Daughter of W.P. 'Bill'
Richardson's Great Great Uncle, John Richardson
Isabella was born in the third quarter
of 1861, her birth was registered in the Chester le
Street Registration District. She was the third child
of John Richardson and his wife Elizabeth (nee Coyle).
The census of 1871 recorded the family in Waterloo
Terrace, Usworth, Co. Durham. Isabella was 9 years old,
Her father, John, was 40 and worked in the mine, her
mother, Elizabeth, was 33. Isabella had an older sister,
Mary Ann (11) and a younger sister Elizabeth (5) and the
new baby was Thomas (2 months). Isabella's other
brother, James, had been born in 1857 but sadly he died
when he was just a few weeks old. The family were still in
Usworth at the time of the 1881 census, but were living
at Old Row. Isabella was 20, there was no occupation
listed for her on the census form. Her Dad was 50,
listed as a widower and working in the mine. Her older
sister, Mary Ann was no longer in the family home, but her
younger sister Elizabeth was at home, she was 16.
Isabella's mother, Elizabeth had left her family and
returned to Seaham Harbour with her youngest child,
Thomas. She was living with Richard Clark and listed as
his wife, though they were not married until after
Isabella's father, John, died.
In the second quarter of 1882, Isabella married Joseph
Hopson. Their marriage was registered in the Chester le
Street Registration District. The couple
set up home in Usworth and were recorded there on the
1891 census, living at 8 Railway Terrace. Isabella
was 29 and her husband was 34, he worked in the coal
mine. They had four children, Hannah (9), Elizabeth (5),
Isabella (3) and Joseph (1).
Another baby had been born in 1884, John Joseph, but
sadly he only lived a few days, his burial was recorded
in the Usworth Holy Trinity parish register and
that says he died when he was 3 days old. 1901, still
in Usworth but living at 61 Old Row. Isabella was 40 and
her husband was 48, his occupation was given as coal
miner - hewer. Isabella's two oldest daughters, Hannah
and Elizabeth were no longer in the family home, they
were both working in Newcastle, 'living in' as domestic
servants. Its probably just as well, as the house was
jam packed with people ! As well as Isabella and Joseph,
there were six children: Isabella (13), Joseph (11),
Mary Ann (8), Margaret (6), John (3) and Alice (1).
Isabella's father, John (70) also lived with them and as
if those nine weren't enough, they also had a lodger,
Henry Todd (57) who was a coal miner. Eleven people in a
house that was described on the census form as having 2
rooms occupied ! Isabella's father, John,
died in 1905. The census of 1911 showed
that the family had moved house again and were living at
8 Edith Avenue, Usworth Colliery. This house had three
rooms counted and was slightly less crowded, with eight
people in it. Isabella was 50 and Joseph was 60. His
occupation was given as coal miner - shifter. The census
return said they had been married for 29 years and
they'd had eleven children, of whom ten were still
alive. Their children still at home were: Joseph (21)
who worked as a coal miner, Margaret (16), John James
(13), Alice (11), Jane Ellen (9) and Thomas (7).
Isabella's husband, Joseph Hopson, died in the first
quarter of 1917, he was 64 years old and his death was
registered in the Chester le Street Registration
District. Isabella
died in the first quarter of 1941, her death was
registered in the Durham Northern Registration District. |
