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Sir James Marr                                      1854-1932
James was born 9 September 1854, the son of Christopher Hall Marr and Ellen Bell. In his youth, he worked for T. R. Oswald, an early shipbuilder on the Wear, apparently learning a bit about shipbuilding. In late 1874 James accompanied Oswald to Southampton, but returned two years later. He married Mary Lynn on 18 Oct 1876. James also joined the firm of J. L. Thompson and Sons that year. In 1894, James was named to the J. L. Thompson Board of Directors. Two years later, James and Robert Thomspson established the Sunderland Forge and Engineering Company, with James as the Managing Director. The Sunderland Forge were specialists in the complete electrical equipment for ships, which included the manufacture of steam engine driven electrical dynamos. They also forged and machined propeller shafts, and other items such as anchors, and in fact made everything for a ship with the exception of the drive engines.
 
Work Conquers All
Upon the premature death of Robert Thompson in 1908, James was appointed Chairman of J. L. Thompson. A position he held until his death in 1932. After the death of Sir James Laing in 1901, that shipbuilding firm developed financial problems. James Marr joined that firm in 1909, saving the company, and becoming it's chairman in 1912. That same year he became chairman of the Wear Shipbuilder's Association for the next seven years. James was Knighted, and became a Baronet on 12 May 1919.
Sir James was chairman of J. L. Thompson & Sons Ltd., Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd., Sunderland Forge & Engineering Co., and The Silver Line (Shipowners).
In November 1925, during a severe slump in business, The Silver Line ordered six motor cargo ships of 9,000 tons each. The Laing shipyard built three, the Thompson shipyard built the other three, and they were all outfitted by the Sunderland Forge and Engineering Company, which at least brought temporary relief to the workers of Sunderland. Sir James acquired the Wolsingham Steel Foundry, in Weardale. His main interest seemed to be a massive hydraulic press, to use in making propeller shafts.

Mary Abigail Ann Lynn                       1855-1943
Mary was born about 1855, the daughter of John Lynn and Ann Scott, of Hylton, County Durham.
I have found the following children:
John Lynn Born 23 Sep 1877   South Hylton Married Amelia Rachel Thompson
Ellen Bell Born abt 1879   Monkwearmouth Married Harry Cecil Coatsworth
William Bell Born 4 Oct 1881   Monkwearmouth Married Hilda Carse

Birth of Parents
James Marr b: 9 Sep 1854   Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland     1854 4Q Newcastle T 10b 73
son of Christopher Hall Marr and Ellen Bell

Mary Abigail Ann Lynn b: abt 1855  c: 12 Mar 1855     County Durham     1855 1Q South Shields 10a 451
daughter of John Lynn and Ann Scott of Jarrow, County Durham

Marriage
18 Oct 1876
James Marr
Mary Abigail Ann Lynn
Gateshead, County Durham                   1876 4Q Gateshead 10a 967
son of Christopher Hall Marr and Ellen Bell, Newcastle upon Tyne
daughter of John and Ann Lynn of Hylton, County Durham

Children
John Lynn Marr b: 23 Sep 1877             South Hylton, County Durham
son of James Marr and Mary Abigail Ann Lynn                   1877 4Q Sunderland 10a 665
Ellen Bell Marr b: abt 1879             South Hylton, County Durham
daughter of James Marr and Mary Abigail Ann Lynn         1879 3Q Sunderland 10a 657

1881 Census RG11-5005 4 April 1881 Monkwearmouth, County Durham
1 Ash Place
James Marr
Mary (Wife)
Ann Lynn (M-law)(Wid)
John L.
Ellen Bell
Plus one servant
Age 26
Age 26
Age 63
Age 3
Age 1
Commercial Clerk Newcastle
Jarrow
South Hylton
South Hylton
Monkwearmouth
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
9 Sep 1854
abt 1855
abt 1817
23 Sep 1877
abt 1879

William Bell Marr b: 4 Oct 1881  c: 17 Mar 1882   Whitburn Street Wesleyan Methodist Church, Monkwearmouth
son of James Marr and Mary Abigail Ann Lynn, Ash Place;       1881 4Q Sunderland 10a 652

1891 Census RG12-4147 6 April 1891 Monkwearmouth, County Durham
6 Ash Place
James Marr (M)
Ellen B.
Ann Lynn (M-law)(Wid)
Henry R. Marr (Visitor)
Plus one servant
Age 36
Age 11
Age 73
Age 37
Shipbuilder


Ironmonger?
Newcastle
Monkwearmouth
Sunderland
Sunderland
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
Durham
9 Sep 1854
abt 1879
abt 1817
abt 1853

1901 Census RG13-4722 1 April 1901 Monkwearmouth, County Durham
Parkside, Roker
James Marr
Mary (Wife)
John L.
Ellen B.
William B.
Plus 2 servants
Age 46
Age 46
Age 23
Age 21
Age 19
Shipbuilder

Electrical Engineer
Newcastle
Jarrow
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
9 Sep 1854
abt 1855
23 Sep 1877
abt 1879
4 Oct 1881

1911 Census RG14-79 3 April 1911 Sunderland, County Durham
Roker   (12 Rooms)
James Marr
Mary (Wife)
John Lynn (Son)
Plus 3 Servants
Age 56
Age 55
Age 33
Shipbuilder

Electrical Engineer
Newcastle
Jarrow
Sunderland
Northumberland
Durham
Durham
9 Sep 1854
abt 1855
25 Sep 1877
Mary had Four children, and Three are still living.

Death
Sir James Marr Died 24 Nov 1932, Age 78,     Parkside, Roker   1832 4Q Sunderland 10a 685

The Times, Friday, Nov 25, 1932                 DEATHS
  MARR - On Nov 24, 1932 at Park Side, Roker, Sunderland, Sir James Marr, Bt., C.B.E.   Interment tomorrow (Saturday).   Service in St. Andrew's Church, Roker, at 11:30.
DURHAM   13 Jan 1933                         Probate
MARR, sir James, baronet - of Parkside, Roker, Sunderland, died 24 November 1932, Probate Durham 13 January, to William Bell Marr, electrical engineer, and Richard Stephenson Middleton, solicitor.
  Effects £130.696 12s. 5d.

  Read his Obituary

Death
Mary Abigail Ann (Lynn) Marr Died 21 Nov 1943, Age 88,   Barrasford   1837 4Q Northumberland W 10b 450

The Times, Tuesday, Nov 23, 1943                     DEATHS
  MARR - On November 21, 1943 at Barrasford, Northumberland, Mary, widow of Sir James Marr, Bt., aged 88 Years
DURHAM   10 Feb 1944                         Probate
MARR, dame Mary - of Parkside, Roker, Sunderland, and of The Heugh, Barrasford, Northumberland, widow, died 21 November 1943, at The Heugh, Barrasford, Probate Durham 10 February, to William Belle Marr, electrical engineer, and Ellen Bell Coatsworth, widow.   Effects £25,191 12s. 10d.



SPECIAL THANKS  to Leslie Lynn Marr, of Gimingham, Norfolk, a grandson of Sir James Marr (1854-1932), for the special insight into the life of Sir James.