Joseph Kitching (abt 1818 - 1866)

Joseph Kitching was born between 1818 and 1822 to Robert Kitching (the most likely record for this is Mar 8 1818, however his mother is not noted on the record, nor is she with the family at the 1841 census).

In the 1841 census he is noted as living with his father, Robert, at Barretts Yard, Lady Lane, Leeds and is is working as an apprentice shoemaker. The census puts his DOB at approximately 1822 (that said, there are notorious inaccuracies in the 1841 census, they rounded to the nearest 5 or 0 number).

There are a number of shoemakers in the area with who he could have been doing his apprenticeship, however the most likely candidate is Charles Kitching (relationship unknown) who was located at St Johns St, Lady Lane in the 1822 Leeds Directory. If this were the case, that may explain his sons middle name.

We know that Joseph must have become a Journeyman shoemaker in the following few years, because by 1846 because he was working in area of Greenlaw Berwick with Robert Lumsden (also a shoemaker).

Joseph married Robert's sister Mary Brown Lumsden (date as yet unconfirmed, but most likely in 1847). In 1841 Mary Brown Lumsden was a Farm servant. Mary was born in Greenlaw Berwick on 29 Nov 1822 to Robert Lumsden and Joan Glen, she has one sibling Robert (b.1826) . Joan Glen was born about 1803 in Greenlaw Berwick. In 1841 the family was living on the North side of High St Greenlaw. In both the 1851 and 1861 Joan was living on Wester Row Greenlaw, Berwick and is noted as being a straw hat maker (pauper).

Joseph and Mary had 4 children:

• Joan Kitching born Feb 8 1848 died prior to 1861
• Joseph Charles Kitching born abt 1852 died 1923. Married Lillias Cockburn
• George Kitching born abt 1859 died 1868 Hartlepoole
• Richard Kitching born 1864 died 1920. Married Isabella Craig Scott

By early 1848 Joseph and Mary were living in Guisborough Yorkshire and it was here there daughter Joan was christened on Feb 8 1848. Interestingly on her christening she is noted as Johan and being male. It is thought that she was deceased prior to 1861 as she cannot be found on the census at this time.

In 1851 Joseph and Mary are living at Bridge St in Kelso Roxburgh with their 3 yr old daughter Joan. This census confirms Joseph's place of birth as Leeds and that he is the Manager of a bootmakers. The census also puts his age at 33 - confirming a 1818 birth). Their first son (and my ancestor) Joseph Charles was born in Roxburgh in abt 1852, but again it has not been possible to confirm details through a birth certificate.

George was born in Hartlepool Durham in abt 1859. His age is confirmed by the 1861 census, where the family (Joseph, Mary, Joseph Charles and George) was living at 5 Harper St, Leeds Yorkshire and Joseph is again recorded as a Shoemaker. His disappearance from following census seems to indicate he may have died young, and there is a potential death record for him (aged 8) in Hartlepool in Jun 1868, which is consistent with his birth.

By 1864 the family was living in Hartlepool Durham again, and around September of that year their fourth confirmed child - Richard - was born. Interestingly on Richard\'s death certificate (in 1908), his wife is recorded as his mother.

The next few years appear to be fairly tragic one for this family. Both Mary (45) and Joseph (50) died in 1866 in Hartlepool leaving 3 young children (Joseph 14, George, 6 and Richard 2). These deaths have yet to be confirmed through certificates, but they are consistent with other documentation (such as Joseph\'s marriage certificate in 1872 where it is noted that his father is dead. This is further reinforced by the inability to find a 1871 census record.

It unknown who would have cared for the family, however there are other Kitchings in Durham at this time. The brothers were struck by another tragedy when 2 years later in 1868 George died. This left Joseph at 16 without any parents and potentially a 4 year old to care for.

Based on the locations - Leeds, Guisborough, Hartlepool, and the fact that there are significant Kitching populations in each of them, I believe whilst the family moved around with the exception of their time in Scotland they tended to live close to know places with established family circles.