George Willis (1883 – 1942)

                                    Charlotte Willis (1883 – 1956)

George Willis was born on 12 July 1883 in Newbury, the son of William and Martha, nee Taylor, Willis. He was recorded with his parents, sisters Mary Ann aged 18 and Ethel aged 5 and his brother Thomas aged 3 in Enborne Road in Newbury in the 1891 census, William was recorded a coal porter and Mary Ann a dressmaker. In the 1901 census George was recorded his parents and siblings Thomas aged 13, Frank aged 7 & Kate aged 4 living at 2 Shrewsbury Terrace, Enborne Road in Newbury, his occupation was a bricklayer’s labourer while his father William was a coal carter.

Charlotte Dean was born 13 October 1883 in Bloomsbury in London, the daughter of Henry and Jane, nee Smith, Dean. In the 1891 census Charlotte was living with her parents and four siblings at 47 Ormond Yard in Bloomsbury, her father Henry was a horse keeper. In the 1901 census Charlotte was recorded as a lodger in the Crown & Anchor, Kings Head Court in the City of London, she was a domestic servant.

In May 1901 the Newbury Weekly News reported that George was the lucky finder of a balloon which landed in City Recreation ground winning a coupon for three pounds of tea.

William and Charlotte married in 1904 in West Ham district of London.

In the 1911 census George and Charlotte were living in 4 rooms at 11 Trafalgar Place, Bartholomew Street in Newbury with daughter Ethel aged 5 who was born in Walthamstow in Essex. George was recorded as a labourer.

In the 1920 to 1924 electoral registers census George and Charlotte were resident at 3 Stargrove Villas, Kingsbridge Road in Newbury. In the 1925 register they were recorded at 50 Kingsbridge Road.

When the national register was taken in September 1939 census George and Charlotte with son Raymond, five other lodgers and two others were living at 50 Kingsbridge Road, George was recorded as a builder’s labourer and Raymond a warehouse man.

George Willis died 8 November 1942 in an accident while he was working and a trench collapsed, an inquest was held and a full report appeared in Newbury Weekly News. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 13 November 1942.

Charlotte Willis died 8 April 1956 aged 73 still living at 50 Kingsbridge Road and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 12 April 1956.

Sources: