Brydon, Catherine Eliza

Catherine Brydon was born Catherine Eliza Thompson in Ridley Stokoe on 21 April 1857. She was the daughter of William Thompson, variously described over the years as farm labourer and carter, farm manager, farmer and shepherd, and Catherine Thompson. The relationship of the Thompson family to William Ridley is unclear. He was the proprietor and farmer in 1861 when William Thompson was labourer, in 1871 in a neighbouring cottage he was proprietor when William was farm manager and in 1881 all the Thompsons were boarders and William a shepherd. This was the background against which Catherine grew up. All the family had been born in Greystead or Thorneyburn. Catherine is never listed as having an occupation. In fourth quarter of 1884 the marriage of Catherine to John Brydon was registered. John was born in Elsdon in 1856 but he was the son of a farmer living at Craighome, Thorneyburn. He obtained a farm of his own and he and Catherine were farming at Little Harle Well House in 1891. Also listed in the 1891 was John’s elder brother James Brydon who was obviously a co-farmer. On 16 September 1885 daughter Catherine Brydon was born. John died on 22 June 1900 and is buried in Greystead Cemetery. Catherine moved back to South Stokoe and is listed in the following census with her aged parents, young Catherine, single sister Eleanor and her cousin, Christopher Thompson who was a horseman on the farm. An interesting visitor to the household was William Richardson aged 65 who was a retired gardener who had been born in America. In 1911 Catherine and her daughter were living at 39 Dilston Road, Newcastle with mother listing herself as being of private means and daughter working as a bookkeeper. They were at the same address in 1921 with the younger Catherine working as a clerk for Walkers Parker and Co, lead refiners. For some reason (the call of the North Tyne?) Catherine Eliza had moved into 4 Percy Terrace, the house headed by Elizabeth Jane Rutherford. She died on 5, October 1944 at 1 Ashleigh Crescent, Newcastle. She left £3,693 19s 2d and her executors were Catherine Brydon, spinster and Jonathan Thompson Watson a retired plumber. Her daughter died 28 July 1945. Catherine Eliza Brydon, John Brydon and Catherine Brydon are all buried in a grave at St. Lukes, Greystead.