Husband
of W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's Great Aunt, Annie
Richardson
Ralph was born in
the second quarter of 1874 in Washington, Co. Durham. His
parents were John Middleton and his wife Isabella (nee
Hopson) and his birth was registered in the Chester le
Street Registration District. The census
of 1881 recorded Ralph at Victoria Place, Washington, he
was 6 years old and listed as a scholar. John, his Dad,
was 32 and worked as a Mason. Mam, Isabella, was 30. The
other members of the family were Margaret Ann (9),
Isabella (5) and Leonard (10 months). By
the time of the 1891 census, Ralph was 16 and no longer
at school. The family was recorded at Walton's Buildings in
Washington and Ralph worked as a 'mason's apprentice',
possibly working with his Dad.
John, Ralph's Dad was 42 and still listed as a mason,
and Isabella was 40. His oldest sister, Margaret was no
longer listed in the family home, Isabella was 15 and
Leonard was 10. They had been joined by new members of
the family, Mary (9), John (7), Richard (5), Robert (3)
and an 'infant female' who was less than a month old. I
am not yet sure who this baby belonged to or what name
was finally chosen for her. They also had a lodger in
the house, George Forsyth who was 72 and a general
labourer. In the last quarter of 1896,
Ralph married Annie Richardson, the daughter of a miner
from Usworth. Ralph was 22 and Annie was 20 and the
marriage was registered in the Chester le St
Registration District. The census of 1901
showed Ralph and Annie living at 2 Cooperative Freehold,
Usworth. Ralph was 27 and working as a bricklayer, Annie
was 22. They had two children Robert R. (3) and John (8
months). They lived next door to Annie's sister,
Isabella, her husband Leinan and their children.
Ralph and Annie had four more children, Ralph was born
in 1902, Annie
Richardson was born in 1903, Margaret Pallister was born
in 1905 and William Pallister was born in 1907.
Great sadness for Ralph and Annie, as their sons John
and Ralph and daughter
Margaret died during 1906, John was six, Ralph was four
and Margaret was one. Ralph died in the last quarter of
1909, he was 35 years old and his death was registered
in the Chester le St Registration District.
Ralph was buried at Holy Trinity, Usworth on 29th
December 1909. His address at the time of his death was
6 Manor View. |
