From Isle of Man to Gateshead (1851) and the journey to Argentina

[walterh78]

Hi everyone,

I am researching the story of my great-great-grandfather, William Edward Richmond, and I have hit a "brick wall" between 1851 and 1877. I would deeply appreciate any clues or guidance from the local experts in Durham.

Here is what I have gathered so far:

• Origin: William was born around 1841 in Onchan, Isle of Man. He was the son of Francis Hale (or Hall?) Richmond and Ruth Croser.
• Move to Durham: After his father's death, the family moved to the Gateshead/Heworth area. I found them in the 1851 Census living at Nile Street, Gateshead.
• The Family in 1851: Ruth (widow, 46) was living with her children: Frances Ann (20), Henry John (19, Sailor), Joseph (16, Ship Broker’s Clerk), Frank Hall (14), Mary Elizabeth (12), and William Edward (10).
• Final Destination: William reappears in 1877 in Ayacucho, Argentina, where he married Lidia Cruz. He was Protestant.

What I am looking for:

1. Any record of William in the 1861 or 1871 Censuses in the Durham or Newcastle area.
2. Given that his older brothers (Henry and Joseph) worked in the shipping industry, I suspect William might have left for Argentina from Liverpool or Newcastle, perhaps working aboard a ship.
3. Any trace of his mother, Ruth Richmond (née Croser). I suspect she died in Durham after 1851, possibly living with her daughter Frances Ann (who married Benjamin Barkus).

Does anyone have access to parish records for Gateshead/Heworth or merchant navy/apprentice lists from that era that might mention the Richmonds?

Thank you very much from Argentina for any help you can provide!
Best regards,
Walter

[AllanUK]

Ruth was living with Frances and Benjamin in the 1871 Census, High Street West, Gateshead. (RG10/5060, Folio 7, Page 7)

Benjamin   Barkus   Head   -   Male   50   1821   Doctor of medicine   Lamsley, Durham, England
Frances A   Barkus   Wife   -   Female   39   1832   -   Edinburgh, Scotland
Ruth   Richmond   Mother   -   Female   67   1804   -

[AllanUK]

1881 Census shows that she was lodging at 9, Banks Terrace, Hurworth, Darlington.

Ruth   Richmond   Lodger   Widow   Female   77   1804   Annuitant

[AllanUK]

Ruth Richmond's death was registered Quarter 3, 1885, Darlington District, Volume 10a, Page 9

[AlanBoyd]

Not directly relevant to the query but this may be of interest.

28 August 1885: Newcastle Courant

Mrs Ruth Richmond, formerly of Gateshead, who died last week at the advanced age of 81, was the mother of the late Mrs Barkus, wife of Dr Barkus of St. Mary’s Place, Newcastle, whom she survived nearly two years. Mrs Richmond was the relict of the late Mr F. H. Richmond, a solicitor, and younger son of the late Major Richmond, J.P., of Humshaugh House, Northumberland. Her father, Mr Crozer, was a partner in the old and respected firm of Surtees and Crozer, wire merchants of this town, and he formerly resided at Kenton Lodge.

[AllanUK]

walterh78 said 'William was born around 1841 in Onchan, Isle of Man'

William was baptised on the 3rd February 1841 in Onchan.

(snippet image courtesy of FamilySearch)

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ1W-G9R?lang=en

[AlanBoyd]

Ruth Croser’s baptism
Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  All Saints
20 Feb 1805 Ruth Croser, born 25 Jan 1804, 4th daughter of Joseph Croser (merchant, [native] of Tanfield, Durham) by his wife Ruth Oliver (daughter of Robert Oliver, draper, of St Nicholas)

[walterh78]

Hi,
Thank you very much to users AllanUK and AlanBoyd for the incredible information about Ruth Croser and the Richmond family.
I assume you gathered some of this data from FindMyPast. I am registered there but don't have a paid membership yet, though I use FamilySearch extensively as it links to many of those records.
To provide more context and avoid duplicating efforts, here is the information I have collected so far:
Marriage of Francis Hall Richmond and Ruth Croser, 10 January 1828, St Andrew, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQC-TKCW
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQC-TKC4
 
Baptism of Joseph, son of Francis Hall and Ruth Croser, born 6 July 1834.
 Baptism of Francis Hall, son of Francis Hall and Ruth Croser, born 9 June 1836.
 Both baptized on October 19, 1836, in Kirk Onchan.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHS-S93N-T (image 139 of 545)
 Microfilm: https://www.familysearch.org/es/search/film/007904843
 
Baptism of Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Hall and Ruth Croser, born 6 July 1838.
 Date of baptism: December 10, 1838. Place: Onchan, Isle of Man.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ1W-255
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHS-S93Q-G (image 142 of 545)
 
Baptism of William Edward Richmond.
 Date of baptism: February 3, 1841. Place: Onchan, Isle of Man.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XZ1W-G9R
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-651N-SB
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHS-S93W-B (image 145 of 545)
 
