Author: Elliott, James
Biography:
ELLIOTT, James (1793-1872: ancestry.co.uk)
He was baptised on 3 Mar. 1793 at Wolsingham, Durham, the youngest of six children of James Elliott (1743-96), miller, and Mary Davison (1748-1803), who had married in 1779. Nothing is known of his education and he followed his father into the corn-mill business. Original Poems (1825), printed for the author at Chester-le-Street, includes various topographical poems on areas in Durham with mills: Holbeck Mill, Wolsingham, Thornley, Snipegate. The opening poem, “On Holbeck Mill, &c. – 1821,” states that “This is the place where I receiv’d my birth.” He married Ann Bowman (1797-1838) on 17 Nov. 1817 at Brancepeth, Durham. They had six children. He then married a widow, Susannah Murray (formerly Allison) (1795-1867) on 30 April 1843 at Witton-le-Wear, Wolsingham, with no further issue. The 1841 census records him at a farm in Snipegate. The 1851 and 1861 censuses record him as a miller and farmer of twenty acres at Bradley Mill, Wolsingham, living with his family. His wife, Susannah, died 13 May 1867, at Bradley Burn, Wolsingham. The 1871 records him living still at Bradley Mill, but his son Philip had taken over the running of the mill and farm (now forty acres). He died there on 3 June 1872, aged 79. The Jarrow Guardian printed or reprinted a poem posthumously: “Lines Presented at the Jubilee Festival of Westgate Library, Weargate, April 1st 1837. By the Late James Elliott, of Bradley Mill.” It is not yet known if he published further. (ancestry.co.uk 3 Dec. 2023; findmypast.co.uk 3 Dec. 2023; durhamrecordsonline.com; Durham County Advertiser 12 May 1843; Consett Guardian 8 June 1872; Jarrow Guardian 15 June 1872; GRO death cert.) AA