Dinah was born on 6 Jun, 1842 in the parish of Jarrow in County Durham, England^a1,b1, the daughter of James Jennings Smith (1811–?)★, an engineer, and Elizabeth Cummings (1811–?)★. She was baptised as a child on 19 Nov, 1848 at St. Hilda's Church in South Shields St. Hilda, County Durham, England^b1,c1. She is Ian's 3x great grandmother.

Dinah was recorded in the 1851 census at Union Road in North Shields, Northumberland, England^d1 with her mother Elizabeth, a seamans wife and three siblings Elizabeth Jennings, Rebecca Jennings and Jemima.

She married John Peak (1838–1900)★, a forgeman, on 19 Jul, 1858 at the age of sixteen in the parish of South Shields in County Durham, England^a2 and went on to have seven children with him:–

• Thomas Turner★, boiler maker, baptised on 14 Mar, 1859 in the parish of Tynemouth in Northumberland, England^b2. Married Elizabeth Hinksman★ on 22 Sep, 1879 at St. Peter's Church in Wallsend, Northumberland, England^a3. Died on 7 Feb, 1931 at 124 Hambledon Street in Blyth, Northumberland, England^a4,e1 at the age of seventy-one.
• John died in infancy. Born on 19 Jan, 1862 at Middle Street in North Shields, Northumberland, England^a5 and died there on 31 Jan, 1862^a6.
• John baptised on 25 Dec, 1862 in the parish of Tynemouth Holy Trinity in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England^f1. Died in the Apr-Jun quarter of 1920 in the registration district of Tynemouth in Northumberland, England at the age of fifty-eight.
• James Turner born on 3 Jan, 1864 and baptised on 1 Aug, 1869 in the parish of Benwell St. James in Northumberland, England^g1. Died in the Apr-Jun quarter of 1918 in Tynemouth at the age of fifty-four.
• Jane died age twelve. Born on 18 Jul, 1869 at Greenhow Terrace, Westgate in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England^a7. Died in the Jul-Sep quarter of 1881 in the parish of Hartlepool in County Durham, England.
• Lewis Anderson born on 13 Nov, 1872 at 32 Bell Street in North Shields, Northumberland, England^a8. Married Alice Jessup on 1 Aug, 1892 at Christ Church in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England^g2. Died on 17 Jan, 1942 in the parish of North Shields in Northumberland, England at the age of sixty-nine.
• Rebecca Norvell born on 26 May, 1875 at 35 Liddell Street in North Shields, Northumberland, England^a9. Married Alexander Mills on 19 Dec, 1892 at Christ Church, Tynemouth^g3. Died on 11 Jul, 1926 in North Shields^e2 at the age of fifty-one.

In the 1861 census she was living at 43 Middle Street in North Shields, Northumberland, England^h1 with her husband John and son Thomas Turner Peak.

Dinah was recorded in the 1871 census at Millers Bank, Bell Street in North Shields, Northumberland, England^k1 with her husband John, now a plater in shipyard and four children Thomas Turner, John Peak (1862–1920), James Turner Peak (1864–1918) and Jane Peak (1869–1881).

By the time of the 1881 census she was living at 19 Edwin Street in West Hartlepool, Stranton, County Durham, England^m1 with her husband John, now a plater and five children Thomas Turner, a mason, John Peak, a general labourer, Jane Peak, Lewis Anderson Peak (1872–1942) and Rebecca Norvell Peak (1875–1926).

In the 1891 census she was living at 102 High Street in Wallsend, Northumberland, England^p1 with her husband John, now a ship plater and three children John Peak (1862–1862), a shipyard labourer, Lewis Anderson Peak, an apprentice shipyard and Rebecca Norvell Peak, a shop assistant.

Dinah died at the age of fifty-seven on 30 Jan, 1900 at 24 Beacon Street in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England^a10,q1. Her death was attributed to influenza^a10.

She was buried in Jan 1900 in Preston Cemetery in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England^r1 She was survived by her husband John.

On the anniversary of Dinah's death her daughter Rebecca wrote a poem which she placed in the memorial section of the Shields Daily News: We oft times think we hear her footsteps, We look around, but she is not there; Ah! no, she has gone and left us, Here stands her empty chair. Sleep on, dear mother, thy toil is o'er, Thy willing hands shall toil no more; Life was desired, but God thought best To take thee to eternal rest.^q1

Timeline

1842

6 Jun

Born in Jarrow, County Durham, England. The informant was her mother Elizabeth Cummings (1811–?)★.^a1,b1

1848

19 Nov

Baptised as a child at St. Hilda's Church, South Shields St. Hilda, County Durham, England.^b1,c1

1851

30 Mar

Recorded in the 1851 census living at Union Road, North Shields, Northumberland.^d1

1858

19 Jul

Married John Peak★ in South Shields, County Durham.^a2
Recorded as residing in South Shields.^a2

1859

14 Mar

Her son, Thomas Turner Peak (1859–1931)★, born in North Shields, Northumberland, England. She was the informant.^a11,b2

20 Apr

Recorded as residing at Steam Mill Bank, Bull Ring, North Shields, Northumberland.^a11

1861

7 Apr

Recorded in the 1861 census at 43 Middle Street, North Shields, Northumberland.^h1

1862

19 Jan

Son, John Peak (1862–1862), born at Middle Street, North Shields, Northumberland, England.^a5

31 Jan

Son, John Peak (1862–1862), died at Middle Street, North Shields.^a6

25 Dec

Son, John Peak (1862–1920), baptised in Tynemouth Holy Trinity, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England.^f1

1864

3 Jan

Son, James Turner Peak (1864–1918), born in Willington Quay, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England.^a12

1869

18 Jul

Daughter, Jane Peak (1869–1881), born at Greenhow Terrace, Westgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England.^a7

1871

2 Apr

Recorded in the 1871 census at Millers Bank, Bell Street, North Shields, Northumberland.^k1

1872

13 Nov

Her son, Lewis Anderson Peak (1872–1942), born at 32 Bell Street, North Shields, Northumberland, England. She was the informant.^a8

20 Dec

Recorded as living at Bell Street, North Shields, Northumberland.^a8

1875

26 May

Her daughter, Rebecca Norvell Peak (1875–1926), born at 35 Liddell Street, North Shields, Northumberland, England. She was the informant.^a9

6 Jul

Recorded as living at 35 Liddell Street, North Shields.^a9

1879

22 Sep

Witness to the marriage of Thomas Turner Peak★ and Elizabeth Hinksman★ at St. Peter's Church, Wallsend, Northumberland.^a3

1881

3 Apr

Recorded in the 1881 census at 19 Edwin Street, West Hartlepool, County Durham.^m1

Jul-Sep

Daughter, Jane Peak (1869–1881), died in Hartlepool, County Durham, England.

1891

5 Apr

Recorded in the 1891 census residing at 102 High Street, Wallsend, Northumberland.^p1
Occupation recorded as general dealer (greengrocer).^p1

1900

Jan

Buried in Preston Cemetery, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England.^r1

30 Jan

Died at the age of fifty-seven at 24 Beacon Street, Tynemouth, Northumberland, England. The informant was Alice Jessup (1872–?).^a10,q1

Facts