The Family of Mary Ann Richardson

Mary Ann was the daughter of John Richardson & Elizabeth Parkinson, who were married at St Michael's Parish Church in Kirkham, Lancashire on 29 October 1798: "John Richardson and Elizabeth Parkinson, of this Parish and the township of Westby with Plumptons, were Married in this Church by Banns, this Twenty ninth Day of October in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight, by me, Tho. Stephenson, Curate. This Marriage was solemnized between Us (signed) John Richardson (signed) Elizabeth Parkinson In the Presence of (signed) John Parkinson (signed) Ann Parkinson" John and Elizabeth had at least nine children, all of whom were almost certainly baptized at St Wilfrid's Catholic Chapel in Preston. Unfortunately the baptism records for the period between 1803 and 1813 have been missing for many years. Mary Ann was born during this period (c. 1811) and I believe that her sisters Alice and Ellen were also born during this time. Their 9 known children:

	William(1), son of John & Elizabeth Richardson, baptized 19 August 1799 Sponsors: Thomas Parkinson & Margaret Parkinson.
	Margaret, daughter of John & Elizabeth Richardson, baptized 8 September 1801 Sponsors: James Parkinson & Jane Richardson.
	William(2), son of John & Elizabeth Richardson, baptized 7 February 1803 Sponsors: Thomas Parkinson & Mary Parkinson.
	Mary Ann, daughter of John & Betty Richardson, born c. 1811 (baptism record missing)
	Alice, daughter of John & Betty Richardson (baptism record missing)
	Ellen, daughter of John & Betty Richardson (baptism record missing)
	Ann, daughter of John & Betty Richardson, baptized 6 June 1814 Sponsors: Robert Parker & Betty Marsh.
	William(3), son of John & Elizabeth Richardson, baptized 1 November 1815 Sponsors: James Park & Margaret Parkinson.
	John, son of John & Elizabeth Richardson, baptized 15 December 1816 Sponsors: William Hornby & Frances Hornby.

By the night of the 1841 Census, John, Elizabeth and their daughter Alice were living in Preston:

1841 CENSUS OF PRESTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BORN IN THE COUNTY?
John Richardson	M	65	Machine M	Yes
Elizabeth Richardson	F	65	-	Yes
Alice Richardson	F	25	Book Binder	Yes

NOTES:
1:	Living at Meadow Street, Preston, Lancashire. (H.O.107-499/17, folio__, page 2)
2:	Machine M was probably an abbreviation for Machine Man, i.e. Mechanic.
3:	The above information is taken from microfilmed copies held at the Lancashire Archives.

By the night of the 1851 Census, Elizabeth had died and John, a widower, was living with his daughter Alice and her husband James Allen and their children:

1851 CENSUS OF PRESTON, LANCASHIRE:
NAME:	RELATION:	CONDITION:	SEX:	AGE:	OCCUPATION:	BIRTHPLACE:
James Allen	Head	Married	38	M	Cordwainer	Bedford, Bedfordshire
Alice Allen	Wife	Married	42	F	-	Preston, Lancashire
George Allen	Son	-	5	M	Scholar	Preston, Lancashire
Elizabeth Allen	Daughter	-	4	F	-	Preston, Lancashire
John Richardson	Boarder	Widower	78	M	Mechanic	Preston, Lancashire

NOTES:
1:	Living at 43 Friargate, Preston, Lancashire. (H.O.107-2266, folio __, page 13)
2:	A Cordwainer was someone who made shoes and other articles from fine soft leather.
3:	The above information is taken from microfilmed copies held at the Lancashire Archives.

John Richardson Sr died on 14 January 1855 and was buried in the churchyard at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Preston:

"Burial No. 4311, 18 January 1855, John Richardson, age 81 years, of St Paul's Road, by R. Cooper."

NOTES:
1:	It is very unusual that all four parties to the wedding in 1798 were able to sign their own names.
2:	Alice Richardson and James Allen were married in Preston in 1840.
3:	I have not found the death or burial record for Elizabeth (Parkinson) Richardson, who would have died sometime between 1841 and 1851.
4:	Mary Ann's younger brother, John Richardson Jr, was a well respected organist and composer. He died in April 1879 and a quite interesting Obituary was published on 26 April 1879.
5:	The above information is taken from the marriage register for St Michael's Church in Kirkham, transcripts of the baptism records for St Wilfrid's Chapel, the burial register for St Ignatius Church, both in Preston, and the census on microfilm - all held at the Lancashire Archives.