The Last of William and Janet's Children - Wilhemina

The youngest of the Clark children was Wilhemina (Willem) who was born in 1892.  Here she is as a young women with many of her Clark family which included her nephew and nieces born to her sister Mary Ann Gibson (nee Clark) "the Gibson clan."  This is such a happy photograph.

Circa 1921 The Clarks, Gibsons, Pattisons and their various Spouses

Wilhemina is standing next to her sister Janet (my Grandma).  By the time this photograph was taken she would have had her first child Edith, her son Tom was yet to be born.  You can see that the photographer did not manage to capture everyone. but what a fantastic family "get together" this must have been.   

L-R:  At the front is 6 year old Marge Clark (Albert & Margaret Clark's eldest daughter). To the left of her, drinking from a cup is 5 year old Molly Gibson.  Behind her is four year old Jennie Dent, Janet's (nee Clark) daughter, next to her, sitting down, could be 13 year old Lillian (Li) Gibson. Next to her is 11 year old Eddie Gibson.  Next to Eddie is Doris Clark, born 1918 and her sister Elsie born 1921 sitting on her Mother Margaret Clark's knee.  Their brother Albert was yet to be born in 1929. Behind Margaret Clark to the right of her in dark clothing could be half sisters Hilda and Ellen Pattison born to Janet Clark/Pattison (nee Little). 

Circa 1920s Right Wilhemina Kearton (nee Clark) with her sister (my Grandmother) Janet Dent (nee Clark)

When she was young Wilhemina worked in service in Darlington and met and  married joiner Will Kearton in 1913.  Will was born 1890.   I remember visiting them, when I was a little girl with my mother and Grandmother. I still remember the house had bow windows and seemed very posh in comparison to our Greenside "pit house".  

Wilhemina and Will had two children:-


Edith Kearton born Newcastle 1916.  In 1939 Edith married Raymond H Kirby in 1939.  She was working as a Shop Assistant of a Dying and Dry Cleaning Company in Darlington. Raymond was working as an Assistant Steel Clerk, (Construction Engineering).  They lived at 9 Vancouver Street Darlington.

Edith died aged 80 in 1996.

9 Vancouver Street Darlington today

Thomas (Tom) Kearton born Newcastle 1922. He married Eva Smith in 1944.  

I think Wilhemina travelled back to Scotswood Newcastle upon Tyne to have both her children. As you can see from the above photograph Janet and Willem were good friends, and perhaps Janet helped her at the time.

Wilhemina died at the age of 88 in June 1976.  Will died at the age of 81 in March 1978.