Ernest Richard Willis (1866 — 1911)

 
Ernest Richard Willis was born circa 1866 in Newbury, the son of Thomas and Hannah, nee Cox, Willis.
In the 1871 census Ernest was living at 6 Bartholomew Street in Newbury with his parents, brother Thomas aged 19 and sister Mary Julia aged 14. Thomas senior was recorded as a bootmaker employing 2 men and 1 boy while Thomas junior was a bootmaker. Ten years later in the 1881 census Ernest was recorded as a scholar residing at Christs Hospital School, Newgate Street in the City of London.
Ernest married Harriet Cox in Newbury in 1888. Harriet was born circa 1866 in Faversham in Kent.
Three years later in the 1891 census Ernest and Harriet were living at Sutton in Sussex with Ernest recorded as head schoolmaster. Later that year a son Richard was born in Sutton.
Ernest and Harriet were living at Hambledon School, Hambledon in Buckinghamshire with son Richard aged 9 in the 1901 census, with Ernest working as a schoolmaster.
Ernest died 26 February 1911 at Grafton in Wiltshire aged 44. He was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 1 March 1911. An announcement appeared in the Swindon Advertiser and North Wilts Chronicle dated 3 March 1911 which read as below.
WILLIS — February 26th, at Grafton, Wilts, Ernest Richard Willis, son of the late Thomas and Hannah Willis, of Newbury, aged 44 years.
Ernest did not leave a will but administration of his estate was granted on 6 April 1911 at Salisbury to his widow, Harriet. The value of the estate was f135 8s.
A few weeks after the death of Ernest Harriet was recorded with her son Harold aged 8 at East Grafton in the 1911 census. Her occupation was recorded as private means.
Harriet died 30 April 1936 while living in Shirley in Croydon. At the time of her death one son Richard followed his father and was a schoolmaster while the other son Reverend Harold was a clerk.
Both Ernest's parents were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery as well as two brothers and a sister. His father Thomas was buried on 16 November 1883, mother Hannah on 24 February 1896, brother William Arthur Willis on 5 February 1885, brother Thomas on 27 July 1923 and sister Mary Julia Willis on 5 October 1927.

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