(c.1836  -  15th May 1919)
 


 

 

 

 


Great Grandfather  of W.P. 'Bill' Richardson
 
From information on English census returns, I believe David was born in Co. Down in Ireland about 1836. His parents were James Gilliland and his wife Elizabeth.

The 1851 census recorded David in West Rainton, Co. Durham. Aged 14 he was listed as a coal miner and lived with his widowed mother and three brothers (James 21, John 12 and Hugh 10) who were also coal miners. There was another miner in the house, a 21 year old lodger called James Thompson.

At some time between 1851 and 1861, David must have returned to Ireland. On the 22nd June 1861 he married Eliza McCollough at the parish church in Comber, Co. Down, according to the rites and ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland.  David could not write his name but made his mark in the register and Eliza signed her name. The marriage certificate says they were both 'of full age' and that David's occupation was miner. Eliza's occupation was given as 'sewer'. Their witnesses were David Thompson and Sarah McCollough.

After David married, the decision must have been taken to go to England again. The 1871 census recorded him in Whitelee, Crook and Billy Row, Co Durham. His age was given as 35 and he was a miner. His wife, Elizabeth, was also listed as being born in Ireland and they had four children, Jane aged 7, James aged 4, Elizabeth aged 2 and the baby was William aged 5 months. They also had a previous child, James, who was born in 1862 and sadly died in 1864. The James aged 4 on the 1871 census was named for his brother who had died.

By the time of the 1881 census, David was 43, still working as a coal miner and was living with his family at Grahamsley, Crook and Billy Row. He and Elizabeth had eight children, it must have been quite a squeeze in a miner's house.

When the 1891 census was taken David and his family were living in Gladstone Terrace, Sunniside, Crook and Billy Row. David was 54 and listed as a 'Retired Coal Miner', from information found on his death certificate in 1919, it seems he had an injury to his back and chest in about 1884 which prevented him from working. The house in Gladstone Terrace was shown as having 4 rooms occupied, I should think they were well occupied ! In addition to David and Elizabeth there were still seven of their children at home, the oldest being 24 and the youngest 11. There was also a visitor in the house, William Robinson a 26 year old coal miner, William must have come courting as he later married David's daughter Elizabeth .

David's youngest son Hugh died in 1893, aged 13.

In the 1901 census, David and Elizabeth were still living in Gladstone Terrace, all the children had left home, though John Edward was next door with his wife Ada. David was 64 in 1901 and still listed as a retired coal miner.

The 1911 census recorded David and his wife living at 14 Charlton St., Wallace Village, Springwell, Gateshead. David was 74 and he entered his occupation as retired miner. He stated that he and Elizabeth had been married for 50 years and they'd had nine children, 7 of whom were still living. His wife, Elizabeth, was 71. Both of their birthplaces were recorded as 'Cumber' Co. Down, Ireland. Although he was unable to write at the time of his marriage, he learned in the intervening years as the form was signed as being completed by David Gilliland.

David Gilliland died on the 15th May 1919, at Richardson's Row in Sunniside, Crook and his death was registered by his son in law John Cape.
His burial was at St Thomas, Stanley on the 18th May 1919, as recorded in the parish register.