George Tough (1866 - 1962)

FATHER:
MOTHER:
SPOUSE:
OFFSPRING:
Alexander Tough (b.1835)
Agnes Trail (b.1835)
Mary Annie Robson (b.1872)
Agnes Tough (b.1888)
Arthur Tough (b.1890)
George Tough (b.1893)
Ernie Tough (b.1895)
Lydia Tough (b.1896)
Florence Tough (b.1898)
Percy Tough (b.1901)
Beatrice Tough (b.1902)
Norman Tough (b.1904)
Winifred Tough (b.1905)
Doris Tough (b.1908)
Harry Tough (b.1909)
Millicent Tough (b.1914)
BIRTH: 1 January 1866 - Grangetown, Sunderland
MARRIAGE: 29 April 1889 - Ryhope, Sunderland
DEATH: 11 December 1962 - Ryhope General Hospital, Sunderland
KNOWN ADDRESSES: 44 Castle Street, Sunderland - 1866
28 Cousin Street, Sunderland - 1881
7 Stockton Terrace, Grangetown, Sunderland - 1896
22 Leechmere Road, Sunderland - 1918
BIOGRAPHY:
George was born on New Year's Day 1866 in Sunderland. His parents, Alexander Tough and Agnes Tough (nee Trail), originate from Aberdeen, Scotland. He was the third child of at least four children. James Tough (b.1860), Jane Ann Tough (b.1862) and Alexander Tough (b.1867) were his brothers and sister.

The 1871 census records George as being five years old and living with his parents and siblings in Sunderland.

In the 1881 census he is listed as being a 16-year-old "General Labourer" still living with his parents.

At 22 years of age, on 29 April 1889, George married Mary Annie Robson. He again recorded his occupation as "Labourer". Oral history suggest that Mary Annie's family were not impressed with George and considered that their daughter could have done better. Mary Annie's father owned and operated his own paper factory in Hexham, Northumberland.

The 1901 census records George living with his wife, six children and a boarder. He records his age as 35 and his occupation as "Street Lamplighter".

They proceed to have another seven children making a total of thirteen before Mary Annie died of an appendicitus in 1924. Family rumours suggest that George refused to take his wife to the hospital believing the illness not to be serious.

It wasn't until 1962 that the then 96-year-old George Tough died in Sunderland. His death certificate records the cause of death as "....ventricular failure" (heart failure) and "myocardial infarction".

Medical dictionaries describe myocardial infarction as

Destruction of heart tissue resulting from obstruction of the blood supply to the heart muscle. Occurs when one of more regions of the heart muscle experience a severe or prolonged decrease in oxygen supply caused by a blocked blood flow to the heart muscle. This happens when the blood supply to an area of the heart is interrupted because of narrowed or blocked blood vessels. This can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle. Myocardial Infarction is the medical term for a heart attack.
IMAGES: (click to enlarge)

George Tough's birth certificate

George, at five years of age, living with his parents in the 1871 census.

George, at sixteen years of age, living with his parents in the 1881 census.

George Tough's marriage certificate

St Paul's Church, Ryhope, where George and Mary Annie married.

George Tough in the 1901 census, living with his wife, six children and a boarder.

George Tough (second from right) at the marriage of his daughter, Beatrice, to George Williamson.

George Tough's death certificate

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