Find Ancestors

Born circa 1829, Barnstaple, Devon. Died 1898. Married twice or once and lived in sin aftewards ! Mary ? had at least 6 children Rhoda 1846 the earliest I've found. Then went off with one of his servants, Rosa Richardson b.1853 and had 5 children (that I know of). He was a gold beater by trade and lived in London, 5 children by Rosa were born in Islington. I am having problems finding a baptism or indeed at what point he left Devon. I'm slightly amused that there was a Henry within both sets of children. I will check back tomorrow, very tired now ! Goodnight and thank you.

Not quite gone.. The earliest recording I can think of off the top of my head is the 1851 census, this states he is from Barnstaple. The transcription also says he's a widower, he's not, that's a transcription error. The address is Kirby Street, Liberty of saffron Hill, Holborn.

So, already in London by 1851

1851 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Kirby Street, Liberty of Saffron Hill, Holborn, London & Middlesex, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Henry Williams Head Widower Male 26 1825 Gold Beater Barnstaple, Devon, England
Mary Williams Wife Married Female 29 1822 - -
Rhoda Williams Daughter - Female 5 1846 Scholar St Andrew's, Middlesex, England
Henly Williams Son - Male 3 1848 - St Andrew's, Middlesex, England
William Williams Son - Male 1 1850 - St Andrew's, Middlesex, England
Mary Williams Daughter - Female 0 1851 - St Andrew's, Middlesex, England
Frederick Walker Servant Unmarried Male 15 1836 Gold Beaters App St Andrew's, Middlesex, England
Mary Ta Servant Unmarried Female 16 1835 House Servant St Andrew's, Middlesex, England

Mary born Farcet, Huntingdon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farcet

Farcet is a village and civil parish in Cambridgeshire, England. Farcet lies approximately 2 miles (3 km) south of Peterborough City Centre, between Yaxley and the Peterborough suburb of Old Fletton. Farcet is situated within Huntingdonshire which is a non-metropolitan district ...

Yes, by the 1861 census he claims to be from Exeter... Not close by in relative terms..

??
Name: Mother's Maiden Surname: Order:
WILLIAMS, RHODA WILBER Order
GRO Reference: 1846 M Quarter in THE HOLBORN UNION Volume 02 Page 169

Holborn RD covers St Andrews Holborn

View London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1932

Name: Henry Williams
Gender: Male
Record Type: Marriage
Marriage Date: 24 Mar 1844
Marriage Place: St George, Bloomsbury, Camden, England
Father: Henry Williams
Spouse: Mary Wileber
Register Type: Parish Register

from image - Both of full age. Bachelor and spinster.
He is a Gold Beater of 50 Great Wild Street. Father Henry Williams a Stationer
She of 31 King Street, Father John Wileber a Farmer

both signed.
Witnesses - George Simmonds and Margaret Cha - - y

For our reference -


1861 - he's a coffee house keeper ??


Henry Williams
in the 1861 England Census
Name: Henry Williams
Age: 34
Estimated birth year: 1827
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Mary Williams
Gender: Male
Where born: Exeter, Devon, England
Civil Parish: St Pancras
Ecclesiastical parish: St Stephen
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Registration district: Pancras
Sub-registration district: Camden Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors:
Household schedule number: 118
Piece: 116
Folio: 116
Page Number: 17
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Williams 34
Mary Williams 39 - Fancett, Huntingdonshire
Henry Williams 13
William Williams 8
Charles Williams 5
Arthur Williams 4
Mary Williams 10
Fredrick Crockford 21


But a gold beater again by 1871:

Henry Williams
in the 1871 England Census
Name: Henry Williams
Age: 42
Estimated birth year: abt 1829
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Mary Williams
Gender: Male
Where born: Exeter, Devon, England
Civil Parish: St Pancras
Ecclesiastical parish: St Stephen
County/Island: London
Country: England
Registration district: Pancras
Sub-registration district: Camden Town
ED, institution, or vessel: 7
Household schedule number: 358
Piece: 232
Folio: 73
Page Number: 51
Household Members:
Name Age
Henry Williams 42
Mary Williams 46 - Peterborough, Yorkshire
Charles Williams 16
Arthur Williams 13
Rosa Richardson 17
Hannah Richardson 15

In 1881 and 1891 his birthplace is also Exeter - so that's the general consensus apart from in 1851.

