Marshall Cresswell (1833-1889) was a Northumberland born miner, poet and songwriter. His experiences to and from his job in Borneo were serialised later in the local newspaper.
Marshall Cresswell was born on 18 January 1833 in the colliery village of Fawdon Square (now combined with other villages and suburbs to form Fawdon), the son of Thomas Cresswell and his wife Jane.
After a short time at school, he left at the age of 9 and went "down the pit" like a great many at this age. After serving his apprenticeship, he became a sinker. He was working on the sinking of a new shaft for a colliery near Sherburn Station in December 1856 when he was informed that the eminent local engineer William Coulson was seeking three experienced men to go out to Borneo as "sinkers".
Marshall Cresswell applied and was awarded one of the positions, all of which led to a period of what could be called "Adventure and excitement". He set sail bound for Sarawak on the island of Borneo from Gravesend via Rio de Janeiro and Singapore in February 1857 on the Gwalior and immediately became involved in long sea journeys, shipwrecks, storms, hostile natives, excessive heat, and all that goes with these. It would be 20 September 1859 when he arrived back on the Tyne
The story of his adventure, "From Dudley Colliery to Borneo - by Marshall Creswell", was later serialised in the Newcastle Courant, running from 18 January to 12 April 1878 – Annotated versions: or
On his return to Newcastle, Marshall Cresswell commenced work again in the Tyneside pit at Dudley; here he started writing songs and poems, using his adventures in some of his works.
He wrote numerous songs and recitation, mostly for publication in John W Chater's publications, winning a gold medal with "Morpeth Lodgings" in one competition.
In 1876, John W Chater published a song book of approximately 36 pages entitled Local and other Songs and Recitations, which was a collection of Marshall Cresswell’s songs. A second edition of over 100 pages was published in 1883.
He died in 1889.
These include (in alphabetical order) the following list (which also includes a very brief resumé of each):
Annitsford bogle - (The) - a fact – A pitman's encounter with a ghost (who turns out to be a drunken woman
Awd man's petition fra the workhoose te Tommy Burt – A man's appeal to his M.P. after being separated from his wife and placed in a workhouse
Banks of the Wear - (The) – Song extolling the River Wear
Bashful sweet heart - (The) – Song about courtship
Bella Walker's advice tiv hor dowtor – Mother advises unmarried daughter on the choice of a husband
Collier's doom - (The) – Song relating an accident at Dudley Colliery on 31 December 1879
"Creemayshon" – Protest song about the increasing use of cremation
Dudley pet - (The), sung to the tune of "X. Y. Z. or The Pawnshop Bleezin'" - A story of a mis-placed bet
"Dudley Station" – Comic song about Dudley Station being called "Annitsford" by railway when Annitsford considered an inferior place at the time
Fall at Dudley - (The) - song written 21 March 1877 about the re-organisation of Dudley Colliery
For Ever at Rest, sung to the tune of "The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth" - Song of the loss of a mother
Frustrated feast - (The) - Song telling how a robbery ruined a feast prepared for a 50th birthday
Good Templar's happy home - (The) - A temperance song
Grainger Monnymint - (The), sung to the tune of "Wundorful Tallygrip"
Happy Pair O' Blyth - (The) - Song in which a husband, unable to settle the bairn, must go to the religious meeting, which his wife is attending
Hidden whisky bottle - (The) - Husband cures his wife's secret drinking by replacing the whisky in the bottle
Invisible ghost - (The) - A pitman working a seam, meets a ghost (it appears that naked lights were still in use c1883)
Joe's last voyage to sea - A sailor and his friend, return, drunk, to the ship to sleep it off and awake to find they are at sea
Lad that wants a Wife - (The) - a checklist of desired characteristics for his future wife.
Lass of Annitsford - (The) - A love song
Laws, Gledson, an' Mycroft, sung to the tune of "The Wonderful Talleygraf" - Song about a bowls match on Newcastle Town Moor
Midneet adventor - (A) - Three men attempt to steal potatoes but the plan misfires
Modest appeal - (A) - finding a suitable partner
Morpeth Bankwet - (The), sung to the tune of "The wonderful Telegraph"
Morpeth Lodgings, sung to the tune of "Wait for the waggon" – Miner from Dudley gets drunk in Seaton Burn and jailed at Morpeth losing two weeks' wages
Mother winnet cum h'yem, sung to the tune of "Kathleen Mavourneen" – Song about a reformed wife
Nanny Moore; a parody – Song about a drunken woman wheeled home in a barrow and pleased 'Aw've oney spent a croon'
Naughty workhouse lad - (The) - Song about a boy who plays a trick on his teacher by hiding in a coffin
Neet sk'yul - (The), sung to the tune of "X. Y. Z. or The Pawnshop Bleezin'" – Two drunken pitmen caught playing pitch and toss in the dark, are sent to Morpeth Gaol
New tramway car - (The) - a tale of a trip to Newcastle to see the new horse-drawn trams
North Durham election - (The) - Poem in support of a local M.P. Sir George Elliot
Pea-puddin' hot, sung to the tune of "Jennywine Yest" - Comic song about two drunken local lads eating peas pudding while sitting at the roadside
Peter's pay, or the benefit of a bargain - A pitman gives his wife "dud" coins in his wages as a joke
Pitman meedyum - (The), sung to the tune of "Tramp, Tramp" - Song about a medium who can contact people from the past
Pitman's advice tiv his son - (A) - A collection of suggestions and warnings about life and marriage
Pitman's visit te Rio de Janeiro - (A) - Part of his journey to Borneo
Poor convict lad - (The) - song about the repercussions of a convict's crimes on his family
Resurrection men - (The) - A fact - Two pitmen dig up the carcass of a cow to sell to a rag and bone man
Robert Gledson's pedigree - Song about a successful athlete
Strange bed - (A) - A drunken man sleep's an uncomfortable night in the gutter
Summer's cleanin' - (The) - The disruption caused by spring cleaning
Telegraphic news - Song about a gardener who set a trap for thieves and only catches cats at play
That day hes noo g'yen by, sung to the tune of "The Miller O' the Dee" - Song about the changes in the mining industry
Time muthor lay bad i' bed - (The) - We find out the value of the house wife after she has been taken ill
Tom Linkin's box, sung to the tune of "Tinkers wedding" - Song about a driller at Dudley Colliery, and his equipment
Unk'yuked Tripe - (The) - A husband return home drunk and tries to eat a sock which has fallen on the food
Whisky het - Two men, both drunk and staying over at a friend's house, mistake a bottle of washing water for whisky
Willow Tree - (The) – Song on a famous Dudley tree
Wonderful change at Dudley - (The) – A song detailing changes in the mining industry to a fairer system known as 'Billy Fairplay'
