is it just coincidence that John Ruddell died at Edward Street, the same address Bridget Malone is living in 1901, and Elizabeth his widow is living there with her children in 1911, and this same Bridget Malone was Davids house keeper , there's more to it than that , maybe she was Catholic and they couldn't marry, perhaps she didn't want to marry him, or vice versa, I would be looking for Johns birth to mother Bridget Malone ,
Radcliff;
Thank you for your reply and thoughts about possible reasons for the lack of a marriage, I began research several years ago with these same questions after reading the 2 census entries and Wills.
Religion factors or a missing spouse that can’t be located are possible reasons
I noted that Bridget Malone is listed in her Will as Widower. Does that signify a Marriage ?
Agreed that searching for the birth of John Ruddell ( 1855-1906 ) needs to continue although thus far I haven't found any records.
The letter from Rev. David Frederick Ruddell Wilson ( 1871-1957 ) to our late father William R.Ruddell in 1947 is attached below .
Rev. David Frederick Wilson was named by his mother as a tribute to David and Frederick Ruddell of Peacefield.
David Ruddell’s brother Frederick was a bachelor
This letter confused the issue for my research and currently I have no idea who the Great Aunt Sarah mentioned by Rev. Wilson in tandem with Great Uncle David.
There is mention of his Mother Letitia Ferris being raised by her Great Uncle and Great Aunt David and Sarah at David Ruddell Junior ( 1813-1896 ) estate Peacefield.
I have a scan of the original letter but I transcribed it here to make it more legible
Rev. Wilson's mother Letitia Ferris ( 1840-1927) grew up and was raised at David Ruddell Jr's Peacefield when her mother passed away, probably in childbirth .
Letitia Ferris' Mother was Hester Ruddell ( 1811-1841) who passed away the year Letitia was born.
Hester (Ruddell) Ferris was sister of David Ruddell Jnr.
Letitia Ferris' father Thompson Ferris ( 1804-1886 ) and his sons moved to Ballerat Australia when Hester died in 1840. I think Thompson served in the UK Merchant Marine.
I messaged a couple of that families Australian descendants an introductory note at their Ancestry.com page but have received no response
( Copy ) From the Dean of St. Patrick’s The Deanery Dublin
27 January 1947
My dear cousin;
I am not sure of our ( exact ? ) relationship but that is a small matter.
My grandmother , my dear mothers’ mother was a Ruddell of Peacefield.
I think she must have died while my mother was a young girl as I never remember her speaking about her mother- but of her aunt Sarah who brought her up - as my mothers’ father with his sons emigrated to Ballerat Australia while she was a child , her life at Peacefield was very happy - although she had no young friends.
The Ruddells of old are buried in the old Churchyard of Seagoe - they must have been of some importance as the graves of my Gr. uncle and aunt David and Sarah are in the
chene?l ( ? ) of the church which has long been in ruins.
It was very nice of you to send the card & greetings at Christmas but I liked most of all the honeymoon snapshot and I hope you two will always be as happy in each other as you seem to be in the picture.
We are having a little snow now for the first time this winter.
My wife and i send you both our love
yours affectionately
David F R Wilson
