Peter Bloomfield with a little digging by Margaret Foote
Arthur Darkin was born at Isleham Fen in Cambridgeshire on 22 June 1852. At an early age the family moved to London. He joined the NLR at the age of 14 on 26th July 1866. His career began in the Locomotive Department and he stayed in that department until he retired. In late 1869, aged 17, he ceased being waged staff when his pay went from 12 shillings per week to £30 a year and he became an assistant clerk in the stores department. He remained in the stores issue set-up until he was made Chief Clerk in early 1890 when his salary jumped from £130 to £200 a year. In addition he received allowances totalling £30 for extra work caused by the audit of the locomotive stores accounts (£5 twice a year) and the annual clothing contract (£20 once a year). In 1909, when the LNWR took over the management of the NLR, he was retained as a ‘consultant’ at a salary of £170 a year, until he qualified for Railway Clearing Superannuation Allowance on his 60th birthday (22nd June 1912). It could have been that the ‘consultancy’ did not last very long as the the LNWR moved him to the ‘North London Pension List’ at £170 a year from 1st April 1909.
His father, a labourer with a gas company, died, aged 37, the year Arthur started with the NLR. On the 18th August 1877 he married Martha Newson, a Limehouse girl who was the same age. She was working as a milliner. They had three children, one of them dying in childhood. The other two, a girl, Effie, born 1884, and a boy, Arthur, born a year later, became a county council school teacher and a clerk with a gas company, respectively. A domestic servant was employed from, presumably, when he became chief clerk in 1890 and had a £70 pay rise. During the 1890’s the family moved from Mile End to Osborne Road in Forest Gate, where they remained for the rest of their lives.
In 1897 he had a severe illness and was invalided on full pay from 17th September 1897 to 22nd November 1897 As a special case, the Company gave him a donation of £50 towards the expenses he had incurred in connexion with the illness.
In 1911, Effie, aged 27, and Arthur, aged 26, were still single and still living at home. Arthur and his wife died within three months of each other in 1926, Arthur on the 28th January and Martha on 21st April, aged 73. They had been married for over 48 years. When they died, Arthur left nearly £700 and Martha over a £1000.
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North London Railway Service (Sources are The National Archives’ references)
26 Jul 1866. Joined NLR, aged 14. [RAIL 410/1848, p 3356.]
Assistant clerk, Stores Dept, Loco Dept. Pay 12s to £30. [RAIL 529/44 2 Nov 1869, Loco Com Min 827.]
Junior clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £30 to £35. [RAIL 529/44 3 May 1870, Loco Com Min 945.]
Assistant stores clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £35 to £40. [RAIL 529/44 2 May 1871, Loco Com Min 1237.]
Assistant clerk, Stores Dept, Bow. Pay £40 to £50. [RAIL 529/45 30 Apr 1872, Loco Com Mins 1505.]
Assistant stores clerk, Bow Works. Pay £50 to £60. [RAIL 529/46 29 Apr 1873, Loco Com Mins 1764.]
Assistant stores clerk, Bow Works. Pay £60 to £70. [RAIL 529/46 28 Apr 1874, Loco Com Min 2028.]
Stores issue clerk, Loco Dept, Bow. Pay £70 to £80. Extra duties. [RAIL 529/47 5 Oct 1875, Loco Com Min 2444.]
Stores issue clerk, Loco Dept, Bow. Pay £80 to £90. Duties deserving of higher remuneration. [RAIL 529/48 31 Oct 1876, Loco Com Min 2806]
Stores issue clerk, Bow. Pay £90 to £100. Additional duties: locking and signal gear; new hydraulic machinery at Poplar. [RAIL 529/49 30 Apr 1878, Loco Com Min 3371.]
Stores issue clerk, Bow, also assist pay clerk (with bond guarantee of £200). Pay £100 to £110. [RAIL 529/49 2 Mar 1880, Loco Com Min 4003.]
Stores issue and assistant pay clerk, Bow. Pay £110 to £120. [RAIL 529/50, 31 May 1881, Loco Com Min Min 4431.]
Stores issue and assistant pay clerk, Bow. Pay £120 to £130. [RAIL 529/52, 3 Mar 1885, Loco Com Min Min 5772.]
Stores issue clerk to chief clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £130 to £200. [RAIL 529/55 5 Feb 1890, Loco Com Min 7573.]
Chief clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £200 to £225. [RAIL 529/56 29 Apr 1891, Loco Com Min 8027.]
Chief clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £225 to £250. 1 Jul 1892 [RAIL 529/57, 1 Feb 1893, Loco Com Min 8726.]
Chief Clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £250 to £275. [RAIL 529/58, 5 Aug 1896, Loco Com Mtg Min 9965.]
