William Hedley (1779 – 1843) was another railway pioneer and was born in Newburn Link
Two of his famous creations were 'Puffing Billy' NZ1066 : 'Puffing Billy' - Welcome to Wylam road sign and 'Wylam Dilly' NT2573 : Wylam Dilly Link
The connection with railway pioneers was complete when George Stephenson married Frances (Fanny) Henderson on 28 November 1802 and, after her death in 1806, remarried Betty Hindmarsh on 29 March 1820, both at Newburn Church Link
George Stephenson ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Stephenson ) married his first wife here on 28 Nov 1802. "George's signature as it stands in the books, is that of a person who seems to have just learned to write" [Murray's Handbook:1890].