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Hi everyone,

I have an interesting puzzle with Clarice Richardson.
Clarice was born Q Jun 1881 to Robert (b . 1850) and Abigail (b. 1849) Richardson, in Chorlton Lancs district.

Clarice had a daughter called Mildred Hill in Q Jun 1903, Prestwich district.
However, Clarice's surname was always Richardson, and I can't find a marriage record for her. She was school teacher.

I'm intrigued as to where the surname 'Hill' came from, and whether Mr. Hill was involved in his daughter's upbringing.
Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

Many thanks
Liz

Do you have the birth cert?

If so is there a father's name given.

Christine

Hi Christine,

Unfortunately not yet. Maybe I'm being a bit premature with my request, as it would be a good idea to get that first.

Many thanks,

Liz

HOUSEHOLD RICHARDSON CLARICE F 1881 30 Chorlton Lancashire

Have you checked to see who is with clarice in 1911?

I thought you must have the cert when you knew her mother's name.

I did a quick search on 1911 census and these appear to be the other Richardsons in the same household as Mildred Hill.

HOUSEHOLD RICHARDSON CLARICE F 1881 30 Chorlton Lancashire
HOUSEHOLD RICHARDSON ELIZA F 1852 59 Chorlton Lancashire
HOUSEHOLD RICHARDSON ELIZABETH F 1840 71 Chorlton Lancashire
HOUSEHOLD RICHARDSON JANET F 1837 74 Chorlton Lancashire

You would need to view the transcript to see the relationships.

Christine

They appear to be in the same household as there is a clarice and mildred in the same house.

HOUSEHOLD HILL MILDRED F 1904 7 Chorlton Lancashire

Maybe she just took her on as her own?
But of course her birth cert would answer a lot of questions.

There also seems some confusion as to Clarice's parents as the 1891 has her as the daughter of Eliza Richardson, unmarried.

1891 England Census
about Clarice Richardson
Name: Clarice Richardson
Age: 10
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1881
Relation: Grandchild
Mother's Name: Eliza
Gender: Female
Where born: Withington, Lancashire, England

Civil parish: Withington
Ecclesiastical parish: St Paul
Town: Withington
County/Island: Lancashire
Country: England


Registration district: Chorlton
Sub-registration district: Didsbury
ED, institution, or vessel: 9
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
John Richardson 79
Elizabeth Richardson 45
Eliza Richardson 32
Clarice Richardson 10
Emma J Tomkinson 2

Christine

Christine, Vivienne and Jonesey,

Thanks for this helpful information. Jonesey, I didn't know the fact about the father's name appearing on the birth cert - that's so helpful, not only for this but future research.

Christine and Vivienne, thank you for the names on 1911 census - this makes me wonder whether the Robert and Abigail I have are the correct names for Clarice's parents.

My next step definitely needs to be to get Mildred's birth cert.

Thank you everyone, for your help and interest.

Liz

Hi Liz,

I think you must be correct that Clarice is the daughter of Robert and Abigail as she is with them in 1881, 1 month old.

Abigail is a widow in 1891.

Christine

Hi on the 1911 census relationship is as follows:

Janet Head
Elizabeth Sister
Eliza Sister
Clarice Niece
Emma Tomkinson Niece
Mildred Hill Niece

all the ladies are single.

Marriages Mar 1872 (>99%)
CHORLTON Abigail Manchester 8d 498
RICHARDSON Robert Manchester 8d 498

on the 1891 census Emma Tomkinson is described as a Nurse
Child, so maybe Mildred was taken in and 'fostered'.

School teachers were not encouraged to get married and indeed my husband had an Aunty who was a teacher and she was married and kept it a secret.

ValT

Hi Christine and Val,

Thank you so much for your additional help and messages. I was wondering whether Abigail was widowed shortly after the birth of Clarice, as I found a possible death record for Robert, aged 33, in 1883. So thank you for confirming that.

Val - wow! thanks for the 1911 census info, I didn't imagine anyone would be so kind as to use their credits to look up the details.

I'm trying to get my head around this ... Janet, Eliza and Elizabeth must have been Robert's sisters, so Clarice was their niece ... and Mildred must have been their great niece, even though she is described as 'niece'.

I am beginning to wonder whether Mildred grew up believing that Clarice was her elder sister, as that is what some younger generations of the family were told.

The tip about teachers not marrying is very valuable. I hadn't thought of that. Although being a spinster and having a child must have been even more unacceptable, so it would be a good reason for Mildred to be fostered.

Maybe Clarice was really married to Mr. Hill and kept it quiet ... altho' I haven't found a record for their marriage yet.

There's a lot to think about!

Thank you,
Liz