The forename
of a relative is sometimes used to honour a particular familial connection or
heritage. This can be helpful in tracing the ancestry of a person, although it
can take some research to find the original connection. In 1789, the 18th-century inventor
William Wouldhave (WI050) proposed a model for a self-righting lifeboat in
response to a competition to reward
any inventor who could provide a craft for the purpose of saving lives from a
shipwreck.
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| The monument to Wouldhave and Greathead was used on commemorative certificates from South Shields |
Although his model did not win the competition, William’s concept
led to the building of the first lifeboat by Henry Greathead. There was
correspondence in local and national newspapers fifty years later, but it
wasn’t until 1887 that William Wouldhave
was commemorated by the Wouldhave Memorial, at Pier Head, South Shields for his
part in the invention of the self-righting lifeboat. It seems likely that some parents had heard
the name Wouldhave from the newspapers and may have had it in mind when they
chose a middle name for their child – especially if there was someone in their
family with that surname.
The Etherington Family
The Etherington family, originating in the Barnard Castle
area, used the middle name Wouldhave for 3 generations and the link to the
surname comes from the early 19th century.
Wouldhave origins
Henry Hutchinson was a whitesmith in Barnard Castle. A Whitesmith was someone who worked in tin or
other light metals. They worked mostly
on cold metals (in comparison to a Blacksmith who worked on hot metals). Henry
Hutchinson married two Wouldhave sisters.
In 1803 he married Mary Wouldhave (MA096) born 1778. Mary died in 1807 aged 29 years, a month
after the birth of her daughter Frances.
In 1814 Henry married Mary’s younger sister, Hannah (HA091) born
1786. Hannah died later in 1814, aged 28
years, two months after the birth of her daughter Mary.
Mary and Hannah were daughters of Michael Wouldhave
(MI091) and Hannah formerly Crampton (HA094).
Michael was registered as a Freeman of Newcastle through patrimony, his
father having been a Barber Surgeon.
Michael was a woollen stuff maker and dyer (listed in a directory in
1793 of Barnard Castle).
Mary Hutchinson (born 1814), daughter of Henry and Hannah, married Thomas Etherington in Gainford in 1833. They were living in Gainford in the 1841
census. Thomas was a carpet weaver. Although
the woollen industry was prominent throughout the 18th century in
Barnard Castle and the surrounding area, a decline in the demand for woollen
cloth early in the 19th century resulted in high unemployment. In order to make use of the plentiful supplies
of wool in the area, manufacturers introduced carpet weaving. Factories were built along the riverside and
by 1834 the town had seven carpet manufacturing businesses.
1st generation
Mary and Thomas had several children including Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (1) born in
1857. Thomas was also a carpet weaver
and he married Mary Jane Robinson at Startforth in 1879. Thomas died aged 40 years of heart failure
and pneumonia. His family lived in The
Bank, in Barnard Castle. His son, Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (2)was
born in 1882.
2nd generation
Thomas Wouldhave Etherington (2) married Mary Lizzie
McKitton in 1907. His brother John
married Annie Mole in 1909. The both had
sons with Wouldhave as a middle name.
3rd generation
Robert Wouldhave
Etherington was the son of Thomas (2) and Mary Lizzie. He was born in 1908
and died in 1932.
Thomas Wouldhave
Etherington (3) was the son of John and Annie. He was born in 1909, married Mary I Rutherford
in 1932 and died in 2000.
