Thomas Ridley Oswald 1836

Thomas was born 29 June 1896, the son of William Oswald and Elizabeth Florence Laing, at Stepney, Middlesex. His first shipyard was established in Sunderland in the eighteen-fifties on a site which was afterwards included in the yard of William Gray and Company, and he established rolling mills at Castletown to produce the iron he required. In fact he created the village of Castletown to house his employees, and when the works closed down, the village became deserted.

He transferred his shipbuilding business to a site later used by Short Brothers, and it was there that he that he launched a number of high-class steamers, several with passenger accommodations. Eventually all was transferred to Southampton, and was accompanied by James Marr, who had worked for Thomas in his youth. Marr returned two years later, however, and began his connection with Joseph L. Thompson.

Isabella Lambert 1845-1872 (1^st Wife)

Isabella was born about 1845, the daughter of Francis Devereux Lambert and Anne Colby, in London.
I have identified the following children.

Arthur Lambert	Born abt 1867	Bishopwearmouth	Married Ethel Harper
Thomas Francis	Born abt 1868	Bishopwearmouth
Ella Frances	Born abt 1868	Bishopwearmouth
Edith Annie	Born abt 1870	Bishopwearmouth
Philip Stanley	Born abt 1871	Bishopwearmouth	Married Mabel Gertrude Harrison

Birth of Parents

Thomas Ridley Oswald

b: 29 Jun 1836 c: 22 Sep 1836 St Mary, Lewisham, Kent
son of William Oswald and Elizabeth Florence Laing

Isabella Lambert

b: abt 1845 London 1845 2Q Islington 3 252
daughter of Francis Devereux Lambert and Anne Colby

1861 Census	RG9-3776	8 April 1861	South Bishopwearmouth, County Durham
1 Manor Place
Thomas R. Oswald Jane A. (Sister) William R. (Brother) Plus 2 Servants	Age 24 Age 26 Age 17	Iron Shipbuilder Iron Shipbuilder	Stepney Lewisham Stepney	Middlesex Kent Middlesex	29 Jun 1836 19 Jul 1834 17 Oct 1843

Marriage

12 Apr 1866
Thomas Ridley Oswald
Isabella Lambert

Marylebone, Middlesex 1866 2Q Marylebone 1a 996
Bachelor, Esquire, Bishopwearmouth, Father: William Oswald, Esquire
Spinster, Marylebone, Francis Devereux Lambert, Esquire
By License, Wit: F. D. Lambert, M. Lambert, F. Lambert

The Times, Saturday, Apr 14, 1866 Marriages

On the 12th inst., at Marylebone Church, by the Rev. J. Llewelyn Davies, M.A., rector of Christ Church, assisted by the Rev. W. L. Clay, M.A., Thomas Ridley Oswald, Esq., of Sunderland, second surviving son of William Oswald, Esq., of Highbury New-park, to Ella, second daughter of Francis Devereux Lambert, Esq., of 20, Devonshire-place, Portland-place.

Children

Arthur Lambert Oswald

b: abt 1867 Bishopwearmouth 1867 3Q Sunderland 10a 489
son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Isabella Lambert

Thomas Francis Oswald

b: abt 1868 Bishopwearmouth 1869 1Q Sunderland 10a 545
twin son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Isabella Lambert

Ella Frances Oswald

b: abt 1868 Bishopwearmouth 1869 1Q Sunderland 10a 545
twin daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Isabella Lambert

Edith Annie Oswald

b: abt 1870 Bishopwearmouth 1870 1Q Sunderland 10a 545
daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Isabella Lambert

Philip Stanley Oswald

b: abt 1871 Bishopwearmouth 1871 2Q Sunderland 10a 583
son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Isabella Lambert

1871 Census	RG10-5006	3 April 1871	South Bishopwearmouth, County Durham
The Cedars
Thomas Ridley Oswald Ella (Wife) Arthur L. Thomas Francis Ella Frances Edith Annie (Unnamed) (Son) Sophia Laing Oswald (Sister) Elizabeth M. Oswald (Sister) Plus 6 Servants	Age 34 Age 26 Age 3 Age 2 Age 2 Age 1 Age 1 Mon Age 29 Age 25	Ship Builder, Employing about 1,900 Men & Boys	Stepney Stepney Bishopwearmouth Bishopwearmouth Bishopwearmouth Bishopwearmouth Bishopwearmouth Stepney Stepney	Middlesex Middlesex Durham Durham Durham Durham Durham Middlesex Middlesex	29 Jun 1836 abt 1845 abt 1867 abt 1868 abt 1868 abt 1869 abt 1871 15 May 1841 21 Sep 1845

Death

Isabella (Lambert) Oswald

Died abt 1872, Age 27, 1872 4Q Sunderland 10a 329

Have not confirmed that this is our Isabella, but the timeframe and age seems to match. Don't know what happened to all the children, however Ella Frances is found with her grandmother in the 1881 census.

In 1872 there were liabilities against his firm amounting to £300,000. In 1876, Thomas Ridley Oswald, closed his yard on the River Wear and opened a new shipyard on the banks of the River Itchen at Woolston, Southampton. In 1878 he formed a partnership with John Henry Mordaunt of Warwick, changing the name of the business to Oswald Mordaunt and Company. Between 1876 and 1889 the yard launched over 100 ships. Despite that success, the Woolston yard also experienced some financial difficulties. In 1881 an official receiver was appointed to manage the company. Shipbuilding continued at the yard for a few years, but in 1889, Oswald Mordaunt and Company sought a new yard in South Wales and closed the yard in Woolston.

Wilhelmina Catherine Russell 1852-1930 (2^nd Wife)

Wilhelmina was born about 1852, the daughter of Dr. Christopher Russell, M.D., in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
I have identified the following children.

Edith Kathleen Oswald	Born abt 1877	Southampton
Evelyn Mary Oswald	Born abt 1878	Southampton
William Digby	Born abt 1880	Southampton	Married Catherine Mary Yardley
Lilian Elizabeth Oswald	Born abt 1881	Southampton	Married Rupert John Vernon
Ethel Margaret Oswald	Born abt 1884	Southampton
Mabel Victoria Oswald	Born abt 1887	Southampton

Birth of New Wife

Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

b: abt 1852 Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
daughter of Dr. Christopher Russell, M.D.

Marriage

abt 1875
Thomas Ridley Oswald
Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

1875 4Q Lewisham 1d 1376

Children

Edith Kathleen Oswald Oswald

b: abt 1877 1877 1Q Southampton 2c 30
daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

Evelyn Mary Oswald Oswald

b: abt 1878 1878 3Q Southampton 2c 20
daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

William Digby Oswald

b: abt 1880 1880 1Q Southampton 2c 31
son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Russell KIA 16 Jul 1916

1881 Census	RG11-1212	4 April 1881	Southampton, Hampshire
1 Newplace House
Thomas R. Oswald Mina C. (Wife) Edith K. O. (Dau) Evelyn M. O. (Dau) William D. (Son) Plus 5 Servants	Age 44 Age 29 Age 4 Age 2 Age 1	Shipbuilder (1200 Men)	Stepney Enniskerry Wicklow Southampton Southampton Southampton	Middlesex Ireland	29 Jun 1836 abt 1852 abt 1877 abt 1878 abt 1880

Lilian Elizabeth Oswald Oswald

b: abt 1881 Southampton 1881 4Q Southampton 2c 31
daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

Ethel Margaret Oswald Oswald

b: abt 1884 Southampton 1884 3Q Southampton 2c 22
daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

Mabel Victoria Oswald Oswald

b: abt 1887 Southampton 1887 2Q Southampton 2c 3
daughter of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Russell

1891 Census	RG12-4533	6 April 1891	Steynton, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Castle Hall (Mansion)
Thomas R. Oswald Wilhelmina C. (Wife) Arthur L. Edith K. O. Evelyn M. O. Lilian E. O. Ethel M. O. Mabel V. O.	Age 54 Age 39 Age 23 Age 14 Age 12 Age 9 Age 6 Age 4	Shipbuilder Ship Draughtsman	Stepney Bishopwearmouth Southampton Southampton Southampton Southampton Southampton	Middlesex Ireland Durham Hants Hants Hants Hants Hants	29 Jun 1836 abt 1852 abt 1877 abt 1878 abt 1880 abt 1881 abt 1884 abt 1887

