Coffee Johnny a.k.a. Coffy Johnny and John Oliver (c. 1829 – 7 April 1900) was immortalised in the 6th verse George Ridley's song 'The Blaydon Races'.'Blaydon Races' by Joan Gale (oriel 1970) Coffee Johnny was a blacksmith in the village of Winlaton, a trumpeter in the Winlaton Brass Band, a bare-knuckle boxerGateshead Book of Days and Geordie celebrity.'Blaydon Races' pub. Tyne and Wear Archive Service He was well known for his tall height and for wearing a white top hat.
Origins of the name Although George Ridley's original manuscript gives the spelling "Coffy" all later publications spell it in the usual way. Local history archives contain anecdotal evidence that he was nicknamed Coffy because he always used to have a cup before school.
Family
Coffee Johnny was adopted by Thomas and Margery Oliver about 1840.
Coffee Johnny married Elizabeth Greener, and they had nine children: Katherine, Mary, Elizabeth, Margery, Sarah, Margaret, Tom, Joseph and Hannah. He also had a son, Robert, with Anne Hurst after the death of his wife, who was adopted by Coffee Johnny's daughter Sarah and her husband Miles Batey.St paul's Church, Winlaton Parish Records/Tyne and Wear Archives
Coffee Johnny is buried in St. Paul's churchyard, Winlaton.
References
Sources Wayback Machine Sunniside Local History Society
'Under His Hat' by Robert Batey (Eloquent Books 2009) St. Pauls, Winlaton, England Parish Records 'Blaydon Races' by Joan Gale (oriel 1970) 'Blaydon Races' pub. Tyne and Wear Archive Service 'Gateshead Book Of Days' Jo Bath