Sarah Ann Willis (1823 – 1860)

Frederick Samuel Willis (1845 – 1852)

Unnamed Willis (1859 – 1859)

Sarah Ann Clements was born circa 1823 in Newbury, the daughter of William and Mary, nee Gale, Clements. She was recorded in the 1841 census with her parents and siblings William, Charlotte, Sophia, Joshua and James living in West Mills in Newbury.

Sarah married Charles Willis on 17 February 1844 at St Mary in Speenhamland. Charles was born circa 1817 in Newbury and was a widower, his first wife Jane had died in November 1848 in Newbury. A son Frederick Samuel was born in Newbury in 1845 and then in 1848 a daughter Sarah Jane.

In the 1851 census Charles and Sarah were living in Bartholomew Street in Newbury with two children of their own, Frederick Samuel aged 6 and Sarah Jane aged 2 along with three children from Charles’s first marriage, Edwin aged 15, Ellen aged 12 and Charles aged 10. Charles was recorded as a tailor.

 Frederick Samuel Willis died in June 1852 aged only 7, He had been visiting his grandmother at West mills and drowned in the canal (see Newbury weekly news article death from drowning).  He was buried on 2 July 1852 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

 In 1852 Sarah and Charles had another daughter Fanny followed by a son William in 1854 and then a daughter Rosa Sophia in 1856.

 In 1859 Sarah and Charles had another daughter who died very young before she was named. She was buried on 6 October 1859 at Newtown Road Cemetery.

 Saran Ann Willis died in January 1860 aged 36 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 6 January 1860.

 In the 1861 census Charles and three of his children were living in Westminster in London. Ten years later Charles and his new wife Elizabeth and two children from his marriage with Sarah, William and Rosa, were living at 10 West Street in Reading. Charles was still a tailor. Charles died January 1878 and was buried on 28 January 1878 at London Road Cemetery in Reading.

 Sarah’s parents were also buried at Newtown Road Cemetery, her father William Clements on 9 March 1863 and her mother Mary on 8 June 1872.

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