Daughter
of W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's Great Great Uncle,
John Howey
Esther was the
second child of John Howey and his wife Eleanor (nee
Bell). She was born on 20th August 1873 and her
birth was registered in the Tynemouth Registration
District. She was baptised at
Christchurch, Tynemouth on 2nd September 1873, the
record says the family lived at Brough Road and Esther's
Dad was a husbandman. The census of 1881 recorded the
family at West Percy Street, Tynemouth. Esther was 7 and
went to school as did her sisters Annie Mary (10) and Sarah Jane (5), her youngest sister Louisa was 11
months old. Esther also had two brothers, Joseph (3) and
John George (2). Their Mam, Eleanor (39) looked after
them all and their Dad, John (38) worked as a labourer.
In 1882 another child, William, was born. Sadly he did
not live long and his death was registered in the
quarter following his birth.
More sadness when Esther's brother, Joseph, died in 1884 aged 6.
They family were at a different address for the 1891
census, Bedford Street, Tynemouth. Esther was 17, there
was no occupation listed for her. Her Mam was 49 and her
Dad was 48, he was working as a furnaceman. The other
children listed were Sarah (15), John (12) and Louisa
(11). In the third quarter of 1896,
Esther married George Henry Vallack. Esther was 22 and
George was 23, their marriage was registered in the
Tynemouth Registration District. Esther
and George had a son, George Henry Watson Vallack, in
1898 but he died soon after birth. In 1899 they had a
daughter, Leonora Eleanor, but she too died soon after.
Esther and George were recorded in the 1901 census at
Marlborough Street in South Shields. Esther was 27 and
George was 28, he worked as a joiner. They had a son
Henry Watson Vallack, who was 6 months old.
Yet more sadness for this family when daughters, Eleanor
(born in 1905) and Isabella (born 1906) both died in
1907, then Henry died (aged 7), in 1908.
The census of 1911 recorded Esther and
George in Shipcote Terrace, Gateshead. Esther was 37 and
Gerge was 38, he was working as a rolleywayman ,
underground. The census return stated that they
had been married for 15 years and they'd had 7 children
only two of whom were still living. The children were
both listed in the household, John George (8) and James
(3). Esther's Dad, John was living with them, he was 68
and a widower.
Esther died in the third quarter of
1940, she was 66 years old and her death was registered
in the Hemel Hempstead Registration District.
|