McKie, Daniel Josephus

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* Information provided by Rob Tindall 15/10/23

Although in the censuses from 1881 Daniel gave his birthplace as Chester-Le-Street, County Durham, earlier records show that he was born in Ireland. He was the son of Patrick, a tinner, and Catherine, both born in Ireland. In 1851 aged 20 (his date of birth varies considerable throughout his life) he was single, living with his parents in Northside, Chester-Le-Street and like his father, a tinner. In 1871 he was living at 9, Dog Bank, Newcastle with his wife, Susan, aged 26 and his family, the eldest of whom, Ann is aged 11 and born in Gateshead. Ann’s age would mean that she was born when her mother, Susan was 15 years old. It would appear that Ann is the child of a previous marriage or liaison. In the 1861 there was a Daniel McKey aged 28 living in Hillgate Bank, Gateshead, working as a labourer and married to Ann McKey. In 1862 an Ann McKey died in Gateshead. I assume that this was Daniel’s first wife and that she died, possibly in childbirth – hence the daughter of Daniel in 1871 being born in Gateshead and being named Ann. In the second quarter of 1867 Daniel married Susan O’Rorke in Tynemouth. Susanna’s (sic) family were also tinners and lived next door to the McKie’s in Northside, Chester-Le-Street. She was recorded as being three at the time and later gave her birthplace as Monkseaton. In 1861 the Rook (sic) family were living in Willington. In 1881 the family had moved to Cruddas Terrace, Bellingham. There is however a curious record for 1877 when he appears with three others (John Douglass, Charles Cooper and Joseph Blackett) on the Newcastle Register of Electors, living at 53, High Friar Street, Newcastle. (I can find no connection between the four men) Susan’s death is recorded in Bellingham in the second quarter 1881 aged 33. Daniel lived on in Cruddas Terrace, being a tinsmith but added the role of lodging house keeper to his bow for the 1891 Census. Kelly’s Directory lists him as a Bellingham tinplate worker in 1894. He died in Bellingham in the second quarter of 1897 and was buried in St Oswald’s.