James Thomas Clephan

James Thomas Clephan (1804–1888) was a Monkwearmouth born journalist, newspaper editor, antiquary and poet.

James Thomas Clephan was born on 17 March 1804 in Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, the second son of Stockton baker Robert Clephan.

He was educated in Stockton, and he and his family were members of the Unitarian Church in Stockton. He later was a Trustee of the (Unitarian) Church of the Divine Unity in Newcastle upon Tyne.

He became indentured to Stockton printer, Mr. M. Eales. On completion of his Indentureship in 1825, he moved to Edinburgh (termed "The Modern Athens") and worked in the offices of the publishing company of Ballantine where he remained for almost three years, gaining valuable experience.. At the end of this time in 1828, a sub-editorship became vacant at the Leicester Chronicle, and he moved there, now entering the world of journalism. In 1838 the "Gateshead Observer" was looking for an editor and Clephan applied successfully for the post. The paper was a supporter of the Whig party and the fact that he was a liberal, would not have harmed his application. He was to remain there for 22 years until he retired in 1860. The Gateshead Observer was a relatively new newspaper, the first in Gateshead and he was to build it up into a first class, well respected, newspaper.

After leaving, he became a free-lance journalist, working primarily for the Newcastle Daily (and Weekly) Chronicles, writing regular articles on the historical past of the area, a column on the work of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne and tributes to the departed Worthies. He continued working until his eightieth birthday, after which he appears to have become bed-ridden, but in body and not mind, as he still had many visitors. He died on 25 February 1888 and was buried in Jesmond Cemetery, Newcastle.

In 1859 Joseph Skipsey, dubbed "The Pitman Poet" published a volume, Poems in Morpeth, which attracted the attention of James Clephan, and when Skipsey told of his dire situation, Cephan obtained a job for him at Hawks Crawshay and Son ironworks in Gateshead.

These include :-

Songs and poems

• Annette – see North Country Poets page 78
• The Memorial Flower – see North Country Poets page 79
• Good Night – see North Country Poets page 81

Books, papers and printed articles

• He wrote several articles which found their way into “The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore and legend 1887”. These included
  • Over the Churchyard Wall, which first appeared in the Newcastle Weekly Chronicle in July 1885 (page 20) giving details of many of the better known occupants of the Old St. John's Graveyard, Newcastle
  • Jean Paul Marat in Newcastle (page 49)
  • Witchcraft in the North (page 211)
  • Early Printers on the Tyne (page 314)
  • Early Booksellers on the Tyne (page 362)
  • The Early Press of York (page 459)
  • plus several other articles in the same book
• Several articles appeared in "Archaeologia aeliana, or, Miscellaneous tracts relating to antiquity 1887", the journal of The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne; including :-
  • The Bigg Market Military Execution, 1640: The Year of Newburn. (on page 112)
  • Old Tyne Bridge and its Story (on page 135)
  • Departure of the Quayside Wall; and what became of it (on page 210)

• ^ "North country poets". 
• "Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore and legend 1887". 
• "Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside songs and readings". 
• Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside songs and readings with lives, portraits and autographs of the writers, and notes on the songs. Revised Edition. Thomas & Gorge Allan, 18 Blackett Street, and 34 Collingwood Street, (Newcastle upon Tyne) – Sold by W. Allan, 80 Grainqer Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, B. Allan, North Shields and Walter Scott. London. 1891. 
• "Archaeologia aeliana".