George Taylor (1877-1953)

George Taylor was my great uncle. He was the eldest brother of my grandfather William Taylor (1890-1972). Their parents were George and Margaret Taylor, who had 12 children, 8 boys and 4 girls. Their son George was born on 16th July 1877 in Newcastle, whilst his father was serving in the Royal Artillery there. It seems that George senior took his wife and family with him to his various postings (including India in 1881) so George junior would have had a rather unsettled childhood.

George senior left the army in 1886 and the family moved to Charlton. The 1891 census shows George Taylor (aged 41, a labourer) and Margaret (36) living at 9 West Street, Charlton with their children George (14), Ernest (12), Harriet (9), Charles (6), Margaret (4) and Thomas (2) and William (10 months). Thomas died in 1898 aged 9.

By 1901 the family were living at 7 West Street, Charlton and consisted of George (aged 50, a labourer local board), Margaret (47), George (24, a covering machinist), Jane (19, a covering machinist), Charles (16, a covering machinist), Margaret (14, a daily servant), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6).

George married Kate Elizabeth Lambert on 30^th March 1902 at West Green Baptist Chapel, Tottenham. The marriage certificate shows him to be aged 25, a wood machinist. She was also 25, a daughter of Leonard Lambert who was a gas fitter. The witnesses were Charles Taylor (a brother of George) and Ada Lambert.

Marriage certificate of George Taylor

George and Kate had a son, George Edward Taylor who was born on 23^rd August 1904 in Woolwich. He was baptised on 7^th March 1905 at Holy Trinity Church, Charlton. The baptism record shows the family’s address as 18 James Street, Woolwich and George’s occupation as insurance agent. Sadly, the boy died later that year, before his first birthday.

The 1911 census shows George (33) and Kate (33, born in Dalston) living in three rooms at 6 Inverine Road, Charlton (near Charlton station). By then George was an insurance superintendent. Considering that George came from a poor background, this sounds like good career progress. They had three children, William Leonard (3), Kate Margaret Annie (2) and George Charles (1), all born in Marylebone. George Charles Taylor died in Q2 1911. Another child, Ernest Walter, was born later in 1911. He died aged 3 in 1915 and is buried in Charlton Cemetery.

6 Inverine Road, Charlton (in 2012)

The 1928 to 1939 electoral registers show George, Kate and William living at 31a Inverine Road in Charlton. In 1931 and 1932 Kate Margaret Taylor (their daughter) was living at 31 Inverine Road. She died in 1933 aged 25. The 1939 Register shows George (a builder's watchman), Kate and William at 31a Inverine Road.

William died in 1943 in Greenwich aged 35. This meant that all five of George and Kate’s children died before they did.

31 and 31a Inverine Road, Charlton (in 2012)

George and Kate lived at 31 Inverine Road from 1945 to 1950, when Kate died aged 72. She is buried in grave R / 241 in Charlton Cemetery with her children Kate and William. The kerbstones round the plot are engraved

In loving memory of our dear daughter KATE MARGARET ANNIE TAYLOR ….. ….. ….. /

Also our dear son WILLIAM LEONARD TAYLOR who died 24^th March 1943 aged 35 years / KATE E TAYLOR, a beloved wife and mother, died 5^th March 1950 aged 72.

George continued to live at 31 Inverine Road until he died in 1953 aged 75. He was buried on 7th March 1953 at Charlton Cemetery, not in the same grave as his wife and children (perhaps because it was full) but in grave Y / 735. I cannot find a probate record for him.

Samuel Taylor (1892-1952)

Samuel Taylor was a younger brother of my grandfather William Taylor (1890-1972). This profile of Samuel’s life was written with the help of Amanda Butler, who is a great grand-daughter of Samuel and is one of the matches from my Ancestry DNA test.

Samuel was born on April 24^th 1892 in Charlton, Greenwich. He was one of 12 children (8 boys and 4 girls) born to George Taylor (1849-1903) and his wife Margaret nee Smiles (1852-1917). George had left the British Army (he was a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery) in 1886 and the family set up home in West Street, Charlton, a road with poor quality housing.

The 1901 census shows Samuel living at 7 West Street, Charlton. The household consisted of George (aged 50, a labourer local board), Margaret (47), George (24, a covering machinist), Jane (19, a covering machinist), Charles (16, a covering machinist), Margaret (14, a daily servant), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6). The house that Samuel and his family lived in no longer exists, but I have a map which indicates that it was fairly small. As 8 people lived there in 1901, it must have been crowded !

