Robert Ritcherdson birthplace query

[hiatt219]

My Gt Gt Grandfather was Robert Richardson.  I have been unable to find him and his family on the 1861 census, until today I came across what I believe is the family under the name Ritcherdson.  The spouse and children all fit, as do the birthplaces, except for Robert himself.  His birthplace is given on FindMyPast as Muskham, Northumberland, and on Ancestry as Mushroom.  On the actual census return it does look like Mushroom to me.  Is there, or was there such a place, either in Durham or Northumberland?  I can't find any reference to it.  Any suggestions would be appreciated, thank you.

[groom]

Do you have him on later censuses, where does that give for his POB?

[JenB]

I looked at the 1861 and it definitely says Mushroom.

Agree with groom - what is his place of birth on other censuses, please.

[JenB]

The Northumberland Farm Index lists 'Mushroom' in All Saints, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1860.

There is a Mushroom Quay in Newcastle on Tyne in the 1851 and 1861 censuses.

And a place called Mushroom in the 1841 census.

[trish1120]

Most Census he is born Newcastle c 1836-1840

Did he Marry Hannah VARLEY 1855?

[JenB]

Most Census he is born Newcastle c 1836-1840

In which case I'd suggest he might have been born here:

Mushroom was the name given to a small area on the north bank of the River Tyne, between St Lawrence and St Peters in the east end of Newcastle. It was a couple of hundred yards to the east of the mouth of the Ouseburn. Alan Godfrey's map of Gateshead East (which includes the north bank) shows the area in 1895: Mushroom was surrounded by manure works, sawmills, a brass works, a whiting works and the St Lawrence foreign cattle sanitorium. Further afield were glassworks and one of the Maling pottery factories. There was a ferry from Mushroom to the Gateshead side, close to Allhusen's chemical works. Altogether not a very salubrious neighbourhood - but needs must ... my own 2x great grandfather lived there around 1861. --
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NORTHUMBRIA/2000-05/0958928165

[hiatt219]

The other censuses say birthplace Newcastle, or County Durham.  I have seen the marriage to Hannah Varley, but I favour another marriage to Hannah Bell.  I  still haven't completely discounted the Varley one, still checking.

[trish1120]

Its strange as someone has Hannah Varley marrying George BATEY the other male spouse on the FreeBMD entry.
George does have a Wife Hannah 1861 Census.

But Familysearch has Robert marrying Hannah Varley, ages 20 and 18 in 1855

[hiatt219]

I also saw the Hannah Varley/George Batey marriage, that's why I favoured the Bell marriage.  I haven't seen the family search entry, though, I will take a look at it.

I couldn't get any results on Family Search, very odd.