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Joseph Lowes Thompson                      1824-1893
Joseph Lowes was born 16 October 1824 of Robert Thompson and Sarah Lowes, at Monkwearmouth. He married Thomasin Elliott on 21 February 1847, and after her death, married Hannah Swan on 8 June 1864.

Joseph Lowes started learning the shipwright trade in 1837, at age 12, working with his father and two brothers. When this venture went bust in 1844, Joseph Lowes went to work for John Watson at Pallion, then to Neddie Brown at Hylton, then Carr Brown at Hylton, then to Richard Wilkenson at Pallion, then joined his father at the John Candlish yard at Southwick.

In 1846 he was a junior partner in the firm Robert Thompson & Sons, where his brother Robert was the chief designer.

Brother Robert left the business to start his own shipyard in 1854, and Joseph became the manager and chief designer.

Joseph Lowes Thompson
He assumed total control of the Robert Thompson & Sons yard upon the death of his father in December 1860, and in 1864 he expanded the yard eastward, taking the yard then occupied by Mr. John Blumer. In September 1871, he changed the name to J. L. Thompson (& Sons was added in 1875 when the next generation came into the yard). Of the large wood vessels built by Joseph Lowes Thompson may be mentioned the Vencedora, Rondinella, Freedom, Golondrina, Atossa, Morning Glory, Aurea, Star, Iduna, Veronica, Trevanion, and many others. The largest wood vessel was the 1,017 ton Helvellyn, launched on 21 April 1856. From 1846 to 1869, 40,278 tons of wood ships were built. Wood shipbuilding continued until 1869, when the last wood vessel was built by Joseph L Thompson, numbered 103, it was launched in 1870, and named the Peace, in commemoration of the close of the Franco-German war.

  Thompson was now considering the introduction of iron shipbuilding, and, with this in view, he sent his sons to their uncle's yard at Southwick, where iron construction was already in progress.

On  1  March  1871  the J L Thompson  firm  laid  the  keel  of Ship number 105, their first iron steamer, ushering in a new era in shipbuilding. Joseph Lowes retired from the firm in 1875, leaving the operation of the firm to his three sons, Robert, Joseph Lowes (Jr.), and Charles Elliot Thompson.

Joseph Lowes was a very active supporter of the Sunderland Football Club. He died 24 January 1893, at age 68, at Ashville House, Monkwearmouth, and is buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery.

Thomasin Elliott                                       1818-1861             (1st Wife)
Thomasin was born about 1818 in Sunderland, the daughter of Charles Elliott. She died 20 October 1861, age 44 years, and is buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery.
They had the following children:
  Robert Born 22 May 1850   Monkwearmouth Married Georgiana Andrew
Joseph Lowes Born 27 Jan 1853   Monkwearmouth Married Mary Ann Dickinson
Charles Elliot Born abt 1855   Monkwearmouth Married Mary Jane Kish,
Margaret Appleby Bartram

Birth of Parents
Joseph Lowes Thompson b: 16 Oct 1824  c: 26 Dec 1824    Monkwearmouth St Peter's Parish
son of Robert and Sarah Thompson, Monkwearmouth Shore, shipwright

Thomasin Elliott b: abt 1818    Based upon death on 20 Oct 1861 at Age 44.

Marriage
21 Feb 1847
Joseph Lowes Thompson
(24)
Thomasin Elliott
(29)
St. John, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland       1847 1Q Newcastle T 25 318
Bachelor, Shipwright, of this parish, Father: Robert Thompson, Shipbuilder
Spinster, of this parish, Father: Charles Elliott, Block and Mast maker
after Banns, by H. W. Wright, Wit: Henry Masterton and John Davison

      See views of the North Sands Shipyard in 1846 and 1885-6.

Children
Robert Thompson b: 22 May 1850  Monkwearmouth, County Durham         1850 2Q Sunderland 24 371
son of Joseph Lowes and Thomasin Thompson

1851 Census   31 March 1851 Monkwearmouth Shore, St. Peters, Sunderland
Whickham Street
Joseph L. Thompson
Thomasin (Wife)
Robert
Age 27
Age 33
Age 10 Mos.
Shipwright Foreman Durham
Durham
Durham
Monkwearmouth
Sunderland
Monkwearmouth
16 Oct 1824
abt 1818
22 May 1850

Joseph Lowes Thompson b: 27 Jan 1853   c: 12 Apr 1853       Dock Street Methodist Chapel
2nd son of Joseph Lowes and Thomasin Thompson          1853 2Q Sunderland 10a 337
Charles Elliot Thompson b: abt 1855  Monkwearmouth, County Durham           1855 1Q Sunderland 10a 397
son of Joseph Lowes and Thomasin Thompson

1861 Census RG9-3784 8 April 1861 Monkwearmouth Shore, St. Peters, Sunderland
Mulgrave Street
Joseph L. Thompson
Thomasin (Wife)
Robert
Joseph L.
Charles E.
Hannah Swan (un)(Serv.)
Age 37
Age 43
Age 10
Age 8
Age 6
Age 30
Master Shipbuilder
 
Scholar
Scholar
Scholar
Domestic Serv.
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Monkwearmouth
Sunderland
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
16 Oct 1824
abt 1818
22 May 1850
27 Jan 1853
abt 1855
17 Mar 1831

Death
Thomasin (Elliott) Thompson Died 20 Oct 1861, Age 44,     Monkwearmouth          1861 4Q Sunderland 10a 240
Buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery



Hannah Swan                                   1830-1875        (2nd Wife)
Hannah was born 17 March 1831, of William Swan and Margaret Horn. She had a twin sister, Jane. She is shown as the unmarried domestic servant of the Thompson  household  in  the  1861  census.  Thomasin   died in October 1861, and Joseph Lowes married Hannah in 1864. Hannah died 28 August 1875, age 45 years, and is buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery.
They had the following children:
  Thomasin Elliot Born abt 1865   Bishopwearmouth Died 7 Mar 1865
Margaret Jane Born 14 July 1866   Bishopwearmouth Married Robert Henry Humphrey
Sarah Hannah Born 6 Apr 1868   Bishopwearmouth Married Benjamin Evans

Birth of Wife
Hannah Swan b: 17 Mar 1831  c: 18 Mar 1831     St. Peter's, Monkwearmouth
daughter of William and Margaret Swan, Shipwright, Monkwearmouth Shore

Marriage
8 Jun 1864
Joseph Lowes Thompson
Hannah Swan
St. Nicholas, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland   1864 2Q 1864 Newcastle T 10b 148
Widower, Shipbuilder, Monkwearmouth, Father: Robert Thompson, Shipbuilder
Spinster, of this parish, Father: William Swan, Shipbuilder
by License, Wit: Thomas Hara and J. C. Pearson

Children
Thomasin Elliot Thompson b: abt 1865  Monkwearmouth, County Durham
daughter of Joseph Lowes and Hannah Thompson     1865 1Q Sunderland 10a 553
Died: 7 Mar 1865    Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery
Margaret Jane "Mary" Thompson b: 14 Jul 1866   c: 5 Aug 1866         Dock Street Methodist Chapel
daughter of Joseph Lowes and Hannah Thompson, Dock Street East
Sarah Hannah Thompson b: 6 Apr 1868   c: 3 May 1868         Dock Street Methodist Chapel
daughter of Joseph Lowes and Hannah Thompson    1868 2Q Sunderland 10a 614

1871 Census   3 April 1871 Monkwearmouth, County Durham
69 Dock Street East
Joseph L. Thompson
H. [Hannah](Wife)
Robert
Joseph L.
C.E. [Charles Elliot]
Mary J.
S.H. [Sarah Hannah]
Isabella Swan (un)(sister)
Plus 1 Servant
Age 47
Age 41
Age 20
Age 18
Age 16
Age 4
Age 2
Age 41
Shipbuilder employing
62 men and 20 boys
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
Bishopwearmouth
16 Oct 1824
17 Mar 1831
22 May 1850
27 Jan 1853
abt 1855
14 Jul 1866
6 Apr 1868
17 Mar 1831
        I believe that the above named Isabella Swan is actually Hannah's twin sister, Jane.

