Charles Ryder was born on 29th August 1882 at Aston-by-Sutton and baptised there on 24th September that year. He was the son of James Ryder (born Aston-by-Sutton) and his wife Sarah Elizabeth (nee 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 and 8-year old Charles had younger siblings Albert (6), Ethel (4), Sarah (2) and Frank (6 months). All three brothers would serve in the Great War.
Ten years later the family were living in Newton Lane and also had James (8), Arthur Gerrard (5) and Tom(2). They would also serve in the Great War. James lived with his uncle and aunt. Charles had left school and was employed as a stonemason’s apprentice. Albert was working as a cabinet maker’s apprentice.
By 1911 the two daughters of the family had left home and the family now also had Cyril (4). The mother declared that one of her ten children had died previously. Charles was now qualified as a mason and worked for his father, Albert was now a qualified cabinet maker, Frank was a joiner, Arthur was an apprentice engineer and James was working as a canal clerk. They were living in the Newton Bank area of Newton-by-Daresbury.
Charles served in the Royal Field Artillery and had the service number 159586. At the end of the war he was recorded as an absent voter whose home address was Newton Lane Cottages in Newton-by-Daresbury.
In early 1920 Charles married Ethel Sanderson at Runcorn. She was five years younger than him. They had one son, John, who was born in August 1921 and a daughter Sheila who was born in 1927.
Charles’ mother died in July 1930 and was buried at Daresbury.
His father died in September 1937, at Rose Cottage, Newton-by-Daresbury and was also buried at Daresbury. Charles had taken over the stonemason’s business from James Ryder.
The 1939 Register showed Charles living at The Square, Chester Road in Daresbury village. He was employed as a bricklayer. Ethel was a housewife (“unpaid domestic duties”). Their son John was an apprentice bricklayer. Sheila would still be at Daresbury School. Also living with them was Ethel’s father, Henry Sanderson, who was a widowed domestic gardener.
During World War Two, Charles was an air raid warden.
In his spare time he enjoyed gardening and won many prizes at local shows. He was also a pigeon fancier and a member of the local Rifle Club. He was a bellringer at the church and sang in the church choir when he was younger.
Charles Ryder died on 13th January 1956 in Daresbury. He was still living at The Square. He was 73 years of age.