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I've worked out that Margaret May didn't die so she and Arthur Osmond must have split up, probably some time in the late 1920s.

She's still in the family home in 1935, by which time Arthur is settled in Australia with his new "wife".

London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965

Name: Margaret May Richardson
Year: 1935
County or Borough: Wandsworth
Ward or Division/Constituency: Clapham and Streatham
Street Address: 12 Christchurch Road.

There's now no mention of Arthur at this address but son Colin Arthur Richardson is now listed as he'd be old enough to vote.

Ah good work MC :-)

I think these dates are significant:

In July 1929 he arrives in California with Alexandrina and infant Arthur Lincoln, purpose is business trip, intended duration 90 days before returning to Sydney.

On 10th October 1929 he arrives in England alone and then on 22 October he returns alone to New York on a trip noted as in transit to Sydney.

I note he had two books published c1928 so perhaps the need to travel and the pressures involved with his work put a strain on the marriage?

I think the reason he was still included on the London ER was that as the householder he would have been eligible to vote had he been there.

Cherilyn, I don't know much about Australian certificate - what information would the death certs of Arthur and Alexandrina provide?

On the July 1929 passenger list Alexandrina is recorded as born 1900, London.

This is the only record I can find for those names BUT it needs to be proven.

London, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1906

Name: Alexandrina Isabella Bain
Record Type: Baptism
Baptism Date: 16 Jul 1903 - age 4
Father's Name: Alexander Bain - Book Keeper
Mother's Name: Isabella Bain
Parish or Poor Law Union: Finsbury Park St Thomas
Borough: Islington
Register Type: Parish Registers

Baptised same day is brother James Alexander, age 2.

Address looks like 39 Romilly Road.
......................................................................................................................

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
Name: Alexandrina Isabella Bain
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1899
Registration District: Islington
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1b
Page: 404

Got her!

UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960

Name: Alexandria Bain
Gender: Female
Age: 27
Birth Date: abt 1899
Departure Date: 24 Aug 1926
Port of Departure: London, England
Destination Port: Sydney, Australia
Ship Name: Largs Bay
Shipping Line: Australian Commonwealth Line
Official Number: 137225
Master: J Beighton

She's a shorthand typist, former address 11 Kelvin Road, Highbury. Intending to stay in Australia.

The address on the passenger list matches this 1911:

BAIN, Isabella P Head Widow F 45 1866 Ednilburgh
BAIN, Archilald Son Single M 16 1895 Clerk London Islington
BAIN, Alexanderine Daughter F 11 1900 School London Islington
BAIN, James Son M 10 1901 School London Islington
MACKIL, John Boarder Single M 24 1887 Paper Trake-Salesman Drumoak Aberdeenshire
DUFF, Peter Boarder Single M 27 1884 Curtons Officer Auchterarder Perthshire
FARNSWORTH, Harry Boarder Single M 25 1886 Officer Of H M Customs House Uttoxeter Staffordshire
ROBINSON, Frederick J Visitor Single M 22 1889 Student Stonesway Scotland

RG number: RG14 Piece: 982
Reference: RG14PN982 RG78PN33 RD10 SD7 ED13 SN129
Registration District: Islington
Sub District: Highbury
Enumeration District: 13
Parish: Islington

Address: 11 Kelvin Road Highbury N County: London

This is the family in 1901 and the address matches the baptism:

BAIN, Alexandra Head Married M 37 1864 Clerk To Clock Factory Scotland
BAIN, Isabella Wife Married F 35 1866 Scotland
BAIN, Jessie Daughter F 8 1893 Islington, London
BAIN, Archibald Son M 6 1895 Islington, London
BAIN, Alexandrinea Daughter F 1 1900 Islington, London
BAIN, James Son M 0 (UNDER 2 MOS) 1901 Islington, London
BEGG, Jessie Mother-In-Law Widow F 57 1844 Scotland
MUNTING, Violet Servant Single F 16 1885 Domestic Hackney, London

Piece: 198 Folio: 163 Page: 40
Registration District: Islington
Civil Parish: Islington

Address: 39, Romilly Road, Islington County: London

hi I am just catching up on the feed... i am upto the request for his marriage certificate... which i have done... not sure i can post it on here... but the details i can work out are...

Marriage 1908 Victoria

His father was Fredrick Richardson (profession is down as gent) and Ethel Louisa (surname cant make out unfortunately)

Then Margaret May Thomas parents were Francis Thomas (a constable) and Ellen (looks like Gaddy)

Arthur Richardson was 33 when he married and advertising agent and Margaret May was 28 and down as daughter duties as a profession.

Going to catch up on the next parts of the feed.

Have to say loving this... its really interesting as its so complex.

My husband is reading through it all and cant wait to tell his grandmother who was married to Colin Richardson - she is now 96 years old!!!

Colin Richardson married Gwendolin Davies in 1949 in London area... Gwen is chris's grandmother whom is the lady whom is still alive in her 90's.

Pleased you're enjoying it Emma - this one has been great fun!

Going back to Alexandrina, it turns out there are several Alexandrina Bains in Australia so have to be careful not to mix them up.

However, Vaucluse keeps popping up so wonder if this is her?

Australia, Electoral Rolls, 1903-1980
Name: Alexandrina Bain
Gender: Female
Electoral Year: 1930
State: New South Wales
District: Wentworth
Subdistrict: Vaucluse

Address is Greycliffe Hospital and occupation "Home Duties".

If this IS her then it confirms she and Arthur not married at this time. The Australia ERs are listed by name not address so need to find where he was.

Emma, I'm not having much luck finding Arthur with his parents.

If you want to try sending me the image of the marriage certificate (click on my name to send a message and attach the file) I'll be happy to take a look and see if I can decipher his mother's maiden name.