Samuel’s father George died in 1903. In 1909, Samuel, aged 17, joined the Territorial Army. His attestation form (on the website Findmypast) gives his address as 7 West Street, Charlton and his occupation as a labourer at Royal Arsenal (which was nearby in Woolwich). His height was 5 foot 2 inches, chest (expanded) 32.5 inches. He was passed fit to join the army and was assigned to the 8^th London (Howitzer) Brigade. As a territorial soldier, Samuel received some initial training and 2 weeks of training each year. He was not in the army full time. He was discharged in 1913, having served the 4 years he signed on for. His discharge papers say that he was not wounded and did not take part in any campaigns during his service. They give his next of kin as his mother Margaret, 7 West Street, Charlton. She married Morris Samuels in 1911.

The 1911 census shows the inhabitants of 7 West Street to be Morris Samuels (62, a ships storekeeper’s labourer), Margaret Samuels (56), Charles (26), William (20) and Samuel (18) Taylor, all ammunition labourers (Charles at Vickers and Maxim, William and Samuel at Woolwich Arsenal).

Samuel (like other men of his age) fought in the 1914-18 World War. If he didn’t volunteer to join, he would have been conscripted into the armed forces (conscription was introduced in 1916). I can’t find a WW1 service record for him, but it may well be one of many that were destroyed by fire during the blitz in WW2.

Samuel’s mother Margaret died in 1917. That year, Samuel, aged 24, married Elizabeth Alice Taylor in Greenwich. She was born in Greenwich, aged 25, a daughter of Robert Taylor (a gas works labourer) and his wife Caroline. Samuel and Elizabeth had a son, Ronald Samuel Joseph in 1923 and another son, Edward Robert in 1926, both born in Greenwich.

The 1921 census shows Samuel, aged 29, a moulder working for Siemens Brothers in Woolwich and Elizabeth, aged 29, occupation "home duties", living at 22 Combedale Road, London SE10. The house (in Greenwich, near Westcombe Park train station) still exists, it is a mid terrace property on three floors. Samuel and Elizabeth occupied 3 rooms and presumably occupied one floor of the house.

Samuel Taylor c 1923, from a wedding photo

(the woman next to him is probably his wife Elizabeth).

The birth certificate of Ronald shows that Samuel and his wife were living at 5 Weetman Street in 1923. Samuel’s occupation is given as “engineer fitter and turner”. Electoral registers from 1924 to 1933 show Samuel and Elizabeth living at 5 Weetman Street, Greenwich. This road no longer exists but was on the western side of the Greenwich Peninsula, near the Blackwall Tunnel approach road.

By 1939, Samuel and his family were living in Croydon. The 1939 Register shows them living at 27 Croydon Grove, about 1 mile NW of central Croydon. The family consisted of Samuel (an ebonite moulder) and Elizabeth with their sons Ronald (a poster writer) and Edward (at school). Ebonite is a type of hard rubber.

Elizabeth died in 1946 aged 54 at The General Hospital, Croydon. Probate records give her address as 28 Croydon Grove. Administration (indicating that she did not leave a will) of her estate was granted to her husband Samuel, a painter, and her son Ronald, a private in the army. She left £5,030 12s 8d, which is equivalent to about £520,000 now, when calculated in relation to average wages.

Samuel died on July 17th 1952 aged 60 at Purley Cottage Hospital, Croydon. His death certificate says that he died from bronchopneumonia, but that the underlying cause was tuberculosis (a bacterial infection) in his left hip joint. It gives his address as 28 Croydon Grove and his occupation as “builder and decorator on own account.”

Samuel's will (made in 1946) appointed his sons Ronald and Edward as his executors. It left his gold dress ring to his son Edward. The two sons were left equal shares of the rest of his estate. Probate was granted to Ronald, a storekeeper and Edward, a fitter. The value of his estate was £1,519 18s 9d (equivalent to about £160,000 now).

Margaret Ellen Smith nee Taylor (1886-1970)

Margaret was a sister of my grandfather William Taylor (1890-1972). Most of the information in this item came from Sarah, a great grand-daughter of Margaret. I made contact with Sarah as a result of a match from my Ancestry DNA test.

Margaret Ellen Taylor was born on 28 December 1886 at 4 West Street, Charlton in SE London. She was the fifth of twelve children born to George Taylor (1849-1903) and his wife Margaret nee Smiles (1852-1917). George had been a Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, but left the Army in 1886. Margaret’s birth certificate describes his occupation as “sawyer”. Later records describe him as a labourer. West Street was an area of poor housing. The road is now called Westmore Street.

The 1901 census lists George Taylor (aged 50, a labourer local board), his wife Margaret (47), and children George (24, a covering machinist), Jane (19, a covering machinist), Charles (16, a covering machinist), Margaret (14, a daily servant), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6) living at 7 West Street, Charlton. Margaret’s father George died in 1903, when she was 16.

On 16 August 1910 Margaret married Alfred Charles Smith at Holy Trinity, Charlton, a church on Woolwich Road, near the junction with West Street. Margaret was aged 23, Alfred was 20, a milkman. His father was Edward Smith, a foreman joiner.

The 1911 census shows Alfred and Margaret living at 20, Alfred Street, Bermondsey. His occupation is milkman and his birth place is recorded as Staines (a town on the West side of London). They are living in just 1 room. Sometime later in 1911 they moved to Staines. Their first child, Charles Alfred Smith, was born there on 10 October 1911. They later had three more children namely Vera May Margaret (born 5 June 1913), Edith Rose (born 19 October 1915) and Edward Douglas (born 22 March 1918).

Alfred volunteered to join the army on 25 January 1915 at Kingston Upon Thames, aged 23. His occupation is recorded on the Attestation Form as engine driver and his address with Margaret was 23 Ruskin Road, Staines, Middlesex. He initially joined the Army Service Corps (source Surrey Recruitment Registers 1908-1933 and Army Record). He was based in England from 25 January to 2 September 1915 and was then sent with the Expeditionary Force to France on 3 September 1915. He had been promoted to Corporal by the time he left the Army in April 1919. His address at the time of leaving was 41 Hummer Road, Egham, Surrey.

A newspaper report shows that Alfred and Margaret attended the funeral of my grandmother Gertrude Taylor nee Wilkins, who died in 1919 of influenza.

The 1921 census shows Alfred (aged 29) and Margaret Smith (33) living in 5 rooms at 41 Hummer Road, Egham with their children Charles (9), May (8), Edith (5) and Douglas (3) plus a boarder. Alfred's occupation was pipe fitter and he worked for Austin Palmer in Egham.

In 1927/28 on the Electoral Register, Alfred and Margaret Ellen are recorded against 93 Thames Street, Staines but their actual abode was 48 Hummer Road, Egham.

Family recollection appears to indicate that Margaret Ellen was a formidable lady and could be quite a dominant figure in her household even to her husband. She was strict with her children, commanded respect and was always ready to voice her opinion on what they did, even as adults.

Electoral Registers for 1938 and 1939 and the 1939 Register show Margaret living at 32 Hurstdene Avenue, Staines with her daughter Edith. In the 1939 Register Margaret is recorded as undertaking ‘unpaid domestic duties’. Edith is a sewing machinist with a cotton clothing manufacturer. Alfred is not listed at the address. It seems likely (although I am not sure of this) that Alfred and Margaret had separated by 1938 as they were not living together.

 Margaret Ellen Smith at her daughter Edith’s marriage to Victor Offord in 1945

Margaret continued to live in the family home at 32 Hurstdene Avenue, Staines. Her daughter Edith and Edith's husband, Victor Offord also lived with her there. Google Streetview shows the house to be semi-detached, probably built in the 1920s or 1930s, in a quiet residential road.

Alfred died in 1964 aged 73 in Windsor registration district. Probate records give his address as The Bungalow, Mushroom Castle, Winkfield, Berkshire. He left no will and administration of his estate (£700) was granted to his daughter Edith.

Margaret died on 17 March 1970 at Ashford Hospital, Stanwell (near Staines) aged 83. Her death certificate gives her address as 32 Hurstdene Avenue. She is described as the widow of Alfred Charles Smith, a Clerk of Works (retired). The informant was her daughter Edith Offord, who had the same address. The main cause of death was pulmonary embolus (a blocked blood vessel in the lungs).

Probate records show that Margaret’s estate was valued at £6,000. This is equivalent to about £150,000 now, when assessed relative to the wage of the average worker. Administration was approved, indicating that Margaret left no will.

Ernest Edward Taylor (1879-1944), explosives worker

My grandfather William Taylor had nine siblings (six brothers and three sisters). However, he doesn’t seem to have had much to do with them during the latter part of his life. I am trying to find out what I can about their lives. Ernest Edward Taylor was one of my grandfather’s elder brothers.

His birth certificate shows that Ernest was born on 28^th March 1879 at Weedon Barracks, Northamptonshire. His father George Taylor was a bombardier in the 4^th Brigade, Royal Artillery. Ernest’s mother was George’s wife Margaret Taylor nee Smiles. George was posted to Woolwich, where Ernest was baptised at St Mary Magdalene, Woolwich on 26 November 1880. George was then sent to India (where his daughter Harriet Jane was born in 1881) then back to Woolwich (where his son Charles was born in 1885). I don’t know whether Ernest went to India with his parents.

It appears that George left the army in 1886 and the family moved to Charlton. The 1891 census shows George Taylor (aged 41, a labourer) and Margaret (36) living at 9 West Street, Charlton with their children George (14), Ernest (12), Harriet (9), Charles (6), Margaret (4) and Thomas (2) and William (10 months). This was an area of poor housing.

In 1900, Ernest married a local girl Annie Edith Bradley (born in Charlton) in Woolwich. He was aged 21, she was 22. The 1901 census shows them living at 74 Church Street, Woolwich. Ernest’s occupation was general labourer.

By 1911, they were living in 3 rooms at 17 Monk Street, Woolwich. Ernest, aged 32, was an explosives worker at Woolwich Arsenal. The census return says that they had one child who had died. In 1916 they had another child, Hazel Marion Florette Taylor, who was born in Woolwich. 

Electoral registers show Ernest and Annie living at 15 Woolwich Common in 1919. 

The 1921 census shows Ernest (aged 42) living at 310 High Street, Plumstead with his wife Annie (43) and daughter Hazel (5). Ernest was a “Technical foreman, explosives” at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. Also living at the address was Annie’s sister Florence Lily Atley (31), her husband William Henry Atley (27, a cable worker at Siemens Bros, electrical engineers, Woolwich) and their children William Edward (3) and Florence Lily (1). Also listed are Jane Bradley (72), Annie’s mother. Also, Ralph Edward Winter (22), who was an orphan and is described as Ernest’s adopted brother. Finally, Alice Wood (44), a visitor. The house (which is opposite St Nicholas Gardens) still exists.

The next record I can find of them is not until 1932, when Electoral Registers show Annie (but not Ernest) living at 310 Plumstead High Street. Annie and Ernest were at this address from 1935 to 1938. That year their daughter Hazel (by then of voting age) is also listed with them. She married Frank A Thouless in 1939.

The 1939 Register shows Annie living at 310 Plumstead High Street with her sister Florence Atley plus Florence's husband William and their two children. I can't find Ernest in the Register.

Ernest died on 16^th Aug 1944 in Hammersmith Hospital aged 65 and was buried in grave H / 1334 in Plumstead Cemetery. Annie died in 1953 (also in Hammersmith) aged 75 and was buried in the same grave, which has no stonework on it.

Harriett Jane Himbury nee Taylor (1881-1947)

Harriett was my great aunt, she was an elder sister of my grandfather William Taylor. This profile of her life contains some information and photos supplied by Christine Hughes, her granddaughter.

Harriett was born on December 21st 1881 in India, while her father George Taylor, who was a soldier in the Royal Artillery, was serving there. Her mother was Margaret Taylor nee Smiles. Harriett was the fourth of their ten children (seven boys and three girls). The GRO index of regimental births spells her name as Harriet, but most other documents that refer to her record it as Harriett, so this is what I shall call her. Harriett was baptised on January 22nd 1882 in Nowgong, a town which was an important centre during British rule of India. Nowgong is in central India, 550 km SE of New Dehli. The baptism record says that George Taylor was a Corporal.

George left the army in about 1886 and moved to Charlton (in SE London). The 1891 census shows George Taylor (aged 41, a labourer) and Margaret (36) living at 9 West Street, Charlton with their children George (14), Ernest (12), Harriett (9), Charles (6), Margaret (4) and Thomas (2) and William (10 months). From their address and George’s occupation, it seems that the family didn’t have much money.

