Melinda Jane Richardson

BIRTH & BAPTISM May 16 1872, Ontario. There is a large family of Borleys in the local graveyard.

MARRIAGE Malinda married Lewis Richard 1872 after his first wife, Catherine, died.

Melinda is variously called Malinda, Malinda and in one bizarre spelling, Melliita. She has a daughter, also Malinda/Melinda/Millinda and perhaps Lynda, who is recorded in her husband's death notice and the census, as Minnie D Richardson.

At the 1891 census Malinda J Richardson b. 1844, 47 yrs, single, is a lodger at Strathroy. Could be a coincidence that there is another person with same name and DoB, a single woman with the Strathroy Richardsons or her Zavitz sister, but it would be surprising. See more surprising data below.

Lewis Richard died in an asylum of mania, so it would be helpful to know how long he had been affected, and when he was hospitalised.

At the 1901 census, Malinda Richardson, b 1844, 57 yrs, widow (March 1901) is living with her brother-in-law, George Zavitz and his wife Eliza Zavitz, at Watford, Lambton, Ont. Is this Lewis' wife? The gravestone below seems to confirm that both these entries are for Melinda Jane Borley Richardson, wife of Lewis. And not a Richardson in sight. What has happened? Lewis Richard has been dead since 1899, not long, and Percival Charles has migrated to Australia and will soon marry. Perhaps Lewis Richard's first family were not willing to include his second family?

DEATH & BURIAL 18 May 1901, at Watford, Lambton, Ont., 59 yrs, born Caradoc 1843, Melinda Richardson died 28 May 1901.

Gravestone inscription: Melinda Jane Borley Richardson b. 16 May 1843 d. 28 May 1901. Buried Strathroy.

Sorting this family is quite a challenge.

Email from Claudia When I first did my Ontario research on the Richardsons I became frustrated with the scarcity of Canadian records (I didn't have access to ancestry at that time, which now helps somewhat), and am still uncertain about the accuracy and completeness of what I have to-date. I do have a Lewis Richard Richardson (1836-1899) in my tree with 2 wives: 5 children with his first wife Catherine, and so far only 1 daughter Malinda Jane (Jr) by his second wife Malinda Jane. I did not yet have a Percy in my tree, even after a bit of extra recently - nothing in the Canadian records as far as birth is concerned, and he's not listed in the 1881 with his family, although "Lynda" is. Mind you, that census film is so overexposed I don't know how anyone could read it enough to index most of them. But this marriage news clipping certainly seems to connect these families across the continents! Sure wish I could find a birth record for Percy - I've scoured the Ontario birth index without luck. In case you don't already have Malinda's birth and 1881 census info:

1873 Ontario, Canada Births, 1858-1913 Name: Malinda Jane Richardson Date of Birth: 6 Mar 1873 Gender: Female Birth Place: Middlesex, Ontario, Canada Father's name: Lewis Richardson Mother's name: Malinda Jane Borley Page 372. Births. No 039764. Mar 6 1873, Malinda Jane, F, father Lewis Richardson cheese factor, mother Malinda Jane Borley. Informant L Richardson Sterwood? [perhaps Kerwood which is just west of Strathroy]. Reg Mar 27 1873, Dr Hoare, Adelaide Div Middlesex

- 1881 Canada census, living in Strathroy, Middlesex West 168, Ontario Name Age Louis N [R?]. Richardson 55 [45?] - M, Jane Richardson 38 Emma Richardson 22 Proctor Richardson 1/12 Henry Richardson 19 Cathrine Richardson 17 Edward Richardson 13 Lynda Richardson 8 Bella McLellan 22 Year: 1881; Census Place: Strathroy, Middlesex West, Ontario; Roll: C_13269; Page: 53; Family No: 264 [NOTES: image is very faint / over exposed - only partially readable, indexed as above.] [Emma is clearly written - she might be Emily with a young son Proctor?] So where was Percy?