Readers Comments and Queries


I hope you have found this ramble through Richardson history informative and interesting and would invite any comments or queries you may have.

Please email me if you have your own Richardson family history to relate, if you have genealogical inquiries that can be pursued here, or if there are any particular Richardson stories that you would like to pass on. We will post them all here.

Colin Shelley

nottshell@btinternet.com


Comments and Queries


2 January, 2012.  William Haig Richardson and Fanny Nixon 

My father William Haig Richardson was born in 1918, I am told, and raised in Newcastle.  He and every male member of his family worked in the coal mines and it seems most expired of black lung along the way.  He was one of perhaps five offspring.  When old enough for service he became a member of the Coldstream Guards, was stationed briefly as a palace guard, and then went to North Africa during World War Two.  His legs were blown off at Tobruk and he spent the remainder of the war in an Italian / German prison camp during which time his family had been notified of his official demise. 

My mother Fanny Nixon was born in 1913 and raised in Harrow, London.  I was told that her father George Nixon had a family of 5-6 and he drove a horse drawn wagon delivering Guinness to taverns in the area on a daily route.  My mom Fanny (later Fay) was the youngest surviving child and her mother died in childbirth a couple of years after my mom was born.  During WW2 Fanny worked in a factory making the helium filled ground blocking balloons to discourage the V2 rockets. 

Upon my father’s return from Italy he also worked at the same facility in London where he met my mother and they married, I believe, in 1944-45.    My sister Gloria Richardson was born in 1945 and I William Haig Richardson Jr. in 1950.  We left England for the US in 1952 and I had my 2nd birthday on the Mauritania mid ocean. 

I have never known another family member, never seen a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. and now in failing health myself, I have set upon a "bucket list" of sorts to locate another who may remember my family.  With luck I hope to return home for a visit that is now well overdue. 

With great thanks, 
William (Bill) Richardson (VStrom1000@live.com)
South Carolina, USA


10 November, 2011.  Ellen Richardson from Ireland to America 

I am looking for any information about my great grandmother, Ellen Richardson.   She was supposedly born in Ireland around 1850.  Her parents were George and Ellen.   In 1871 she married Timothy Callahan in Boston, Massachusetts.  If anyone knows anything about this Richardson family I would appreciate hearing about it. 

Thanks, 
Cathy Abraham (cath_abraham@verizon.net)


6 October 2011.  Richardsons from Tipperary in Ireland 

I’m Tom Richardson from Tipperary in Ireland.  I have details via Catholic church records of my great great grandfather’s marriage in 1850, just after the famine in Ireland, and the baptism of my great grandfather in 1851.  In the 1901 and 1911 Irish censuses I can find my great grandfather’s household, even though between those two years many of my grandfather’s siblings left for America. 

There's a saying in southern Ireland that such and such 'took the soup,' meaning that some starving Catholics during the famine of the 1840's took food offered on condition that they converted to Protestantism.  To me it’s a no brainer, take the food, but neighbors boycotted those who 'took the soup' etc  

I could understand if my forebears converted in the other direction.  But I have no idea how my branch – whom I’m assuming were Protestant somewhere back - became Catholic.  If any of your visitors have any clue I'd be obliged.  

Tom Richardson (moceelicat@hotmail)

 

12 September, 2011.  Isaac Richardson of Croxton in Staffordshire

Isaac Richardson was born in Croxton in 1842 in a small thatched cottage, the son of a farm laborer.   In his later years he wrote a number of experiences of what life was like in the 1880's, a time of change in the local area.  He gave from his experiences accounts of the people, customs and places in the area of Croxton, Wetwood, and Eccleshall and many other places.  His experiences provided a unique insight into the building of Croxton church, schooling and his first "situations" working from the age of thirteen as a local laborer.  Isaac described the Croxton Wakes, Charnes Races, Barring Day, and many other customs that have been lost in time.

A book on Isaac Richardson has been published by Ian Symington for the Broughton and Croxton Local History Group and is available for purchase.

Ian Symington (ian.c.symington:@bt.com)


25 August, 2011.  Richardsons in Belize 

I am enquiring if there were any Richardsons who left England and arrived in Belize in Central America. 
Catherine L. Samuels (catherinev@rogers.com)


20 July, 2011.  Jonathan Richardson from Yorkshire to Delaware and Ohio 

My maiden name is Richardson and I have a clear record of my great great great grandfather Jonathan Richardson, including his christening record in the Rudston parish records in the East Riding of Yorkshire.  He was the son of Jonathan and Sarah Richardson, Jonathan being a weaver.  I have his naturalization papers from New Castle Co., Delaware that states he came into the USA in 1819, age 37, from Rudston in England.  He had been christened there in 1789. 