England and Wales, Census, 1841 (Onchan, Isle of Man):
Francis Hale Richmond - 35 years old (born c. 1802-1806, England)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5J1
Ruth Richmond (neé Croser?) - 35 years old (c. 1802-1806, England)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5VM
Frances Richmond (female) - 11 years old (c. 1830, Scotland)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5V9
Henry Richmond - 9 years old (c. 1832, Bradden, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5VS
Joseph Richmond - 7 years old (c. 1834, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5V3
Francis Richmond - 5 years old (c. 1836, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5VQ
Mary Richmond - 2 years old (c. 1839, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5V7
William Richmond – 6 months old? (c. 1841, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7W9-5VW
 
England and Wales, Census, 1851 (Heworth, Durham, England):
Ruth Richmond (neé Croser?) - 46 years old (c. 1805, Newcastle, Northumberland) – marital status: widow.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGV3-QVP
Frances Ann Richmond - 20 years old (c. 1831, Scotland) - unmarried
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGV3-QV5
Henry John Richmond - 19 years old (c. 1832, Bradden, Isle of Man) - unmarried
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGV3-QVR
Joseph Richmond - 16 years old (c. 1835, Onchan, Isle of Man) - unmarried
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGV3-QVT
Frank Hall Richmond - 14 years old (c. 1837, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGV3-QVY
Mary Elizth Richmond - 12 years old (c. 1839, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGBX-SPV
William Edward Richmond - 10 years old (c. 1841, Onchan, Isle of Man)
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGV3-QVB

[walterh78]

More information that I find:
Marriage Frances Anne Richmond and Doctor Benjamin Barkus. 23 Apr 1852, Durham, England.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q293-C2D2
 
British Newspaper Archive, Family Notices
 Francis Hall Richmond, Esq – Date of death: 1859 - Place: Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPCN-LHD6
 
England and Wales, Census, 1871 (Gateshead, Durham, England)
Frances A Barkus (neé Richmond) – 39 years old (c. 1832, Edinburg, Scotland) – Marital status: married.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VB8Q-Y4D
England and Wales, Census, 1871 (Village, Barby, Warwickshire, England)
 Mary Elizth Richmond – 32 years old (c. 1839, Glendho, Isle of Man) – Relationship with the head of the family: visitor - Marital status: unknown.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDDM-QM7
 
England and Wales, Census, 1881 (Hurworth, Durham, England)
 Frances A Barkus (neé Richmond) – 49 years old (c. 1832, Edinburg, Scotland) – Marital status: married.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q271-5DS7
England and Wales, Census, 1881 (Gateshead, Durham, England)
 Mary E ? – 42 years old (c. 1839, Glendoo, Isle of Man) - Relationship with the head of the family: lodger - Marital status: single.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKX5-RM15
 
England and Wales, Census, 1891 (Jesmond, Northumberland, England)
Mary E Richmond – 52 years old (c. 1839, Isle of man) – Relationship with the head of the family: sister-in-law - Marital status: single.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HSJR-9N2
 
England and Wales, Census, 1901 (Ideford, Devonshire, England)
Mary E Richmond – 62 years old (c. 1839, Onchan, Isle of man) – Relationship with the head of the family: boarder - Marital status: single.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XSW6-1C2
 
Grave of Frances Ann Richmond and her husband Benjamin Barkus
 https://es.findagrave.com/memorial/197072624/frances_anne-barkus
 https://es.findagrave.com/memorial/197072625/benjamin-barkus
 
Marriage of Guillermo Eduardo (William Edward) Richmond and Lidia Cruz. 26 Jun 1877, Nuestra Seńora de la Purificación, Ayacucho, Ayacucho, Buenos Aires, Argentina
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGPN-FKX5
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGPN-FKXB
 
Baptism of María Richmond, daughter of Guillermo Eduardo Richmond and Lidia Cruz, born 8 December 1879.
 Date of baptism: January 2, 1880. Place: San José, Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 She’s my grand-grand-mother.
 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFY8-GQX
 
   Concluding remarks:
As you can see, my great-great-grandfather, William Edward Richmond, appears in the 1841 and 1851 censuses as a child in Onchan and Durham, but then disappears from UK records, reappearing in Argentina in 1877 for his marriage.
The information regarding the obituary in the Newcastle Courant is a massive breakthrough. Knowing that his father, Francis Hall Richmond, was a solicitor and his grandfather was Major Richmond of Humshaugh House, perfectly explains the family's social standing and why William might have had the resources to settle in Argentina.
I didn't want to overwhelm the thread with too many links in my first post, but I hope this helps to narrow down our search. My main goal now is to find more details about William's life between 1851 and 1877, or perhaps a mention of him in any family wills (like his mother Ruth’s in 1885) that might confirm his residence in South America.
Thank you again for your amazing help!
Best regards,
 Walter