Hi
I am wondering if anyone can help me to find out what happened to my great grandfather's family after he was separated from them....?
My great grandfather, Charles Edward Richardson (b 1891 West Ham) was effectively orphaned at a young age. His mother died when he was about 10, and his father left shortly afterwards. Charles also had a brother (or half brother??) William J., who is thought to have been killed in WW1.
I have found the family listed on the 1901 census, living in West Ham.....
Adam Richardson (Head), Aged 42 (1859) b. Terling, Essex
Sophia " " (Wife), Aged 48 (1853) b Terling, Essex
William " " (son), aged 13 (1888) b Romford, Essex
Charles " " (son), aged 9 (1892) b West Ham, Canning Town
....and again on the 1891 Census living in Terling, Essex
Adam Richardson (head) aged 32 (1859) b Terling, Essex
Sophia " " (Wife) aged 38 (1853) b Terling, Essex
William J " " (son), aged 3 (1888) b Romford, Essex
I have managed to trace Adam's family right back to the first available Census (1841), however I am hoping to find out what happened to him, and to William, after Sophia's death.
I have looked for William on the CWGC website, however this is a little tricky as I am not sure what his surname was. I have not yet found William's birth certificate, so am relying on the census entries. The 1891 and 1901 census returns show William to be a Richardson....however my great uncle (Charles' son) believes that he was a Wager, and that Charles and William were half brothers, with Sophia having been married twice, first to a Wager and then to a Richardson. This seems to be backed up by my Charles' birth certificate. Which gives his father as Adam Richardson, and his mother as "Sophia Richardson, late Wager formerly Martchell".
I unfortunately don't have much to go on. Charles understandably didn't talk about his childhood much, but I suppose it is likely he wouldn't have known much about his background anyway.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
Rob