It appears that he was married when he came to America.  He had a dairy business in Brandywine, Delaware.  His children were born there.  In 1830 they moved to Ohio where his wife Margaret is buried.  Ohio records indicate she was also born in England in 1787.  

Rosie Ellen Jenkins (jenkins5@gmail.com)


23 May, 2011.   Richardson in County Meath 

I am looking for any connection with my family name.   My Dad was Arthur Richardson who was born in 1908 on the Bomford estate in Trim, county Meath.  My grandfather was a coachman for the Bomford family and lived in one of the cottages on the Bomford land.   I believe that part of my family came from the north of Ireland and before that from Scotland. 

Regards
Caroline Richardson (carorich09@gmail.com)


11 April, 2011.  Richardsons from Ripon to Canada 

I am looking for information on a John and Ellen Richardson in the Ripon area.  My second great grandfather was a son of theirs, Michael Newsam Richardson.  He came to Canada by way of the USA around 1850 maybe (we are not sure).  All I know is that he was from the Ripon area and his parents were John and Ellen.  I cannot find any reference to a birth or anything. 

Does your history of the Richardson apply to all with the Richardson name?   I have noticed a coat of arms on the internet as well.  Does that apply to all Richardsons?

Thanks 
Faye Patmore (fpatmore@incentre)


30 December, 2010.  Postilion Joe Richardson 

Postilion Joe Richardson, who was a footman for George Washington, was a dower slave and, therefore, not freeable upon the first U. S. president's death.  Martha's inherited slaves, of whom Joe was one, via her first marriage to Daniel Parke Custis, were divided between her heirs at the time of her death in 1802. 

Joe's wife, "Sall," was not a dower slave and was freed upon the death of George Washington.  Her children were also free blacks via Washington's will.  Some historians assume that Joe continued to live at Mount Vernon after Washington's death as two of his sons were known to have worked there during the early 19th century. 

The Philadelphia historian, Edward Lawler, Jr., has online information posted on the "Philadelphia Presidents' House" site that details what is known about the slaves who lived in Philadelphia when it was the nation's capitol. 

I am a Richardson via my Virginia great-grandmother.  Thank you for your very informative and interesting site. 

Sincerely, 
C. McNamara (dalcaslass@aol.com)


21 December, 2010.   Thomas Richardson, Hartlepool Shipbuilder 

Please find below an article that I wrote about Thomas Richardson.   Can you tell me if he was related to the Wigham Richardson who built ships at Newcastle in the late 1800’s. 

Thomas Richardson 

In St James’s Church yard in Castle Eden about ten yards from the south west corner of the church, lies the grave of Thomas Richardson.  The inscription tells us that he died on the 18th of October 1850 at the age of 56.  It is a flat ‘box tomb’ type grave and it is shared with his wife and other family members.

Richardson’s obituary appeared in The Illustrated London News in November 1850.  In it he is referred to as an ‘exemplary and excellent individual’ and it briefly outlines his qualities and achievements.  The article is a fitting tribute to a talented man. 

Thomas Richardson led a full and varied life; he was a self made and particularly astute, business man.  He started his career as a timber contractor for the Earl of Durham.  He was involved in the opening up of the collieries at Wingate and Castle Eden.  In 1836 He went into business with Joseph Parkin.  They formed the Richardson and Parkin yard and were the first modern shipbuilders in Hartlepool.  In 1837 the Richardson & Parkin yard produced the ‘Castle Eden,’ the first modern ship to be built in Hartlepool.  In 1838 the yard was moved to Middleton.  In 1839 the yard was sold to John Denton.  For the next few years, Richardson concentrated on the family business at Castle Eden.  He returned to shipbuilding in 1844, but this was no longer his main interest.  In 1847 Thomas acquired the Hartlepool Iron Works. 

After his death his sons - Thomas and John - took over the business and concentrated on building marine and mining engines.  In 1868 Thomas junior also ran for parliament but was unsuccessful, losing to Ralf Ward Jackson.  However, on a second attempt in 1874 he won the seat and became MP for Hartlepool. 

The grandson, another Thomas Richardson, took over as chairman of the company in 1890 and later on, through partnership, formed Richardson Wesgarth and Company.  This was to become one of Hartlepool’s largest employers till its closure in the 1980’s. 

