Person

Lawrence Kingston was born in Shildon on 11 March 1878. His father was Joseph Kingston who was born in 1850 in Northamptonshire. Joseph worked as a miner in his earlier life then worked as a dairyman. Lawrence’s mother was Elizabeth Kingston who was born in Staffordshire in 1855. His parents married around 1872 and had seven known children giving Lawrence four known brothers and two known sisters. In 1881 the Kingston family lived in Middridge. By 1891 they had moved to 14 Railway Street, Stanley.

Lawrence married Sarah Jane York (1878-1907) in Beamish on 23 December 1899. She was a deputy coal miner’s daughter from the Lintz. In 1901 the couple were living at 3 Gas House Square, Stanley with Sarah’s parents. Lawrence was working as a colliery wagon-way man in 1901. Four children were born between 1902 and 1905 including twin boys in 1903. Sarah died on 21 February 1907. At the time of the 1911 census Lawrence was not living with any of his children but was recorded as a boarder at 16 Hylton Terrace, Pelton and working as a hairdresser. At least one of Lawrence’s sons, Sydney, was living with another family member. A County Directory from 1914 records Lawrence as a hairdresser working in Stanley.

Lawrence attested on 5 February 1917 in Newcastle and was posted to the 16th Battalion Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment a few months later on 11 April. He served as a private with the service number 36789. Lawrence died in a war hospital in Sunderland after the end of the war on 30 December 1918. His pension was awarded to his son Sydney. Records state his cause of death as pneumonia contracted whilst on active duty. He was buried in Stanley New Cemetery in grave 7 C 204.

Civil Parish: Stanley

Birth date: 11-Mar-1878

Death date: 30-Dec-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Middridge (1881 census)
14 Railway Street, Stanley (1891 census)
Gas House Square, Stanley (1901 census)
16 Hylton Terrace, Pelton (1911 census)
Agnes Street, Stanley (1918 Commonwealth War Graves Commission record)

Employment: Colliery Wagon-way Man (1901 Census)
Hairdresser (1911 Census, County Directory 1914)

Family: Parents: Joseph Kingston (b 1850), Elizabeth Kingston (b 1855)
Siblings: Leonard Kingston (b 1873), Lionel Kingston (b 1874), Lenorah Kingston (b 1880), Lloyd Kingston (b 1886), Lydia Kingston (b 1886), Lolwin Kingston (b 1888)
Spouse: Sarah Jane Kingston nee York (1878-1907)
Children: Violet Olive Kingston (b 1902), Leonard Kingston (b 1903), Henry York Kingston (b 1903), Sydney Kingston (b 1905)

Military service:

36789
Private
Yorkshire and Lancaster Regiment

Memorial(s): New Cemetery, Stanley (grave 7 C 204)
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St Andrew’s Church, Stanley

Gender: Male

Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham