Thomas Kirkup & the Chickens

I noticed this inscription today on the north facing side of the memorial to John Chicken and Ann Chicken of Lemington [47]. It had not previously been recorded.

The main (east) face reads:
John Chicken of Lemington who died Oct 26th 1913 aged 63 years. Also of Ann Chicken wife of the above who died January 19th 1926 aged 73 years. "In God we trust".

The north side (adjacent to the path and shown in the above photograph) reads:
Thomas Kirkup
Chief Engineer
Lost at sea on the S.S. Cavalier
Dec. 13th 1891
Aged 44 years.

The Wrecksite website gives more information about the disaster.

On December 13th, 1891, the British cargo ship CAVALIER, built in 1878 by Doxford W. & Sons and owned at the time of her loss by Forster William, on voyage from Odessa to Falmouth with a cargo of grain, was last seen in heavy weather by the SS INDIAN PRINCE, abandoned and about 16 miles WSW from Bishop Rock. Since then, nothing was ever heard of her.

MISSING NEWCASTLE STEAMER

Respecting the missing steamer Cavalier, of Newcastle, which was reported to have been passed abandoned, a telegram has been received at Shields stating that two bodies have been washed ashore on the Cornish coast, and have been identified as those of the steward (Touns) and the second officer, name not ascertained.
(York Herald, Wednesday 06 January 1892)

The "S.S. Cavalier" was a British iron screw steamship, official number 76,231, built in 1878 by William Doxford & Sons, at Sunderland. Her length was 279.1 ft., breadth 34.7 ft., and depth of hold 24.05 ft.

In October 1891 the "Cavalier" loaded in the Tyne a cargo of 2,538 tons of coal including bunkers for Savona, and before sailing, Captain Jennison finding the vessel with a list to port, ordered some of the crew to fill the two starboard boats with water to get her upright. One of these men, H. S. Broadbent, stated in evidence that as fast as they put water into these boats it ran out again through the seams which were leaking. The steam-steering gear which had been landed for repairs was not re-shipped; and the vessel sailed from the Tyne with a crew of 20 hands, under the command of Captain Jennison. She arrived safely at Savona, where the cargo was discharged, and she proceeded in water ballast to Odessa, where she arrived on the 15th November, and proceeded to load a cargo of wheat.

On the 21st November 1891, the "Cavalier" left Odessa with her crew of 21 hands. After taking on board 135 tons of bunker coals, she sailed from Gibraltar on 7th December, apparently in good condition, being upright and with the centre of the disc above the water.

Nothing more is known of the "Cavalier" until about 4 p.m. of the 13th December, when she was sighted by the s.s. "Indian Prince," about 16 miles W.S.W. of the Bishop's Rock, Scilly, apparently abandoned. The "Indian Prince" steamed round her, and remained near for about an hour, but as the sea was rough, and there was no sign of any life on board, she left the "Cavalier" and proceeded on her voyage. Since then nothing more has been seen of that vessel.

On the 4th January 1892, a body was washed on shore at St. Ives Bay, and on the following day two more bodies were found. One of the bodies was identified as that of the second mate of the "Cavalier." Some wreckage, apparently portions of a boat, were also found near the same place on the 4th, and on the 13th a bucket marked "Cavalier" was also found.

Board of Trade Wreck Report for 'Cavalier', 1892
Report of Court

The Court, having carefully inquired into the circumstances attending the above-mentioned shipping casualty, finds, for the reasons stated in the annex hereto, that the supposed loss of the vessel, with the whole of her crew, was caused by the shifting of the cargo, the vessel at the time, as laden, not having sufficient stability.

Dated this 25th day of March 1892.

Some local Chickens

George Chicken (1615-1684)
Born in Ryton, Durham, England on 1615. George married Kathren Stringer and had 11 children. He passed away on 1684 in Winlaton, Ryton.
Family Members
Parents
Unavailable
Unavailable
Spouse(s)
Kathren Stringer Unknown-1688
Children
William Chicken 1643-1691
Margaret Chicken 1654-Unknown
Robert Chicken 1659-Unknown
Elizabeth Chicken 1660-Unknown
A Childe Chicken 1663-1663
Jane Chicken 1663-Unknown
Edward Chicken 1670-1711
Thomas Chicken 1671-Unknown
George Chicken 1676-1679
John Chicken 1679-1679
Phillis Chicken 1682-Unknown
http://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/george-chicken_55489484

Edward Chicken (1670-1711)
Born in Ryton, Durham, England on 1670 to George Chicken and Kathren Stringer. Edward married Margaret Briggs and had 5 children. He passed away on 1711 in Ryton, Durham, England.
Family Members
Parents
George Chicken 1615-1684
Kathren Stringer Unknown-1688
Spouse(s)
Margaret Briggs 1662-1716
Children
George Chicken 1692-1771
William Chicken 1694-1725
Henry Chicken 1696-1750
John Chicken 1698-1746
Roger Chicken 1701-1766
http://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/edward-chicken_77840444

Roger Chicken (1701-1766)
Born in Barlow, Ryton, Durham, England on 18 May 1701 to Edward Chicken and Margaret Briggs. Roger married Jane Nixon and had 4 children. He passed away on 25 Apr 1766 in Barlow, Ryton, Durham, England.
Family Members
Parents
Edward Chicken 1670-1711
Margaret Briggs 1662-1716
Spouse(s)
Jane Nixon 1709-1769
Children
William Chicken 1740-1786
John Chicken 1745-Unknown
Margaret Chicken 1756-1758
Jane Chicken 1757-Unknown
http://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/roger-chicken_61234539

George Chicken (1742-1801)
Born in Barlow Ryton, Durham, England on 14 Nov 1742 to Roger Chicken and Jane Nixon. George married Margaret Ward and had 7 children. He passed away on Jul 1801 in Gateshead, Durham, England.
Family Members
Parents
Roger Chicken 1701-1766
Jane Nixon 1709-1769
Spouse(s)
Margaret Ward 1745-1801
Children
John Chicken 1776-1842
Ann Chicken 1777-Unknown
Roger Chicken 1778-Unknown
George Chicken 1780-Unknown
Thomas Chicken 1782-1801
William Chicken 1784-Unknown
Jane Chicken 1787-Unknown
http://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/george-chicken_208930714

John Chicken (1776-1842)
Born in Barlow Ryton, Durham, England on 4 Feb 1776 to George Chicken and Margaret Ward. John married Ruth Ward and had 7 children. He passed away on 24 Jun 1842 in Lemington, Newburn, Northumberland.
Family Members
Parents
George Chicken 1742-1801
Margaret Ward 1745-1801
Spouse(s)
Ruth Ward  Unknown-1843
Children
George Chicken 1814-Unknown
Mary Chicken 1818-Unknown
Margaret Chicken 1820-Unknown
Thomas Chicken 1823-1893
Matthew Chicken 1825-1888
John Chicken 1826-1827
Hannah Chicken 1828-Unknown
http://www.ancestry.com.au/genealogy/records/john-chicken_78426736

On the 1841 Census, John Chicken (born 1776) was living in Sugley near Newburn, decribed as an engineer.

 On the 1851 Census, George Chicken (born 1815/16) was living in Sugley, married to Margaret from Scotland. Their son, John Chicken, was 1 year old.

Not sure who this John Chicken (below) was but the newspaper report shows he was an under-viewer at Walbottle Colliery and married Jane Turnbull, dress maker from Kitty's Hall, at Heddon on 5th June 1842.

Newcastle Courant 10 June 1842 p.4

On 3 June 1880, John Chicken (age 30), son of George Chicken, married Ann Kirkup (born 1852).

The 1861 Census, shows Ann Kirkup living with her family at  Eachwick Moor Cottage. It was her brother, Thomas Kirkup, born in 1847, who was lost at sea on the S.S. Cavalier.

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