| Title | William & Maria Richardson & Family |
| Date | c1910 |
| Location | Rawdon/Yeadon |
| Photo ID | V510 |
| Comment | Read on …. |
I’d like to introduce you to my family! Maria Bateman was my great, great, grandma, she was born in 1830 and died in 1933, due to a fall at home. What a great lady she seems to have been! As you can see she was interviewed a couple of times for the Wharfedale.
She married William Richardson and went on to have 10 children. Eleanor died in infancy and Ernest went to Australia where he died at the age of 24.
Some reports say she was descended from the Yorkshire Witch – Mary Bateman (nee Harker) and indeed a look at a census shows her sisters staying with some Harker relatives in the area where Mary Bateman came from.
She lived in both Yeadon and Rawdon. I believe the photo was taken about 1910, but I cannot be sure. My grandma Eva Sutcliffe looks to be a teenager and she was born in 1897.
My Great Grandma Sarah Elizabeth married 3 times – first to Sam Smith in 1880 with whom she had 3 children – Agnes, Jane and Sam. Her husband died young and she later remarried to James Sutcliffe and had Annie in 1895 and my grandma Eva in 1897.
When he died she married John Lee.
Donated by Maureen Naylor.
William & Maria Richardson & Family – c1910
Extract from Wharfedale 1925 – Maria Richardson –
YEADON AND HORSFORTH NONEGENARIANS
By a coincidence the eldest residents of Yeadon and Horsforth respectively celebrate their birthdays on the same day -next Monday. They are Mrs. William Richardson, 5 Grange Terrace, Yeadon, who will attain her 94th year; and Mr. Seth Whitham, The Poplars, Bachelor Lane, Horsforth, who will enter on his 93rd year.
Mrs. Richardson is a remarkable old lady. She is happy and vivacious, and can read and write without spectacles and nimbly follows her household duties. She has no cast iron rule for conduct to ensure longevity.
“If there is a secret about how to live a long life, “she said on one occasion, “I do not know it. Work does not kill people. If it did, I should have been dead and buried many long years ago. I’ll give you that tip – I’m a worker and am still working! I don’t grumble – unless there’s something to grumble out, I’ve no fads. I’m plain and like plain things. I’ve always had a good appetite and my digestion is good. I live plain. When I was young there were no “fine” cakes on the table except at Christmas time – and then it was made out of yeast dough.
In my younger days I was taught to believe in the motto, “Early to bed” There was cinema to keep me out of bed. I’ve taken my meals punctually and I’ve had no lack of fresh air. As I’ve got older people have told me to have a glass of beer to help me sleep. I can sleep well enough as it is! I’m not teetotal.
Mrs. Richardson was born at Seacroft, Leeds, and was one of 10 children. Her father was Postmaster at Seacroft for many years. At the age of 18 she was apprenticed to bonnet-making, and later went into service at Rawdon Vicarage. It was here where she became acquainted with Mr. William Richardson, whom she married when 23 years of age. The Richardson family were well-known in Rawdon and were the mainstay of the choir at the Parish church. Five brothers – Willian, George, James, David and Arthur – were for a long time regularly in attendance. William was the eldest and was a chorister for 32 years. He also acted as choirmaster and was clerk under the old two-decker pulpit before the church was extended.
Mrs. Richardson reared a family of 10 children and for many years lived in North Street and later at Littlemoor, Rawdon. She is still able to recall the Crimean War and the peace rejoicings that followed. She has 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Donated by Maureen Naylor.
V511 – Maria Richardson, 1926.
Extract from the Wharfedale 1926 – Maria Richardson
A Treasured Donation
One of the most treasured contributions to the new vicarage fund, at St. Andrew’s, Yeadon, received during the course of the “Spring Fair”, was a guinea from Mrs. William Richardson, the oldest parishioner, who on Tuesday next will be will be celebrating her 95th birthday.
In spite of her age Mrs. Richardson enjoys excellent health and takes a keen interest in the work of the Church. She earmarked her donation for inclusion in the receipts on the Children’s Day.
Mrs. Richardson still follows her household duties. Asked for her recipe for long life, on one occasion, she remarked: “If there is a secret about long life, I do not know it. Work does not kill people. If it did, I should have been dead and buried long ago. I’m a worker and am still working. I don’t grumble – unless there’s something to grumble out! I’ve no fads. I’m plain and like plain things. I’ve always had a good appetite and my digestion is good. I live plain, and like plain bread and milk. I was taught to believe in the motto, “Early to bed” and I have practiced it. I’m not teetotal – but nearly”
Mrs. Richardson was born in Seacroft, Near Leeds, and was one of ten children. In early life she was in service at Rawdon vicarage, at the time when the late Mr. Ibbotson was vicar. It was here that she met the late Mr. William Richardson, whom she married at 23 years of age. Mr. Richardson was in the choir and was a member of a well-known local family church-goers. Indeed, there were five brothers who were the mainstay of the choir. William was the eldest and was chorister for 32 years. He also acted as choirmaster and clerk. Mrs. Richardson has reared a family of 10 children. She has 18 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
Donated by Maureen Naylor.
V513 – Maria Richardson, Undated.
Maria Richardson – Undated
Newspaper article as stated.
See also Sarah Elizabeth Richardson – Intake Cottages, Intake Farm, Billing Wood – Click Here
Consolidated by Jack Brayshaw. 07 November 2022.
Last updated: 08 November 2022.
