Second Husband
of W.P. 'Bill' Richardson's
G Grandmother, Margaret Pallister
John was born on
16th July 1844 at Mount Pleasant, Preston Quarter,
Cumberland. He was the second child of James
Patterson, who was originally from Scotland, and his
wife Jane (nee Bowden). The census of
1851 recorded the family in Northumberland, living at
Hazlerigg in Longbenton. John was 7 years old. His Dad,
James, was 32 and working as a coal miner, his Mam, Jane, was 29. John had an
older sister Ann (9) and
two younger brothers James (4) and William (2).
By the time of the 1861 census, the family were back in
Mount Pleasant, Preston Quarter. John's Dad was still
working as a coal miner. John was 16, his older sister
Ann was not recorded in the family home but James (14)
and William (12) were there, along with the new members
of the family Thomas (10), Bowden (7), Andrew (5) and
Mary (1). Looking at the birthplaces for the younger
children, it seems that they had lived in Scotland for a
while after they left Northumberland as that is where
Bowden and Andrew were born. Mary had been born in Mount
Pleasant. On the 5th March 1866, John
married Mary Merriner at the Register Office in
Whitehaven. They were both 21 and John was working as a
coal miner. Their witnesses were James
Merriner and Mary Ann Morgan. The groom, bride and best
man were unable to write their names and made their mark
in the register. The couple were
recorded in the census of 1871, living at 4, Dark
Passage, Preston Quarter, Cumberland. John was working
as a coal miner and Mary would have been busy at home
looking after their daughter, also called Mary, who was
1 year old. By the time of the 1881
census, the family were living in Usworth, Co. Durham.
John was 36 and working as a Colliery Engineer (Driver), Mary was 38. As well as their oldest daughter
Mary (11) they had Jane B (9), John (4) and the new baby
was Ann who was 3 months old. Sadness for
the family when Mary, John's wife, died in the second
quarter of 1889. The census of 1891
recorded John living at 29 Double Row in Usworth. He was
listed as a 46 year old widower and worked as a
Brakesman -Stationary Engine. Of the children only John
(14), who was an apprentice Steam Engine Fitter, and Annie
(9) were still at home. There was a domestic servant
recorded, Margaret Smith (36) . On the 1st January
1892, at the Primitive Methodist Chapel in Jarrow, John
married for the second time. His new wife was Margaret
Richardson (nee Pallister) who had been widowed in 1885
when her husband Robert had been killed in an explosion
at Usworth Colliery. John was 47 and Margaret was
42 and their witnesses were E Roberts and M Thompson.
Margaret signed her name on the register and John made
his mark. The 1901 census showed the
couple living at 11 Pensher View, Usworth, Co. Durham,
two of Margaret's sons from her first marriage lived
with them. John was recorded as being 60 but in fact was
only 56, and his occupation was listed as Winding
Engineman (above ground). John died on
28th March 1903, at 43 Douglas Terrace, Usworth. His
death was registered by his son John. The announcement
of his death and the funeral arrangements were printed
in the Newcastle Evening Chronicle on 30th March and his
funeral was held the following day at Usworth. |
