Percival Blythe Richardson

Middle name also 'Blyth' (family headstone) He was the son of William and Margaret Catherine (Catherine) Richardson. William was the managing director of the Meadow Foundry Co. Ltd for over 40 years. William was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire, and his wife in Largo, Fife, Scotland. William and Margaret Catherine nee Blythe were married on 15 April 1874 in Chesterfield. They had four children; Melville Dalzell Radford, Percival Blythe (b. abt 1876, Elsie Mary Ellen (b. abt 1876) and Evelyn Gertrude (b. abt 1877). The births of Percival and Elsie were both registered in 1876 (A/M/J) and they were the same age (4 years) at the time of the 1881 Census which suggests that they were twins. In 1881 William and Catherine were living at 6 Forest Villas, Mansfield, with their four children; Melville (6), Percival (4), Elsie (4) and Evelyn (3). William employed one general domestic servant, Mary Ellen Bamford (19). By 1891 the family was living at 8a St John Street, Mansfield. William still employed one general domestic servant (Elizabeth Moore, 18). William and Catherine had moved to Beech Hill by 1901. Only their two daughters were still living at home. William now employed a cook/general servant. The same year, Percival, now a solicitor ('own account'), was one of two boarders living at 18 Northumberland Road, Eccleshall, Sheffield, in the home of Eliza Hobson (65), a widow 'living on her own means'. His brother, Melville, a mining engineer, was a boarder living in the household of a widow, Sarah Burton (57), on London Road, Coalville. Melville later become a colliery manager and in 1911 was living at Stamford House, Kirby Muxloe, with his wife, Eleanor Mildred, their two young daughters and two servants, a nursery governess and a general domestic servant. Percival married Lavinia Whitfield nee Snelus in 1903; the marriage was registered in Whitehaven. Their son, Leslie, was born in 1905. At the time of Percival's death the family was living at Ennerdale, Filey, Yorkshire. His widow never remarried and at the time of her death on 3 September 1951 her home was at 23 Harcoate Lane, Barrow in Furness. Percival's father predeceased him on 31 May 1918. His mother died on 7 November 1925 aged 79; Catherine was then living at 'Mossgiel', Pembroke Road, Woking, Surrey.

Solicitor. A free mason. Had attended Queen Elizabeth School from 22/09/1884 to 27th July 1887.

No 10 Anti-Aircraft Company. Percival served in France from 9 June 1918 and died of wounds and trench fever on 3 November 1918. He is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension (grave ref. V.A.21). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Make them to be numbered with thy saints' Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser; 14/11/1918: 'Captain Percival Blythe Richardson has died of wounds and trench fever. His widow and son are living in Filey.' Inscription on family gravestone, Mansfield (Nottingham Road) Cemetery: 'In loving memory of William Richardson of Beech Hill, Mansfield, Managing Director of the Meadow Foundry Co Ltd for 40 years, died May 31st 1918. At rest. Also his beloved son Capt. Percival Blyth Richardson, who sleeps in Abbeville, France, died Nov. 3rd 1918. They will be done. Also Margaret Catherine, widow of the above named William Richardson, died Nov. 7th 1925. Cremated Woking. Her price is far above rubies.' An inscription onn a separate tablet in front of the headstone reads: 'Erected to the memory of William Radford Richardson of Mansfield born June 2nd 1914, died September 5th 1974.' Probate: Percival Blythe of Ennerdale Filey Yorkshire died 3 November 1918 in France Probate London 15 May to Lavinia Whitfield Richardson widow. Effects £10788 9s. 8d. Probate: Richardson William of Beech Hill Mansfield Nottinghamshire died 31 May 1918 Probate London 28 August to Margaret Catherine Richardson widow Melville Dalzell Radford Richardson mining engineer and Frank Plant Cook architect and surveyor. Effects £27561 2s. 1d. Probate: Richardson Margaret Catherine of Mossgiel Pembroke-road Woking Surrey widow died 7 November 1925 Probate London 15 January to Elsie Mary Ellen Richarson spinster. Effects £6978 2s. 6d. Probate: Richardson Melville Dalzell Radford of The Red House Narborough Leicestershire died 16 December 1931 at Regent-road Private Hospital Leicester Probate London 5 March to Eleanor Mildred Richardson widow James Herbert Marton accountant and William Foord Wallace solicitor. Effects £5660 17s. 6d. Resworn £5840 17s. 6d. Probate: Richardson Lavinia Whitfield of 4 Wheatclose-road Barrow-in-Furness Lancashire widow died 3 September 1951 at 23 Harcoate-lane Barrow in Furness probate Lancaster 25 January to Leslie Richardson accounts clerk. Effects £14727 5s. 2d.