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John George Wren (1899 - 1965)
Born in South Moor, Stanley, Durham on 24th October 1899 John George was destined to follow his father and grandfather down the coal mines. Two weeks before his 3rd birthday his father, also John George, died of Phthisis Pulmonalis, a form of tuberculosis or consumption in 1902. Sadly, it was only another 8 years until his mother Sarah Anne succumbed to the same disease. He was then brought up by his sister Sarah Ann.
In 1901 he lived at 7 John Street, South Moor near Stanley in Durham. He is know to have lived in Fishburn, Durham before moving down to the Yorkshire coalfields.
By 1928 he was living in New Rossington near Doncaster at 57 Central Drive undoubtedly working at Rossington colliery. It was here that he met and married Mary Hannah Shepherd Rutherford who had moved down with her parents from South Shields, Durham. They married at St. Michael's church Rossington on 8th September 1928. They soon moved to Armthorpe, probably due to John George transferring to Markham Main colliery, and lived initially on Hatfield Lane. They later moved to a new council house at 29 Pinewood Avenue, Armthorpe. This move out of the pit house may have been prompted by John George leaving the mines. He did spend some time working on building sites. One story we were told is that he once came home drunk and mistook the house nextdoor-but-one as his own, went in and fell asleep on the stairs. They had two sons, John George (Jack) and Matthew Rutherford born in 1929 and 1930 respectively. They also had another son who was stillborn. John George died on 15th July 1965 and was cremated at Rose Hill Crematorium in Cantley.
Addendum: In the 1901 census John George is listed as simply George. This dropping of the John was repeated in his father's death certificate when he was also entered as George.
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