John "Jack" Shield facts for kids
John "Jack" Shield (born 1768 – died August 6, 1848) was an English songwriter. He was famous for his popular songs, especially "Bob Cranky's Adieu". John Shield lived at the same time as other early Geordie songwriters like Thomas Thompson and John Selkirk.
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John Shield's Early Life
John Shield was born in 1768 in Broomhaugh, a small village in Northumberland. This village is close to Riding Mill in the Tyne Valley.
When John was in his twenties, he and his older brother, Hugh, moved to Newcastle upon Tyne. Around 1800, they were running their family's large business. It was a wholesale grocery store that they had built up together. The store was on Middle Street, facing the Cloth Market.
In 1803, John Shield's name appeared on a petition. This petition was a protest against new taxes.
John Shield was a calm and friendly person. He seemed to write songs and poems in the local dialect just for fun. His brother Hugh was very different and could be quite fiery.
John's first poem or song was published in 1802 in the Newcastle Chronicle newspaper. Later, he wrote well-known Tyneside songs. These songs were about local characters like William Scott, also known as Cull Billy. John Shield even wrote a famous song to help raise money for Scott. Two of his other works, "Lord Size" and "Fair Delia," were in a book called Northern Songster in 1806.
His song "Oxygen Gas" was even sung at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.
Moving and Retirement
Around 1830, the city council bought the Shield family's property on Middle Street. They bought many nearby buildings too. This was to tear them down for big city improvements. So, the Shield brothers moved their business to a new place at the top of Dean Street. Much later, around 1890, John's family sold the business. This ended the family's connection to the area after almost 100 years.
Hugh Shield, John's brother, never married. He retired from the business around 1830. He left the business to John. Hugh then bought a small estate in Broomhaugh, where he lived out his retirement.
John Shield was married and had a family. He moved to a property near St. Andrew's Church on Newgate Street in Newcastle upon Tyne. After his brother Hugh passed away, John also retired from the business. He left it to his sons and moved into his brother's estate in Broomhaugh.
John Shield's Death
John Shield died in Broomhaugh when he was 80 years old.
John Shield's Songs
Here are some of the songs John Shield wrote:
- "The Barber's News" (or "Shields in an Uproar") – This song was published around 1805. It was sung to the tune of "Miss Bailey's Ghost." The song tells a funny story about Stephen Kemble. He was the very large manager of the Theatre Royal, Newcastle. He accidentally tipped over a boat while crossing the River Tyne between North and South Shields.
- "Blackett's Field" – This song makes fun of how the local people prepared to defend against a possible attack by Napoleon and the French army.
- "Bob Cranky's Adieu" – Published around 1812. Bob Cranky was a made-up, cartoon-like character, a bit like the modern character Andy Capp. In this song, Bob Cranky joins the Volunteer Association. He marches with them from Gateshead to Newcastle upon Tyne.
- "The Bonny Geatsiders" – Published around 1812. This is a light-hearted song about a group of volunteers from Gateshead. They only got to see action in practice drills in their local area.
- "Defence of the Name of Jack"
- "Delia's Answer"
- "Fair Delia"
- "Lines on Gull Billy"
- "My Lord 'Size" (or "Newcastle in an Uproar") – Published around 1806. This song describes a funny event. A judge from Newcastle upon Tyne was in a parade on the River Tyne with other important people. As he was getting into or out of a boat at Tynemouth, he slipped and fell into the water!
- "O No, My Love, No"
- "Oxygen Gas" – This song was known for being sung at the Theatre Royal, Newcastle.
- "Poor Tom, the Blind Boy"
For a long time, the song "The Pitman's Revenge (against Bonaparte)" was wrongly thought to be written by John Shield. However, in 1891, a book called Allan's Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings corrected this. It said that George Cameron actually wrote the song.
See also
Geordie dialect words
