The following includes a rather tedious account of my ponderings over whether I'm directly related, indirectly related, or just wanting to be related to the publishers Thomas Richardson and Son, of Derby. If it's all too tedious, please bypass it and look instead at the table of dates, occupations, places etc, for the important facts, or skip to the census info, etc further down this page.
My great-great grandfather William's birth certificate led me to his mother Elizabeth Longbottom's family, and in particular to Thomas, her father. I found Thomas on the census returns, working as a bookbinder and living near the printing offices on Ashbourne Road in Derby.
Thomas usually appears as plain Thomas Longbottom, but on one of the census returns gives a full name - Thomas Richardson Longbottom.
There's a Thomas Richardson living next door to him in 1841 and 1851, an elderly gentleman. There's another Thomas Richardson in Derby too, a publisher.
Thomas Richardson the publisher gives Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, as his birthplace. My own Thomas Richardson Longbottom also says he was born in Gainsborough.
There is it would seem a link between these three men. I'm assuming (well, hoping) that my own Thomas Richardson Longbottom is related to Thomas Richardson the publisher. Thomas Richardson Longbottom seems to have the Richardson part of his name from his mother, Elizabeth Richardson. I've found her difficult to trace, but I wonder if she was the sister of Thomas Richardson the publisher, which would of course mean that Thomas Richardson the publisher was my ancestor's uncle.
It could also be that the elderly Thomas Richardson living next door is my Thomas's grandfather. (Yes, confusing, isn't it - and I doubt anyone cares but me. And perhaps my mum.)
As Thomas helpfully gave his birthplace as Gainsborough on each of the census returns, and on one occasion gave his full name of Thomas Richardson Longbottom, I was able to find the baptism record on the IGI. He was baptised on 15 Aug 1818, in Gainsborough (Lincs), son of Jabesh Longbottom and Elizabeth. (A likely marriage record was also found for Jabesh and Elizabeth, though his name is spelt rather peculiarly - Elizabeth Richardson married "Javiss Laughton" on 6 Feb 1814, at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. (Source: IGI British Isles, batch no. M011061)).
Thomas R Longbottom married Ann Pegg at St Werburgh, Derby, on 23 Jan 1837. Sadly at this point I don't know what brought him from Gainsborough to Derby, but hope gaps will be filled in due course.
Another Derby printing firm - Mozleys - moved to Derby from Gainsborough, so perhaps that is the connection. Further research is needed.
At the time of the 1841 census Thomas and Ann are living on Ashbourne Road in Derby (unnumbered), with one child, aged 2 - my great-great-great grandmother, Elizabeth. They have another daughter, Emma, aged 4, who appears to be staying with her grandparents.
In 1851 they're apparently at the same address, on Ashbourne Road, with children Emma, (aged 13), our Elizabeth (11), ?Rosann? (3) and Thomas (1). Emma is working as a folder - in the book trade, like her parents. Thomas is still working as a bookbinder. (Next door is Thomas Richardson - aged 87, who says his occupation is "gentleman".)
The listing for Ashbourn Rd, includes:
From being listed in the above directory as the occupant of 12 Ashbourne Road, Thomas R Longbottom's household seems to have spread next door by the time of the 1861 census, as the family's residence is enumerated as 12 and 13 Ashbourne Road. Next door, number 14, is Printing Offices. Though no house numbers were given on the early census returns, it would seem from the Freebody directory (above) that 13 was previously the home of the elderly Thomas Richardson, their former neighbour, who has passed away in the ten years since the previous census.
The records suggest that many of Thomas and Ann's children died young, as probable death index entries were found for several children enumerated on the previous census who were obviously absent on this one. The children listed on this census are Emma (23), Frederic (7), Clara (5), William (3), Eliza (2 months).
The family are now shown living at 8 and 9 Ashbourne Road, again enumerated as 2 houses inhabited by the one family. As it seems unlikely that a family would be occupying two houses, then move a couple of doors down to occupy another pair of houses, I'm assuming there's been some renumbering going on in this street, or that there were no numbers as such and it depended where you started counting.
The younger children listed on the previous census are all present: Frederic, Clara, William and Eliza(beth).
Thomas Richardson Longbottom died in 1880, in Derby.
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The story of this family continues with Thomas's wife, Ann Pegg.
For a summary of the above information see Thomas Richardson Longbottom - summary of dates, places and occupations.