In 1871, they were residing at the Ferry Landing, with seven children, the eldest son Matthew, [then aged 15, John Evans Burdon, aged 12, Anthony, born 1861, Daniel, born 1863, Ada, born 1864, Mary Jane born 1867 and Thomas Burdon born 1868].
In 1881, the family were now residing at the Pilot Lookout House, with six children, Anthony Burdon, Daniel Osbourne, Ada, Mary Jane, Ralph Reed Burdon, born 1873 and William born 1874.
They had 12 children in total: Anne Maria [born 1852, died 1905]; Robert Hayton [born 1854, died 1905]; Mathew [born 1856, died 1925]; John Evans [born 1858, died 1924]; Charlotte Dobson [born 1859, died 1872]; Anthony Dobson [born 1861, died 1893]; Daniel Thompson Osborne [born 1863, died 1906]; Ada [born 1864]; Mary Jane [born 1867, died 1927]; Thomas [born 1868, died 1873]; William Harris [born 1874, died 1958] and Ralph John Reed [born 1873, died 1952].
By 1891, Ralph was a Boilersmith Apprentice, residing at 125 Wapping Street, Old Ferry landing, South Shields. His father at this time was a Boiler Maker. They were both working at Smiths Docks, in North and South Shields in the pontoons department.
Ralph John Reed Burdon and Isabel [nee Mather] were married on the 13th August 1895 at St. Mark’s Church, South Shields. Isabel [Isabella], was born on the 15th May 1875 and died in March 1948.
Ralph enlisted into the 1/7th Battalion Durham Light Infantry on the 27th May 1915, with the service number 3797, his territorial number allocated was 276050. He was in 'C' Company. Ralph was 37 years old and had enlisted at South Shields. 5 feet 5 inches tall. In April 1915 those soldiers who were not going overseas were ordered to form a second line battalion, 2/7th Battalion. After his initial training, Ralph was transferred under the Ministry of Munitions R. C. Dept, and was employed at the Walker Naval Yard of Armstrong. He left this company on the 5th April 1917 and was given a railway warrant to report for work at Caird and Company Ltd at Greenock. He was working away from his family who were residing at 27 Raglan Sreet. Ralph was employed as a caulker at Armstrongs. When the contract finished he was transferred to Greenock to the Caird and Co Engine works.
Ralph joined the United Society Of Boilermakers & Iron Shipbuilders, the Greenock 3 branch on the 18th September 1917.
Ralph was boarding at 3 Bank Street, Greenock a boarding house run by a Mrs Taylor. He started work at Cairds on the 16th April 1917, and had been separated from home since October 1915. Therefore he was allowed additional separation allowance. Ralph returned home from Greenock and is returned to Smiths Dock at North Shields on the 4th June 1918.
He was released from the Army on the 10th June 1919 and resided at 278 John Williamson Street.
In 1939, he is residing at 170, Cannon Street, Middlesbrough as a retired Boilermaker with an Emma Holmes, born 13th April 1881, whom he later married on the 20th May 1948 after the death of his first wife Isabel in 1948.
Research: Cynthia Kent
Ralph John Reed Burdon is remembered at North Shields in N34.30 and South Shields in S86.004 on page 13.
