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Joseph Lowes Thompson                       1853-1903
Joseph was born 27 January 1853 of Joseph Lowes and Thomasin Elliott Thompson, at Monkwearmouth Shore. He was educated at the Gainford School. He left school in 1868 to start his apprenticeship in the Thompson yard. Upon his father's retirement in 1875, operation of the firm was turned over to Robert, Joseph Lowes, and Charles Elliot. Joseph married Mary Ann Dickinson in 1878 at Sunderland. Around 1890, the firm, in conjunction with Mr. John Dickinson of the Palmers Hill Engine Works, obtained the Monk Street Engine Works, and converted it into a brass and   metal foundry. In 1891, Mr. James Marr was the General Manager of the firm, while the works in the yard were entrusted to Mr. Peter Phorson Jr., works manager.
In 1893 Joseph Lowes retired from daily participation in the firms management due to failing health. He donated £500 which allowed the old Dundas Street Chapel and School to be converted into a Men's Institute, and was honored by having the front part of the building (the Chapel) named the Thompson Memorial Hall. He died before the conversion was completed. This building later became the Monkwearmouth Methodist Church, which operated until 1980.
Joseph Lowes died 28 November 1903, at age 50.

1891 Census RG12-4151 6 April 1891 Monkwearmouth Shore, County Durham
82 Roker Ave.
Peter Phorson Jr.
Annie (Wife)
Winifred
Douglas
Plus 1 servant
Age 33
Age 32
Age 6
Age 2
Shipyard Manager Durham
Durham
Durham
Durham
Sunderland
Sunderland
Sunderland
Sunderland
abt 1857
abt 1858
abt 1884
abt 1888

Mary Ann Dickinson                             1854-1937
Mary Ann was born 15 May 1854, of John Dickinson and Mary Ann Thompson, in Monkwearmouth. Mary Ann married Joseph Lowes Thompson in 1878. She died on 7 July 1937.
They had the following children:
John Dickinson Born 19 Nov 1882   Bishopwearmouth Died 16 Sep 1887
Mary Born 26 Jun 1889   Bishopwearmouth Died 6 Jul 1892
 Nora  Born 4 Apr 1896   Married Frank Maynard Constable Curtis

Birth of Parents
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

Mary Ann Dickinson b: 15 May 1854  c: 7 Jun 1854     St. Peter's, Monkwearmouth,     1854 2Q Sunderland 10a 397
daughter of John and Mary Ann Dickinson, North Quay, Engine-wright

Marriage
9 Oct 1878
Joseph Lowes Thompson
Mary Ann Dickinson
Venerable Bede Church, Monkwearmouth          1878 4Q Sunderland 10a 671
son of Joseph Lowes Thompson, Shipbuilder
daughter of John Dickinson, Marine Engine Builder

1881 Census RG11-4993 4 April 1881 Bishopwearmouth, County Durham
10 Park Place
Joseph L. Thompson
Mary A. (Wife)
1 Servant
Age 28
Age 26
Shipbuilder Durham
Durham
Sunderland
Sunderland
27 Jan 1853
15 May 1854

Children
John Dickinson Thompson b: 19 Nov 1882 c: 11 Jan 1883  Monkwearmouth, County Durham    1883 1Q Sunderland 10a 582
son of Joseph Lowes and Mary Ann Thompson, of 19 Park Place, shipbuilder  Died 16 Sep 1887
Mary Thompson c: 25 Jul 1889 c: 11 Jan 1883  Monkwearmouth, County Durham    1889 3Q Sunderland 10a 585
daughter of Joseph Lowes and Mary Ann Thompson of 19 Park Place East, shipbuilder
Died 6 Jul 1892

1891 Census RG12-4134 6 April 1891 Bishopwearmouth, County Durham
19 Park Place East
John L. Thompson
Mary A. (Wife)
Mary
Plus 1 Servant
Age 38
Age 36
Age 1
Shipbuilder Durham
Durham
Durham
Monkwearmouth
Monkwearmouth
Sunderland
27 Jan 1853
15 May 1854
25 Jul 1889

Nora Thompson b: 4 Apr 1896 c: 11 Jan 1883  Christ Church, County Durham    1896 2Q Sunderland 10a 642
daughter of Joseph Lowes and Mary Ann Thompson

