Robert Richardson

     
     Robert Richardson was born on 1 Feb 1856 at Morebattle, ROX, SCT.^1,3
     Robert married Isabella Walker on 2 Feb 1883 at Bonchester Bridge, Par. of Hobkirk, ROX, SCT, cert. shows Robert as a 27 yr old Constable, resid Wallsend, NBL, ENG, s/o James Richardson, gardener & Mary m.s. Hogg; Isabella as a 28 yr old Dom serv resid Bonchester Bridge, Par. of Hobkirk, d/o William Walker, carter, and Agnes m.s. Bell, Wit John Taylor and Alice Walker.^4,2
     Robert Richardson died aft. 1909 ?Hirst, NBL, ENG; place assumed from address when retired from force.^5,6
     Robert Richardson appeared on the census of 1861 in Morebattle, ROX, SCT, in the household of James Richardson and Mary Hogg as son of James.⁷
     The census of 1871 showed Robert and James in the household of their parents James and Mary Richardson in the Village of Morebattle, ROX, SCT, enumerated as RICHARDSON: James, 45 b Morebattle, gardener's lab., wife Mary 45 b Jedburgh. Sons: Robert 15 ag lab; James, 7 scholar, both b Morebattle.⁸ Robert Richardson appeared on the census of 1881 in a Farm House, Eckford, ROX, SCT, in the household of Isabella Bel as a servant.³
     The census of 1891 showed Robert with his wife Isabella, their sons James and William, their dtr Isabella at Milburn Tce, Bales Cottages, Par. of Earsdon, NBL, ENG, household enumerated as RICHARDSON: Robert 35 Police Constable; wife Isabella 36 both b SCT; Children: Isabella 9 scholar b SCT; James 4 scholar, William 2 both b Warnford, NBL.⁴ Robert Richardson was named as both an executor, and a beneficiary of the will of Jane Richardson on 22 Sep 1897 at Morebattle, ROX, SCT.⁹
     Robert Richardson, James Richardson, Robert Richardson, Alexander Richardson, James Richardson and Mary Hogg are all mentioned in the Inventory of Jane Richardson on 5 Jul 1898 at the Sheriff Court, Jedburgh, ROX, SCT.¹⁰
     Robert Richardson appeared on the census of 1901 at Heekburn Colly, Bedlington, Par. of St Cuthbert, NBL, ENG, with Isabella Richardson, enumerated as RICHARDSON: Robert 45 Police Constable; wife Isabella 46 both b SCT; Children: James 14 packer in candle factory (with "grease" written in later); William 12 both b Warenford, NBL; Robert 8 b Holywell, NBL.⁵
     Fr Jul 1882 - May 1909 Robert Richardson was P.C. Number 12 of the Northumberland County Constabulary. His record shows that he informally applied to be a PC by letter on 30 Jun 1882 followed by a formal application 7 July. Appointed 3rd class 18th July aged 26 and certified fit for service by a police surgeon, Allan Wilson, at Alnwick on 19th. He was described as 5' 11" (in stocking feet), weighing 12st 12lb, with dark brown hair, grey eyes and a dark complexion. He was a native of Morebattle, ROX, formerly a farm servant and had been employed for one year until 26 May 1882 by J Storrie of Braidhaugh, Hawick.
His record of service shows many moves: Wallsend: Sept 1882-April 1883; Scotswood (Newcastle): April 1883-May 1883 (during this time his marital status became 'married' but that has to be an artefact of slow record keeping as he had married in Feb 1883); Monkseaton: May 1883-Sept 1883; Morpeth: Sept 1883-April 1884; Wooler: April 1884-Feb 1886; Warenford: Feb 1886-Feb 1890; Holywell: Feb 1890-Jan 1895; Harbottle: Jan 1895-Jan 1898; Blyth: Jan 1898-Dec 1899; Bedlington Station: Dec 1899-Nov 1903; New Hirst: Nov 1903-[May 1909?], apparently this is a " real mix of tough urban, semi-rural beats, and out-in-the country beats" according to my local source, a distant cousin still living in the area.⁶
     On 18 Jul 1901 Robert Richardson was promoted to Merit Class by the Chief Constable on the recommendation of Supt J. Jobson of Blyth Division, who, in a letter to the CC dated 17 July 1901, applauded Robert 'for his promptitude & activity in apprehending Edward Blandford who had severally (sic) wounded Joseph Henry Dixon with a Razor, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm, on 27th May 1901, and for his attention to the prisoner who was severally (sic) cut in the right wrist and who would have bled to death had P.C. Richardson not rendered first aid'. Blandford was tried before Justice Bruce at Newcastle Assizes on 8 July and sentenced to 9 months' hard labour. The defence complimented Robert 'on the straightforward way in which he had given his evidence'. In further support of the application for the Merit Class, Supt Jobson continued: 'P.C. Richardson was stationed in Blyth from January 1898 until December 1899. He was so attentive to his duties during that period that I recommended him to Bedlington Station, which is a very important one, and he has managed that beat so well, that I have never had a complaint from any one in it since'.⁶
     On 1 Aug 1902 Robert was granted the Good Conduct Badge.⁶
     By 3 May 1909 Robert Richardson was living at Corbert Hse, Woodhorn Rd, Hirst, NBL, ENG, when he retired from the police force, assuming he was living at his correspondence address on his file. Hirst on a modern map is slightly SE of Ashington, and north of Blyth, both being place names associated with modern day descendants of Robert's sister Isabella.^6,11