Thomas Richardson was the third child of Joseph Richardson & Mary Linsley born April-June 1868 at Seaton, Co Durham.
In 1871 Thomas was with his parents & older brother Thomas at William St, Dawdon, where his father was an agricultural labourer.
Thomas was still living at home in 1881, now in Seaton Village. He was with his parents, 2 brothers & 1 sister & Thomas was now an agricultural labourer.
In 1891 Thomas was still living at Seaton with his widowed mother, brother John Joseph & sister Annie. Thomas, was a colliery cartman.
Thomas married Elizabeth Jane Thirloway (Thurloway) in Oct-December 1899, the marriage being registered at Easington. Elizabeth was born February 8th, 1873 at Seaham Colliery, the daughter of Mary Ann & John Thurloway, an engine man. Thomas' brother William Linsley Richardson had married Elizabeth's sister, Mary Ann Thurloway in 1886. Elizabeth had an illegitimate daughter, Edith Amelia Thurloway, born in 1895.
In 1901 Thomas & Elizabeth were living at 21 Frances St, Dawdon, Seaham Harbour, Co Durham & Thomas was a horse driver above ground at the colliery. They had an 11 month old son Thomas. Elizabeth's daughter Edith Amelia was with her grandmother Mary Ann Thurloway in East Murton, Co Durham at the time of the census.
Thomas, a cartman, died, aged 35, on June 14th, 1903 at Seaham Harbour.
In 1911 widowed Elizabeth was living at 18 Ropery Walk, Duck Yard, Seaham Harbour. (Duck Pond was the derisory name for the harbour at Seaham!) In order to look after her family Elizabeth was working as a mat mender at the bottleworks in Seaham. With Elizabeth were 4 children – Edith Amelia Thurloway (16), Thomas Richardson (11), Mary Ann Richardson (9) & Lily Richardson (4). Living with Elizabeth was her 74 year old widowed mother Mary Ann Thurloway. Conditions must have been extremely cramped as there were only 2 rooms.
The 1920 electoral register for 18 Ropery Walk shows Elizabeth Jane Richardson living there.
The 1939 register shows Elizabeth living at 30 Malvern Crescent, Seaham & with her was son Thomas, a miner engine man.
Daughter Mary Ann married James Chesser Copeland, a colliery hewer, in 1930 & in 1939 they were living at 25 Fox St, Seaham with their 2 sons & a daughter.
Elizabeth Jane died aged 71, on July 23rd, 1944 at 30 Malvern Crescent, Seaham. Her son Thomas administered her will.
The children of Thomas Richardson & Elizabeth Jane Thirloway (Thurloway) were:
r.2.2.9.3.1 Thomas Richardson born April 29th, 1900 at Seaham Harbour, Co Durham
r.2.2.9.3.2 Mary Ann Thurloway Richardson born March 31st, 1902 at Seaham Harbour, Co Durham; died August 28th, 1978 at 39 East Lea Rd, Seaham & buried at Princess Rd Cemetery, Seaham
r.2.2.9.3.3 Elizabeth Jane (Lily) Richardson born July-September 1906 at Seaham Harbour, Co Durham