Johnson Welch was born 1848, at Wingate, the son of John and Elizabeth Welch.  John was a teacher/school master.  There were 6 children, born at Rainton, Haswell, Wingate which indicates that John moved from school to school on a regular basis.  In 1871, the family lived at Wingate, Co. Durham.

4 March 1873:  Johnson Welch, aged 25, married Margaret Hall at Tanfield, Co. Durham.  They had 10 children, Annie, John, George, Thomas, Johnson, Henry, Elizabeth, Charles, James and Margaret.  By 1881, Johnson, now 31 years old and Margaret had 5 children and lived at South Greenfield Colliery, near Tanfield.  All their children had been born there.  Johnson worked as a coal miner.  Johnson Welch junior (1879-1884) died, aged 5.   

By 1891, Johnson and Margaret lived at Charlotte Terrace, Evenwood with 8 children.  Charles, aged 4, was the first to be born at Evenwood indicating that the family had moved to Evenwood between 1885 and 1887.  Johnson, was recorded as, “colliery undermanager.” 

24 August 1900:  There was a royal visit to Randolph Colliery – Princess Alexandra, the Duchess of York, who on the accession of King Edward VII in 1901 became Queen Consort, was accompanied by Lord Barnard.  The party was given a guided tour by the managing director of the North Bitchburn Coal Company Limited, William Randolph Innes Hopkins and other officials of the company.  A portfolio of official photographs was taken and one shows Johnson Welch.

Below: Johnson Welsh at Randolph Colliery

By 1901, Johnson, Margaret and their 7 children lived at Randolph Terrace with a servant, 16 years old Margaret A. Tempest. 

1910:  The Bishop Auckland Industrial Co-operative Floor & Provision Society Limited published its 50th jubilee commemorative book and a short description of John Welch and image is provided.  He was a board member for 2 years, 1906 to 1908.

Below: 1910, Johnson Welch: Portrait included in the Co-op Jubilee book,

20 May 1910:  Johnson Welch died, aged 62 and is buried at Evenwood Cemetery.  He had been a sideman at St. Paul’s Church, Evenwood and the Parish Magazine reported that, “4,000 followed his remains to their resting place.” 

A newspaper report estimated that between 3,000 and 4,000 people took part in the procession.  Bandsmen from Evenwood, West Auckland and other parts of the district preceded the hearse.  The North Bitchburn Coal Company Limited was represented by Mr. Hustler-Hustler, (managing director), Messrs. C. Widdas, P. Widdas, T. Heslop (manager), T. Snowdon, M. Heslop and M. Hunter.  The Bishop Auckland Co-operative Society was also represented.  The burial service was conducted by Rev. G. Collis.  The bearers were Messrs. R. Watson, A. Bell, M. Bowman, R. Wardle, J. Davis and C. Morland.  The report states,

“Eloquent testimony to the esteem in which the late Johnson Welch, of Evenwood, has been held by friends all-round the district was borne at the internment yesterday, which took part at the Evenwood Cemetery.  It can be said faithfully that in the district there never was a funeral of such large dimensions…He was one of Evenwood’s best and truest citizens and a respected official of the Randolph Colliery.”

His effects amounting to £1367 18s 10d were left to 2 of his sons George H. Welch (overman) and Thomas Welch (weighman).  This sum amounts to about £206,000 today (2032).

Below: Headstone and a detail of the inscription.