McKie, Thomas

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Thomas McKie was born in Newcastle in 1868 or 1869. He was the son of Daniel, a tinplate worker (Tinsmith), and Susan, and at the age of three was living in Dog Bank, Newcastle. Sometime between 1875 and 1881 the family moved to 7 Cruddas Terrace Bellingham where he, his father and two of his brothers were Tinsmiths. In 1897 He married Martha Hunter, from Falstone in Hexham and moved to number 2 Cruddas Terrace. By 1901 the family comprised Thomas, Martha, Daniel (3) and Martha (1). Thomas’s brother James (23), also a tinsmith was living with them. In the 1911 Census the McKies were living in 4 Cruddas Terrace and Thomas was working as a labourer on the gun proving grounds. There were six children – Daniel (13), James (9), Annie (8), Susannah (6), Patrick (2) and Mary (1 month). Two children had died – presumably including Martha (noted above). Brother James, was still living with Thomas and Martha and like Thomas was employed on the gun ranges. The 1921 Census records Thomas and Martha living at 3 Cruddas Terrace with Thomas still working for W G Armstrong and Whitworth and Co. Martha died in the 1st Quarter of 1922 but Thomas didn’t die until 1950. Thomas McKie, (supposedly born in 1847!) was living at 3 Cruddas Terrace in 1939 and James McKie, a gun range labourer aged 64 was in the same household.