By 1901 the family were living at 7 West Street, Charlton and consisted of George (aged 50, a labourer local board), Margaret (47), George (24, a covering machinist), Harriett Jane (19, a covering machinist), Charles (16, a covering machinist), Margaret (14, a daily servant), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6). Margaret’s father died in 1903 aged 54.

Harriett married Edwin Alfred Himbury on August 18^th 1910 at All Saints Church, Plumstead. They were both aged 28. Edwin was born in Woolwich and was a milkman. The 1911 census shows the couple living at 141 Sellincourt Road, Tooting and Edwin as a “milk roundman”. Electoral registers show them at 137 Sellincourt Road in 1913 and 1915.

Harriett and Edwin in 1910

Edwin joined the army on 12^th November 1915 to fight in the war. As this was before conscription was introduced, he must have volunteered. By then he had three children, Edwin Terence (1911-99), Percy (1913-69) and Lucy Gertrude (1915-2000).

Edwin Alfred, Percy, Edwin Terence, Harriet Jane and Lucy Gertrude Himbury in 1915.

Edwin was wounded in the leg during the war, but survived and was discharged from the army in 1919. He moved to 86 Princes Road, Plumstead where he and Harriett had three more children, Alma Margaret (1920-82), Leslie John (1921-83) and Frank Leonard (1923-99). 

The 1921 census shows Edwin (aged 38), Harriett (39), Terence (9), Percy (8), Lucy (6) and Alma (1) Himbury at 86 Princes Road. Edwin was a general labourer in the Royal Artillery Stores at Kidbrooke.

Apparently Harriett was a strong character. She was quite small but ruled her household with an iron fist ! She kept her sons in order and also told her husband what to do.

Electoral registers show Edwin and Harriett at 86 Princes Road until 1938 (when their children Edwin and Percy were also listed here).

The 1939 Register records that Edwin (a fitter's labourer) and Harriett were living at 68 Charlton Park Lane in Charlton. The 1945 Electoral Register shows that shows that their son Frank and his wife Alice were also living at this address.

Harriett died in 1947 aged 65 at St Alfege’s Hospital, Greenwich. She was buried in Charlton Cemetery. The grave (Q / 62) has kerbstones which are inscribed

In loving memory of a dear wife and mother, HARRIETT JANE HIMBURY who died 5^th July 1947 aged 65 years.

In loving memory of Dad, EDWIN ALFRED HIMBURY who died 10^th August 1965 aged 83 years.

The grave of Harriett and Edwin Himbury (in 2012)

Probate records state that authority for administration of Harriett's estate (£296) was granted to her husband Edwin, a retired armourer’s assistant. The fact that probate was required shows that she had some money registered under her own name. Edwin continued to live at 68 Charlton Park Lane until he died in 1965. He was buried in the same grave as his wife.

William Taylor (1890 - 1972), confectioner and tobacconist

William Taylor was my grandfather. He was born on 28 June 1890 at 4 West Street, Charlton in SE London, the seventh of nine children born to George and Margaret Taylor (nee Smiles). George had been a driver in the Royal Artillery. His first child was born in Newcastle, his third in Bengal, East India, his second and fourth in Woolwich. It seems likely that these places were his army postings. By the time of William’s birth he had left the army and was a general labourer. William’s birth certificate shows that his mother, who came from Newcastle, was illiterate. West Street was in an area where poor people lived.

The 1901 census shows George Taylor (aged 50, a labourer), Margaret (47) living at 7 West Street, Charlton with their children George (24), Jane (19), Charles (16), Margaret (14), William (10), Samuel (9) and May (6). The 1891 census shows two additional children namely Ernest (b 1878) and Thomas (b 1888).

William’s father died in 1903. His mother married Morris Samuels in 1911. The census that year shows the family still living at 7 West Street. The household consisted of Morris Samuels (62, a ships storekeeper’s labourer), Margaret Samuels (56), Charles (26), William (20) and Samuel (20) Taylor, all ammunition labourers (Charles at Vickers and Maxim, William and Samuel at Woolwich Arsenal). The census return says that there were 4 rooms in the dwelling. It must have been crowded in 1901 when there were 9 people living there !

On 26 May 1912 William married Gertrude Amy Wilkins at the Holy Trinity Church, New Charlton. They were both aged 22. William’s occupation was a labourer at the Royal Arsenal. Gertrude was the eighth child of nine born to Henry William Wilkins, a dining house keeper, and Jane Wilkins nee Cornwell, who was born in Kelvedon, Essex.

