John Thomas Osborne

         Gravestone of John Thomas and Ada Eliza Osborne, Christ Church, Dore

We have had an enquiry from Heather Rotherham who is researching her great grandfather John Thomas Osborne who gave his birthplace as Norfolk in the census of 1901 and as Kingston-upon-Hull in 1911. Heather has found a likely baptism for him in Downham Market, Norfolk on 29 March 1871, the son of Thomas and Sarah Osborn.

On 10 July 1893 John Thomas Osborne married Ada Eliza Dalton at Christ Church, Dore and the couple had three children: Amy Ellen (b. 10 October 1894), Beatrice Ada (b. 21 April 1897) and John Edward (b. 10 July 1899). In the 1901 census the family were living at Lane Head and John Thomas was shown as a general labourer. Ada Osborne died in childbirth on 24 September 1901 and is buried in Dore churchyard.

On 3 August 1903 John Thomas Osborne married Mary Jackson, again at Christ Church, Dore. They also had three children: Ernest Reginald, known as Reg (b. 7 May 1903), Charlotte Agnes, Heather's grandmother (b. 22 January 1905) and Rose Annie (b. 30 January 1908). In the 1911 census the Osbornes were living in Summer Lane, although Mary and Rose Annie were staying at her parents on the night of census.

John Thomas Osborne probably came to Totley to work on the construction of Totley Tunnel but Heather would like to know more about his early life and would also like to contact other descendants. He died on 23 December 1936, aged 68, and is buried in Dore churchyard in the same grave as his first wife.

Beatrice Ada Osborne married Albert Green on 18 December 1915 and the couple had several children including William Harry Andrew Green born in 1919.