Note: The original obituary was printed as a single paragraph. Breaks have been introduced
to make it easier to read. Dotted underlines show where footnotes are
available giving definitions or more
information.
MR. ROBERT KIRTLEY
At the Monkwearmouth Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, the remains of one of
the old standards of the north side of the river were interred, Councillor
Robt. Swan conducting the service. A large number of friends were present to
show their esteem for a well-known and highly-respected townsman.
Mr. Kirtley
was born in 1797, and had completed his 85th year a few days before his
death, on Saturday last. He was a native of Tanfield, but came to
Monkwearmouth when a young man, and served his apprenticeship as a
. For many years he had charge of the engine at the Bridge
, known then as Hall's Dock. Subsequently he became a
on the
North Quay, and a shipowner.
One of the works in connection with which he
will be remembered was his purchase of Palmer's Hill, which consisted of a
large accumulation of ballast taken from ships. This he removed, and the
site is now occupied by a portion of the important engineering works of Mr
John Dickinson.
Mr. Kirtley was widely known as an old Methodist. In his
youth he was connected with the Church of England, his father being the
parish clerk of the Church at Tanfield. In those days the county of Durham
formed one Wesleyan circuit and it was during a visit of the Methodists to
his native village that impressions were made upon his mind which resulted
in his becoming a member of the Wesleyan Society at Whitburn-street, on his
removal shortly afterwards to Monkwearmouth. This was some sixty years ago,
and during fifty years of his Methodist life he was a
. At the
disruption during the Reform movement in 1849, he left Whitburn-street and
took an active part in the building of the old Dock-street Chapel, of which
place he became a trustee, and in that office he continued to the time of
his death.
He was of a social and cheerful disposition, and nothing
delighted him more than a "" concerning old times. He could tell
pleasant tales about his being present at the trial of George Stephenson's
first locomotive, and his recollections of the beginning of railways also of
the old days of stage coaches, when he once spent a week in travelling from
Newcastle to Brighton to attend his . He could relate
racy stories, too, about the times of the Battle of Waterloo and the
French wars, and his having to "" for a soldier.
He was
moving about actively up to a fortnight previous to his decease, showing an
amount of vigour which many a far younger man might envy. His life was a
proof that hard work and active habits are not incompatible with a healthy
constitution and a ripe old age.
Background Notes
"Shipwright":- a ship builder
"Graving Dock":- a dry dock
"Wharfinger":- the owner or manager of a wharf
"Crack":- a dialect word for talk or chat
"his brother's funeral":- Robert was one of ten
children of Henry and Margaret Kirtley. The brother whose
funeral he attended in Brighton was
Thomas, who died
on 16th Nov 1847, at the
young age of 36, of a brain tumour. Thomas's widow,
Thomasine,
outlived him by 47 years.
"class-leader":- In Methodist
organisation - "That it may the more easily be discerned, whether they are indeed working out their own salvation, each society is divided into smaller companies, called classes, according to their respective places of abode.
There are about twelve
persons in every class; one of whom is styled the Leader. It is his
business, (1.) To see each person in his class once a week at
least, in order to inquire how their souls prosper;
to advise, reprove, comfort, or exhort,
as occasion may require; to receive what they are willing to give toward the
relief of the poor.
(2.) To meet the Minister and the Stewards of the society once a
week; in order to inform the Minister
of any that are sick, or
of any that walk disorderly, and will not be reproved; to pay to the
Stewards what they have received of their several classes in the
week preceding; and to show their account of what each person has contributed."
From: Nature, design and general rules of the United Societies, in London, Bristol, Kingswood, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, etc
by John and Charles Wesley
"Stand his ballot":- individuals were selected by ballot, from a list of
all the able-bodied men in the parish, to serve in the county's militia. It
was not unusual for men of means to pay someone else to serve in their
place. I don't know yet whether in fact he was picked in the ballot.
Map showing Tanfield and Monkwearmouth.