The Pringles of Warkworth

[janwhin]

A couple of days ago I met, for the first time, a third cousin, 90 years of age, descended from the Pringles of Warkworth. She mentioned that there was a headstone in Warkworth burial ground on Beach Road and fortunately Coquet has a photograph in his stash. It is being eroded but using Robert Howitt's Journal and the newspapers the names reveal some interesting titbits.

The patriarch is Henry Pringle who died on 13 January 1887, aged 80 years. According to Howitt: "Henry Pringle, 79. For 42 years sexton of the Parish Church. Will long be remembered for his humour."

The Newcastle Courant of 21 January carried the following: "Death of Mr Henry Pringle, Parish Sexton of Warkworth. - Following closely the death of Mr. Thompson, clerk, the death of the venerable sexton, Mr. Pringle, at the ripe age of 80 years, removes another link that binds the past with the present. Having held office in the parish church for 42 years, the deceased was better and more widely known than any other inhabitant in the parish. The interment of the remains of this venerable church official took place on Sunday afternoon in Warkworth New Burial Ground."

Also on the headstone is William Pringle who died March 12 1867, aged 28 years. Howitt has 2 entries: "March 14, Intelligence arrived here today of the death of Wm. Pringle working in Stephenson's factory, the handle of a "chair" struck him, so that having been taken to the infirmary he only lived for a short time, age 29."
"March 17, Wm. Pringle having been brought down from Newcastle yesterday morning, he was interred today in the NEW BURIAL GROUND. (Undertakers 5)"

The accident was reported in several newspapers, but the Morpeth Herald of 16 March states: "A man named Wm. Pringle died in Newcastle Infirmary on Tuesday, from the effects of injuries sustained by falling from a crane in Messrs Stephenson & Co's manufactory on Monday last. The deceased was 29 years of age and belonged to Warkworth."

More than just names