John McLellan, who lived in the early 19th century, was a Tyneside poet and songwriter. He is thought to have written a dialect song that draws on the cholera outbreaks of the 1830s.
According to information published in 1840, McLellan wrote the song "Cobbler o' Morpeth", subtitled "Cholera Morbus". [1] "Cobbler" was a slang term used for the dread disease of cholera.
There was a strong cholera epidemic in 1831–1832 and further outbreaks in 1848–1849 and 1853. The last led to 1,533 deaths in Newcastle, despite the opening of emergency hospitals, closure of public institutions such as theatres, quarantining of ships, cleansing streets with fire-engine hoses, excluding bodies from places of worship, and requiring graves to be at least six foot deep. [2]
The song, without comment except the author's name, reappeared in 1850 and was sung to the tune of "Bow Wow". [3] The text is in Geordie dialect.
Geordie dialect words
The Tyne Songster (W & T Fordyce, 1840)
W & T Fordyce (publishers)
France's Songs of the Bards of the Tyne - 1850
T. Moor was a Tyneside singer/songwriter of the 19th century. The only song attributed to his name is "The Skipper's Dream".
John Morrison was a Tyneside songwriter from the early nineteenth century.
William Greig was a Newcastle songwriter, who, according to the information given by W & T Fordyce (publishers) in “The Tyne Songster” published in 1840, has the song "A Parody Written On Hearing A Report That The Newcastle And Northumberland Yeomanry Cavalry Were To Be Disbanded" attributed to his name.
Phill Hodgson was a Tyneside songwriter, who, according to the information given by John Bell in his Rhymes of Northern Bards published in 1812, has the short song "Jesmond Mill" attributed to his name.
Cecil Pitt was a Tyneside songwriter, who lived in the early nineteenth century
W & T Fordyce was a nineteenth century firm of publishers based in the early years at 48 Dean Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, which later moved to 15 Grey Street, Newcastle. It was responsible for the editing, publishing, printing selling of the book The Tyne Songster.
The Tyne Songster is a chapbook style songbook, giving the lyrics of local, now historical songs, with a few bits of other information. It was published by W. & T. Fordyce of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1840.
T Kennedy was a Tyneside songwriter from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. His most famous song is possibly "Geordie's Letter Frae Callerforney ".
Metcalf Ross was an English master printer and sometime poet/songwriter in Tyneside. He was born in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
Robinson Peter Sutherland was a 19th-century English author, poet and songwriter in Tyneside.
J. M. Wedderburn was a Newcastle songwriter, who, according to the information given by John Bell in his Rhymes of Northern Bards published in 1812, has the song "Nanny of the Tyne" attributed to this name.
Songs of the Bards of the Tyne is a chapbook style songbook, giving the lyrics of local, now historical songs, with a few bits of other information. It was edited by J. P. Robson and published by P. France & Co. in 1850.
William Watson (1796–1840) was a Tyneside concert hall singer and songwriter in the early 19th century. His most famous song is "Dance To Thy Daddy".
Marshall's Collection of Songs, Comic, Satirical is a chapbook style songbook, giving the lyrics of local, now historical songs, with a few bits of other information. It was published by John Marshall in 1827.
William Stephenson (senior) (1763–1836) was a Geordie (from Gateshead) watchmaker, schoolteacher, poet and songwriter, and father of William Stephenson (junior). His best known works are probably "The Quayside Shaver" and "The Skipper’s Wedding"
William Stephenson (junior) (2 September 1797 – 20 May 1838) was a Geordie printer, publisher, auctioneer, poet and songwriter born in Gateshead, the son of William Stephenson (senior).
Many Geordie songwriters used aliases, for whatever reason. This article lists many of these aliases, giving in some cases, where known, the real name, and in others, some of the songs or poems attributed to them.
The Newcastle Songster, by John Marshall is a volume of six chapbooks, giving the lyrics of local, now historical songs, but virtually no other information. It was published by John Marshall in stages between 1812 and 1826.
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