Glen Fallow (info@a19poolsandspas.co.uk)


26 September, 2010.  James Richardson and the Submarine Snorkel 

Check on the submarine snorkel designed by James Richardson.  Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Greenock, Scotland, and Richardson were granted British Patent No 106330 on 21 May 1917 - long before the usually recognized Dutch and German claimants' efforts. 

Best,
Charles Dawson (charles.dawson@mailbox.lsw.se)


3 July, 2009.  Richardsons from Cheshire  

My mother's maiden name was Richardson and we have managed to trace her father Leslie Richardson born 1899, grandfather William 1861 and great grandfather Samuel 1833, all born in Aston Birmingham.  We then go back to the Cheshire connection where we find Richard Richardson, born in 1810 in Aston by Budworth, his father John, born in 1770 in Cheshire, and his father was William Richardson - but I cannot find anything on him.  

Looking at the Northwich site, we know that Richard's wife Ann was a grocer in Witton Street and that between 1839 and 1841 Richard was licensee of the Britannia pub.  He died in Birmingham in 1850 at the age of 40.  From what we can see, most of the Richardsons lived in Mill Lane or Witton Street and we know that John's brother William left a substantial will when he died in 1848.  We would love to find out more about the Richardsons at that time and also to establish where John's father William was born and what he did. 

I have seen a lot on the site about the Richardsons in other parts of the country, but wondered where I might find more information about the Cheshire connection. 

Don't know if you have any suggestions. 
Regards 
Gill Thomas (


28 June, 2009.  Richardson DNA  

I was researching online and found the Richardson name website.  I have enjoyed learning more about Richardsons in the U.K., U.S. and elsewhere. 

I recently participated in the Richardson Y-DNA Project. The project’s participants have diverse genetic origins.  For example, many Richardsons are of ancient Briton or Celtic (Irish, Scottish, Welsh) origin. Other Richardsons are of North Germanic (Angle/Anglian, Frisian, Jute and Saxon) origin.  Then there are Richardsons like myself of Scandinavian origin. Those Richardson’s of Scandinavian origin are descended from Danish and Norwegian Vikings that settled in Britain, Ireland and Normandy during the Viking Age.  

H. David Richardson (hdrichardson@earthlink.net) 


19 April, 2009.  John Richardson in Swansea 

Have you come across the family of John Richardson who came from the South Shields area but moved to Swansea and made a fortune in the copper ore importation business?  He had several children, including John Crow Richardson. 

John Richardson (1790-1858) m. Elizabeth Clarke (1791-1864)
- John Crow Richardson (1810-1884) m. Elizabeth Walters in 1837 and Eliza Ross in 1848
   - John Crow Richardson (1842-1903) m. Theresa Eden P-Serecold (1847-1918)
- Joseph Richardson (1811-1854)
- Sarah Richardson (b. 1813)
- James Coxon Richardson (1817-1874) m. Elizabeth Nichol in 1847 and Georgina Nelson in 1854
- Elizabeth Clarke Richardson (b. 1819)
- Jeremiah Clarke Richardson (1822-1906) m. Margaret Walters in 1848 and Sophia Popkin in 1860
- Henry Francis Richardson (b. 1825)
- Mary Isabel Richardson (b. 1829)

John was a major shipowner and I wondered if there might be some connection with John Wigham Richardson. 

Regards,
John W. Hawkins (johnwh@rakshasa.demon.co.uk)


17 February, 2009.  Richardsons in Lancashire (Tockholes) 

The Richardson Family were notable in Tockholes from the mid 17th century.  Lower Hill is the original Old Hall where the Richardsons lived although there are several others including Crowtrees.  The Silk Hall was built by Ralph, second son of Adam Richardson, in 1764.  The family was involved in the Nonconformist movement and is thought to have originated from Cheshire according to “Two Centuries and a Half of Nonconformity in Tockholes” by Rev. B. Nightingale. 

They married into the Walmsley family (first mentioned in Tockholes in 1335) when the Walmsley line died out with two heiresses.  This was when Walmsley Richardson married Lydia Walmsley in 1752.  Walmsley Richardson and his father, Adam, sold Lower Hill House and lands by Auction in 1770 because of Walmsley's debts (The Manchester Mercury, July 24th 1770).  

The grandson of Walmsley Richardson, also called Walmsley, sold Higher Hill to Thomas Sefton around 1830 and moved to 75 Park Road, Preston where he became a shopkeeper.  Thomas Sefton is shown living at Higher Hill in the censuses of 1841 and 1851. 


24 November, 2008.  Richardsons in Sunderland 

I stumbled across your website by accident as I was looking for Nicholsons and a Richardson married one.  My wife is the granddaughter of William Richardson of Sunderland.  He left school at 14 and worked as anoffice boy in James Laing's shipyard.  He spent the rest of his workinglife there and became company secretary.  He was churchwarden at St Gabriel's church.  He and his wife had three sons, Hugh (later a Church of England canon); Harold who was killed in France while serving with the 2nd D.L.I.; Philip who served in the Royal Air Force; Ethel, my wife's mother and Julia. Julia never married but looked after almshouses in Sunderland. She received Maundy money from the hand of the Queen.   

Canon Peter C Nicholson O.B.E. (

1 July 2008.  Richardsons From Bermuda   

My grandfather's name was Hilton C. Richardson, his father's name was Daniel B. Richardson and his brother's name was Austin Richardson.   It has been said that the Richardson's originated from St. Vincent, West Indies. 

Austin Richardson was a minister here in Bermuda in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the 1800's (1887?) and Daniel Richardson was an assistant Pastor of the AME Church here as well.  My grandfather was a farmer, school teacher and principal at St. David's Elementary School, Bermuda, the assistant Pastor and he also designed the St. Luke A.M.E. Church, St. David's Bermuda after a cathedral in Paris out of matchsticks. 

Hilton (Hillie) married Inez Minors when she was 16 years of age.  Inez was a direct descendant of Jacob Minors - the first Indian slave to Bermuda.  This couple had seven children.  Only two are alive today, Helene and Bernice. 

On 20th July, 2008, we will be having a family celebration at St. Luke A.M.E. Church and would appreciate any information you may have on the West Indian side of the family. 

Blessings.
Cindy O'Brien (nee Paynter)  (Lucinda.O'Brien@conyersdillandpearman.com) 


12 May, 2008.  Richardsons and O’Neals in Cass County, Texas 


I was just reading the website on the Richardsons.  My grandmother was Mary Richardson, born 4-23-1900 in Atlanta, Texas in Cass county to John Richardson and Everline Oliver.  John Richardson was the son of Miles Richardson and Fanny Carey.on the 1867 voter registration of Davis [Cass] county, Texas.  Miles said he came to Texas from Georgia in 1856.on the 1870 census of Davis county.  On page 64 is Miles and his family and next door to him are his parents Charles and Sookie Richardson and next door is their other son Julius and his family. 

I am trying to find out where they all came from before coming to Cass county, Texas?  John Richardson was a sharecropper for Hardy O'Neal.  Hardy O’Neal was the son of Henry F. O’Neal who was the son of Francis O’Neal.  Francis O’Neal married Ketturah Richardson 12-28-1826 in Wilkinson county, Mississippi. 

What relationship if any did Ketturah Richardson have to do with my family of Richardsons? 

Muhammad Abdullah (dawah_ma_90221@yahoo.com)


11 November, 2007.  Samuel Richardson the Quaker

I have reviewed your Richardson Name Website with great interest and thank you for making this information availabe.

I was born a Richardson of a line from Samuel Richardson, a Quaker who came to the colonies via Jamaica and probably came around 1687.   I am wondering if this would be the Samuel you mention in your website.  One of my relatives has done a wonderful job of researching the Richardson line back to this Samuel but we have not been able to find much out about Samuel and his family (meaning his parents) in England.  We know he was born in England, became a Quaker, and probably moved from England due to the persecution of Quakers.  He left in 1675-1676 to go to Jamaica first.  We know he died on 10 July 1719 and his wife’s name was Elinor (variously spelled as Ellinor also) but no last name.

If anyone knows more information about this particular Richardson, I would be most appreciative of the information. Thanks very much.

Lorinda Richardson Glovier, aka Lori (loririchardson1@earthlink.net)



25 September, 2007.  Newcastle Quaker Richardsons

Thought I'd drop you a line to say I'd enjoyed looking at your Richardson website.  I'm a descendant of the Newcastle Quaker Richardsons.  My great grandmother was the Elizabeth (Richardson) Spence included in your miscellany.

I presume you know of the close family relationships between the Quaker Richardsons. My great grandmother, for example, was sister to John Wigham Richardson.  Lewis Fry and Sir Ralph Richardson were their first cousins (once removed respectively).

Are you yourself related to the Quaker Richardsons in any way?

Best wishes
Ben Beck (benjaminbeck@ukonline.co.uk)