Richard Watson The Teesdale Bard

[parkerwitton]

Researching the family of Richard Watson the Teesdale Bard for a friend of mine who is the Great Great Grandson of The Bard any info would be appreciated.

[KGarrad]

In the light of a lack of dates, I found that:

Richard Watson became famous in the 1850s for his paeans to life and nature in the upper dale. Known as “the Teesdale Bard”, the lead miner was discovered by the Teesdale Mercury and became a renowned published writer.

[parkerwitton]

Thanks for that just wondered if anyone else is researching Richard Watson?

[KGarrad]

Baptism, 5th May 1833 at Middleton-in-Teesdale
Richard Watson, son of William and Rebekah

1841 census
Source Citation
Class: HO107; Piece: 306; Book: 3; Folio: 28; Page: 21
Middleton Teasdale, County Durham

Watson, William  M  40
Watson, Rebekah  F  40
Watson, Mary  F  10
Watson, Richard  M  8
Watson, Martha  F  5
Watson, William  M  2

[KGarrad]

1851 census
Class: HO107; Piece: 2387; Folio: 601; Page: 13
Middleton, Durham

Watson, Rebekah  Head  Widow  F  51  b Middleton
Watson, Richard  Son  M  18  Lead Miner  b Middleton
Watson, Martha  Daughter  F  14  Home  b Middleton


1861 census
Class: RG 9; Piece: 3722; Folio: 19; Page: 34
Highdyke, Middleton, Durham

Watson, Richard  Head  M  28  Lead Ore Dresser  b Middleton
Watson, Ann  Wife  F  24  b Middleton
Watson, Rebecca  Daughter  F  3  b Middleton
Watson, Elizabeth  Daughter  F  1  b Middleton

[catfordcrooner]

Hi
Baptised 5th May 1833
Wife: Ann

[KGarrad]

From The Teesdale Mercury, 20th April 1898

Richard Watson, son of William Watson, lead miner was born at Middleton-in-Teesdale, on March 15th 1833. His father married a Walton of a good old Weardale family, and it is said that Richard inherited his poetic genius from his mother.
At six he went to the local Lead Company's School, at Middleton, and at ten  went to the lead mines to help his struggling father to provide for maintenance of the family.

When the young bard had been four years at school and four years at the mines, he lost his father at the early age of 47, leaving the young miner with a widowed mother, 2 brothers and six sisters to battle with the world.

He died October 2nd 1897, at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, after suffering an accident at work on Holwick Hall.


Full article at Teesdale Mercury Archive.

[catfordcrooner]

I saw this on a website talking about Richard
"At the age of 14 he was faced with the awesome responsibility of providing for his mother and eight siblings"
Some exaggeration there, according to the censuses!

[catfordcrooner]

There is a possible marriage of Richard with an Ann Brumwell in 1857