This is a piece of history of our Family which is has been part of Rayne Village from the late 1700s to the current time.  Our Richardson family in Rayne can be traced to the 1784, when George and Elizabeth Richardson first moved into Rayne parish, their son William was born 13th February 1785 and baptised on 20th March 1785 at Rayne Church.

The Olley family of John Olley and his wife Jane Shonk moved into Rayne in about 1810 as their second child John Olley was born 28th April 1811 and baptised at All Saints Church on 26th May 1811.

Ernest William Richardson Eldest Son of Thomas William Richardson and Eliza Peagram, who were married in Rayne Church on 5th November 1880, Ernest William was born on 12th August 1881, he had two other siblings Harry Owen born 1885, and Leonard George born 1892.

Ernest William was married to Alice Gertrude Olley on 20th April 1908 in the Parish Church at Rayne.

Alice Gertrude born 25th July 1881 was the second Child of James Olley and Martha Lancaster, who were married in Rayne Church on 12th June 1880.

Alice Gertrude was one of 16 Children born to James and Martha not all the children survived to live on into their teenage years.  The other siblings of Alice Gertrude were Henrietta born 1880, Ebenezer born 1882, Eliza born 1883, Harry born 1884, Thomas born 1886, Mary born 1887, Emma born 1888, Herbert born 1890, James born 1892, Walter born 1893, Lavinia born 1895, Frederick born 1896, another James born 1898, Annie Maud born 1899 and Ernest William born 1902.

The strangest thing, when researching, was that Ernest William Richardson and Alice Gertrude Olley were both Baptised in Rayne Church on the same day 2nd October 1881.  Did this map their future life together that they were bought together from that early age and must have attended School together and decided that their life was to be together as Husband and Wife as they grew up.

The Census record for Rayne Show families of Ernest William and Alice Gertrude from the first one in which they appear that be which was held on 5th April 1891.
Ernest William was age 9 a Scholar living with his parents Thomas age 31 an Agricultural Labourer and Eliza age 31 and his brother Harry Owen age 5 also a Scholar at Duck End Green, Rayne.  Alice Gertrude was age 9 a Scholar living with her parents James age 35 an Agricultural Labourer and Martha age 30, other household members Ellen Lancaster age 12, Ebenezer age 8, Harry age 6, Mary age 3 and Herbert age 2 months living in The Street Rayne near The Cock Inn.

The next Census of Rayne held on 31st March 1901.  Ernest William is now age 19 a Horseman on Farm living with his parents Thomas W age 41 an Ordinary Labourer on Farm and Eliza age 41, his brothers Harry O age 15 a Yardman on Farm and Leonard G age 9 a Scholar still living at Duck End Green, Rayne.
Alice Olley now age 19 shown as a Silk Winder is living with Her Grand Mother Emma Lancaster a Widow age 75 at Duck End Green Rayne.  Alice was presumably working at one of Courtauld's or Warner's Factory's in Braintree winding silk for the weavers.

This is a copy of the Page from Rayne Parish Marriage Register
showing the Marriage of Ernest William Richardson and Alice Gertrude Olley

Following their Marriage in 1908 Ernest William and Alice Gertrude Richardson went on to have 9 Children. 
Their first-born was named Leonard George (I think this was after Ernest's youngest brother) came into the world on 19th Jan 1909 he being later baptised on 2nd May 1909 at Rayne Parish Church.  The second son named Ernest William (known as Bill) taking his father's name was born on 3rd March 1910 and also baptised at Rayne Parish Church on 5th June 1910.

The next Census of Gt Dunmow held on 31st March 1911  Shows Ernest Richardson as Head of Household age 29 working as a Brewers Drayman living at New Street Dunmow with Alice Richardson, his wife, also age 29 with then Leonard George Richardson son age 2 and Ernest William Richardson son age 1.

The next child was Jack their third son who was born on 20th September 1912 but he was baptised at Great Dunmow Parish Church on 31st July 1913.  Their fourth son Walter Herbert (this is our father) was born on 8th October 1913 he as all the following children was baptised at Great Dunmow Parish Church on 9th November 1913.

The family by now were living at Gas Lane in Gt Dunmow as that is the Address stated on Walter Herbert's Birth Certificate, Gas Lane is now known as Mill Lane.

The fifth child their one and only daughter Gertrude Martha was born during the First World War on 9th December 1915 she was baptised again in Great Dunmow on 11th June 1916.  Their sixth child was Sidney Arthur who was born on 25th January 1920 he was baptised on the 14th August (I believe this was done to get him into the Church) as he must have died soon after as he was buried at Dunmow Church on the 19th August 1920.

The seventh child born was their son James Aubrey (known by the family as Tut) who was born on 30th December 1920 and baptised on 6th March 1921.  The eighth child another son Maurice (known by the family as Dick) was born on 20 January 1922 and baptised on 14th May 1922 but during his time doing his national service he contracted T.B. and died on the 29 June 1948 at the age of 26 and was buried at Dunmow Church on 3rd July 1948.

By the time of Dick's burial in 1948 the Family were now living at 51 Stortford Road Gt Dunmow that is the house I can remember my Grand Father living in when taken to visit as a young lad.

The ninth and last child was again a son Douglas born on 17th April 1925 and again baptised at Dunmow Church on 19th July 1925.

Alice Gertrude Richardson (nee Olley) died on 3rd December 1946 at the age of 65 and was buried in Dunmow Church Yard on 7th December 1946.  Ernest William Richardson survived his wife by 11 years, he died during April 1957 at the age of 75 and was buried with his wife in Dunmow Church Yard on 23rd April 1957.

Julian Richardson has written this from his research into his Family History on behalf of himself and his brother Adrian Richardson who lives in Rayne and leads the Rayne Rambles.

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