New Year's Day Birthday

New year, new day, new baby.


My GG-Grandfather, Stephen John Chicken, was born on 1 Jan 1812 and baptised 3 weeks later. Within 3 months of his birth the French army was led by Napoleon into an invasion of Russia and before Stephen John's first birthday had been defeated. Tchaikovsky celebrated that event in his 1812 overture.
Back home, on the day of his birth Bishop Barrington of Durham ordered troops to break up a miners' strike in Chester-le-Street, less than 10 miles south of Hebburn where Stephen John was born. His father, Thomas, was an engine man in the Colliery so knew of the hardships which had led to the strike. Did he hear of the troops being sent in the midst of celebrating the safe delivery of his second son? Did he perhaps know some of the men involved?
This was the Regency period in England, with King George III in the grip of severe mental illness and his son George acting as Regent.  As a result of the war with France Britain ended up being at war with the USA during this year. Steam engines were becoming more useful and coal was much in demand. Miners were expected to work long hours in very dangerous conditions. Not something we'd put up with these days!

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