Letter and envelope from the Hackworth family, Soho Cottage to Thomas Greener, Toft Hill, Bishop Auckland

Thomas Greener is thought to have been born in 1820. His father, John Greener, had worked at Killingworth Colliery and was in charge of the Etherley incline engine on the Stockton and Darlington Railway after his brother John Greener left this position. John Greener was active in the establishment of the Stockton and Darlington Railway Company. John Greener came with the Young family [descendents of George Edward Young (HACK 4/4)] from the Tyne when Timothy Hackworth took up his position as Superintendent Engineer of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825.

Thomas Greener was an active Methodist, lived in Etherley and worked at Etherley Colliery, he is described in correspondence as being a ‘colliery agent’. Records show that he lived at Etherley and moved to Tulse Hill Gardens, London around the 1880’s, probably when he retired.

Greener was clearly close to the Hackworth family and corresponds in depth with them about private matters such as mental asylums for the eldest daughter of Timothy Hackworth Ann Ambler (nee Hackworth) and the debt that the family was in.

He is thought to have died around 1903.