Annie Abbott born December 24th 1908, named after James’ older sister Annie Abbott, but always known as Anne. Anne was Jim and Lizzie's first daughter. She never married and died on February 18th 1976 age 68 yrs.
Norma and her Aunt Anne Abbott, 1955
Second daughter Alice Abbott born February 18th 1910, married Norman Cooper on December 18th 1937 and their daughter Norma Anne Abbott was born on November 21st 1941.
Wedding of Alice Abbott and Norman Cooper, 1937
L-R: Elizabeth (Betty), Norman, Alice, Anne
Alice died on April 4th 1986 and Norman on April 2nd 1970.
Norma married Ian Roderick McNab in 1964 and they had four sons: Alexander David 1966, Robert John 1968, Edward James 1971 and Peter Matthew Richard 1973. Norma and Ian McNab live in Austin, Texas.
The name McNab is Scottish and means "son of Abbott".
Norma, first son David and grandfather Jim, 1966
Norma McNab
Norma has generously provided all the photographs and much of the information about Jim Abbott and his family presented on these pages. Norma writes:
“We lived a few houses from Jim and Lizzie and Anne when I was a child, and I spent a lot of time with them. Jim loved to bet on the horses (shilling and sixpence bets). He would spend all morning picking out the winners and all afternoon waiting for the results on the radio. He also liked to do crosswords and read westerns. He used to talk a lot about his childhood and loved the country. I just wish now that I had paid more attention to his stories!”
Youngest daughter Elizabeth Abbott was born on December 2nd 1922. She was Norma’s Aunt Betty.
Jack and Elizabeth (Betty) married Jack (John) Petter in 1946, with Norma McNab age 4 yrs as bridesmaid Jack’s father was Frederick Petter and his mother Julia (nee Randolph).
Wedding of Elizabeth (Betty)Abbott and John (Jack) Petter,1946
L-R: Frederick Petter, Julia Petter (Randolph), Jack Petter, bridesmaid Norma McNab 4 yrs, Betty Abbott, Lizzie Abbott, Jim Abbott
Betty lives with her husband, Jack in Newcastle and they have two children, Lesley and Malcolm. Lesley has sons, Robert (born 1979) and Andrew (born 1984) with husband David Bell.
Norman, Alice, Peggy and Jim, 1960's
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1963
Jim’s wife Lizzie died in 1963.Eldest daughter Anne was living with them and took care of her father for several years. They lived at 203 Helmsley Road, Newcastle upon Tyne – in the eastern part of the city about a mile from the city centre.
According to Norma, Jim was pretty healthy apart from the last year or so, although somewhat deaf, but then he seemed to need more care than Anne could manage. She had heart problems and died herself a few years later - in 1976.
Jim spent the last few months of his life in a nursing home in Ponteland, near Newcastle, where he died on the fourth of September 1970 of myocardial failure and senile dementia. Informant was daughter Elizabeth Petter, then residing at 100 Jefferson Street, Newcastle upon Tyne.
James was cremated and his ashes spread in the garden of remembrance at Newcastle Cemetery.
