Joseph Richardson was the ninth child of Thomas Richardson & Eleanor Powell, born c1831 at Red House, Bishop Wearmouth, christened December 4th, 1834 at St Marys, Seaham at the same time as his younger brother Robert.
In 1841 Joseph, aged 9, was living at White House Farm, Houghton-le-Spring with his family.
In 1851 Joseph was living at home at Seaton Blue House. He continued to live there after his parents had died and was farm manager in 1861, farming alongside his sister Elizabeth & brother Henry.
On June 2nd, 1861 he married Mary Linsley who was a dressmaker, the daughter of William & Mary Linsley born at Moor Houses, Durham & christened August 29th, 1830 at St Mary-the-Less, Durham.
Their first child, Henry was born August 23rd, 1861. The next year Mary gave birth to twin girls at John Street - Elizabeth & Polly in Oct-December 1862. Sadly Elizabeth died in infancy & Polly died in Jan-March 1865.
By 1871 Joseph & Mary had moved to William St, Dawdon & Joseph was an agricultural labourer. Their son Henry was not with them, but had stayed at Blue House farm with his aunt Elizabeth Richardson. They had 2 sons living with them – William Linsley (6) & Thomas (3).
By 1881 they had returned to Seaton village & were living at Dun Cow & Joseph was still working as an agricultural labourer & Mary was a dressmaker. Son William was a colliery labourer & Thomas was an agricultural labourer. They also had another son John Joseph (9) & a daughter Annie Oliver (6). Son Henry, now a colliery labourer, was still living with his aunt Elizabeth & uncle Robert Richardson who had moved to Seaton village.
Joseph died on December 7th, 1889 at Seaton aged 57, & was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Seaham.
In 1891 widow Mary (60) was living at Seaton with sons Thomas, a colliery cartman, John Joseph, a brick factory labourer & daughter Annie O. Oldest son Henry (25) was a railway plate layer living with his uncle Robert, now a retired butcher in Seaton.
Mary died on April 9th, 1895 at Seaton aged 65, & was buried at St Mary the Virgin, Seaham.
The children of Joseph Richardson & Mary Linsley were:
r.2.2.9.1 Henry Richardson born August 21st, 1861 at Seaton, christened September
22nd, 1861 at St Mary the Virgin, Old Seaham
r.2.2.9.2 William Linsley Richardson born September 15th, 1864 at Seaton; died October 22nd, 1932 at Royal Infirmary, Sunderland
r.2.2.9.3 Thomas Richardson born July-September 1867 at Seaton, died June 14th, 1903 at
Seaham Harbour
r.2.2.9.4 Mary Eleanor Richardson born July-September 1870 at Seaton; died Oct-December 1870 at Seaton
r.2.2.9.5 John Joseph Richardson born Oct-December1871 at Seaham Harbour
r.2.2.9.5 Annie Oliver Richardson born Jan-March, 1875 at Seaham Harbour,
buried April 1st, 1899 at St Mary the Virgin, Seaham