Ann-Mary Tate (1878 - 19/05/1962)

Ann was born in Newcastle abt1878. Daughter of Christopher Tate (1833 - ?) and Ann Tinline (1841 - ?). She had an older sister called Margaretta Jane Tate (1875 - 1967) and a younger brother called Christopher William Tate (1880 - 1955).

In 1891 she lived at 8 Stowell Square, St Johns, Newcastle upon Tyne. Along with her parents and two siblings.

She wed in 1897 to William Richard Thomas Oakes at St James Church, Atkinson Road, Newcastle upon Tyne. After they wed they moved to 4 William Street, Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne (Arthurs hill). They had two children, Andrew and Christopher. Also possibly a third called George. In 1901 though, they had the two children and also living with them at the time were Ann-Mary’s parents, Christopher and Ann Tate as well as their son and her brother in law, Chris W Tate.

1909 seen the birth of Edith Margaret Oakes on 25/07/1909. At this time they lived at 142 Mill Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne.

In her years, Ann-Mary may also have been known as Polly.

Ann-Mary passed away 19th May 1962, aged 84.

Being born towards the end of the 19th century in Newcastle meant being born into a city that was expanding in population by the day. Ship building was expanding with the likes of Mitchells yard in Walker and late the coming together of Swan & Hunter and then age of the Steam-Turbine engine by Parson.

Armstrongs factory had secured work from the government on arms after the Crimea war in particular of a replacement field cannon that was lighter and more accurate.  While Mitchells yard would be building Warships, Armstrongs would be shipping big naval guns up to them.  No surprise then when the companies merged and the Armstrong naval yard opened at Elswick in 1882.  Then, the light bulb was invented (arguably by local Joseph Swan, though a claim was also made by the American Edison.  The two would come together years later).

This huge industrial activity brought workers from all over the British Isles in particular from Scotland and Ireland.  Between the census of 1851 and 1881 the population of Newcastle upon Tyne grew from 87K to over 149K.  Working class families were crowded into small houses or flats with little or no amenities and sanitation.

The surrounding area’s also of course had the coal mines.  On looking at the workforces during this time, plentiful were engineers, miners. labourers and so on.  Yet still, much support was needed for these people in commerce, cleaning, food outlets etc.  So while the edges of the city thrived in industry the centre was built around commerce.

This period could not go by without also mentioning the football club Newcastle United.  As it was in 1892 that East and West came together.  East the larger and better supported of the two at the time, but West having the land at St James.  The club joined the league in the second division.