|
12 Feb 20 - 08:43 AM (#4033801) Subject: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: *#1 PEASANT* I have a newspaper article that describes a temperance meeting held by Tommy Armstrong of tanfield anyone know of Tommys work in this area? Thanks CB |
|
12 Feb 20 - 08:48 AM (#4033802) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: *#1 PEASANT* Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette - Monday 31 January 1881 On Saturday public tea was held, the ladies presiding over the tables being—Mia Whitfield, Mrs Woodcock, Mrs Thompson, and the Misses Hnghes, Bewick, Morpeth, Adamson, and Holmes, and large number of persons sat down to the bountiful provision provided. Subsequently crowded public meeting was held, the chairman being Mr Thomas Armstrong, of East Tanfield, who gave a stirring address, and Mr Rutter also spoke upon the progress of the Lay Church movement in the county of Durham. The choir intervals sang selections of music. The solos, duets, &c., were given by Miss Holmes. Miss Hughes, Mrs Whitfield, and Mr John Kemp, Mr Hughes being conductor. An interesting meeting was brought a close the singing of the Doxology. Gospel-Temperance Union.— |
|
15 Feb 20 - 07:28 AM (#4034371) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: GUEST But how many Tommy Armstrongs were there in Durham at that time? |
|
15 Feb 20 - 08:23 AM (#4034381) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: Jim McLean This from Wikipedia, so it looks like the same Tommy Armstrong Tommy Armstrong was married in 1869 to a Mary Ann Hunter in 1869 and they had 14 children. Ann died in 1898 and Tommy remarried in 1901 to a widow named Ann Thompson. He lived most of his life at Tanfield Lea, although he is known to have also lived in East Tanfield, Iveston, Tanfield, Tantobie and Whitley Bay. |
|
15 Feb 20 - 02:56 PM (#4034452) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: GUEST,henryp From Tommy Armstrong The Pitman Poet by Ray Tilly. Chapter 6 The Character And Alleged Drunkard In 1951, WHA made the following comments about his father: i) He was a champion quoits player in his day - ten yards on the clay, but he was also a champion drinker which kept him and his family down. ii) Drink was his downfall. In 1952, WHA went on to make the following additional comments about Tommy: i) Me dad's muse was a mug of beer. ii) My father always wrote his best songs when he had had one over the eight. iii) He had an indomitable thirst. He got songs printed on broadsides which he sold round the pubs, a penny a time, to raise beer money. It is worthy of mention at his point, that prior to the above comments being made public by WHA, no such comments can be attributed to anyone else before that time. |
|
19 Feb 20 - 10:16 AM (#4034990) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: *#1 PEASANT* the ray tilly book is great-highly recommended in the book he states it is written to set things right-tommmy was a relative I think the author is not happy with the drinking reputation.... however he is almost alone in the debate-opposition includes first hand sources im not in debates-I just record them ---this is the right Armstrong there is some evidence that others in his household were in he movement cb |
|
21 Feb 20 - 06:31 AM (#4035364) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: GUEST,henryp It's difficult to reconcile the different accounts of Tommy Armstrong. Ray Tilly is the son of William Hunter Armstrong and the grandson of Tommy Armstrong, although he did not know either. He wrote, "The initial suggestions that Tommy was either a thief or a drunkard emanate from his son WHA...However, [WHA] became intolerant towards anyone who drank any alcohol at all. It seems odd that WHA castigated his father but was happy to 'ride on the back of' his success...It is sad that WHA portrayed Tommy as a 'drunkard' when evidence indicates, yes, he liked a drink but certainly could not be described as a 'drunkard.'" WHA joined the Sons of Temperance Society in 1904. The aims of the Society were twofold; first to promote total abstinence from alcohol and second to provide insurance benefits for persons who abstained. In 1923 WHA was bestowed with the highest position of honour in the Grand Division, that of Grand Worthy Patriarch. Tommy Armstrong timeline; 1848 born at Shotley Bridge WHA says; aged nine, started work at East Tanfield Colliery. Spent all his working life in Tanfield Moor, Tanfield Lea and East Tanfield Collieries. Other accounts; aged eight, started work at Medomsley Busty Pit. Spent much of his working life at West Shield Row Colliery (Oakey's Pit). 1866 putter then hewer at Addison Colliery until end of September 1866 moved to East Tanfield Colliery 1869 married Mary Ann Hunter at Gateshead Register Office on Christmas Day 1874 WHA born at Tanfield 1875 'Sheel Raw Flud' 1878 'Oakey's Keeker' 1880 'The Blanchland Murder' 1882 'Trimdon Grange Explosion' 1885 'Oakey's Strike' written at Red Row, Beamish 1886 'Sooth Medomsley Strike' 1894 'Th'Nue Ralewae te Anfeeld Plane' 1897 'Kelloe Disaster' 1899 spent time in convalescent home in Whitley Bay after his first stroke 1900 appeared in front of Tanfield School Board 1901 married widow Ann Thompson at Tanfield Parish Church 1902 moved to Whitley Bay 1906 back in north west Durham at Ouston 1909 'Murder of Mary Donnelly' 1909 approx, unable to follow his employment since stroke 1911 living as 'invalid' with his widowed daughter-in-law and her nine children in Tanfield Lea 1911 'Consett Choir Calamity' 1912 'Old Folks Tea at West Stanley' 1913 grand benefit concert at Star Cinema, Tantobie 1913 'A Picture Hall at Tantobie' 1913 'Gateshead Poor Children's Trip to Stanley' 1914 benefit concert at Club Hall, Tantobie 1920 died at Tantobie, buried at at St Margaret churchyard, Tantobie 1924 public subscription for a headstone |
|
21 Feb 20 - 06:10 PM (#4035431) Subject: RE: Folklore: tommy armstrong -temperance worker? From: *#1 PEASANT* thanks |