Do you have any idea what Colin Arthur's profession was?

I came across this and wondered about the birthplace and if there was a connection?

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954

Name: Colin A Richardson
Arrival Date: 22 Jan 1946
Port of Arrival: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Ship Name: Corrales
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England
Residence Country: England
Age: 33
Birth Date: abt 1913
Birth Country: Australia - Victoria <<<<<
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: English
Record Type: Manifests
Line Number: 2

He was an aero engineer and was headed to the Sperry Gyroscope company in New York.

Home address: 25 Hillbrow, Richmond Surrey.

Next of kin was wife Hillary C Richardson.
......................................................................................................................

This appears to be another work related trip, this gives actual date of birth

Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954

Name: Colin A Richardson
Arrival Date: 22 Jan 1947
Port of Arrival: Buffalo, New York, United States
Departure Contact: Wife Hillery
Age: 34
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1912
Birth Place: Victoria
Birth Country: Australia
Gender: Male
Race/Nationality: English
Record has photo?: No
Record Type: Cards

He was 5' 11" tall, had brown hair, grey eyes and medium complexion.

This would be the death for the Colin A Wells from those border crossings:

England & Wales, Death Index, 1916-2007 about Colin Arthur Richardson
Name: Colin Arthur Richardson
Birth Date: 3 Feb 1912
Date of Registration: Apr 1984
Age at Death: 72
Registration District: Tunbridge Wells
Inferred County: Kent
Volume: 16
Page: 1954

My husband thinks he died 1995.

He was into planes/ piolet from what we were told by his grandmother. I will message the certificate across tommorrow evening as its on my husbands computer and ill get him to forward it onto me... As I'm now away on business all week... Which gives me a good chance to look at my tree on the evenings.

Thanks again Emma x :-D

Ps the records above do you think it's possible that he had a previous wife to gwen? Whom married Colin in 1949 ???

Great progress, MC!

Well done Emma on getting the certificate...could Margaret's mum's maiden name be EDDY? This would match the birth except index shows her first name as Elizabeth or Eliza.

How exciting that your husband's grandmother is still around to share this with! :-)

Hope she knows about the first wife (agree with MC that this seems a strong possibility - the 1912 birthdate and birthplace is a good fit and so is his occupation from what you have said)...might be a bit of a shock if she doesn't know though! :-0

This is the death notice of the Francis THOMAS who married Elizabeth EDDY in 1880 (reg 2335), father of Margaret May b. 1880:

The Argus, Thursday 6 August 1914
THOMAS .-On the 5th August, at his residence, Victoria street, Daylesford, Francis, dearly beloved husband of Elizabeth Thomas, loving father of May, Ettie, and Fred. Thomas, aged 57 years, late police constable.
At rest.


The occupation fits! :-)

Her siblings:
Francis Albert 1882 Sandhurst, d. 1882 aged 4 months
Henrietta Louise 1883 Sandhurst {Ettie]
Frederick Victor 1886 Richmond [Fred], m. Isabel May DEW 1911, d. 1 Oct 1953 East Malvern


Francis THOMAS b. 1857 Creswick to Wm & Christiana nee KENT
Elizabeth EDDY b. 1861 Clunes to Jno & Mary Ann nee NANKERVIS

William and Christiana married in South Australia on 22nd September 1849. It is possible she arrived as a widow (as KENT) in April 1849 with children Mary Ann and Wm (from London aboard 'David Malcolm'). They had a daughter named Elizabeth in 1850 in SA before moving to Victoria.

The EDDY family hailed from Cornwall and also came to South Australia first:
EDDY John Clement, Mary Ann NANKERVIS, John, Mgt Jane (b@sea) arrived 1849-01-03 on William Money from Bristol via Plymouth 1848-09-19
Daughter's death:
EDDY Margaret Jane, died 1849-01-27 aged 3 m at Gilbert St, Ade; relative John (F); buried Adelaide West Terrace Cemetery
More info at www.familyorigins.net/pages1/m_a_nank.htm

To answer the question about the death certificate - Arthur & Alexandrina both died in South Australia. Death certs after 1968 (i.e. Alexandina's) show these details:

Date of death
Place of death
Name of person
Gender
Age
Cause of death
Occupation
Usual residence
Birth place, time in Aust
Age at first marriage
Age at last marriage
Name of spouse
Conjugal status (i.e. single, married, widowed)
No. of m/f issue living/dead
Death within 3 m of birth
Informant sig, desc, res
Authorized person
Date & place of burial/crem
Undertaker
Registration District
Registration date

As Arthur's death was before 1968, it would not have his age at first marriage or name of spouse, unfortunately. (Though I am still not convinced he and Ms Bain were marrried!)

But as you can see, very comprehensive! Vic death certs have names of children (issue) and their age, not sure if SA is only number - possibly just 2M, 3F living, 1F dead (for example).

The downside is that SA certs are more expensive than Vic ones. However, you could order a transcription of Arthur O's death cert from Genealogy SA for A$22 AND/OR a scan of Alexandrina's death notice for A$14 at www.genealogysa.org.au/more-info.html

www.centennialpark.org/deceased-search/deceased-search.html

Name: Arthur Osmond
Surname: Richardson
Last Abode: Helmsdale
Date of Death: 12/09/1956 (Aged 81 Years)
Sex: Male
Cremation Date: 13/09/1956

Name: Alexandrina Isabella
Surname: Richardson
Last Abode: Plympton
Date of Death: 09/06/1974 (Aged 74 Years)
Sex: Female
Cremated Remains

This confirms he is the same Arthur O. Richardson of Helmsdale mentioned in newspaper reports (one has a photo of him - have you seen that, Emma?)