William George Stillman (1864 – 1931)

      Kezia Stillman (1862 – 1934)

William George was born in Newbury in 1864 the son of Arthur Septimus and Clara Louisa (nee Batten) Stillman. He was recorded with his parents and siblings in the 1871 and 1881 census at 13 West Fields in Newbury. In 1881 he was recorded as a whitesmith apprentice.

Kezia Davis was born 1862 in Newbury the daughter of Thomas and Kezia (nee May) Davis. She was recorded with her parents and siblings in the 1871 and 1881 censuses residing at The City in Newbury.

William and Kezia married on 7 May 1887 at St James in Tunbridge Wells. William was recorded as a gas and water engineer and Kezia as a bootmaker with both residing at 22 Western Road.

In the 1891 census William and Kezia were living at 27 Albion Road in Tunbridge Wells with son Arthur Edward aged two. William was recorded as a gas, hot and cold water fitter. William and Kezia were still living at the same address in the 1901 census along with three sons, Arthur, William George aged eight and Hubert aged two. William was now recorded as a heating and lighting engineer.

In September 1907 an article appeared in the local paper, Kent and Sussex Courier, stating that the son William George was head boy of St James School and had won a scholarship for a period of three years at the Technical School at the Polytechnic Institute in Regent Street in London.

While living in Tunbridge Wells William was involved in setting up a business Stillman and Stonham on Mount Ephraim. A notice appeared in Kent and Sussex Courier on 8 October 1909 stating that the partnership had been dissolved.

In the 19111 census William and Kezia were living at Church House, 1 West Mills in Newbury with son Hubert aged thirteen with William recorded as a heating and lighting engineer.

In 1911 William was appointed parish clerk of St Nicolas in Newbury becoming the fourth member of the Stillman family to have held this office in a continuous line going back to 1827 when his grandfather George was appointed.

William’s son Arthur Edward assisted his father when he left school before emigrating to Canada where he married Rena Belle Dunham on 3 September 1912 in Leeds, Ontario. On 29 May 1914 Arthur was on board Express of Ireland on his way to Newbury to visit his family when the ship sank in the mouth of the St Lawrence river and Arthur drowned.

William died 27 January 1931 at the Peebles Nursing Home in Newbury and was buried 31 January 1931 at Newtown Road Cemetery. He left a will and probate was granted 24 February 1931 at Oxford to his widow Kezia and son Hubert, a plumber. The value of the estate was under £569 15s 3d. The burial register for William recorded he had been verger from 1911 to 1931. He had been recorded in the electoral register until 1930 at Church House, 1 West Mills and Kezia was still recorded there in 1931.

Kezia died 7 March 1934 while living at 13 West Mills in Newbury and was buried 10 March 1934 at Newtown Road Cemetery. She left a will and probate was granted on 5 April 1934 at Oxford to her son Hubert. The value of the estate was £798 19s 8d.

Author: Gerald Soper
© Gerald Soper