Invalided on full pay from 17 Sep 1897. [RAIL 529/59 3 Nov 1897, Loco Com Min 10311.] RTD 22 Nov 1897. [RAIL 529/59 1 Dec 1897, Loco Com Min 10351.] Chief clerk, Bow Works. As a special case a donation of £50 was made to him towards expenses in connexion with a severe illness. (Reference made to Loco Com Min 10351.)[RAIL 529/81 3 Aug 1898, FGW Com Min 2678.]
Chief Clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £275 to £290. [RAIL 529/59, 12 Apr 1899, Loco Com Mtg Min 10761.]
Chief clerk, Loco Dept. Pay £290 to £300. [RAIL 529/61, 3 Jul 1902, Loco Com Min 11762.]
Chief clerk, Locomotive Offices. Age 56, service 42 years, salary £300 pa. 1 Feb 1909 on take-over of NLR by LNWR, reduced salary of £170, to perform such services as may required, until eligible for Superannuation. [RAIL 529/32, 4 Feb 1909 Board Min 6950.] Eligible of superannuation on 60th birthday 22 Jun 1912.
As chief clerk, three times a year he received allowances totalling £30 for extra work caused by the audit of the locomotive stores accounts (£5 twice a year) and the annual clothing contract (£20 once a year). The following is from the index of Locomotive, Stores and Traffic Committee Meetings Minutes, 1901-03 [RAIL 529/61]:
minute 11474 1 Aug 1901, £5 (stocktaking);
minute 11556, 5 Dec 1901, £20 (uniform contract);
minute 11598 6 Feb 1902, £5 (stocktaking);
minute 11788 31 Jul 1902, £5 (stocktaking);
minute 11872 4 Dec 1902, £20 (uniform contract);
minute 11911 5 Feb 1903, £5 (stocktaking);
minute 12105 6 Aug 1903, £5 (stocktaking).
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Birth Sep qtr 1852, Darkin, Arthur, [Newmarket, 3b, 491.] 22 Jun 1852. [RAIL 410/1861, page 4449.]
Birth Sep qtr 1852, Newson, Martha, [Stepney, 1c, 509.]
Born 4 Jun 1852. Baptised 5 Sep 1852 in Christ Church, Watney Street, Martha, daughter of George (smith), and Sarah Newson, of Catherine Street, Limehouse. [LMA, P93/CTC2, Item 002.]
Married Sep qtr 1877, Darkin, Arthur, and Newson, Martha, [London C, 1c, 125.]
Married 18 Aug 1877 in St Mary Woolnoth, Arthur Darkin, bachelor, clerk, of St Mary Woolnoth, and Martha Newson, spinster of Stepney. Fathers: William Darkin (gas fireman) and George Newson (tool smith). [LMA P69/MRY14/A/01/Ms 7642/1.]
Died Mar qtr 1926, Darkin, Arthur, 73, [Chelsea, 1a, 475.]
Arthur Darkin of 27 Osborne Road, Forest Gate, Essex (E7 0PJ). Died 28 Jan 1926 at Fulham Road, Chelsea, Middlesex:
Probate London 19 Feb to Martha Darkin widow. Effects £696 14s 9d. Further grant 17 Aug 1926;
Administration (with will) London 17 Aug to Arthur Darkin, commercial clerk. Effects £525. Former grant P.R. Feb 1926.
Died Jun qtr 1926, Darkin, Martha, 73, [W. Ham, 4a, 28.]
Martha Darkin of 27 Osborne Road, Forest Gate, Essex. Died 21 Apr 1926. Administration London 26 May to Arthur Darkin, commercial clerk. Effects £1090 1s 7d.
