Jarrow Borough Bowling Club are affiliated to the English Bowling Federation, the club reformed in 1995 and have represented Durham County at the National Finals at Skegness every year since.
David William Voss born 1854 in Limerick Ireland as was his father Thomas who was in the army. His dad moved around- his wife was from Wales, and David’s sister was born in Portsmouth. He was the eldest of 4 children.
They had a settled period and were in Lincoln 1861-71 living at the Barracks. His father was Hospital Sergeant for the Royal North Lincoln Militia. At 17 in 1871 David was a pupil teacher. He must’ve done well in the role.
In 1877 he married Catherine Lucy Rest, the daughter of a Lincoln wheelwright and a dressmaker. They must’ve moved northwards shortly after as his first child Margaret Jessie was born in Jarrow in 1879 and he was a member of St Bedes Lodge of
Freemasons in 1880- his occupation? Teacher.
In 1881 aged 27 he was Headmaster of the Board School at Monkton living in the School House nr Wood Terrace. He was still at the school in 1891 – the schoolhouse was on Northbourne Terrace. He had a further daughter Lucy Lillian.
1901, the year of the bowls pictured found him in a different job – an order clerk in a printing office and now living at 2 Croft Terrace with his family.
By 1911 he had returned to the teaching profession- he was a headmaster again aged 57 living at Lindum in Monkton. He was also widowed, Catherine had died in 1907. His older daughter Margaret had also left, she’d joined the Post Office in Jarrow in 1897 and married a Thomas William Ward in in 1909 . She would die in London in 1975 at the grand old age of 94.
He did have his daughter Lucy though, acting as his housekeeper. She was now married and called Lillian Da Cruz, she was there with her daughter Vera aged 1, who’d been born in Grange Over Sands in Lancs.
David retired to Newcastle, he died on the 8th March 1931 at 74 Tavistock Road leaving a small estate of £128 dealt with by his daughter Margaret Jessie Ward, now widowed herself.