General

The pioneer of investigative journalism, William Thomas Stead, was born in Embleton on 5^th July 1849.  His parents were Rev. William and Isabella Stead; he was the second of their 9 children, and the last of the children to be born in the village, the younger ones were born in Howden-on-Tyne. 

William was educated at home before attending Silcoates School in Wakefield, a school for the sons of Nonconformist clergy, between 1862 and 1864.  He joined the staff of Darlington based newspaper The Northern Echo and by 1871 was its editor, the youngest newspaper editor in the country at the time. In 1873 he married Emma Lucy Wilson and they went on to have 6 children. 

In 1880 he moved to London becoming an assistant at the Pall Mall Gazette and then editor, 1883-1889.  It was during this time that he wrote the Maiden Tribute series to highlight child slavery and prostitution; to prove his point he arranged to purchase a young 13-year-old girl named Eliza.  This campaign successfully led to the increase of the age of consent from 13 to 16, however for Stead it resulted in a 3-month prison sentence as a result of a civil case raised against him. 

Having revolutionised Fleet Street, Stead left popular journalism behind him, founded the publication Review of Reviews in 1890 and concentrated on campaigning for peace.  He was an advocate for the need of a strong navy and peace through arbitration; he spoke out about atrocities in Bulgaria and the Transvaal, met with the Russian Tsar and travelled to the Hague to lead peace talks.   

On 10^th April 1912 he boarded the Titanic at Southampton to travel to America where he was due to speak at a peace conference at Carnegie Hall, New York which was being attended by the American President Taft.  His body sadly was never found, he was aged 62. 

The press of the time reveals what must have been the absolute fear and chaos about the events surrounding that fateful journey.  Family and friends rushing to offices of White Star Line hoping for news, a similar picture at the docks waiting for ships carrying survivors to arrive.  Within a couple of days, the press began reporting the awful news.  The Evening Telegraph and Post on 16^th April carried the headline “Mr. W. T. Stead, Reported Victim of the Disaster”; the same day The Shield Daily News stated “Captain, Officers and Mr. W. T. Stead believed to be among the drowned”.  The following day The Yorkshire Post said that “among the missing are many prominent personages, including Mr. W. T. Stead…”. 

The obituaries that were published list many lifetime accomplishments and give an insight into William Thomas Stead the man; he was described in The Labour Leader as having “rare insight and unique power” as well as “cyclonic energy”.  The Suffragist publication The Vote recalled that he supported women’s suffrage as he valued women, he led by example employing women and his belief of equal pay for equal work.  The article also reveals an interesting insight into his character, referring to his time in prison it records “every year he wore prison clothes – and gloried in doing so – on the anniversary of his sentence.” 

In Embleton, he is remembered with the naming of a street in his memory and the papers of the Embleton Local History Society held at Northumberland Archives include those from events to mark the anniversary of his birth. 

Days before boarding the Titanic, Stead attended the Biofix Studios in the Strand and had some photographs taken to be used as part of a lecture on photography.  These are believed to be the last images of him.  They can be viewed at https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/william-thomas-stead-biofix-pictures.html 

From Wednesday 27^th April, Berwick Record Office is revising its opening hours and its procedures. 

The office will open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9.30 to 12.45 and 2.00 to 4.45. As original documents are not kept on site, these must still be booked in advance either via Eventbrite – or e-mailing berwickarchives@northumberland.gov.uk . If you haven’t got an Archives card, please apply for one here – https://www.archivescard.com/  

Visitors wanting to consult our family history resources or ask for advice can just turn up on our open days and we will do our best to help you.  

For further information, telephone 01289 301865 or e-mail berwickarchives@northumberland.gov.uk 

All cases admitted to the County Lunatic Asylum are sad but occasionally, there can be patients sent there who are unidentified. One such case was patient number 1821 who was received on 26 June 1891. The image above shows that sadly, his name is unknown. The only information included is that he appears to be about 40 years old and is classed as dangerous to others as he has pointed a knife at a person who went near him. A Police Constable named PC Ross, found the gentleman at Chirton Hill Farm on 25 June 1891. He was found cutting into a gate with a pen knife then casually pointing the knife at anybody who went near him. It was evident that he had been wandering and could give no account of himself. 

