Hedley, Catherine
Catherine Hedley was the second daughter of John Hedley and Ann Hedley of Rawfoot. She was born in 1870 and baptised in Bellingham on 19 February 1870. She is never shown to have had paid employment although as the daughter of a significant farmer it may be presumed that she was well employed on the farm. Her father died at Rawfoot on 5 May 1903 and she, her mother Ann Hedley and sister Mary Jane Hedley moved to 5 Percy Terrace, Bellingham. There is a strange ambiguity about the 1921 Census returns. Catherine is shown to be the only adult in 5 Percy Terrace and describes her relationship to the non-existent head as ‘sister’. Further research has shown that sister Mary Jane was ‘baby-sitting’ for their younger sister, Elizabeth A Walton (nee Hedley) whilst she and her husband, Michael Walton were away visiting another farmer in Billingham (Bellingham?). In the 1921 Census form Catherine herself is ‘baby-sitting’. Her fellow residents were Elizabeth Walton (9) and Thomas Walton (5) – both certainly sister, Elizabeth’s children. Catherine was still resident in 5 Percy Terrace at her death on 19 April 1928. Her sister Mary Jane Hedley was administrator for her estate of £890 18s 10d.