Mary Ellen Earnshaw was the fifth child of Robert Earnshaw and Ann Richardson born April-June 1877 at Seaham, Co. Durham.
Mary was living at home at the time of the 1881 (Seaham Park, Seaham) & 1891 (Grange Terrace, Ryhope) censuses.
Mary married Richard Herbert Clifford on June 29th, 1898 at St Paul’s, Ryhope. Richard was born July 15th, 1875 at Ryhope, the son of Frances M & Richard Clifford, a plate layer. Richard worked in the paper mill as a paper maker. Witnesses at the wedding were John & Ada Earnshaw, Mary’s brother & sister.
In 1901 Mary and Richard were living at Stockton Terrace, Ryhope with Mary’s parents – Robert & Ann Earnshaw. By this time they had a 1 year old son, Charles Clifford. Later that year Mary & Richard moved to Regent Terr, Ryhope.
At the time of the 1911 census Richard & Mary's address was Oughtybridge, Sheffield. There has been a paper mill at Oughtybridge since at least 1871 when it became the first to use wood pulp instead of rags to make paper. The mill closed only recently in 2007! Richard was a paper finisher. They had 5 children – Charles, Ada Earnshaw (9), Frances Ann (7), Dorcas Mary (5) & Elizabeth (1). The last 2 children had been born at Oughtybridge. Interestingly Richard appears not to have been at home at the time of the census although listed there. He also appears on the census of his parents home at 23 Leechmere Rd, Grangetown. Many of his brothers & sisters were also at the parental home – perhaps there was a family occasion.
Mary & Richard had moved to Grimsby, Lincolnshire by 1929 when daughter Dorcas married Charles L Bolton at Grimsby.
Daughter Frances married Reginald Morgan in 1930 at Grimsby, Lincolnshire.
Mary died on December 15th, 1938 at 4 Shaftesbury Avenue, Grimsby. Administration of her will was granted on February 8th, 1939 at Lincoln to widower Richard, a foreman papermaker & her effects amounted to £156.2s.3d. Mary was buried at St Michael’s, Littlecoates, Lincolnshire.
The 1939 register shows widowed Richard living at 35 Old Mill Lane, Barnsley & described as a papermill foreman. Son Charles was living at 4 Clifton Rd, Grimsby in 1939 & working as a maintenance engineer for a newsprint manufacturer. With him was sister Ada doing unpaid domestic duties. It appears that neither Charles nor Ada married & continued to live together in Grimsby.
Daughter Frances & husband Reginald Morgan & family were living at 48 Chelmsford Avenue, Grimsby in 1939 & Reginald was a car salesman & demonstrator & an ARP service driver. Daughter Dorcas & husband Charles were living at 14 Carlton Rd, Grimsby in 1939 & Charles was a hairdresser manager.
Richard, of 14 Carlton Rd, Grimsby died on September 4th, 1956, aged 81, at, 110a Scarthoe Rd, Grimsby, Lincolnshire. Probate was granted to son-in-law Charles Lackenby Bolton, hairdresser. His effects were £622.7s.4d. Richard was buried at St Michael’s, Littlecoates, Lincolnshire alongside his wife Mary Ellen.
The children of Mary Ellen Earnshaw and Richard Herbert Clifford were:
e.1.6.5.1 Charles Clifford born November 25th, 1900 at Ryhope (Grangetown), Co Durham; died March 9th 1956 at 4 Shaftesbury Ave, Grimsby & buried at St Michael’s, Littlecoates, Lincolnshire
e.1.6.5.2 Ada Earnshaw Clifford born July 15th, 1901 at 2 Regent Terr, Ryhope
& christened August 8th, 1901 at St Paul’s, Ryhope; died February 22nd, 1945 at 4 Shaftesbury Avenue, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
e.1.6.5.3 Frances Anne Clifford born October 30th, 1903 at 11 Regent Terr,
Ryhope & christened November 26th, 1903 at St Paul’s, Ryhope; died November 23rd, 1976 at 48 Chelmsford Ave, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
e.1.6.5.4 Dorcas Mary Clifford born March 28th, 1906 at Oughtybridge, Sheffield, Yorks; died October 6th 1994 at The Acorns, 29 Welholme Rd, Grimsby, Lincolnshire
e.1.6.5.5 Elizabeth Clifford christened December 5th, 1909 at Oughtybridge, Sheffield, Yorks