Thomas Richardson was the fifth child of Thomas Powell Richardson & Mary Wilson, born at Warden Law in 1856 & christened March 23rd, 1856 at Houghton-le-Spring.
Thomas was living with his family in 1861 (Warden Law Hill House) & 1871 (Sun Inn, Houghton). In 1871 he was recorded as a grocer.
On December 25th, 1878 Thomas married Margaret Ann Liddell at St Michael & All Angels, Houghton-le-Spring. At the time of the marriage Margaret was 21 & Thomas 22. Margaret was the daughter of George & Isabella Liddell (Liddele in IGI ref), christened August 2nd, 1857 at Houghton-le-Spring.
By 1891 Thomas & Margaret were living at North Terrace, Dawdon, & Thomas was a grocer. They had 4 children by this time – Mary Jane (11), Eleanor (Ellen) (9), Robert (6) & Thomas (3), all born at Seaham Harbour.
Thomas died in Oct-December, 1893, at Houghton aged 37.
The children of Thomas Richardson & Margaret Ann Liddell were:
r.6.5.1 Mary Jane Richardson born April-June 1879 at Seaham Harbour
r.6.5.2 Eleanor Richardson born c1882 at Seaham Harbour
r.6.5.3 Robert Liddell Richardson born April-June 1884 at Seaham Harbour
r.6.5.4 Thomas Richardson born c1888 at Seaham Harbour
Margaret remarried William Farish in Oct-December 1901, the marriage being registered at Houghton. However, at the time of the census in March 1901 Margaret & William were living at Sunderland St, Houghton-le-Spring & recorded as married! With them was Margaret’s daughter Eleanor Richardson (19), & son Robert L Richardson (a masons apprentice) & Norman Farish (4). There were also 2 boarders – Clare M A Harcourt, a school mistress from Somerset & Eliza J Williamson, a dressmaker of Sunderland. Margaret’s daughter Mary J Richardson (21) was visiting her aunt & uncle Ann (Richardson) & Robert Earnshaw at Stockton Terrace, Ryhope at the time of the census. Margaret’s son Thomas at the age of 13 was registered at the Stannington, Northumberland north east reformatory for unknown misdemeanours! His occupation was given as a tailor.