Fred Willis (1848 – 1926)

                                    Jane Willis (1846 – 1918)

Henry John Willis (1882 – 1882)

Fred Willis was born in 1848 in Melksham in Wiltshire, probably the son of Ann Willis who was born circa 1828 in Melksham. He was recorded as Frederick with his grandfather Joseph Willis aged 63 and his daughter Ann aged 23 in Melksham in the 1851 census, Joseph was recorded a farm labourer and Ann a factory burler (somebody who removes loose threads, knots and imperfections from cloth). In the 1861 census Frederick was recorded as a lodger living in Twerton in Somerset his occupation was a labourer in a cloth mill.

Jane Owen was born in 1846 in Melksham, the daughter of Charles and Caroline, nee White, Owen. In the 1851 census Jane was living with her parents, brother John aged 3 and sister Amelia aged 1 in Melksham, her father Charles was a white smith and her mother Caroline a power loom weaver. Caroline died in Melksham in 1860. In the 1861 census Jane was living with her father Charles and his new wife Elizabeth plus various siblings and step siblings in St Mary Street in Chippenham. Her father Charles was a mechanic moulder while Jane was a general servant and her brother John a labourer to a bricklayer.

Fred and Jane married in 1868 in Reading, he was recorded as Frederick in the marriage record although he used the name Fred after the marriage. A few years later in the 1871 census Fred and Jane were living as lodgers at 38 Charles Street in Reading with Fred a carpenter’s labourer. A daughter Alice Maria was born in Reading later in 1871 followed three years later by a son Arthur William.

The family then moved to Newbury as a son Albert George was born there in 1878 followed by Edward Charles in 1880. In the 1881 census Fred and Jane were living at 1 Railway Terrace in Newbury with children Alice, Arthur, Albert and Edward, Fred was a railway labourer pointerman.

Another son Henry John Willis was born circa March 1882 but sadly died aged only 7 months and was buried on 5 October 1882 at Newtown Road Cemetery. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News of 5 October 1882 which read as below.

WILLIS – Oct 2, at Railway Terrace, Newbury, Henry John, child of Fred Willis, aged 7 months.

Two more sons followed Ernest Owen in 1886 and Walter Frank in 1888. In the 1891 census Fred and Jane were still living at 1 Railway Terrace along with children Alice, Albert, Edward, Ernest and Walter with Fred recorded as a railway labourer and Alice as a dressmaker.

In the 1901 census Fred and Jane still resided at 1 Railway Terrace along with sons Ernest and Walter with Fred recorded as a railway signalman and Ernest as a GWR porter.

Ten years later in the in the 1911 census Fred and Jane were still living at 1 Railway Terrace along with sons Ernest and Walter with Fred recorded as a signal linesman, Ernest a goods shunter and Walter a railway clerk.

Jane Willis died on 17 June 1918 aged 72 still living at 1 Railway Terrace and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 20 June 1918.

Fred Willis died 6 January 1926 aged 77 still residing at 1 Railway Terrace and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 9 January 1926. 

Author: Gerald Soper
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