4,696 burials at South Shields St. Stephen’s for 1848-1873. St. Stephen’s was split off from St. Hilda’s in 1846, but the burial ground did not open until August 1848. St. Stephen’s was known as the “pilot’s church” because it covered the area along the Tyne riverside, including  Jarrow Slake, Harton, Mill Dam, Temple Town, Tyne Dock, and Westoe. Lots of sailors drowned or died from accidents while in port, many from far-off places:

• 30 Oct 1852 Kils Progas, of Norway, age: 37, wrecked, born Norway
• 30 Apr 1872 Wilhelm Spoerch, age: 28, seaman, killed in the fall from the ship, by Coroners Order
• 12 May 1863 John Walters, of London, age: 15, drowned out of the ‘John & Mary’ off & at South Shields

In a mini-milestone, our 560,000th burial to be placed online was:

• 15 Jan 1856 Margaret Dearey, of West Holborn, age: 76