Jane Richardson was the fourth child of Thomas Richardson & Eleanor Powell, born 1821 at West Hendon. She was christened April 8th, 1821 at St Michaels, Bishop Wearmouth.
Jane was living at home at the time of the 1841 census at White House farm, Hougton.
On May 22nd, 1843 Jane married Thomas Place at Houghton-le-Spring. Thomas, a stone mason, was christened October 10th, 1819 at Houghton-le-Spring, the son of Ann & James Place, a weaver. The Places were apparently a Houghton family as another Place marries into the next generation of Richardsons – Mary Richardson [r.2.2.6.4], daughter of Jane’s brother Thomas Powell Richardson, marries Robert Place of Houghton.
Their first daughter, Eleanor was born in July 1843 at Houghton. She was christened on October 22nd 1843 at St Michaels, Houghton, the curate being A. Duncombe Shafto. Their next daughter, Mary Ann was born in July 1845 & christened at Houghton on the 25th of that month. The curate was then Robert Shepherd.
In 1851 Jane & Thomas, a stone mason, were living at the Market Place, Houghton-le-Spring with their 2 daughters, Eleanor & Mary Ann.
Thomas was buried on October 26th, 1854 at Houghton-le-Spring.
The children of Jane Richardson & Thomas Place were:
r.2.2.4.1 Eleanor Place born July 26th, 1843 at Houghton-le-Spring & christened October 22nd at St Michaels,
Houghton-le-Spring; died at Tunstall & buried September 14th, 1871 at St Paul’s, Ryhope, Co Durham
r.2.2.4.2 Mary Ann Place born July 11th, 1845 at White House, Houghton-le-Spring & christened July 25th, 1845 at St Michaels, Houghton-le-Spring; died May 28th, 1914 at 45 Mainsforth Terr, Sunderland
r.2.2.4.3 William Place christened January 15th, 1856 at Houghton-le-spring; died February 8th, 1883 at 33 Cousin St, & buried Feb11th 1883 at Bishopwearmouth
In 1856 Jane gave birth to a son, William Place, who was christened January 15th, 1856 at Houghton-le-Spring. The father was not given.
Jane married Ralph Balmer, a mason, on November 2nd, 1857 at St Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring. Jane was noted, as widowed as was Ralph. Ralph was christened June 21st, 1818 at Houghton-le-Spring the son of Sarah Harland & Ralph Balmer. Ralph was previously married to Mary Carter? & in 1851 they were living in the Market Place, Houghton-le-Spring with their sons Joseph & Ralph. There is a death for Mary Balmer, wife of Ralph, on January 24th, 1856 in Houghton-le-Spring.
In 1861 Jane & Ralph were living in 11 Wood Row, Ryhope & Ralph was a mason. With them was Jane’s daughter Eleanor & Ralph’s children – Joseph (16) & Ralph (11). Jane’s 5 year old son William was living with them & listed as William Balmer. Lodging with them were Mary Jane & Lumley Stephenson, also a mason.
Daughter Mary Ann went to live with her aunt Elizabeth Richardson at Blue House farm at Seaton, where she was recorded in 1861. Mary Ann married John Isherwood, a stone mason, in 1866 in Sunderland.
It is believed that daughter Eleanor married John Curry Dobinson in 1862 in Sunderland. The records state that Eleanor was named as Eleanor Dixon Place. (The Dixon may have derived from her mother’s aunt Mary Dixon, nee Powell, who was buried in the family plot in Seaham.) Eleanor & John came to live in Ryhope, Co Durham & had a daughter Catherine Jane in 1863. Eleanor had 3 more daughters, Mary Dixon in 1863, Eleanor in 1865 & Mary Isabella in 1870, all of whom died in infancy. Sadly Eleanor died in 1871.
By 1871 Jane & Ralph were living at 46 Tweed St in Sunderland & Ralph continued to be a mason. With them was Jane's son William and a daughter, Sarah J (8). Also with them was 7 year old granddaughter Catherine Jane Dobinson. Jane & Ralph had had another daughter, Elizabeth Jane, in 1858 who sadly died in infancy.
By 1881 widowed Jane was living at 9 Moor St, Sunderland & working as a provision dealer. With her was son William, now called William Place, a brass moulder, & daughter Sarah J, a domestic servant. However, Ralph had not died & was living at 12 Woodbine St, Sunderland with his son Joseph Balmer (36), both working as masons.
Jane was still living at Moor St in 1891, now number 11, with no occupation given. Daughter Sarah J was still living with her & her husband Henry Hunter Morris, a 28 year old blacksmith. Also with them were ‘niece’ Jane Morris (2) & a ‘nephew’ Henry Morris (1 month) – these were in fact Sarah Jane’s children.
Ralph died in 1890 & was buried on November 23rd at Sunderland.
Jane, aged 77, died at 11 Moor St, Sunderland on October 20th, 1898 in Sunderland.
The children of Jane Richardson/Place & Ralph Balmer were:
r.2.2.4.4 Elizabeth Jane Balmer christened September 24th, 1858 at Houghton-le-Spring; buried July 24th, 1859 at St Paul, Ryhope
r.2.2.4.5 Sarah Jane Balmer born November 22nd, 1862 at Ryhope; died April-June 1940 at 18 Wayland Square, Sunderland
Daughter Sarah Jane & her family continued to live at 11 Moor St, Sunderland & by 1911 Sarah had had 10 children, only 6 of whom were still alive. Henry Morris was a general labourer at the shipyard by this time. Henry (1862-1943) & Sarah were still living in Sunderland by 1939.