Husband of
W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's Great Aunt,
Sarah Isabella Howey
Walter was born on
the 10th June 1852, his parents were Joseph Potts and
his wife Mary (nee Hurworth). His birth was registered
in the Auckland Registration District and he was named
for his paternal grandfather.
Walter was baptised when he was 9 days
old at the parish church in Witton le Wear, Co. Durham
and his baptism record says his Dad was a gamekeeper.
The census of 1861 recorded the family
living at Witton le Wear. Walter's Dad, Joseph, was 54, born in Witton le Wear and on his 3rd career in 30
years. He had been listed as an agricultural labourer in
1841, then a gamekeeper in 1851 and on this census he
was listed as a Colliery Joiner. His wife, Mary was 47
and originally from Boldon, Yorkshire.
Walter had eight brothers and sisters, seven of whom
still lived at home in 1861- his other sister, Mary Emma,
had sadly died in 1857 when she was 15 years old.
Thomas (22) was a fire brick moulder, John (18) was an
engine worker, Sarah Elizabeth was 16, Joseph was 13,
Isabella was 11, Annie was 3 and Robert was 3 months.
Walter was 8 and listed as a scholar,
The family were still in Witton le Wear
for the 1871 census, Walter was 18 and working for his
living as a pipe maker.
His Dad, Joseph, was 64 and still listed as a colliery
joiner, Mam, Mary, was 57. On this census, six of
Walter's brothers and sisters were still at home, John
(28) was an Engine Man, Sarah (26) had no occupation
listed, Isabella (21) was the inevitable dressmaker in
the family, Annie (13) and Robert (10) were still at
school. Walter's Granda, also called Walter Potts, lived
with the family - he was 87 and listed as a labourer!
By the time of the 1881 census, Walter
was 28 and this time his occupation was listed as Fire
Brick Moulder.
The family still lived in Witton le Wear and Dad,
Joseph, was 74 and still working though he had changed
his occupation again and was now listed as a school
warden. Mam, Mary, was 67 and apart from Walter only the
two youngest were still in the family home (though
Joseph had married and lived next door). Annie was 23
and had no occupation listed, Robert was 21 and he too
worked as a Fire Brick Moulder like his older
brother.
On 10th September 1887 Walter
married Sarah Isabella Howey, the daughter of Thomas
Howey (a colliery weighman) and his wife Georgiana (nee
Turnbull). Walter was 35 and worked as a labourer, Sarah was 25.
Thier witnesses were Annie Langstaff and W. Brownbridge.
The 1891 census showed that the couple
had set up home in Witton le Wear, Walter was 38 and his
occupation was given as Brick Maker. Sarah was 28 and
they had two children, Georgina (2) and Mary Eleanor
(1).
In the last quarter of 1891, Sarah and
Walter had another little girl who they called Isabel.
Sadly she died in the first quarter of 1892.
Walter and his family were recorded in
Witton le Wear once more for the 1901 census. He was 48
and his occupation was down as Sanitary Pipe Maker. His
wife, Sarah Isabella, was 38 and they had six
children: Georgina (12), Mary Eleanor (11), Annie (8),
John (6), Esther (4) and Bertha (1). The children were
all shown as being born in Witton le Wear.
Walter hand Sarah had another child,
George Walter, in 1901. Sadness for the family when he
died, aged 2, in 1904.
The census of 1911 recorded Walter and
his family at Witton le Wear. He was 58 and working as a
labourer at the brick yard. His wife, Sarah, was 48.
Their two older children Georgina and Mary Eleanor were
both 'in service' and no longer in the family home. The
other children were Annie (18) who was working as a day
girl, domestic, John (16) who worked in the brick yard
like his Dad, Esther (14) and Bertha (11) both attended
school.
Walter's wife, Sarah Isabella, died in
the third quarter of 1918, her death was registered in
the Auckland District and she was 56 years old.
Walter died in the second quarter of
1928, his death was also registered in the Auckland
Registration District and he was 75.
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