William Stillman (1820 – 1874)

                              Elizabeth Stillman (1809 – 1888)

William Stillman was born in Newbury between circa 1815 and 1820 according to the ages recorded in the censuses and burial records. Similarly Elizabeth Gosling was born between 1809 and 1817 in Newbury.

William and Elizabeth married in Q3 1840 in Newbury.

In the 1841 census William and Elizabeth were living with in Bartholomew Street in Newbury with William recorded as a shoe maker.

Ten years later in 1851 William and Elizabeth were living in Wash Road in Newbury with son William aged 6 and daughters Susan aged 4 and Ada aged 2 along with a house servant. William was now a shoe maker and beer seller. They were still living in the same road in the 1861 census with six children, Susan aged 14, Ada aged 12, Thomas aged 9, Catherine aged 7, Lucy aged 5 and Edward aged 2. William was a shoe maker (master).

Their daughter Catherine died September 1864 and was buried in Newtown Road Cemetery on 19 September 1864 aged 11. Just over a year later daughter Susan Margaret died and was buried 22 September 1865 at Newtown Road Cemetery. Then just over ten months later daughter Lucy died and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 27 July 1866 aged 9.

In the 1871 census William and Elizabeth were recorded living at Old Road in Newbury with son Thomas aged 18. William and Thomas were both recorded as shoe makers.

The Newbury Weekly News edition of 30 April 1874 announced the death of William “STILLMAN April 28 at Wash Road, Newbury, after a short and painful illness, Mr. William Stillman, aged 54.” William was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 2 May 1874.

Elizabeth and her son Thomas and his wife Sarah and son Herbert aged 10 months were living at Old Road in St Johns in Newbury in the 1881 census. Thomas was recorded as a bricklayer.

The death of Elizabeth Stillman was announced in the Berkshire Chronicle of 7 April 1888. “STILLMAN March 29 at Old Newtown Road, Newbury, Elizabeth Stillman, widow of William Stillman, of Wash Road, Newbury, aged 79.” Elizabeth was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 April 1888.

Sources: as above