Henry Butler (1799 – 1874)

                                    Hannah Willis (1810 – 1888)

Henry Butler was born circa 1799 in Newbury. He married Hannah Legg on 8 March 1832 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Hannah was born circa 1810 in Newbury.

In the 1841 census Henry and Hannah were living in Newtown Road in Newbury with Henry recorded as a gardener’s labourer.

Ten years later in the 1851 census Henry and Hannah were living in Bartholomew Street in Newbury with Henry now recorded as a gardener. Henry and Hannah remained living in Bartholomew Street for the next 20 years, in the 1861 census they were living at number 74 and in 1871 at number 32. Henry also continued to work as a gardener.

Henry died on 30 December 1874 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 4 January 1875. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 7 January 1875 as below.

BUTLER – Dec. 30, at Newbury, Mr. Henry Butler, gardener and seedsman, aged 75.

Hannah remarried on 12 October 1876 at Newbury parish church to a widower William Willis. William had married Martha Marshall on 19 October 1836 at St Nicolas in Newbury. Martha had died on 17 March 1876.

Hannah and William were living in Northcroft Lane in the 1881 census. William had no occupation but he was recorded as being paralysed.

William Willis died on 15 February 1882 and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 18 February. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 2 March 1882 as below.

WILLIS – Feb. 15, William Willis, of Newbury, aged 65 years.

Hannah Willis died on 18 February 1888 in Newbury and was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 22 February 1888. She left a will and probate was granted on 23 June 1888 at Oxford to Joseph Smith, an accountant of Northbrook Street. The value of the estate was £181 11s 6d.

No trace of any children for Henry and Hannah.

Author: Gerald Soper
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