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James Cleasby                                      1837-1927
James was born about 1837, the son of Robert Cleasby, and Elizabeth Watson, at Old Shildon, County Durham. He married Ann Coulson.
It appears that James left his wife and family in 1864, and sailed to Australia, where he married again and started a second family. He died there in 1927.
Ann Coulson                                             1839-                       (1st Wife)
Ann was born about 1839, the daughter of Joseph Coulson and Catherine Chadwick, at Gateshead, County Durham.
After her husband James took off for Australia, Ann moved in with her mother. She continued to be listed as married in the census returns.
I have identified the following children.
  Robert Born abt 1861   Durham City, County Durham  
Catherine Ann Born abt 1862   Coxhoe, County Durham Married Thomas Lowes

Birth of Parents
James Cleasby b: abt 1837 c: 15 Oct 1837   Shildon Parish, County Durham
son of Robert Cleasby, Pitman, and Elizabeth Watson, Old Shildon

Ann Coulson b: abt 1839         Low Fell, Gateshead, County Durham
daughter of Joseph Coulson and Catherine Chadwick

Marriage
7 Nov 1859
James Cleasby
Ann Coulson
Belmont, County Durham             1859 4Q Durham 10a 306

1861 Census   8 April 1861 St Giles, Durham City, County Durham
Dragon Villa
Joseph Coulson
Catherine (Wife)
James Cleasby (Son-Law)
Ann Cleasby (Dau)
Age 50
Age 49
Age 23
Age 21
Coalminer

Coalminer
?Surnley?
Shildon
Shildon
?Surnley?
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
abt 1810
abt 1814
abt 1837
abt 1839

Children
Robert Cleasby b: abt 1861               St Giles, Durham City, County Durham
son of James Cleasby and Ann Coulson, Dragon Villa
Catherine Ann Cleasby b: abt 1862               Coxhoe, County Durham     1862 3Q Durham 10a 286
daughter of James Cleasby and Ann Coulson

    Although Ann Cleasby continues to report that she is married,
    It appears that James Cleasby has run off to Australia, and started another family (See below.).


From the Passenger List of the WANATA
1,347 Tons, Benjamin Corrigall, Mate, William Holman, Surgeon,
Departed Liverpool England 5 May 1864, Arrives Sydney (in quarantine) 3 September 1864 (121 Days)
Number of deaths on voyage, 1 Male, 1 Female,
Number of births on voyage, 2 Males, 1 Female,
Number of immigrants embarked 405, Number of immigrants landed 406
James Cleasby, Sgl Male 26, miner, Shildon, Durham, Church of England, Can Read and Write

From the Sydney Immigration Department
James Cleasby, Age 26, miner, Shildon, Durham,
Parents: Robert and Elizabeth, Father dead, Mother living in ?????ick,
Church of England, Can Read and Write, Relations in the Colony: None,
State of health, strength and probable usefulness: Good,
Any complaints respecting treatment on board the ship: None

1881 Census RG11-4961 4 April 1881 St Giles, Durham City, County Durham
Dragon Villa
Catherine Coulson (Widow)
Ann Cleasby (Dau) (M)
Robert Cleasby (GSon)
Catherine A. Cleasby (GDau)
Age 66
Age 41
Age 19
Age 18
Housework
Dressmaker
Grocers Asst.
Dom. Servant
Newcastle
Gateshead
Dragonvilla
Coxhoe
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
Durham
abt 1814
abt 1839
abt 1861
abt 1862

    Catherine Ann Cleasby married Thomas Lowes in 1889. His death was reported in early 1890, at age 30.

1891 Census RG12-4104 6 April 1891 St Giles, Durham City, County Durham
Dragon Villa
Catherine Coulson (Widow)
Ann Cleasby (Dau) (M)
Catherine Ann Lowes (Gdau)(Wid)
Annie Lowes (GGdau)
Age 75
Age 51
Age 28
Age 1

Dressmaker
Dressmaker
Newcastle
Gateshead
Coxhoe
Giles Gate Moor
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
Durham
abt 1814
abt 1839
abt 1862
abt 1889

Death
Ann (Coulson) Cleasby No Data

1901 Census RG13-4683 1 April 1901 Belmont, County Durham
38 Dragon Ville
Catherine Coulson (Widow)
Catherine Lowes (G-dau)(Wid)
Annie Lowes (GG-dau)
Age 86
Age 38
Age 11

Charwoman
Newcastle
Coxhoe
Giles Gate Moor
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
abt 1814
abt 1862
abt 1889



Catherine "Ann" Cohran     1841-1929     (2nd Wife)
Catherine was born about 1841, in Limerick, Ireland. She
sailed to New South Wales, Australia around 1861.
I have identified the following children:
 
The exact surname is not readily available, as every usage is spelled a different way; Cohran, Coghlan, Coughlan, Colgan, Cocklan, Cockland, Kirklan.
  Elizabeth A. Born 26 Jan 1869   Braidwood, NSW Married James Pearce
Ellen M. Born abt 1870   Braidwood, NSW Married Alfred Young Barnaby
Edward Henry Carnley
William Henry J.
Robert
Twins Born abt 1872   Tambaroora, NSW
Dorothy Born abt 1876   Hartley, NSW Died at birth
Dorothy Born abt 1878   Hartley, NSW Married Andrew Strachan

Birth of New Wife
Catherine "Ann" Cohran b: Abt 1841           Limerick, Ireland
daughter of Michael Cohran and Mary Harr

Marriage
1867
James Cleasby
Catherine "Ann" Cohran

Children
Elizabeth Cleasby b: abt 1869               Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia       Braidwood 7642/1869
daughter of James Cleasby and Catherine "Ann" Cohran
Ellen Cleasby b: abt 1870               Braidwood, New South Wales, Australia       Braidwood 7726/1870
daughter of James Cleasby and Catherine "Ann" Cohran
William H. J. Cleasby b: abt 1871               Tambaroora, New South Wales, Australia       Tambaroora 17845/1872
twin son of James Cleasby and Catherine "Ann" Cohran
Robert Cleasby b: abt 1872               Tambaroora, New South Wales, Australia       Tambaroora 17846/1872
twin son of James Cleasby and Catherine "Ann" Cohran
Dorothy Cleasby b: abt 1876               Hartley, New South Wales, Australia
daughter of James Cleasby and Catherine "Ann" Cohran   Died at birth,   Hartley 6729/1876
Dorothy Cleasby b: abt 1878               Hartley, New South Wales, Australia       Hartley 14104/1878
daughter of James Cleasby and Catherine "Ann" Cohran

Death
James Cleasby Died 26 Nov 1927, Age 90  North Street, Adamstown, New South Wales, Australia
Born Durham England, son of William Cleasby and Elizabeth Watson, husband of Catherine Cohran,
Married in Sydney, NSW,
Buried 28 Nov 1927, Church of England, Sandgate,
Informant: Edward Henry Carnley, Son in law, Adamstown.

Death
Annie (Colgan) Cleasby Died 21 Feb 1929, Age 89,  48 Victoria Street, Adamstown, New South Wales, Australia
Born Limerick Ireland, daughter of Michael Colgan and Mary Harr, widow of James Cleasby,
Buried 23 Feb 1929, Church of England, Sandgate,
Informant: E. H. Carnley, Son in law, Adamstown.

SPECIAL THANKS  to , née Kavanagh , of Perth, Western Australia, for revealing this second family, and for many of the details provided above.