Thomas Earnshaw was the second son of Thomas Earnshaw and Elizabeth Crosby, who according to 1861/71 census information was born c1829 in Haswell, Co Durham. It was noted in Durham Records Online that in the 1851 census he claimed to have been born at Dawdon Hall in 1828, the year of the founding of Seaham Harbour, which would have made him one of the first children born in the new settlement. However there is no trace of his birth at that time in any of the local churches.
In 1841 Thomas was living with his parents at Dawdon Hall.
In 1850 he married Jane Turnbull, born Hunwick, Co Durham c1831. Thomas & Jane lived at Hunwick for a short time after their marriage where their first son George was born & christened.
In 1851 they were living at Back North Terrace, Dawdon with the first of 9 children - son George (7 months). Thomas was a farm labourer.
In 1861 Thomas and Jane were living at the gas works, Dawdon, his occupation being given as a labourer. They had 4 children, George (10), Thomas (7), Elizabeth (5) and Robert (10 months).
By 1871 Thomas was a gasmaker and living at Haswell with wife Jane, sons George (20), and Thomas (17) both screemen at the colliery, Robert (11), John (8), Jane (5), William (3) and James (11 months). Daughter Elizabeth had died in 1869 aged 13.
In 1881 Thomas and Jane were living at Elemore Lane, Hetton-le-Hole, Co Durham. Thomas was described as a general labourer. At home were Robert (21) a general labourer, John (18) coal miner, Jane (15) domestic servant, William (13) a general labourer, James (10) and Frederick (4).
Thomas and Jane were still living at Elemore Lane in 1891. By this time he was a labourer at the coalmine. Living at home were sons John (28) a stone quarry labourer, William (23) and James (20), both coal pit labourers, and Frederick (14).
Thomas died before 1901 and widow Jane (69) was still at Elemore Lane with sons John and James at this time.
Jane died aged 74 in July-Sept 1906.
The children of Thomas and Jane Earnshaw were:
e.1.2.1 George Earnshaw christened
September 26th, 1850 at Hunwick, Co Durham
e.1.2.2 Thomas Earnshaw born Oct-December
1853 at Dawdon, Co Durham
e.1.2.3 Elizabeth Earnshaw born December 23rd, 1855 at Dawdon, & christened
January 13th, 1856 at St John’s, Seaham; died Jan-March 1869
e.1.2.4 Robert Earnshaw born at Gas House, Seaham Harbour on May 27th,1860
& christened June 17th, 1860 at St John’s, Seaham, Co Durham, died
Jan-March 1887 at Hetton-le-Hole
e.1.2.5 John Earnshaw born April 9th, 1863 at Dawdon, & christened April
29th, 1863 at St John’s, Seaham, Co Durham
e.1.2.6 Jane Earnshaw born 1865 at Dawdon & christened June 21st, 1865
at St John’s, Seaham, Co Durham
e.1.2.7 William Earnshaw born
1867 at Dawdon & christened November 6th, 1867 at St John’s, Seaham,
Co Durham
e.1.2.8 James Earnshaw christened December 4th, 1870 at Haswell, Co Durham
e.1.2.9 Frederick Earnshaw
born July-September 1876 at Haswell, Co Durham