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Censuses | |||||||
Name | Status | M/S | M/F | Age | YOB | Occupation | Born |
1861 Census [RG 9/295, Folio: 94, Page: 11] | |||||||
Registration District:Mile End Old Town Civil Parish:Stepney Address: 26, Rhodeswell Terrace, Stepney | |||||||
DARKIN, William | Head | Married | M | 31 | 1830 | Labourer At Gas Works | Isleham, Cambs |
DARKIN, Mary | Wife | Married | F | 32 | 1829 | Eltisley, Cambs | |
DARKIN, Edward | Son | M | 13 | 1848 | Scholar | St Neots, Hunts | |
DARKIN, Arthur | Son | M | 8 | 1852 | Scholar | Isleham, Cambs | |
1871 Census [RG 10/562, Folio:147, Page: 18] | |||||||
Registration District: Mile End Old Town Civil Parish: Mile End Old Town Address: Regent Rd | |||||||
DARKIN, Mary | Head | Widow | F | 42 | 1829 | Laundress | Eltisley |
DARKIN, Edward | Son | M | 23 | 1848 | Carpenter | St Neots | |
DARKIN, Arthur | Son | M | 18 | 1852 | Clerk, Railway | Isleham | |
HAZELL, Charles | Brother-in-law | M | 25 | 1846 | Builder employing 2 men 1 boy | Cambridge | |
HAZELL, Henrietta T | Sister | F | 26 | 1845 | Eltisley | ||
NEWMAN, Thomas | Brother | M | 20 | 1851 | Carpenter | Eltisley | |
Wife, Martha: | |||||||
1871 Census [RG 10/563, Folio: 23, Page: 37] | |||||||
Registration District:.Mile End Old Town Address: Woolmore St | |||||||
NEWSON, Sarah | Head | Widow | F | 57 | 1814 | Lancashire | |
NEWSON, John | Son | M | 23 | 1848 | Engine fitter | St George’s in E | |
NEWSON, Louisa | Daughter | F | 21 | 1850 | School mistress | Limehouse | |
NEWSON, Martha | Daughter | F | 18 | 1853 | Milliner | Limehouse | |
NEWSON, George R | Son | M | 16 | 1855 | Clerk | Stepney | |
WILLIAMS, George | Visitor | M | 36 | 1835 | Clerk | Stepney | |
1881 Census [RG 11/487, Folio: 16, Page: 28] | |||||||
Registration District: Mile End Old Town Civil Parish: Mile End Old Town Address: 9, Woolmore St, Mile End Old Town | |||||||
DARKIN, Arthur | Head | Married | M | 28 | 1852 | Railway Clerk | Isleham Fen |
DARKIN, Martha | Wife | Married | F | 28 | 1852 | Limehouse | |
1891 Census [RG 12/313, Folio: 19, Page: 33] | |||||||
Registration District: Mile End Old Town Civil Parish: Mile End Old Town Address: 9, Baythorne Street, Mile End Old Town | |||||||
DARKIN, Arthur | Head | Married | M | 38 | 1852 | Chief Clerk Railway | Isleham |
DARKIN, Martha | Wife | Married | F | 38 | 1852 | Limehouse | |
DARKIN, Effie L | Daughter | Single | F | 7 | 1884 | Mile End | |
DARKIN, Arthur | Son | Single | M | 6 | 1885 | Mile End | |
COX, Martha P | Servant | Single | F | 15 | 1876 | Domestic Servant | Wapping |
1901 Census [RG 13/1589, Folio: 63, Page: 14] | |||||||
Registration District: West Ham Civil Parish: West Ham Address: 17, Osborne Road, West Ham | |||||||
DARKIN, Arthur | Head | Married | M | 48 | 1852 | Railway Clerk | Isleham Fen |
DARKIN, Martha | Wife | Married | F | 48 | 1852 | Limehouse | |
DARKIN, Effie | Daughter | Single | F | 17 | 1884 | Pupil Teacher (L S B) | Mile End |
DARKIN, Arthur | Son | Single | M | 16 | 1885 | Clerk Civil Service | Mile End |
CHIPPERFIELD, Laura Ellen | Servant | Single | F | 17 | 1884 | General Servant (Domestic) | Great Dunmow |
1911 Census [RG 14/9386 RG 78/506] | |||||||
Registration District: West Ham Sub District: Forest Gate Address: 27 Osborne Road Forest Gate | |||||||
DARKIN, Arthur | Head | Married | M | 58 | 1852 | Clerk, Loco Dept, Railway Co | Isleham |
DARKIN, Martha | Wife | Married | F | 58 | 1852 | Stepney | |
Married 33 years; three children, one died; seven rooms. | |||||||
DARKIN, Effie Louisa | Daughter | Single | F | 27 | 1884 | Asst Teacher, County Council | Mile End |
DARKIN, Arthur | Son | Single | M | 26 | 1885 | Clerk, Gas Co | Mile End |
PEARCE, Violet Mary | Servant | Single | F | 25 | 1886 | General Servant Domestic | West Ham |
Arthur Darkin’s father and Maggie’s idea of digging!
1851 Census [HO 107/1763, Folio: 128, Page: 9] | |||||||
Name | Status | M/S | M/F | Age | YOB | Occupation | Born |
Registration District: Newmarket Civil Parish: Isleham Address: Bank Of River Lark, Isleham | |||||||
DARKIN, William | Head | Married | M | 47 | 1804 | Turf Merchant | Isleham Cambs |
DARKIN, Mary | Wife | Married | F | 45 | 1806 | Isleham Cambs | |
DARKIN, William* | Son | Unmarried | M | 21 | 1830 | *Arthur’s father | Isleham Cambs |
DARKIN, Susan | Daughter | Unmarried | F | 16 | 1835 | Isleham Cambs | |
DARKIN, John | Son | M | 8 | 1843 | Isleham Cambs | ||
DARKIN, Josiah | Son | M | 2 | 1849 | Isleham Cambs |
There is a strong possibility that he was a Protestant Dissenter. [Baptisms, Cambridgeshire Family History Society.] Parents?: Marriage Jun qtr 1852, Darkin, William, and Inkins, Mary. [Newmarket, 3b, 850] The quarter before Arthur was born! Father: Death Sep qtr 1866, Darkin, William, 37. [Mile End, 1c, 68.]