Wife
of W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's Great Uncle, David
Gilliland
Lily was born in
the last quarter of 1875, she was the daughter of
Thomas Johnson and his wife Elizabeth. Her birth was
registered in the Weardale Registration District and she
was born at Campbell Street, Tow Law.
The census of 1881 recorded Lily as a scholar, aged 5
living with her family at High St., Wolsingham, Co.
Durham. Her Mum, Elizabeth, was 29 and was born in
Durham City, her Dad, Thomas was 35. He worked as a
picture frame maker and was originally from Allendale.
Lily had three sisters: Phoebe was 8, Mary Ann was 7 and
Elizabeth Annie was 2.
By the time of the 1891 census, Lily was 15, though she
would have left school there was no occupation listed
for her, I assume she helped her Mam in the house. Her
Mam, Elizabeth was 39 and would have needed a hand as
there were 8 children listed for the family ! Lily's Dad
was still making picture frames and the enumerator has
put a note to say he was a Carver, next to the
occupation.
Of Lily's sisters listed in the
previous census, Elizabeth Annie had sadly died aged 9
in 1887. The other two were still at home, Phoebe
was 18 and listed as a dressmaker, Mary Ann was 17. The
new arrivals since the last census were Ada (9), Louisa
(7), Leonora (6) and finally Thomas Henry who was
2.
In the third quarter of 1895 Lily married David
Gilliland, a miner from Crook. Their marriage was
registered in the Weardale District. Lily was 20 and
David was 22.
The census of 1901 showed Lily and David at 35, Gooches
Row, Burnopfield. David was 28 and working as a hewer in
the pit. Lily was 25 and she had three children Minnie
age 4 who had been born in Sunniside, Willie (James
William) age 2 who had been born in Tow Law and
Elizabeth Jane aged 2 months who had been born in
Burnopfield. They also had two boarders, Lily's brother
in law William Gilliland and George Harkness, they were
both coal miners.
In the census of 1911, Lily and David were recorded at
Flag Row, Sunnside, Crook. David was 37 and a
miner, Lily was 34. In addition to the older children
Minnie (14), James William (12) and Elizabeth (11),
there were two more children. The new arrivals were Lily
(6) and Mabel (3). The census form stated that Lily and
David had been married for 15 years and they'd had 6
children, one of whom had died. I have not yet been able
to identify the baby who died.
Lily's husband, David, died in the first quarter of 1913, he was
40 years old.
Lily was 37 and had five children to bring up so life
must have been hard for her. The Kelly's Directory of
Durham for 1914 shows her in Sunniside and lists her as
a shopkeeper, though it does not say what sort of shop
she had. |
