William Keats

1843-1879

William, his parents, siblings, half-siblings and early life:

William was born in Newbury, Berkshire, the son of Henry and Jane Keats (formerly Appleford, nee Humphries) who were married on the 12^th December 1836 at St Giles, Reading, Berkshire.

William’s father Henry was a Stonemason. He was baptised on the 7^th August 1808 in Corfe Castle, Dorset, the son of John and Sarah Keats (nee Best) who were married on the 14^th April 1800 in Spetisbury, Dorset. (John was recorded as John Keat of Corfe Castle). Henry died aged 73 on the 6^th March 1882, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 11^th March, with his wife Jane.

His mother Jane was baptised on the 1^st September 1805 at St Giles, Reading, Berkshire, the daughter of Richard and Sarah Humphries.  Jane died aged 74 on the 20^th December 1880, she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 27^th December.

Jane married Joseph Appleford (a Stonemason) on the 26^th May 1828 at St Giles, Reading, Berkshire. They had the following children:

Charles born 26^th February 1829, baptised 31^st May 1829 (Independent) Newbury

Joseph born 19^th March 1831, baptised 30^th May 1831 (Independent), Newbury

Anna baptised 9^th December 1832 at St Nicolas, Newbury

Henry baptised 22^nd June 1834 at St Nicolas Newbury

Joseph Appleford died aged 30, in 1834, he was buried on the 25^th November at St Nicolas, Newbury.

Henry and Jane also had the following children born in Newbury:

Frederic born 1838

Henry born 1841

Elizabeth c1842

In 1841 Henry (30), Jane (30), Frederic (2), Charles Appleford (12) and Anna Appleford (8) were recorded living in Northbrook Street, Newbury. (Surname recorded as Keate on ancestry)

The 1851 census records Henry (43), Jane (45), Frederic (12), Elizabeth (9) and William (7), living at 4 Harding’s Yard, Newbury.

In 1861 William (17) was recorded as a Stonemason, living at Staple’s Yard, Newbury, with his parents Henry (52) and Jane (55), his half-sister Anna Appleford (29), a Servant, his brother Frederic (22), a Carpenter and his sister Elizabeth (19)

William in later life:

William married in 1867

Marriage details:

Place: St Nicolas Church, Newbury

Date: 19^th July 1867

Groom: William Keats, aged 23, bachelor, occupation, Mason, abode, Newbury

Bride: Emma Whitehead, aged 18, spinster, abode, Newbury

Fathers: Henry Keats, a Mason and William Whitehead, a Sergeant

Witnesses: W. Whitehead and Elizabeth ? (illegible)

(Emma was born in 1849 in Newbury, the daughter of William and Hannah Whitehead (nee Lambert)

They had the following children:

A stillborn child, buried in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 28^th February 1868

Harry William born 1869 (died aged 5, as Henry William, buried in the NRC 16^th December 1874, with brother Percy John)

Frederic Augustus born 1871

Percy John born 1873 (died aged 1, buried in the NRC on the 16^th December 1874, with brother Harry William)

Ernest William born 1876

The 1871 census records William as Henry Keats (27), a Stonemason, Emma (22) and Harry William (1), living at 2, Shaw Road, Speenhamland, Berkshire.

William died aged 35 on the 12^th April 1879, he was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 18^th April (abode at time of death: 1, Magdala Terrace, Newbury)

Emma later in life:

Emma remarried on the 12^th September 1880, in St Pancras, London. Her 2^nd husband was Joseph Appleford. (Joseph was the half-brother of her 1^st husband William Keats)

Joseph and Emma had the following children:
Charles Humphries Appleford born 1881 in Camden Town London

Alice Emma Mary Appleford born 1883 in Battersea (died aged 3, buried 28^th April 1887 in Old Brompton)

Hannah Ada Appleford born in 1885 in Battersea (aka Ada Hannah)

Phoebe Elizabeth Appleford born c1888 in Battersea

Joseph Francis Appleford born 1891 in Battersea

Joseph a Police Constable, (later, an Inspector) he retired in 1890.

In 1901 Joseph (70) was recorded as a Shopkeeper living in Union Road Clapham with Emma (52), their children, Hannah (15), Phoebe (13), Joseph (9), Frederic Keats (28) and Ernest Keats (24).

Emma was widowed in 1906, Joseph died aged 74, in London

In 1911 Emma was recorded in the Brompton (Consumption) Hospital in Fulham Road, Kensington, staying with her brother and sister-in-law Henry (a Steward at the hospital) and Maria Whitehead.

Her daughter Ada Hannah married her cousin Charles Wallace Whitehead (son of Henry and Maria) in 1909. The emigrated in 1911.

Emma emigrated in 1913 to live with Charles and Ada Whitehead.

Emma died in California, USA in 1933

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