Ralph Richardson was the fourth child of Thomas Richardson & Elizabeth Morton christened October 26th, 1794 at Esh, Co Durham.
There is a marriage for Ralph Richardson to Alice Clasper in 1821 in St Peter’s, Monkwearmouth. Witnesses at the wedding were John Smith & Jon (Jane) Stokoe. Alice was christened June 20th, 1802 at Bishopwearmouth, the daughter of Mary Robson & Robert Clasper.
From the birth records of a number of their children Ralph & Alice lived initially at Fletchers Dubbs, Sunderland. According to the Shields Daily Gazette of October 1871 the phrase ‘Fletchers Dubbs’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon – ‘flet’ meaning a habitation, & ‘cyre, cer or cier’ meaning a turn or bending. This implies the house by the bending or turning of a stream. Dubb implies the wet ground by the stream.
Alice, aged 33, died in 1835 in West Herrington & was buried on October 11th at St Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring.
In 1841 Ralph was living in New Town, Houghton-le-Spring where he was an agricultural labourer. With him was daughter Elizabeth (14) & son John (8).
Son Thomas, a wagonwright, married Elizabeth Fletcher on June 15th 1841 at Monkwearmouth. Sadly Elizabeth died in 1853 & Thomas married for the second time in 1854. His second wife was Thirza Bryant & Thomas became a coal miner in later life.
By 1851 Ralph was living in Murton and noted as single. He continued to work as an agricultural labourer for John Johnson, a farmer & no children were with him. It was noted that he was born in Esh.
Son William married Elizabeth Metcalf on August 2nd, 1858 at Kelloe. By 1881 they were living in Wingate, Co Durham where William was a miner with a son William E (8).
Ralph was boarding at the Railway Tavern, South Hetton, Haswell in 1861 and still working as an agricultural labourer. He was now described as widowed and born at Lanchester. John Cowley & his wife were the victuallers at the tavern.
The children of Ralph Richardson & Alice Clasper were:
2.4.1 Thomas Richardson born October 11th & christened November 25th, 1821 in Sunderland; died January10th 1893 at 3 Quarry Row East, Houghton-le-Spring & buried Houghton Hillside Cemetery, Houghton-le-Spring
2.4.2 Robert Richardson born at Fletcher’s Dubbs, Sunderland & christened July 13th 1823 at St Michael Bishopwearmouth
2.4.3 William Clasper Richardson christened June 26th 1825 at Bishopwearmouth; died 1899 at Wingate & buried October 3rd at Holy Trinity, Wingate
2.4.4 Elizabeth Richardson christened Sept 23rd 1826 at St Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring
2.4.5 Ralph Richardson born September 16th, 1828 at Fletcher’s Dubbs & christened October 12th, 1828 at St Michael & All Angels, Bishopwearmouth; buried June11th 1838 at newbottle?
2.4.6 Alice Richardson born at Tunstall & christened November 14th, 1830 at St Michael & All Angels Bishopwearmouth; died 1837 at Newbottle & buried August 5th at St Michael & All Angels Houghton-le-Spring
2.4.7 John Henry Richardson born at Fletcher’s Dubbs in New Town, Houghton-le-Spring & christened February 23rd, 1833 at St Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring