William Henry Richardson, a gardener at Ardmore
William Henry Richardson = Jessie Steel Cook
born 07.02.1870 born 12.11.1872
Tipperary Glasgow, Scotland
died 15.12.1943 died 30.11.1940
Belfast Belfast
William Henry Richardson born 07.02.1870 at Killemaule, Co Tipperary son of William
Richardson and Mary Hogan. He married Jessie Steele Cooke circa 1898. Jessie was
the daughter of John Cook a watchmaker and Margaret Robertson. Jessie was an
assistant nurse in 1891 at Eastpark Cottage House for Children in Glasgow, Scotland.
William was a steward and gardener to Lady Emily Arnott living at Ardmore from 1899
with his family and his widowed mother Mary. By 1910 William’s mother Mary had died
and William was working as head gardener at Kinedar, Strandtown, Belfast for Sir Otto
Jaffe, former Lord Mayor of Belfast. Sir Otto sent banana roots home from abroad to
Kinedar and it was here in the hothouses of Kinedar that William cultivated bananas.
He also cultivated breadfruit and pineapples. Jessie died 30.11.1940 at 339
Albertbridge Road, Belfast and is buried at Dundonald. William died same place on
15.12.1943 and is buried with his wife.
1 Eileen Mary Richardson born 03.07.1899 at the Rotunda Hospital, parents resident
at Booterstown. Eileen married Walter Brosgarth in Sydney, Australia in 1931.
2 Jessie Steel Richardson born 08.09.1901 at the Rotunda Hospital parents living at
Belfield, Booterstown.
3 Mildred Richardson born 12.01.1903 at the Rotunda Hospital, parents living at Belfield,
Booterstown. Mildred married Malcolm McNaught on 25.02.1922 in Belfast. They
lived at 37 My Lady’s Road, Belfast.
4 Violet Richardson born 14.01.1908 at Loy, Cookstown, Tyrone. Violet married
Alexander Jamison on 02.06.1929 in Belfast. They lived at 402 Castlereagh Road,
Belfast.
5 Laura Richardson born 06.04.1911 at the Maternity Hospital, Belfast of Kinedar,
Strandtown. Laura married Alexander Gordon on 17.07.1935 and they lived at 306
Albertbridge Road, Belfast.
6 Phyllis Richardson (twin) born 22.11.1914 @ 11.30pm at Kin Edar Lodge, Strandtown,
Belfast. Phyllis married Wilfred Nickell on 31.01.1934 in Belfast and they lived at 124
Greenville Road, Belfast.
7 William Henry Richardson (twin) born 22.11.1914 @ 11.45pm at Kin Edar Lodge,
Strandtown, Belfast. Wiliam married Florence Bell on 12.08.1940 in Belfast and they
lived at 139 Mount Merrion Park, Belfast.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - September 2026
Return to Ardmore page
William Henry Richardson = Jessie Steel Cook
born 07.02.1870 born 12.11.1872
Tipperary Glasgow, Scotland
died 15.12.1943 died 30.11.1940
Belfast Belfast
William Henry Richardson born 07.02.1870 at Killemaule, Co Tipperary son of William
Richardson and Mary Hogan. He married Jessie Steele Cooke circa 1898. Jessie was
the daughter of John Cook a watchmaker and Margaret Robertson. Jessie was an
assistant nurse in 1891 at Eastpark Cottage House for Children in Glasgow, Scotland.
William was a steward and gardener to Lady Emily Arnott living at Ardmore from 1899
with his family and his widowed mother Mary. By 1910 William’s mother Mary had died
and William was working as head gardener at Kinedar, Strandtown, Belfast for Sir Otto
Jaffe, former Lord Mayor of Belfast. Sir Otto sent banana roots home from abroad to
Kinedar and it was here in the hothouses of Kinedar that William cultivated bananas.
He also cultivated breadfruit and pineapples. Jessie died 30.11.1940 at 339
Albertbridge Road, Belfast and is buried at Dundonald. William died same place on
15.12.1943 and is buried with his wife.
1 Eileen Mary Richardson born 03.07.1899 at the Rotunda Hospital, parents resident
at Booterstown. Eileen married Walter Brosgarth in Sydney, Australia in 1931.
2 Jessie Steel Richardson born 08.09.1901 at the Rotunda Hospital parents living at
Belfield, Booterstown.
3 Mildred Richardson born 12.01.1903 at the Rotunda Hospital, parents living at Belfield,
Booterstown. Mildred married Malcolm McNaught on 25.02.1922 in Belfast. They
lived at 37 My Lady’s Road, Belfast.
4 Violet Richardson born 14.01.1908 at Loy, Cookstown, Tyrone. Violet married
Alexander Jamison on 02.06.1929 in Belfast. They lived at 402 Castlereagh Road,
Belfast.
5 Laura Richardson born 06.04.1911 at the Maternity Hospital, Belfast of Kinedar,
Strandtown. Laura married Alexander Gordon on 17.07.1935 and they lived at 306
Albertbridge Road, Belfast.
6 Phyllis Richardson (twin) born 22.11.1914 @ 11.30pm at Kin Edar Lodge, Strandtown,
Belfast. Phyllis married Wilfred Nickell on 31.01.1934 in Belfast and they lived at 124
Greenville Road, Belfast.
7 William Henry Richardson (twin) born 22.11.1914 @ 11.45pm at Kin Edar Lodge,
Strandtown, Belfast. Wiliam married Florence Bell on 12.08.1940 in Belfast and they
lived at 139 Mount Merrion Park, Belfast.
© June Bow & Karen Poff - September 2026
Return to Ardmore page
