Matthew Thompson (1817 - 1864)

Born 1 Apr 1817 in Monkwearmouth, Durham, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Celia Roe — married 27 Apr 1841 in Pawlett, Somerset

Descendants

Died 23 Feb 1864 at age 46 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales

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Biography

According to their Marriage Certificate, dated 27th April 1841^[1], Matthew Thompson, bachelor of full age, was married to Celia Roe, spinster, 20 years. Matthew Thompson was described as a shipsman, the son of John Thompson, also a shipsman. Celia Roe's father, Thomas Roe (also spelt Rowe), was described as a butcher. The witnesses were Thomas Roe and Lavinia Roe.

There was a Marriage Licence, see below, which was dated 26th April 1841 which describes Celia Roe as being of the full age 21 years.

At the time of the 1841 Census, he and his wife Celia lived with Thompson and Elizabeth (née Thompson) Oliver in Dundas Street, Monkwearmouth Shore together with his younger brother, Joseph Thompson. This is because after Matthew's father, John Thompson, died, his mother married Thompson Oliver, who then became John Thompson's step father.

By 1851, he was living with his wife and children at 13 Dundas Street. Their two older children were not recorded in the census although both were living at the time. It is suggested that they may have been away from home on the day of the Census.

Thompson Oliver lived at 7 Dundas Street at least until the 1861 Census but by 1871, this house was occupied by a Presbyterian Minister, John Black. This is of interest because somewhere in Dundas Street was the Thompson Memorial Hall which was in use during the later 19th and early 20th century. It is speculation that the hall will have been named after one or more members of the Thompson family living Dundas Street as principal employers in the rope making business in the area.

According to the Maritime Directory for Sunderland 1848, among the ships he owned included:

SS Astrea (320 gross tons) built at Sunderland 1843

SS Eleanor (236 gross tons) built at Sunderland 1837

SS Pratt (216 gross tons) built at Sunderland 1826.

However, there was more than one Matthew Thompson in the area at that time owning ships.

According to the Ward Directory 1857-8, he was a patent rope manufacturer of Church Street, Monkwearmouth Shore but his residence was at 11 Norfolk Street, Bishopwearmouth on the other side of the River Wear.

He moved to South Wales in 1858 together with his family.

Matthew Thompson c.1860

He was widowed in 1860.

He was buried in Section A, Grave No. 51 at Cathays Cemetery on 28th February 1864, apparently in the same space as his son, John Thompson who was buried there on 26th March 1862, aged 20.^[2] At the time of his burial, he was described as a Ship Broker and lived at 6 Mount Stuart Square.

Marriage

Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 for Celia Roe Marriage Bonds and Allegations 1841 :^[3] 1841

Diocese of Bath and Wells

On the 26 day of April 1841 Appeared personally, Matthew Thompson of the Parish of Pawlett in the County of Somerset, a ship-owner and a Bachelor of the full age of twenty one years

and prayed a Licence for the Solemnization of Matrimony, the Parish Church of Pawlett, Somerset and Diocese of Bath and Wells,

between him and Celia Roe of the said parish of Pawlett, a spinster of the full age of twenty one years

and made an Oath that he believeth that there is no Impediment of Kindred or Alliance, or of any other lawful Cause, nor any Suit commenced in any Ecclesiastical Court, to bar or hinder the Proceeding of the said Matrimony, according to the Tenor of such Licence. AND he further made Oath, that he have had his usual Place of Abode within the Parish of Pawlett aforesaid, for the Space of Fifteen Days last past.

Matthew Thompson

Sworn before me, J. Wollen, Surrogate.

Census

Event: Ropemaker, in household of Thompson Oliver, shipowner, and wife Elizabeth, with his new wife and brother Joseph

Type: Occupn/Address

Date: JUN 1841

Place: Dundas Street, Monkwearmouth Shore, Sunderland, Durham

Event: Ship owner and ropemaker, 13 Dundas Street, Sunderland, Durham employing 5 men, 5 apprentices, 5 labourers

Type: Occupn/Address

Date: 1851

Place: 13 Dundas St, Monkwearmouth Shore, Sunderland, Durham

Event: Ship broker, widower, visiting Henry Eggleston from home at 58 Mount Stuart Sq. Cardiff where children were recorded in census

Type: Occupn/Address

Date: 1861

Place: 11 Bridge Rd, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, Durham

Death

Death: 11a 198 Erysipelas (acute bacterial skin infection) Mortification, informant Mary Ann Guy, monthly nurse

Date: 23 FEB 1864

Place: 6 Mount Stuart Sq.Cardiff

Probate

Probate: Under £450 to daughter Mary Jane Mark of 59Loudon Square Cardiff

Date: 15 JUL 1865

Place: Llandaff

Research Notes

Father-in-law was butcher in Pawlett, on estuary of River Parrett. Did father-in-law provision Thompson ships plying coastal trades?

Other Thompsons at 10, 20,31, 44, 49, 78 Dundas St in 1861

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage Certificate in the Parish of Pawlett, Bridgewater
2. ↑ City of Cardiff
3. ↑ Somerset, England, Marriage Registers, Bonds and Allegations, 1754-1914 for Celia Roe Marriage Bonds and Allegations

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Thompson-6730 created through the import of HWVHeywoodAncestors.ged on Jan 22, 2012 by Simon Heywood. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Simon and others.