External links
- The Tyne Songster by W & T Fordyce 1840
- Dictionary of Victorian London
- The Gentleman’s Magazine 1777 page 385
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Peter Watson lived in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, England, ca. 1824, and was a shoemaker by trade.
Watson was a character who was mentioned on page 133 by W & T Fordyce (publishers) in The Tyne Songster published in 1840, in the song "To Mr. Peter Watson – (Who lays powerful bats on the knaves with fire-shovel hats on)", written by Henry Robson in Watson's honour. It is not written in a Geordie dialect, but has a strong Northern connection.
For centuries, the Government Clergy (i.e. Rector, vicar, or perpetual curate etc.) had the right to collect from each household in a Parish, "Easter Dues". This was based on a set sum (in the early/middle nineteenth century it was at the rate of 4p per person), and the head of the household had the duty to pay this sum on behalf of every member resident in the property of the age of 16 or more. [1]
Peter Watson objected to this compulsory payment reasoning that "the claims were founded neither in the law or in the gospels", and was duly summons (and jailed for a short time for non-payment) before the court judged that the collection of these under the Acts of William III were illegal, ruling that "This act, or anything herein contained, shall not extend to any tythes, offerings, payments or oblations shall not extend….. …within any city or town where the same are settled by Act of Parliament" [2] It is therefore the British public who are indebted to him for the removal of this "odious, unjust and oppressive clerical tax".
Nothing more appears to be known of this person, or his life.
John Morrison was a Tyneside songwriter from the early nineteenth century.
James Davison was a Tyneside attorney, poet and songwriter.
R. Charlton, who lived in the early nineteenth century, was a Tyneside poet/songwriter.
John Gibson of Newcastle was a Tyneside poet/songwriter. According to the information given by John Bell, his Rhymes of Northern Bards published in 1812 has the short song "The Tyne" attributed to "J Gibson". The song appears on pages 11 and 12 and is not written in Geordie dialect.
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.
Thomas Houston, although born in Ireland, was considered a Tyneside poet/songwriter.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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