Thomas Willis (1824 — 1883)  
Hannah Willis (1820 — 1896)  
William Arthur Willis (1854 — 1855)

Thomas Willis was born circa 1824 in Newbury. In the 1841 census he was recorded with his mother Mary Willis, brother Richard aged circa 15 along with sisters Judith aged 14 and Mary aged 9 at Mary Hill in Newbury. Thomas was a shoe maker's apprentice, his mother Mary a domestic servant and Richard a painter.
Thomas married Hannah Cox in 1846 in Newbury. Hannah was born circa 1820 in Fosbury in Wiltshire. She was baptized on 29 October 1820 at Fosbury the daughter of Henry and Sarah.
In the 1851 census Thomas and Hannah were living in Cheap Street in Newbury with a visitor Louisa Willis aged 13, who was probably related to Hannah as she was also born in Fosbury. Thomas was recorded as a cordwainer (a shoe maker who new shoes from new leather).

Just after the census a son Thomas was born in Newbury followed by another son William Arthur in 1854 and a daughter Mary Julia in 1856. Sadly, William Arthur died aged only 9 months and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 5 February 1855.
A few years later in the 1861 census Thomas and Hannah were living at 6 Bartholomew Street in Newbury with son Thomas aged 9 and daughter Mary Julia aged 4. Thomas was recorded as a master bootmaker employing 2 men and 4 boys. Thomas and Hannah with children Thomas and Mary Jane were still living in the same house in 1871 along with another younger son Ernest Richard aged 4. Both Thomas senior and junior were bootmakers with Thomas senior employing 2 men and 4 boys.
In the 1881 census Thomas and Hannah were still living in Bartholomew Street in Newbury with son Thomas aged 29 and daughter Mary Julia aged 24. Both Thomas senior and junior were bootmakers and Mary Julia a dressmaker.
Thomas died 11 November 1883 while living at Raymond's new Almhouses and he was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 16 November 1883. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 18 November 1883 which read as below.

WILLIS — Nov. 11, at Raymond's new Almhouses, Newbury, Thomas Willis, in his 60th year.
Hannah was living with her son Thomas and daughter Mary Julia in the 1891 census at 135 Bartholomew Street with Thomas recorded as a bootmaker.

Hannah died 19 February 1896 while still living in Bartholomew Street and she was buried at Newtown Road Cemetery on 24 February 1896. An announcement appeared in the Newbury Weekly News dated 27 February 1896 which read as below.

WILLIS — Feb. 19, at 134 Bartholomew Street, Newbury, Hannah, the widow of the late Thomas Willis, aged 77.

All four children of Thomas and Hannah were buried at Newtown Road Cemetery. Sons William Arthur on 5 February 1885, Ernest Richard on 1 March 1911 and Thomas on 27 July 1923 and daughter Mary Julia Willis on 5 October 1927.

Author: soper
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