Death
Hannah (Swan) Thompson Died 28 Aug 1875, Age 45,                    1875 3Q Sunderland 10a 430
Buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery

1881 Census RG11-5005 4 April 1881 Monkwearmouth, St Peters, County Durham
Ashville House
Joseph L. Thompson (Wid'r)
Jane Swan   (un)
Plus 2 Servants
Age 57
Age 51
Shipbuilder
Housekeeper
Durham
Durham
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
16 Oct 1824
17 Mar 1831

1881 Census RG11-0631 4 April 1881 Clapham, Surrey
5 The Ceders (Methodist Girls College)
Margaret J. Thompson
Sarah H. Thompson
Age 14
Age 12
Pupil
Pupil
Durham
Durham
Sunderland
Sunderland
14 Jul 1866
6 Apr 1868

1891 Census RG12-4147 6 April 1891 Monkwearmouth, County Durham
Ashville
Joseph L. Thompson (Widr)
Jane Swan (un)(Sis-Law)
Plus 2 Servants
Age 67
Age 61
Shipbuilder
Housekeeper
Durham
Durham
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
16 Oct 1824
17 Mar 1831

1891 Census RG12-4045 6 April 1891 Neasham, County Durham
Neasham Hall Farm
Robert Humphrey
Margaret (Wife)
Sarah Thompson (Sis-Law)
Lydia Adamson (Visitor)
Plus 9 Servants
Age 24
Age 24
Age 22
Age 28
Farmer Acklam
Sunderland
Sunderland
Darlington
Yorkshire
Durham
Durham
Durham
abt 1866
14 Jul 1866
6 Apr 1868
abt 1862

"His homestead which he has erected, is known as Ashville, on the Newcastle Road. It is all that could be desired, the grounds being neatly laid out. This is enough of itself to attract the retirement of such a one as Mr. Joseph L. Thompson, but with him a retired life seems not to be regarded as a safe one, consequently, when in robust health, he appears still in love with the clattering sound of the hammer and the shrill shriek of the "buzzer". Now that the North Sands Shipyard is entirely under the control of his three sons, Messrs. Robert Thompson, Joseph L. Thompson, Jun., and Charles Elliot Thompson. ....."
From The past and present history of the North Sands Shipyards and their surroundings from 1823 to 1891, by John Thompson  November 1891 (No Relation)

Death
Joseph Lowes Thompson Died 24 Jan 1893, Age 68,           1893 1Q Sunderland 10a 367
Buried at Monkwearmouth Mere Knolls Cemetery

Sunderland Daily Echo - Wednesday 25 January 1893  Death notice
Sunderland Daily Echo - Saturday 28 January 1893  Funeral notice
IN
AFFECTIONATE
REMEMBRANCE
OF

THOMASIN
WIFE OF
JOSEPH L. THOMPSON
WHO DEPARTED
THIS LIFE
OCTOBER 20TH 1861
AGED 44 YEARS
ALSO OF

THOMASIN ELLIOT
INFANT DAUGHTER
OF J. L. & HANNAH
THOMPSON
WHO DIED
MARCH 7TH 1865
Monkwearmouth
MERE KNOLLS CEMETERY
PHOTOS BY T.G. WHITE
IN
 
AFFECTIONATE
 
REMEMBRANCE
 
OF
HANNAH
WIFE OF
JOSEPH L. THOMPSON
WHO DEPARTED
THIS LIFE
AUGUST 28TH 1875
AGED 45 YEARS
DEARLY LAMENTED
ALSO OF
JOSEPH L. THOMPSON
SHIPBUILDER
NORTH SANDS SHIPYARD
BORN 16 OCT. 1824
DIED 24 JAN. 1893

Summary of the Will of Mr. Joseph L. Thompson
of Ashville House, Newcastle Road,
Monkwearmouth, County Durham
1824 - 1893       Dated 21 August 1888
  Trustees and Executors: Sons, Robert, Joseph Lowes, and Charles Elliot Thompson.
  Daughter Margaret Jane
Daughter Sarah Hannah
The Trustees (The Three Sons)
Income from Trust, plus £ 1,000 at marriage.
Income from Trust, plus £ 1,000 at marriage.
£ 2,000 each when both daughters married, or deceased.
They divide the Trust Fund equally, if both daughters die unmarried.
£ 6,000 available, at interest, for business purposes, until they receive their legacies.
 Jane Swan (Housekeeper)Twelve Shillings weekly, for life.
The Ashville House Estate, at Monkwearmouth, shall be available for unmarried daughters, until marriage.

DURHAM 25 April 1893                         Probate
  THOMPSON, Joseph Lowes, the elder, of Ashville, Newcastle-road, Sunderland, gentleman, died 24 January 1893, Probate, Durham, 25 April, to Robert Thompson, Joseph Lowes Thompson and Charles Elliot Thompson, shipbuilders.   Effects £23,672 0s. 7d.
 Resworn January 1894 £23,847 6s. 2d..