Mary Elizabeth Richardson

[craft1948]

I'm trying to trace the ancestors of Mary Elizabeth Richardson born circa 1872. I have her marriage certificate in 1895 when she married Joseph Richard Cockhill, which gives her age as 23 so assume she was born in 1871 or 1872, but I have no idea where and it is not an uncommon name.
Her father is shown as George Richardson (deceased) and a Farmer so although she lived in York when she married.....her occupation is given as General Servant......if her family are farmers she won't have been born in York itself.
She never appeared on a census with Joseph after the marriage.....she had 2 children Florence in 1895 and Ada in 1896 but they have shown in the censuses as being with the Cockhills....no sign of Mary........however I cannot find a death record either so can only imagine she tootled off, as Joseph is still shown as married on the censuses even though she wasn't there.

[dothawkes31]

Blimey, that's a tough one craft! I guess you've checked the 1881? Joseph was from Middlesborough was he? There is a Mary Elizabeth Richardson born in Middlesborough and just a few streets from Joseph, but her father isn't George.
On the marriage certificate who are the witnesses? Are any of them Richardson?

[craft1948]

Hi dot....no Joseph was born in York in 1870.....it's his grandad Joseph who was born in Middlesborough.
The witnesses to the marriage are a JW Deighton and Joseph's mother Jane Ann Cockhill.

[craft1948]

dot she is shown as living in Prospect Gardens, York when she got married......is there any way of finding out who was living there in 1895?

[dothawkes31]

Oh right yes, he;s living in Middlesborough with his father Charles and mother Jane in 1881, but they were born York, his younger siblings were all born in Middlkesborough tho, they must have moved there when Joseph was about 2. is his Mother's maiden name French BTW???
He also had a Sister Jane A, too , 6 years younger than him, maybe she was the witness.
I can't find a close match to the details you have for a Mary Elizabeth Richardson born 1872 with a father George other than a Mary Eliza with father George born Liverpool.

[dothawkes31]

well you can search an address on ancestry for any census, try 1891 and 1901, see what you get.

[dothawkes31]

there are 2 Mary Elizabeth Richardson living in Micklegate York in 1891one born 1871 and one 1870.but onme os born Kirkby Stephen m the other one born York, have you looked at them?

[craft1948]

hi dot.....yes unfortunately neither of their fathers are called George.
No his mother's name was Jane Ann Wright.....you must have noticed the Aner on the census......

[dothawkes31]

can you ffind a George richardson who may have had a daughter that gave birth to mary Elizabeth illegitinately? Making him her grandfather? It might take a while to check though