Beach Buoy did his family tree a few years ago.

Thomas was one of the many Graingers and Grangers who moved from Robin Hoods Bay to Hartlepool.

It is because they all moved to Hartlepool or West Hartlepool that Beach Buoy is where he is and who he is, for better or for worse.

He is a distant relative of Beach Buoy.

Thomas' death notice in the local press stipulated that no women should attend his funeral.

THOMAS GRAINGER

Thomas Grainger. 24/2/1849 – 1930.

Thomas Grainger was the eldest of George and Isabella Grainger’s children and like his brother was born in Robin Hoods Bay. George was a joiner/undertaker and Thomas worked with him but was not really interested in this. He preferred art and was, it is believed, an assistant master at an Art School.

On 9^th September 1888 Thomas married Elizabeth Brass, née Coath. Elizabeth was the widow of William Brass who died in West Hartlepool in 1883. She had 3 children from this marriage, Minnie, Elizabeth and Fred are recorded in censuses and on a posting on the West Hartlepool Family History Society web page but Elsie Bradley gives their names as Jane and Edith but I think she is wrong. Elizabeth at one time had a general dealer’s shop, which presumably had been her husband’s. Barton had said she was very hardworking.

After their marriage, Thomas and Elizabeth moved to a very nice house in York Road near the Burn Valley where they took in gentleman boarders. They had 2 children, Thomas, born 24^th February 1889 (5 months after the marriage) and Isabella, or Issie as she was known, in 1891. Apparently Issie had very nice manners.

Thomas and Elizabeth kept quite a lot of company (which seems a nice old fashioned way of saying that they entertained a lot); it was at one of these gatherings that Barton’s daughter Isabella met her future husband, Jack Bradley. Isabella and her sister Lizzie were very good pianists and were much in demand. At these parties Thomas used to insist on singing the Marsellaise!

It would seem that Elizabeth was quite well off as she seemed to pay all the expenses; Thomas was only expected to pay the gas bill but he didn’t even do that apparently, and after a while Elizabeth and all the children upped and left him with only his chair to sit on. After that he lived by himself for a while. Thomas must have tried to support himself through his painting; he did jobs for Barton as well but he used to complain about bills as long as your arm and about chasing children off the paint. Eventually he moved in with his Sister; Lizzie, and he still painted. He was asked to do some paintings of the Denes (an area of WH?); at one point there were 56 of Thomas’ paintings in the passage of Lizzie’s house. When Thomas died they were all sold for 1/6 pence each so there must be some out there in homes in West Hartlepool.

Thomas was buried in West Hartlepool’s North Cemetery on 30^th December 1930. Row B, Number 56. (Unconsecrated.) He had been living at St Paul’s Road in Hartlepool. He was 81 years old.

Thanks for the above item go to…Elsie Bradley, Isla Evans (nee Grainger.) and Grainger Group member Vicky.

Since the article first appeared on Grainger Group I have found some additional information about Thomas Grainger & Family.

See following page for details………….

Kelly’s Directory of West H’pool 1887

Shopkeepers.

Mrs E Brass 49 Studley Rd West H’pool

Kelly’s Directory of West H’pool 1890

Shopkeepers.

Thomas Grainger 43 Studley Rd West H’pool

NORTHERN DAILY MAIL

17 JULY 1894

FALL OF COPING STONES

Narrow Escape of Mr T Grainger.

About 12-50 today, as Mr T Grainger, Joiner and Undertaker, Charles St, brother of Councillor Grainger was getting dinner in his workshop, several large coping stones from an overshadowing gable crashed through the roof. Mr Grainger called to his boy to run and he himself made a dash for a safe spot. He thought that perhaps the large telephone pole attached to the exchange and was giving way and was coming through. On looking round he found that the stones, one especially of considerable weight had come from the source indicated. The opposite gable abuts into Charles St. No one was hurt. The landlord’s attention was drawn to this matter.

2 Aug 1894 Northern Daily Mail informs readers that Thomas

Was third in Class 10 (Freehand drawing) at Hartlepool Flower Show

Ward’s Directory of West H’pool 1896 –7

Joiner

T Grainger 49 Studley Rd West H’pool

NORTHERN DALY MAIL

11 APRIL 1898

THE SKETCHING CLUB

EXHIBITION AT THE ATHENAEUM

The article states that …..

While T.Grainger contributes several pieces of work of undoubted merit, his drawing of “Gunner’s Pool” in Castle Eden Dene being one of the best in the collection. The same artist in his view of “Wynyard Hall” and “The Water Mill Near Cotherstone” has made a distinct reputation for himself.

Ward’s Directory of West H’pool 1898 – 99

Joiner

Thomas Grainger York Rd West H’pool

Dressmaker

Miss E Brass York Rd West H’pool

Ward’s Directory of West H’pool 1900 – 01

Joiner

T. Grainger 4 The Promenade West H’pool

Dressmaker

Miss E Brass 4 The Promenade West H’pool

Kelly’s Directory of West H’pool 1902 – 03

Joiner

Thomas Grainger The Promenade West Hartlepool

Ward’s directory of West H’pool 1904 – 05

Joiner

Thomas Grainger 4 The Promenade & also South Rd. West H’pool

At all Saint's Church, Stranton on Jan 29th 1887, Thomas and Edith Brass (Possibly Elizabeth his wife?) were witnesses for the wedding of Walker Wheelhouse , Guard aged 30 and Emma Plumb.

NORTHERN DAILY MAIL (WEST HARTLEPOOL.)

M0N 29 DEC 1930.

DEATHS.

GRAINGER, on Dec 27^th 1930, Thomas aged 81, eldest son of the late George & Isabella Grainger. Service to be held at his sister’s residence, 9 St Paul’s Rd, 1-45pm, Tuesday, Dec 30^th – Cortege leaves the above address for Old Cemetery, Gentlemen Only.

Thomas’ will details…

Gross value £130,

Executors were Barton Grainger (His Brother and one time Alderman of West Hartlepool and Sister; Isabella.

To son Thomas & daughter Isabella, he left them each any one of his paintings they might choose within one month of his death. Everything else to be sold and divided into six equal parts.

The beneficiaries were

Barton (Brother.) x 1 share

Isabella (Sister.) x 1 share

Hannah (Sister.) x 1 share

Maria Caroline Fisher. x 1 share.

Hannah Grainger Durham (Daughter.) x 2 shares

The group has copies of the following paintings by Thomas,

See the Photograph Section.

Boats at Hartlepool 1876.Found in America

Stranton Church 1884

Cottage and Farm, Church Hesleden 1887

West View of Greatham