The asylum case book states that he stands staring with a vacant look and the medical team have been unable to get any information as he won’t speak. He has all the appearance of chronic dementia and when he thinks nobody is looking, he swallows any piece of paper he finds on the floor. He has the appearance of having suffered from exposure and starvation as he looks haggard and worn out and his pupils are unequal. He either could not or would not stand during his examination without the aid of an Attendant. He would not open his mouth or allow the doctor to examine his chest. He appears quite stupid and refuses to do anything asked of him. He also refuses to take food in any form and when awake, he lies staring vacantly in front of him. He apparently understands some of the things said to him as he occasionally nods or shakes his head. 

27 June 1891  – After having a bath yesterday, he was put to bed and an attempt made to give him some warm milk. Great difficulty was experienced and most of it was spilt. Beef tea was also tried at intervals but with little success. He seemed to be in no pain but inclined to sleep. At 9.30pm, the Medical Officer visited and found him looking flushed with hot, dry skin. There is still a struggle to examine the chest and lungs, but the doctor has asked for them to be wrapped in wool with flannel over it. He is prescribed beef tea and milk with some whisky every hour or whenever the Attendants can get him to swallow it. At 6pm, his breathing is shallow and pulse feeble. He is not to be moved from his bed and a ‘Special Attendant’ is put on duty to observe him during the night.  

28 June 1891 – The Attendant had difficulty to get anything past his lips. He was more restless and seemed inclined to get over the edge of the bed. He slept at intervals during the night and took about 1.5 pints of milk and beef tea with whiskey as ordered. He moans a good deal, but nothing can be understood. Once, he attempted to speak, but quite incoherently.  

Patient died at 2.45pm this afternoon.  Cause of death:

1. Phthisis Pulmonalis  

2. Acute Pneumonia 

Children were also admitted to the asylum and resided with adults. One eight year old boy was received on 19 October 1893 from Tynemouth Workhouse. He is classed as an idiot since birth and has had no education. He is a danger to others due to his habit of biting children. He has no comprehension of questions, laughs and makes inarticulate sounds. He can’t talk and has no understanding. He laughs, crys, gurgles and chuckles to himself like an infant. He labours under idiocy, can’t speak and is incapable of taking care of himself. His intelligence does not correspond with his age. In bodily health he is good and is clean and well nourished.  

31 January 1894 – This patient remains unchanged in all respects. He is in good health, but beyond a repetition of former notes nothing can be noted.  

22 July 1895 – He is as idiotic as ever. He plays with a bell. 

26 December 1896 – This child is looking rather poorly in the ward today and was sent to the infirmary. His chest was examined, and localised patches of dullness were found on the left side. His breathing was shallow and very rapid, he has a short, hard cough. His temperature is 103.4. His chest has been enveloped in cotton wool. He is a good deal flushed and very restless.  

16 February 1897 – His temperature is 101.8 today. This morning his milk returned through his nose. His throat was examined and there was a large quantity of creamy pus at the back of the mouth and in the larynx. His lips are dry and crusted and over the last few days the nurse had removed some blood clots from inside his mouth.  

17 February 1897 – This boy has broncho-pneumonia with capillary bronchitis. He is having whisky, two teaspoon full doses every two hours. It was noted by the night nurse that his breathing was more laboured. The doctor was called, and ether administered. His chest showed severe evidence of pneumonia. Whisky and milk are being administered every hour, but swallowing is performed with great difficulty. Patient gradually sank and passed away at 3.40pm.  

It is stated that the cause of death was Diphtheria. When I was reading the case book, I was heartened to see that this young workhouse boy did not die alone. The notes show that Nurse Kelly was by his side.  

The patient case books held by Northumberland Archives only begin in 1890 but we also hold admission registers beginning in 1859 when the asylum opened. One entry that caught my eye was for a lady called Mary Anderson who was admitted with dementia on 29 October 1867 at the ripe old age of 98! Her previous place of abode was Rothbury Workhouse but it does not indicate how long she lived in this institution. Sadly, she died in the asylum on 27 January 1868.