Gertrude and William on their marriage day (1912)

William and Gertrude later had three children, Eric William who was born in 1913, Vera Gertrude born in 1916 and Ronald Albert born in 1918.

William and Gertrude’s address on 31 August 1913 when their eldest son Eric was born was 22A George St, Woolwich Dockyard. George Street is now called Woolwich Church Street and the building occupied by William no longer exists. Number 22A was on the south side of the road, close to the junction with Prospect Place (now called Prospect Vale). It is about half a mile from West Street, where William grew up. The Kelly’s Directories for 1912, 1913 and 1914 list “William Taylor, newsagent”, at 22A George Street. However, William’s occupation is listed as “Labourer, Royal Arsenal” on both Eric’s birth certificate issued on 29 September 1913 and on the record of Eric’s baptism at Holy Trinity Church, New Charlton on 19 October 1913.

World War I started in 1914 and the Royal Arsenal was very busy making munitions and equipment for the army. By 1916 William and Gertrude had moved to 503 Abbey Road, Abbey Wood where Vera was born on 22 February 1916. Her birth certificate shows that William registered the birth. His occupation is “Labourer Royal Arsenal”. The house was close to Abbey Wood Station and no longer exists. A section of the terrace that contained 503 was demolished sometime after 1958 (the house appears on a map of this date). The site of 503 is now an access road to a car park. However, house number 505 still exists, showing what 503 looked like.

Military conscription was introduced in 1916 and on 15 February 1917 William was called up. His enrolment paper gives his address as 51 Charles Street, Woolwich, age as 26 and 6 months and trade as “explosive worker”. His height was 5 feet 6 inches and chest 32 ½ inches. He joined the Army Service Corps, who had various tasks including transporting supplies for the army. William’s army record states his rank was Driver (the ASC equivalent of Private). Most of William’s army service was in the UK. His conduct sheet says that he was at an army camp in Blackheath in 1917. In October that year he committed the offence of being absent from camp and was awarded a punishment of 5 days CB (confined to barracks). He committed the same offence in November and this time got 14 days CB. He got 7 days for another offence in December 1917. William was posted to France on 13.7.18, leaving Southampton on the SS Nirvana, which arrived at Le Havre the following day. He seems to have been unwell for most of the time he was in France until the end of the war. He was admitted for treatment of dysentery on 17.8.18 and again on 15.9.18. He was ill with diarrhoea on 31.10.18. The war ended on 11.11.18 but William was not demobilised from the army until 29.5.19. I have William’s campaign medals, which were the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. They are engraved on the rim with his name and service number T-292600.

I have an embroidered birthday card which says inside “From Bill with love to my wife Gert xxx.” It is labeled “Made in France” and so could have been sent by William while he was still abroad in January 1919 waiting to be demobilised (Gertrude’s birthday was 1 February).

In 1919 Gertrude and her children were still living at 51 Charles St, Woolwich, which was the address of her older sister Ethel Suter nee Wilkins (b1881), whose husband (a coal merchant) had died in 1914. Ethel had a daughter, Doris (b1903), and a son, Herbert (b1906). Herbert Suter died of influenza on 12 February 1919 aged 12. William’s wife Gertrude also caught the disease. William was granted leave on the 15^th February to come home but she died on 19^th February 1919, aged 29. Gertrude’s death certificate says that William was present at her death. Herbert and Gertrude were both buried in Plumstead cemetery, victims of the influenza pandemic that killed many millions of people across the world.

William and his children continued to live at 51 Charles St, Ethel Suter’s house, after Gertrude’s death. According to a family story, Ethel threatened to stop looking after the children if William did not marry her. On 30^th November 1920 William married Ethel Suter at Woolwich Registry Office. He was 30, a labourer at the Royal Arsenal and she 38. The witnesses were Ethel’s eldest brother Albert Wilkins and his wife Beatrice (known to my parents as “Aunt Beat”). William and Ethel had a daughter, Betty Ethel Taylor, who was born 31^st December 1921. 51 Charles Street was renamed 16 Brewer St in that year. The house was at the northern end of Brewer Street, not far from St Mary’s Church. The site of the house is now occupied by John Wilson Street, a dual carriageway that forms part of the South Circular Road (A205). Ethel died on New Year's Day 1933 aged 51 and was buried in Plumstead Cemetery in the same grave (which is unmarked) as William's first wife Gertrude. Probate records state that Ethel Taylor of 16 Brewer Street, Woolwich (wife of William Taylor, a coffee stall keeper) died on 1st January 1933 at St Nicholas Hospital, Plumstead. Administration of Ethel's estate (£407 14s) was granted to William. The fact that probate was needed shows that Ethel held some money (probably from her first husband) in her own name.