1901 Census	RG13-5127	1 April 1901	Milford, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Castle Hall
Thomas R. Oswald Wilhelmina C. (Wife) Thomas F.. Edith K. O. Ethel M. O. Mabel V. O. Ethel G. D. McCoy (Niece) Plus 6 Servants	Age 64 Age 49 Age 32 Age 24 Age 16 Age 14 Age 33	Shipowner	Stepney Bishopwearmouth Southampton Southampton Southampton Sierra Leone	Middlesex Ireland Durham Hants Hants Hants Africa	29 Jun 1836 abt 1852 abt 1877 abt 1878 abt 1884 abt 1887 abt 1867

1911 Census	RG14-202	3 April 1911	Greenwich, London
River View, Beaconsfield-road, Blackheath (10 Rooms)
Thomas Ridley Oswald Wilhelmina Catherine (Wife) Plus 2 Servants	Age 74 Age 59	Naval Architect	Stepney EnnisKerry, Co. Wicklow	Middlesex Ireland	29 Jun 1836 abt 1852

Death

Thomas Ridley Oswald

Died 22 Jun 1916, Age 79, Surrey 1916 2Q Grenwich 1d 1084

The Times, Saturday, Jun 24, 1916 Death

OSWALD - On the 22nd inst., at River View, Beaconsfield-road, Blackheath, Thomas Ridley Oswald M.I.N.A., shipbuilder and Naval Architect, in his 80th year. Funeral at Southampton on Tuesday.

LONDON 17 Jul 1916 Probate

OSWALD, Thomas Ridley, of River View, Beaconsfield-road, Blackheath, Kent, died 22 June 1916, Probate, London 17 July, to Wilhelmina Catherine Oswald, widow.
Effects £213 17s. 7d.

IN Memory of
Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM DIGBY OSWALD
D S O
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
and 12th Bn., West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
Who Died Age 36
ON 16 July 1916

Son of Thomas Ridley Oswald and Wilhelmina Catherine Oswald;
husband of Catherine Mary Oswald,
of St. Winning, Weymouth, Dorset

REMEMBERED WITH HONOUR

DIVE COPSE BRITISH CEMETERY, SAILLY-LE-SEC,
Somme, France

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

The Times, Friday, Jul 21, 1916 Death

OSWALD, - On the 16th July, 1916 William Digby Oswald, D. S. O. Lieut., 5th Dragoon Guards (S.R.) Tempy, Major Commanding West Yorkshire Regt., beloved son of the late T. R. Oswald and Mrs. OSwald, Ringview, Blackheath, and husband of Kitty Oswald, Wellington House, Weymouth.

BLANDFORD 19 Sep 1917 Probate

OSWALD, William Digby, of Wellington House, Melcombe Regis, Dorsetshire, a major in the 5th Dragoon Guards, D.S.O., died 16 July 1916, in France, Probate Blandford, 19 September, to Catherine Mary Oswald, widow. Effects £300.

Death

Wilhelmina Catherine (Russell) Oswald

Died 8 Dec 1930, Age 78, Surrey 1930 4Q Kingston 2a 513

The Times, Wednesday, Dec 10, 1930 Death

OSWALD - On Dec 8, 1930, sudddenley, at Wimbledon, Wilhelmina Catherine (Mina), widow of Thomas Ridley Oswald, daughter of the late Christopher Russell, M.D., of Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. Funeral at Southampton opn Friday at 2 p.m. Flowers to 6D, Lansdowne-road, Wimbledon

LONDON 3 MAr 1931 Probate

OSWALD, Wilhelmina Catherine, of 6a Lansdowne-road, Wimbledon, Surrey, died 8 December 1930, Probate London, 3 March, to Edith Kathleen Oswald and Mabel Victoria Oswald Oswald, spinsters.
Effects £1,232 15s. 5d.