Daughter of
W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's Great Aunt, Isabella Pallister
Richardson
Ada was the last
child of Leinan Gaunt and his wife Isabella (nee
Richardson). She was born on 23rd March 1911
and her birth was registered in the Chester le St
Registration District. She was baptised
on 16th April 1911 and her baptism was recorded in the
register for the Primitive Methodist Jarrow Circuit,
Durham. The entry says that the family lived at 8
Richardson Terrace, New Washington and that her Dad
worked as a miner. Ada was counted on
the 1911 census, though I don't suppose she took much
notice as she was only ten days old. The family were
living at 8 Richardson Terrace, New Washington, Co.
Durham. Her Dad, Leinan, was 39 and worked in the
colliery as a hewer, her Mam, Isabella, was 41. Ada had
a brother and two sisters. Margaret (14), John (10) and
Annie (7).
She worked as a parlour maid for the Horlicks family for
a while before she married in December 1937.
The wedding took place on Boxing Day in 1937. Her
husband was John Henry Rowland. He was stated to be 23
years old (he was only 20) and worked as a milk van
driver. His father was shown as a retired Police
Officer. The marriage took place at the Methodist
Church, Manor Street, Chelsea. There were three
witnesses: J Walton, husband of Esther Walton (nee
Richardson); Anne Gaunt, her sister; and J Rowlands.
Sadly, their marriage was a short one. John died in 1940
in WW2, aged 22, and he is commemorated on the Dunkirk
Memorial and on the Commonwealth Wars Graves Commission
website. Ada received a memorial scroll in his
honour and that showed her address as 86 Sedlescombe
Road, Fulham, London SW6.
In the last quarter of 1949 Ada re-married. Her second
husband was Frederick Howe and their marriage was
registered in the Fulham Registration District. They
were to have one child, Veronica, who was born in 1950.
Ada's daughter says her mother suffered badly from
rheumatoid arthritis. Despite that, she was good at
baking, knitting and sewing which must have been
difficult at times. She also said that Ada was a strong
minded and fiery lady and a good
mother, she always made her daughter's friends welcome.
They used to have family holidays to Whitley Bay and
Cullercoats, including exciting visits to Spanish City
for the fun fair, and would visit relatives while they
were in the North East. Ada died in the
last quarter of 1969, she was 58 years old and her death
was registered in the Bridge, Kent Registration
District.
Thanks go to Ada's daughter for providing information. |
