Weightman, John Thomas

John Thomas Weightman was resident in 3 Percy Terrace in 1939 when he was described as a colliery hewer. He was born on 21 April 1877 in Radcliffe, between Amble and Alnwick. His father John was a coal miner who was also born in Radcliffe whilst mother, Mary had been born in Wooler. All of John Thomas’ brothers worked in the mines either as hewers or in the case of young David who was a driver in the mine in 1891. Home, seemingly until the move to Bellingham was always Chevington Colliery. In 1902 John Thomas married Isabella Russell, the marriage being registered in Morpeth. They had six children – Margaret Russell (b. About 1906), Mary Elliott (1908), John (1910), Isabella (1913), Catherine (1918) and Thomas (1920). Why John moved to Bellingham after a life led, until 1921 at least, in the south-east Northumberland Coalfield hasn’t been explained. He died on 2 July 1953 in 10 Linhope-terrace, East Chevington (presumably the home of one of his children) although his residence is given as 4 Olympia Hill, Morpeth. He left £820 7s 6d and probate was granted to John Hume, a retired farmer.