Henry Willis (1872 – 1923)

Henry Willis was born in 1872 in Newbury the son of Robert and Caroline, nee Brown, Willis.

Henry was not recorded with his parents in the 1881 census, perhaps an error by the enumerator as Henry would have been aged 9 and his brother George aged 6 but the enumerator recorded George as aged 9 so perhaps he recorded Henry’s age and George’s name.

In the 1891 census Henry was living with his parents Robert and Caroline at 5 Speen View Terrace, Russell Road in Newbury along with his brother George aged 16 and sisters Caroline aged 14 and Alice aged 9. Robert was recorded as a shoemaker, Henry a shoemaker’s apprentice, George a cabinet maker’s apprentice and Caroline a dressmaker’s apprentice.

Ten years later in the 1901 census Henry was recorded with his brother George and sister Caroline at 67 New Park Road in Streatham. Henry was a boot maker, George a carpenter and Caroline a dressmaker.

By the time of the 1911 census Henry had moved back to Newbury and was living at 5 Speen View Terrace with his mother Caroline and brother Robert. Henry and Robert were both recorded as bootmakers and Caroline was recorded as a housekeeper but this entry had been crossed out.

In the 1921 electoral registers Henry was recorded at 5 Speen View Terrace along with his brother Robert and a Martha Willis. A year later in 1922 Henry and Robert were recorded at 22 Russell Road.

Henry Willis died in July 1923 aged 51 and was buried on 10 July 1923 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

Henry’s parents were both buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, his father Robert Willis on 29 April 1908 and his mother Caroline Willis on 28 February 1930.

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