This photograph from the chest is of my own Grandad ‘Leslie Caswell’. He is age 3 in the photograph. He was born 02.05.1906 in Medomsley, Durham. He died before I was born, so unfortunately I never got the chance to meet him. He does look gorgeous in this photograph though 🙂
Category: Photographs
Frederick William Caswell
This photograph from the chest is of Esther’s eldest son. He was named Frederick William Caswell (b. 04.11.1903, Pleasant View, Lanchester, Durham). He was called William (or Bill) day to day. I guess that it would have been confusing to have two Fredericks in the household (Esther’s husband was Frederick Caswell).
William Charlton b1801
I love this photograph. It is of William Charlton who was born in 1801 (he was baptised at Ebchester on the 12th April 1801). He is Esther’s Grandfather.
On the reverse of the photograph is printed:
Photographed by R. Von Dix. 10, Mount Pleasant, Consett
Someone has written in pencil on the back:
Wm. Charlton Farmer Rowley
Son William Charlton Ebchester
Was first on farm Blackhall Mill
Milkwellburn Farm (maybe he was visiting his son?)
Note to self: Â Will have to research Blackhall Mill, it is about 2 miles north of Ebchester, Durham,
William Henry Charlton
This somewhat imposing figure is William Henry Charlton (b1829 – 1896); Esther’s father and the author of the diaries. He is the son of William Charlton (b1801 – 1892) and Esther Wilkinson (b1795 – 1851).
The photograph was taken (I believe) when he ran the Station Hotel, Ebchester, Durham.
Leslie Caswell (My grandfather and Esther’s third son)
This is a photograph of Leslie Caswell (b.1906), the third child of Esther Elizabeth Charlton and Frederick Caswell. He looks a little like ‘Little Lord Fauntleroy’ doesn’t he?
In his butcher’s garb
Family stories say that when he left school he got an apprenticeship to be an electrician at the Consett Iron Works. However, his father Fred Caswell was regularly drunk. It became impossible to bring friends over, because they never knew how Fred would behave. One day Fred came home rather the worse for drink and Esther locked him out. Bill and his brother Leslie helped ensure that Fred was put out of the house for good. He ended up at Lanchester Workhouse. This change in events meant that Fred was no longer running the butchers shop and reluctantly Leslie gave up his apprenticeship and took over the shop. That said he was a very good butcher and had the qualification of master butcher.
He sadly died in 1973 in Consett, County Durham.
The Wedding of William Charlton to Margaret Hedley
Esther’s parents – William Charlton and Margaret Hedley (2nd wife) were married on the 9th March 1871 at Benfieldside (a Parish in the County of Durham). This is a photograph that was taken on their wedding day – they don’t looked too thrilled about it!