From 1934 to 37 the electoral registers show William and his children at 105 Brookhill Road, Woolwich. The house was close to the junction with Angelsea Road. Its site is now occupied by the garden of a block of flats. The 1935 and 1938 Post Office directories show that William ran a confectioner’s shop at this address. His occupation is given as “Shop Keeper” on the marriage certificate of his daughter Vera, who married on 11 September 1937.

My father told me that William used to act as an unofficial bookmaker as a sideline. Vera recalled that money was often in short supply, but when the family could afford it, they would get dressed up and go to the greyhound racing at Catford.

William married a third time in 1938 to Eleanor Mary Bateman nee Peall (known as Nellie). He was aged 47 and she was 43. Nellie had four children from a previous marriage. They were Victor (Vic born 1923), Constance (Connie born 1924), Clare (known as Midge) and Peter (twins born in 1931) Bateman.

The family (including my father, then aged 25) moved to 116 Sandy Hill Road, Woolwich in 1938. The house was rented (it was owned 1958-72 by the Reverend Howard AG Belben of Sheffield and the rent was £75 pa). It had a confectioner’s shop at the front which William and Nellie ran. There was a school nearby which was a good source of customers.

The 1939 national register shows William (a labourer doing munitions work) living at 116 Sandy Hill Road with his wife Eleanor and sons Eric (a general grade assistant  working for the London County Council) and Ronald (a grocery porter). Also living at the address was Eleanor's daughter Constance (a glass operative) and one person born after 1918 (presumably William's daughter Betty).

William stayed in Woolwich during the Second World War. The area was heavily bombed because the Royal Arsenal was located in the town.  I have his air raid shelter ticket, which was issued on 3 Feb 1941 and gives his occupation as shopkeeper. He seems to have worked as a clerk in 1944 as this is his occupation given on my father’s marriage certificate in February 1944.

  

The electoral registers show Nellie’s sister, Clara Goodchild, her husband and son living with William and Nellie at 116 Sandy Hill Road in 1945. Nellie’s daughter Constance (Connie) is recorded as an occupant in 1946 and 1947. Nellie’s son Victor is listed from 1947 to 1951.

Betty, William’s daughter, got married in 1946. The marriage certificate records William as a witness and his occupation as tobacconist.

London Post Office directories for 1940 to 1955 have entries for Mrs W Taylor, Confectioner at 116 Sandy Hill Road. There is no entry for 1956 onwards, indicating that William and Nellie closed the shop in 1955 (when William reached the age of 65).

I remember visiting Grandad and Nellie at Sandy Hill Road with my parents when I was a teenager in the 1960s. We entered the house by the back door, which was along an alleyway. Grandad and Nellie would be huddled over a small coal fire in their lounge, a rather dingy room. Grandad didn’t say much. My sister Evelyn’s memories are “I remember Grandad as a rather scary old man always smoking very thin and wispy roll your owns. I didn’t really like going to their house, which was long and thin and dark. The closed shop at the front was a fascination and there were always piles of cigarettes in big boxes on the piano. The most interesting thing was a bath in the kitchen covered by a large marble slab to make it a worktop. We were not allowed to go upstairs. I liked going out into the back garden, which was bright and sunny after the gloom inside. It was mainly vegetables with lots of little paths between the beds, which were nice to walk round. Auntie Nellie was a large motherly lady who spoke with a country burr of an accent.” Vera’s daughter Valerie remembers playing cards with Grandad on her visits to Sandy Hill Road and rolling cigarettes for him.

Nellie and William c1965

William had ulcers on his legs towards the end of his life, which restricted his mobility. He died on 14 January 1972 aged 81 at the Brook Hospital, Greenwich. The cause of death was bronchopneumonia and cerebral thrombosis. He was cremated on 25 January 1972 at Eltham Crematorium. He died without making a will and so his estate (£1035) passed to his wife, who died in August the same year aged 77.

The house at 116 Sandy Hill Road is still there, although the shop front has been changed to a window. The school building opposite has been converted into housing.