Daughter of John Alanson Riddiough and Fanny, August 24th 1803, in Ormskirk, Lancashire (from christening entry below). Baptised at St George's Church, Altrincham, 30th November 1834. Church Register.
A letter mentioning her two brothers is still in the possession of Peter Harrop's family, although we can still only name one of them, and we don't know which one!.
Wife of Thomas Balshaw. Printer living in Church St in 1841. Age 47 on 1851 census. Age 57 on 1861 census. Head of Household aged 67, occupation "Berlin Repository" (?) in 1871. Local historians in the Altrincham area haven't yet been able to explain to me what this means. However, note that a "Berlin" was a type of blanket.
Thomas Balshaw in Ormskirk, 1824.
Children as listed for Thomas Balshaw.
She was described in a sermon preached at City Road Chapel, London, on Monday evening, December 17th 1877, by the Rev. G. Bowden. “Lessons from the conversion, character and death of the Rev. Robert Balshaw.” The assertion that she was a Congregationalist in this sermon is substantiated by the information that her brother Robert was christened at Aughton St Chapel, Ormskirk, which was of the Presbyterian denomination". It was founded in 1784 but sprang from an old Congregationalist meeting at a former Chapel in Chapel Lane, founded 1696.
No husband shown on census return, 1841. However Thomas Balshaw appears on the 1851 and 1861 census and Edward was born in 1842 so presumably Thomas was away from home on census night. There are two (other) Lucy Riddioughs on the Lancashire IGI: Lucy Riddiough, d. of John and Lucy, christened Ormskirk 10/2/1797, her aunt; Lucy Riddiough, d. of Dorothy Riddiough, christened Bolton St Peter 3/3/1816, no obvious connection.
1841 census, Edward's death certificate 1842, Frances Balshaw's birth certificate, Edward Balshaw's birth certificate, John Riddiough Balshaw's marriage certificate.
Lucy died of "Senile decay and cardiac debility", 26th September 1877, aged 74, at 101 Park Road, Westgate, in the County of Newcastle-on-Tyne and Northumberland, widow of Thomas Balshaw, auctioneer. Have death certificate. Her eldest son, John Balshaw of Altrincham, was present at her death and registered it in Newcastle on 27th September.
The local paper in Altrincham contains an announcement of her death. Altrincham and Bowdon Guardian, Saturday October 6, 1877, p4. Deaths. On Wednesday September 25th age 74 years, Lucy Riddiough relict of the late Thomas Balshaw of Altrincham, and was interred at St George's Church, Altrincham, September 29th.
What was she doing in Newcastle? Presumably one of her children had moved there. I haven't yet established who was living at that address in 1881. See Newcastle connection?
