William Henry Butler (1840 – 1874)

William was born in 1840 in Newbury, the son of Henry and Mary Ann, nee Blackwell, Butler. He was recorded with his parents in the 1841 census, Henry was a gardener. Ten years later in the 1851 census William was still living with his parents at Shaw Lane in Newbury along with his sister Sophie aged 7 and brothers Charles aged 5 and Samuel aged 1 with Henry still recorded as a gardener.

In the 1861 census William was still living with his parents in Stroud Green along with his brothers Charles aged 15 and Samuel aged 11 and sisters Alice aged 8 and Harriet aged 5. His occupation was recorded as bookbinder, his father Henry still a gardener, mother Mary Ann a laundress and brother Charles a printer.

Ten years later in the 1871 census William was recorded living as a servant at 17 Grosvenor Square in Westminster, his occupation was butler.

William married Sarah Eliza Davis on 6 September 1871 at St John the Evangelist in Newbury. In the marriage records William was recorded as a house steward living in Benenden in Kent. Sarah was born in 1844 in Windsor, the daughter of Williaam and Sarah.

Samuel James Butler, brother of William died on 4 July 1873 in an accident at Kings Cross station in London and although he was not buried in Newtown Road Cemetery there is an inscription commemorating him on William’s grave.

William died 18 May 1874 at Woodbine Villa in Greenham and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 May 1874. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 21 May 1874 as below.

BUTLER – May 18, at Woodbine Villas, Greenham, eldest son of Henry and Mary Ann Butler, aged 33, late house steward to the Right Hon Gathorne Hardy. M.P.

A report of the burial also appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 21 May 1874 as below.

The funeral of the late Mr. W. H. Butler took place yesterday at Newbury Cemetery. Having been an oddfellow he was followed to his last resting place by several members of the order.

William also left a will and probate was granted on 10 June 1874 to his widow and sole executrix Sarah Eliza at the Principal Registry. He was recorded as formerly of Raith House in Kirkcaldy in Fife and afterwards at Hemsted Park, Staplehurst in Kent but late of Woodbine Cottages in Greenham. The value of the estate was under £800.

Sarah remarried on 8 August 1877 at St Marylebone in Westminster to Charles Henry Chevens. She was recorded with Charles in the 1881 and 1891 censuses at 146 Marylebone Road in Westminster which was a boys brigade building and her occupation was matron. In 1901 she was a widow residing at 190 Belsize Road in Hampstead with son Bernard and daughter Rose along with a servant and living on her own means. She died on 11 January 1906 while living at 95 Elgin Mansions, Elgin Avenue in Marylebone.

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