Hello.
You are SURE this was your grand mother's birth name?
Not married name?

I have checked familysearch, freebmd and findmypast 1851 census.

Lots of Bickerdykes in North Yorks, but no Ruth born 1845.

There seems to be a particular family centered at Knaresborough, which isn't too far from Harrogate, but Richmond is some distance from there.

Good luck...........

Hello again, I was thinking........

I found a marriage of a Ruth Bickerdyke
Marriages Dec quarter 1872 9b 86
Bickerdyke Ruth Ann Bradford, Yorks.
to either, Thomas Burniston or Eli KILLERBY at Bradford, Yorks.

Although she doesn't show up with either surname in the 1881 census.

But if you ask for a copy of her marriage cert quoting the reference above, you will get details of possibly a second marriage, with her first married name AND the name of her father.

Fingers crossed it is the correct Ruth. Please let us know.
Good luck..............

Ruth BICKERDYKE/BICKERDIKE

Births Jun 1852 (>99%)
Bickerdike Ruth Ann Leeds 9b 323

on 1891 census her brother Richard is with her along with her husband Eli Killerby his father and their children.

Name: Eli Killerby
Age: 43
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1848
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Ruth A Killerby
Father's name: Saml Killerby
Gender: Male
Where born: Bradford, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Manningham
Ecclesiastical parish: St Marks
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status:

View image

Registration district: Bradford
Sub-registration district: Bradford West End
ED, institution, or vessel: 24
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 3631
Folio: 33
Page Number: 21
Household Members:
Name Age
Eli Killerby 43 born 1848 Bradford
Ruth A Killerby 39 born 1852 Leeds Yorkshire
Saml Killerby 17
Maria Killerby 13
Wilfred Killerby 11
Jas Wm Killerby 6
Alice S Killerby 3
Saml Killerby 76 father born 1815 Bradford
Richd Bickerdike 34 brother in law b 1857 Leeds

all children born Bradford.

1861 Census Ruth Ann, Richard and family

Name: Ruth Ann Bickerdike
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1852
Relation: Daughter
Father's name: James Bickerdike
Mother's name: Maria Bickerdike
Gender: Female
Where born: Leeds, Yorkshire, England

Civil parish: Hunslet
Ecclesiastical parish: St Mary
County/Island: Yorkshire
Country: England

Street Address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

View image

Registration district: Hunslet
Sub-registration district: Hunslet
ED, institution, or vessel: 10
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 160
Piece: 3366
Folio: 100
Page Number: 33
Household Members:
Name Age
James Bickerdike 34 born Woodhouse Yorkshire
Maria Bickerdike 34 born Leeds Yorkshire
John Bickerdike 10
Ruth Ann Bickerdike 9***
Harriet Bickerdike 7
Richard Bickerdike 5** brother on 1891 Census
William Bickerdike 1

all children born in Leeds

I hope this helps you.

Hi
I've been studying Bickerdike's for the last couple of years as it was my maiden name and I'm now doing a one name study.
I think your grandmother was Ruth Thackray, born in 1849 in Malton, she was the third wife of James Bickerdike, I suspect his other wive's died in childbirth. Ruth and James were married for many years, they had 4 children, James already had 3 surviving children from his previous marriages. James lived in Richmond for a few years, some of his children were born there. James and Ruth moved up to Stockton in County Durham, he worked for the North Eastern Railway company at that time.
James died in 1911, Ruth in 1927.
If this all sounds right, have a look at my website www.bickerdike.tribalpages.com look for Ruth Thackray in the index (there are about 2,000 Bickerdikes so its easier to find wives. If you're still not sure its the right family leave me a message and I'll see what I can do, but James was the only family in Richmond at that time.
Hope this helps
Margaret