24 LIFE AT NEWBURN. CHAP. III. 



The one apartment served for parlour, kitchen, sleeping- 

 room, and all. 



The children of the Stephen son family were now 

 growing apace, and several of them were old enough to 

 be able to earn money at various kinds of colliery work. 

 James and George, the two eldest sons, worked as 

 assistant-firemen ; and the younger boys worked as 

 wheelers or pickers on the bank-tops. The two girls 

 helped their mother with the household work. 



So far as weekly earnings went, the family were at 

 this time pretty comfortable. Their united earnings 

 amounted to from 35s. to 40s. a week, and they were 

 enabled to command a fair share of the necessaries of 

 life. But it will be remembered that in those days, 

 from 1797 to 1802, it was much more difficult for the 

 working classes to live than it is now. Money did 

 not go nearly so far. The price of bread was exces- 

 sive. Wheat, which for three years preceding 1795 

 had averaged only 54s., advanced to 76s. a quarter ; 

 and it continued to rise until, in December, 1800, it 

 increased to 130s., and barley and oats in propor- 

 tion. There was a great dearth of provisions, corn 

 riots were of frequent occurrence, and the taxes on all 

 articles of consumption were very heavy. The war 

 with Napoleon was then raging ; derangements of 

 trade were frequent, causing occasional suspensions of 

 employment in all departments of industry, from the 

 pressure of which working people are always the first 

 to suffer. 



During this severe period George Stephenson con- 

 tinued to live with his parents at Jolly's Close. Other 

 workings of the coal were opened out in the neighbour- 

 hood ; and to one of these he was removed as fireman 

 on his own account. This was called the " Mid Mill 

 Winnin," where he had for his mate a young man 

 named Bill Coe ; and to these two was intrusted the 

 working of the little engine put up at Mid Mill. They 