1901 Census RG13-4716 1 April 1901 Bishopwearmouth, County Durham
19 Park Place East
Joseph L. Thompson
Mary A. (Wife)
Nora
Plus 3 Servants
Age 48
Age 46
Age 4
Living On Own Means Durham
Durham
Durham
Sunderland
Sunderland
Sunderland
27 Jan 1853
15 May 1854
4 Apr 1896

Death
Joseph Lowes Thompson Died 28 Nov 1903, Age 50,       1903 4Q Sunderland 10a 443

DURHAM   17 Feb 1903                         Probate
THOMPSON, Joseph Lowes, of 19 Park-place East, Sunderland, and of Westholme-hall, Winston-on-Tees, county Durham, died 28 November 1903, at 19 Park-place-east, Probate Durham, 17 February, to Mary Ann Thompson, widow, Alfred Dickinson, marine-engine-builder, Leonard Scott Iliff, solicitor, and Charles Elliot Thompson, ship-builder.   Effects £61,386 12s. 6d.
Brass Memorial Tablet at Thompson Memorial Hall
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
JOSEPH LOWES THOMPSON
OF SUNDERLAND AND WESTHOLM
WHO DIED NOVEMBER 28, 1903
ONE OF THE FIRST PRINCIPAL DONORS
TO THIS INSTITUTION

Summary of the Will
of Mr. Joseph Lowes Thompson
of Sunderland,
and Westholm Hall, Winston on Tees,
County Durham
1853 - 1903        Dated 24 June 1903
  Trustees and Executors: Wife Mary Ann, brothers Robert, and Charles Elliot,
brothers in-law Alfred Dickinson, engine builder, and
Leonard Scott Iliff, Solicitor.
WifeMary Ann £ 500, and all household furnishing and effects
and the annual income from the Trust Estate, for life.
Daughter:Nora The annual income from the Trust Estate, after the death of wife.
Half-sisters: Margaret Jane Humphrey
Sarah Hannah Evans
£1,000 each.
Codicil to Will     Dated 24 June 1908
I revoke the appointment of my brother Robert as an Executor and Trustee, since his health is not sufficiently robust.

1911 Census RG14-328 1 April 1911 Sunderland, County Durham
19 Park Place East   (13 Rooms)
Mary A. Thompson (Widow)
Nora
Plus 4 Servants
Age 56
Age 14
Private Means Sunderland
Sunderland
Durham
Durham
15 May 1854
4 Apr 1896

Death
Mary Ann (Dickinson) Thompson Died 7 Jul 1937, Age 83,       1937 3Q Teesdale 10a 210

DURHAM   28 Oct 1937                         Probate
THOMPSON, Mary Ann, of Westholme, Winston-on-Tees, county Durham, widow, died 7 July 1937, Probate Durham, 28 October, to Nora Curtis (Wife of Frank Maynard Constible Curtis).   Effects £10,458 10s. 9d.

Summary of the Will of Mary Ann Thompson
of Westholm Hall, Winston on Tees, County Durham
1854 - 1937       Dated 11 May 1936
(Mary Ann left £10,458 10s 9d)
  Trustee and Executrix:Daughter, Nora Curtis
  Daughter: Nora CurtisAll real and personal property whatsoever.
  Each female servant£5 per year of service with maximum of £100.
  Each male servant£10 per year of service with maximum of £100.

IN
LOVING MEMORY
OF
JOHN DICKINSON THOMPSON
ONLY CHILD OF
JOSEPH & MARY A. THOMPSON
BORN 19TH NOV. 1882
DIED 16TH SEP. 1887
ALSO

MARY, BELOVED DAUGHTER
BORN 26TH JUNE 1889
DIED 6TH JULY 1892
ALSO THE ABOVE

JOSEPH L. THOMPSON
BORN 27TH JAN. 1853
DIED 28TH NOV. 1903
ALSO THE ABOVE

MARY ANN THOMPSON
BORN 15TH MAY 1854
DIED 7TH JULY 1937
Monkwearmouth MERE KNOLLS CEMETERY
PHOTOS BY T.G. WHITE