Daughter of W.P. 'Bill'
Richardson's Great Great Uncle, John Richardson
Elizabeth was born
on 2nd October 1865 at Waterloo Terrace,Usworth, Co.
Durham. She was the third (known) child of John
Richardson and his wife Elizabeth (nee Coyle). Her birth
was registered by her mother on the fourth November
1865, her mother could not sign her name and made her
mark on the registry entry. Her father's occupation was
given as brickmaker. The census of 1871
recorded the family at Waterloo Terrace, Usworth.
Elizabeth was five years old. Her father, John, was 40
and had changed occupations, he was now working as a
miner. Her mother was 33. Elizabeth had two older
sisters, Mary Ann (11) and Isabella (9) and a new baby
brother, Thomas, who was two months old.
Elizabeth's mother left her husband sometime between
1871 and 1881. She returned to Seaham Harbour and lived
with Richard Clark as his 'wife'. Baby Thomas was with
her, though the other children remained with their
father.
By the time of the 1881 census the family had moved
house, still in Usworth but in Old Row. Elizabeth was 16
years old, there was no occupation recorded for her.
Her Dad, John, was 50 and still worked in the mine. Her
oldest sister Mary Ann was no longer in the family home,
but her sister Isabella was, she was 20.
On 7th February 1883, at St John's Church, Seaham
Harbour, Elizabeth marrried Robert
Kirby who was a mariner. Elizabeth was 18 (though the
record says 20) and Robert was 24. Robert signed his
name in the register and Elizabeth made her mark. Their
witnesses were Richard Clark and Elizabeth Lansing. The
census of 1891 showed the couple had set up home at 6
William Terrace, Seaham Harbour. Elizabeth was 25 and
her husband, Robert, was 32. He worked as a labourer.
There were four children listed in the house, Sarah Jane
(4), Mary Alice (2) and Isabella (4 months). They also
has an older daughter, Elizabeth Ann (6) who was
recorded elsewhere in Seaham Harbour with her Granny,
Elizabeth.
Sadly Elizabeth's daughter, Isabella, died early in 1901
aged 10. By the time of the 1901 census,
the family were still living in William Terrace,
Elizabeth was 37 and her husband was 42, he was working
as a dock labourer. The family had grown, as well as
Sarah Jane (14) and Mary Alice (12), they had
Dorothy (8), George Thomas (5), Annie Ethel (5), Robert
(1) and Ellen Gertrude who was 1 month old.
Sadenss again for the family when Ellen Gertrude died in
the third quarter of 1901. The census of
1911 stated that Elizabeth and her husband Robert had
been married for 29 years, they'd had 12 children of
whom 10 were still living. Elizabeth was 49 and
Robert was 52, he still worked as a labourer at the
docks. The children listed in the house were Dorothy
(17), George Thomas (15) who was working as a tracer in
the mine, Annie Ethel (14), Emily (8), Ivy (6) and
Isabella (4) (this Isabella had been named for her
older sister who had died). Elizabeth and
Robert had one final child, William, who was born in
1913. Elizabeth's husband , Robert, died
in the last quarter of 1921, he was 62 years old.
Elizabeth died on 20th January 1940 at 15 Saturn Street,
Seaham, she was 74 years old. Her death was registered
by her son Robert Kirby who lived at 55 Marlborough St.
Seaham. |
