Robert Willis (1795 — 1878) 

Eliza Willis (1798 — 1888)  
Robert Willis was born circa 1795 in East Woodhay, the son of William and Sarah Willis. He was baptized on 19 July 1795 at St Martin in East Woodhay.
Robert married Eliza Dopson on 9 April 1822 at St Mary in Kintbury. Eliza was born circa 1798 in Kintbury, the daughter of Francis and Mary, nee Palmer, Dopson. She was probably baptized on 6 May 1798 at St Mary in Kintbury as Elizabeth Dopson.
In the 1841 census Robert and Eliza were living in Nutley's Yard, Bartholomew Street in Newbury with children Sarah aged 15, William aged 13, Elizabeth aged 9, Ann aged 4, Hannah aged 3 and Louisa aged 2. Robert was recorded as an agricultural labourer.
Ten years later in the 1851 census Robert and Eliza were living at 3 Tovey's Yard in Newbury with daughters Ann aged 17, Hannah aged 14 and Louisa aged 11. Robert was recorded as a day labourer general.
Robert and Eliza were living at 4 Union Chapel Yard, Bartholomew Street in Newbury in the 1861 census with daughters Ann aged 25 and Hannah aged 23 along with grandson William Brock aged 12 and granddaughter Elizabeth Willis aged 3, recorded as daughter's child. Robert was recorded as a bricklayer's labourer with Ann a laundress as was Hannah.
In another ten years in the 1871 census Robert and Eliza were living at 4 Porter's Yard, Bartholomew Street in Newbury with granddaughter Sarah Ann Willis aged 6. Robert was recorded as a labourer.
Robert died 24 January 1878 while still living at Porter's Yard and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 30 January 1878. He was recorded as being aged 87 although if he was baptized soon after birth he would have been only 83. His implied year of birth did vary considerably from the age given in each census. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 31 January 1878 which read as below.
WILLIS — JAN. 24, at Porter's Yard, Newbury, Robert Willis, aged 87 years.
Eliza was living with her daughter Louisa Lipscombe and her husband William and two of their children at West Mills in Newbury in the 1881 census. Eliza was recorded as an annuitant.
Ten years later in the 1891 census Eliza was living at Kennett Court in West Mills with her now widowed daughter Louisa Lipscombe and two of her daughter's children. An article appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 11 Ort‘ry 1897 reporting a Mrs. Willis of Kennett Court was the oldest inhabitant of Newbury aged 97. It also mentioned a few more details as below.


She is an interesting old lady, for, in spite of being paralysed and bed-ridden, she can do fancy needlework without the aid of spectacles. She has had ten children, three of whom are living, and has seventeen grand-children and nine great grandchildren.
Eliza died August 1898 and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 24 August 1898. She was recorded as being aged 97 although if she was baptized soon after birth she would have been 100. As with Robert her implied year of birth did vary considerably from the age given from census to census.

Author: soper
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