Albert Ryder was born at Aston-by-Sutton and baptised at the church in that village on 2nd November 1884. He was the son of James Ryder (born Aston-by-Sutton) and his wife Sarah Elizabeth Gerrard who was born in Manchester.
The 1891 census recorded the family as living at Heron’s Cottages in Newton-by-Daresbury. The father was a stonemason. Albert had an older brother Charles (8) and younger siblings Ethel (4), Sarah (2) and Frank (6 months). All three brothers would serve in the Great War.
Ten years later the family were living on Newton Lane in Newton-by-Daresbury. Albert was now a cabinet maker’s apprentice and Charles was a stonemason’s apprentice. James and Sarah Elizabeth now also had James (8), Arthur Gerrard (5) and Tom (2). James lived with his uncle and aunt. The three younger brothers would also serve in the Great War.
Albert’s apprenticeship was with Hesketh and Dutton in Warrington and then with a Mr. Cartwright in Moore. (Later he would run his own cabinet making business in Frodsham). In his spare time he was in the church choir at Daresbury and was a bellringer.
By 1911 daughters Ethel and Sarah had left home and the family now also have Cyril (4). The mother declared that one of her ten children had died previously. Albert was now qualified as a cabinet maker and Charles as a stonemason. Frank was a joiner, Arthur Gerrard was an apprentice engineer and James was working as a canal clerk.
Albert married May Dykes in early 1913 at St Lawrence’s Church in Frodsham. She was a year older than him. They had Mary Lynda in August 1914, James Richard in July 1916 and Edna in March 1920. The absent voters list at the end of the war recorded Albert as living on Main Street in Frodsham. He was a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, with the service number 84840. He served in France.
He was a member of the Cheshire Beekeepers’ Association and whilst in Frodsham he continued bellringing there.
Albert Ryder died on 29th November 1938, whilst still living at 109, Main Street in Frodsham. His funeral was held at All Saints, Daresbury, where he was interred. May died 38 years later. Albert was 54 years of age.