Coffee Johnny
Coffee Johnny a.k.a. Coffy Johnny and John Oliver (1829 – 7 April 1900) was immortalised in the 6th verse George Ridley's song 'The Blaydon Races'.[1] Coffee Johnny was a blacksmith in the village of Winlaton, a trumpeter in the Winlaton Brass Band, a bare-knuckle boxer[2] and Geordie celebrity.[3] He was well known for his tall height and for wearing a white top hat.
Origins of the name
Although George Ridley's original manuscript gives the spelling "Coffy"[1] all later publications spell it in the usual way. Local history archives contain anecdotal evidence that he was nicknamed Coffy because he always used to have a cup before school.[4]
Family
Coffee Johnny was adopted by Thomas and Margery Oliver about 1840.
Coffee Johnny married Elizabeth Greener, and they had nine children: Katherine, Mary, Elizabeth, Margery, Sarah, Margaret, Tom, Joseph and Hannah. He also had a son, Robert, with Anne Hurst after the death of his wife, who was adopted by Coffee Johnny's daughter Sarah and her husband Miles Batey.[5]
Coffee Johnny is buried in St. Paul's churchyard, Winlaton.[4]
References
- ^ a b 'Blaydon Races' by Joan Gale (oriel 1970)
- ^ Gateshead Book of Days ISBN 9780750951920
- ^ 'Blaydon Races' pub. Tyne and Wear Archive Service
- ^ a b "Genuki: The Life and Times of Coffee Johnny - Died April 5th , 1900, aged 72, Durham". www.genuki.org.uk.
- ^ St paul's Church, Winlaton Parish Records/Tyne and Wear Archives
Sources
- Wayback Machine
- Sunniside Local History Society
- [1]
- 'Under His Hat' by Robert Batey (Eloquent Books 2009)ISBN 978-1606934623
- St. Pauls, Winlaton, England Parish Records
- 'Blaydon Races' by Joan Gale (oriel 1970) ISBN 978-0-85362-077-8
- 'Blaydon Races' pub. Tyne and Wear Archive Service
- 'Gateshead Book Of Days' Jo Bath ISBN 978-0-750951920