We were interested to hear of Miriam Margolyes’ grandfather's birth in Middlesbrough. I have an early Middlesbrough birth. Isaac, son of Samuel Joseph Scheinman (Shynman in Wales), was born at 36 Albert Road Middlesbrough on 11 July 1866. The birth was registered by his mother, Sarah, which was unusual. Perhaps Samuel had gone on to Merthyr, leaving Sarah with friends or relatives until the birth of the child.
It seems likely that they had sailed on one of the timber ships out of the Baltic ports. The ships were laden with wood from the Lithuanian forests, all to make pit-props for the coal mines of the North East and South Wales, and also carried passengers. They called in at Newcastle, then went on to Cardiff, the latter port almost certainly where the Scheinmans intended to disembark. Can't have been fun for Sarah; what courage she and all the immigrant women must have had. She is my grandson David's great great great great grandmother.