Son of
W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's Great Uncle,
John Thomas Howey
Joseph Gordon was born in
the last quarter of 1893, the son of John Thomas Howey
and his wife Bell (nee Gordon). His birth was registered
in the Sunderland Registration District.
By the time of 1901 census the family were living at 34
Hill Street, Birtley, Co. Durham. Joseph's Dad, John
Thomas, was 33 and working as a coal miner. His Mam,
Bell, was 31. Joseph was 7 and had an older brother,
Thomas, who was 10. Ten years later, the
1911 census showed that the family had moved again, this
time to Coxlodge in Northumberland. Joseph was 17 and
both he and his brother Thomas (20) were working in the
mine like their Dad. He also had a new baby brother,
John, who was just 3 months old. In the
third quarter of 1917, Joseph married Jane Graham, their
marriage was registered in the Castle Ward Registration
District. Joseph and Jane were to have
three children, Kenneth (born 1919), Thomas (born 1921)
and Joseph Gordon (born 1925). Their
middle son, Thomas, was in the navy in WW2 and sadly was
killed on active service on 17th February 1945 aboard
The Bluebell which was torpedoed whilst escorting a
convoy from Murmansk. His death is commemorated on the
Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Joseph Gordon
died in the last quarter of 1978, he was 85 years old
and his death was registered in the Newcastle on Tyne
Registration District. |
