaper......“One of her easliest recollections was that of the contemplated invasion of England by Napoleonand of the coast from the Wear to the Tees being studded with tents used by the watchers for the French Fleet. Mrs Dobson’s remembrances of the joy shown at the capture of Napoleon and the celebrations of Nelson’s victories were very marked and she took a delight in explaining these interesting recollections and explaining how people who failed to recognise Nelson’s prowess bydisplaying lighted candles had their windows broken.Her husband was a farmer’s hind who earned 14s per week by working from seven in the morning till ten at night. Mrs Dobson lived at Hetton 48 years and up to five years ago was able to read without the aid of spectacles.
Photograph and information from Margaret's great great great grandson, Robert Shepherd.