1861 England, Wales & Scotland Census
13, Kings Road, Pancras, St Pancras, London & Middlesex, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Henry Williams Head Married Male 34 1827 Coffee House Keeper Exeter, Devon, England
Mary Williams Wife Married Female 39 1822 - Fancott, Huntingdonshire, England
Henry Williams Son Unmarried Male 13 1848 - London, Middlesex, England
William Williams Son Unmarried Male 8 1853 - London, Middlesex, England
Charles Williams Son Unmarried Male 5 1856 - London, Middlesex, England
Arthur Williams Son Unmarried Male 4 1857 - London, Middlesex, England
Mary Williams Daughter Unmarried Female 10 1851 - London, Middlesex, England
Fredrick ... Lodger Unmarried Male 21 1840 Plasterer London, Middlesex, England
\
------------------------------------------
Back to a gold Beater by 1871 and Rosa is now with the family


1871 England, Wales & Scotland Census
Kings Road, St Pancras, London & Middlesex, England


First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Henry Williams Head - Male 42 1829 - Devon, England
Mary Williams Wife - Female 46 1825 - Yorkshire, England
Charles Williams Son - Male 16 1855 - Middlesex, England
Arthur Williams Son - Male 13 1858 - Middlesex, England
Rosa Richardson Servant - Female 17 1854 - Middlesex, England
Hannah Richardson Servant - Female 15 1856 - Middlesex, England

Mary now from Peterboro in Yorkshire !!

His year of birth varies from 1825 (in 1851) to 1833 (in 1891).

1881 England, Wales & Scotland Census
1, Southampton Terrace, Islington, London & Middlesex, England.

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Henry Williams Head Married Male 50 1831 Gold Beater Exeter, Devon, England
Rosina Williams Wife Married Female 30 1851 - London, Middlesex, England
Henry Williams Son Single Male 6 1875 Scholar London, Middlesex, England
Annie Williams Daughter Single Female 2 1879 - London, Middlesex, England

----------------------
WILLIAMS, HENRY THOMAS RICHARDSON Order
GRO Reference: 1874 D Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 01B Page 302

Possibly Mary in 1901, with garbled POB ???
On image it looks like Trancutt, Hunts (not Hants as in transcription).


Mary Williams
in the 1901 England Census
Name: Mary Williams
Age: 80
Estimated birth year: abt 1821
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Trancute, Hampshire, England
Civil Parish: Friern Barnet
Ecclesiastical parish: All Saints
County/Island: Middlesex
Country: England
Street address:
Registration district: Barnet
Sub-registration district: Finchley
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Neighbors:
Piece: 1235
Folio: 110
Page Number: 7
Household schedule number: 56
Household Members:
Name Age
Mary Williams 80

Looks good AG - pob reads Farcett in 1891 for both her and Harriet

1891 England, Wales & Scotland Census
May Villa, Oakleigh Road, Friern Barnet, Barnet, Middlesex, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Sex Age Birth year Occupation Birth place
Mary Williams Head Married Female 70 1821 Monthly Nurse Huntingdonshire, England
Harriet Thompson Niece Single Female 52 1839 Monthly Nurse Retired Huntingdonshire, England

Still no closer to finding Henry's beginnings !!

As well as Rhoda -

Name: Mother's Maiden Surname:

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM HENRY WILEBER Order
GRO Reference: 1847 D Quarter in ST JAMES CLERKENWELL Volume 03 Page 99 Order

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM WILEBER Order
GRO Reference: 1849 S Quarter in HOLBORN UNION Volume 02 Page 143 Order

WILLIAMS, MARY ANN WILEBER Order
GRO Reference: 1851 M Quarter in HOLBORN Volume 02 Page 179

WILLIAMS, WILLIAM WILEBER Order
GRO Reference: 1853 J Quarter in ST PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 128 Order

WILLIAMS, CHARLES WILEBER Order
GRO Reference: 1855 M Quarter in ST PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 154

WILLIAMS, ARTHUR WILEBER Order
GRO Reference: 1857 M Quarter in ST PANCRAS Volume 01B Page 148 Order

That's me done for tonight.

Just because I found it in my out-of-the-box searching ............

England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975

Name: Mary Wilaber
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 29 Jun 1820
Baptism Date: 4 Aug 1820
Baptism Place: Independent,Yaxley,Huntingdon,England
Father: John Wilaber
Mother: Mary Allen
FHL Film Number: 0596903 (RG4 1109)

no image

Thanks for all the replies, good to have his wife's maiden name, another line to search ! I guess it's going to take a while to find his roots. I wondered if he was of Welsh extraction, calling his daughter Rhoda... Rhoda Williams seems to have been a popular name in Cymru.

On second thoughts his first wife isn't my family line so perhaps I won't bother with that path !