Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Henry SILVERSON (1850-1935)

and Eliza STILLAWAY (1846-1908)

Henry Silverstone married my 2x Great Grandmother Eliza Stillaway on 5 December 1874 at the parish church of St. Peter's in Henfield, Sussex.  (Click here to see their place in my pedigree chart.)  They were both of full age and of Henfield.  Henry was  a bachelor and labourer.  Eliza was a spinster.  The witnesses to the marriage were Arthur Silverson and Emily Parsons.  (Arthur was Henry's younger brother.)

Henry Silverson, also known as Harry Silverson, was born in the third quarter of 1850 at Bilsborough, Woodmancote, Sussex.  He was the sixth child and fourth son of John Silverson (1816-1884) and Rebecca Parsons (1817-1854).  I have checked the Woodmancote baptism register and can not find his baptism.  He did have elder siblings baptised there in 1840, 1842 (twins) and 1844.

Henry was only 3½ when his mother died and 10 years old when his father remarried.  He was able to sign his name.  In 1861 he was a scholar living at Bilsborough with his father, step mother and siblings.  In 1881 Henry and family were living at Bulls in Henfield, and in 1891 they were at The Common in Henfield.  By 1901 they were living in Woodmancote and Harry was a builder's labourer.

Henry died aged 84 years on 24 January 1935 at Blackstone, Woodmancote.  His cause of death was intestinal obstruction and vomiting.  His death was registered by his son-in-law A. H. Bucket who had been in attendance.  He was buried in Woodmancote on 28 January 1935.

Henry was my mother's step great grandfather and she had had her 12th birthday 2 days before he died and yet she does not remember hearing anything about him or meeting him, nor does she remember having been told of his death and doesn't think her parents went to his funeral.  My mum doesn't remember anyone by the name of Bucket.  During WW2 my mum was in the land army and for a while worked on a farm in Woodmancote and yet doesn't remember anyone telling her that she had relatives who had lived there or even living there at the time.  She knew there was a Silverson connection, but didn't know how.

Eliza Stillaway was born on Wednesday 5 August 1846 in Henfield, Sussex.  She was the only daughter of Samuel Stillaway (c1814-1887) and Ruth Woolgar (1821-1858) - an elder sister died as an infant.  Her mother registered her birth on Friday 4 September 1846 and did so with her X mark.  Her father was then an agricultural labourer.  Eliza was baptised on Sunday 11 October 1846 in the parish church of Henfield.

Eliza's mother died 3 weeks after Eliza's 12th birthday, when the family were living at Bulls in Henfield.  Eliza's only brother was then 14 years old.  The family had also been living at Bulls when the 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881 census were recorded, which was about 2 miles south easterly of the parish church.  In 1861, Eliza's maternal Grandfather and his second wife were also living in the Stillaway household.

Eliza gave birth to illegitimate twins in July 1866 so presumably she met their father sometime before October 1865, but who was he and what became of him?  Could he have been William Silverson, a twin himself, born in 1842 and elder brother of Henry Silverson?  In 1861 the Silverson family were living at Bilsborough in Woodmancote, which was about 2 miles north easterly of the Stillaway home.  William Silverson had left the area by the time of the 1871 census and was living with his wife Charlotte in Eckington, Derbyshire.

Eliza's brother married in 1870 and when the 1871 census was recorded she was living with her father, young son and maternal grandfather.  On 7 September 1872, Eliza and future husband Henry were witnesses to the marriage of his brother John Silverson to Eliza Parsons.  John was the twin brother of William.

Three months after Eliza and Harry married their first child was baptised.  I don't, for the moment, know if Eliza attended school, but she was unable to sign her name.

Eliza died aged 61 years on Tuesday 4 August 1908 at Blackstone, Woodmancote (one day short of her 62nd birthday) and was buried on Saturday 8 August 1908 in Woodmancote.  Her cause of death was malignant disease of the abdomen, vomiting and haemorrhage from rectum.  Her death was registered by her husband Harry Silverson, a farm labourer.

When the 1911 census was recorded, Harry was a 60 year old widower and farm labourer living in Blackstone, along with 2 of his children and 26 year old single visitor, Archibald Buckett who was a journeyman butcher.

 Eliza Stillaway and Unknown had twins:

1. William Stillaway, my Great Grandfather, was born at 12 noon on Sunday 29 July 1866 at Bulls in Henfield.  He married Lily Dowlen in 1892.  (They have their own page.)

2. Eliza Stillaway was born and baptised on 29 July 1866 in Henfield and buried there on 19 September 1866 aged 6 weeks.  (I don't know which twin was the elder, but William's name was recorded first in the baptism register.)

Henry Silverson and Eliza Stillaway had 7 known children:

1. George Silverson was baptised on 14 March 1875 in Henfield.  His birth was registered in the first quarter of 1875 in the Steyning registration district.  He was described as an idiot in the 1891 census return.  He died aged 24 years in Shoreham, Sussex and was buried on 28 March 1899 in Woodmancote.

2. Harriet Silverson was baptised on 22 May 1876 in Henfield and buried there on 24 May 1876 aged 1 day.

3. John Silverson was baptised on 9 December 1877 in Henfield.  He was killed in action, aged 40, on 18 August 1917 in Belgium.  At the time his wife was living at 23 Chapel Road, Fishersgate, Sussex.  He was then a sapper with the Royal Engineers, 477th Field Coy Special Brigade.  (In 1920, John's half brother William Stillaway and family were living in St. Andrew's Road, Fishersgate, not far from Chapel Road.)  When the 1891 census was recorded, John was a wheelwright's apprentice.  By 1901 he was an unmarried carpenter living with his parents in Blackstone village. 

   John married Ellen Buckman by banns on 9 July 1910 in the parish church of Woodmancote.  He was then a 32 year old bachelor and carpenter.  She was a 25 year old spinster.  They were both of Woodmancote.  The witnesses to their marriage were Mary Ann Silverson and Thomas George Buckman.  They were married by the Rector, Edward Winterbottom. 

   Ellen, also known as Nellie Buckman, was born in 1885 in Woodmancote and was the daughter of Henry Buckman (1846-1897) and Ellen Silverson (1851-1914).  (Ellen Silverson was a cousin of John's father.)  Ellen died aged 73 years and her death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1957 in the Worthing registration district.

   At the time of the 1911 census the couple were living at 2 Blackstone Street, Blackstone.  John was then a 32 year old carpenter and Ellen was 26.

   John and Ellen had the following child:

   1. Ada M Silverson was born in the second quarter of 1912 in the Steyning registration district.  She died aged 68 years and her death was registered as Molly Ada Skinner in the third quarter of 1979 in the Brighton registration district.  She may have been the Mollie Ada Silverson who witnessed the marriage of Joshua Machin and Margaret Stillaway on 4 February 1933 in Southwick.

      As Mollie Ada Silverson she may have married Harold E. H. Smart in the third quarter of 1933 in the Steyning registration district.  (Harold was also a witness to the marriage of Joshua and Margaret.)  As Mollie A. Smart she married John T. Skinner in the fourth quarter of 1948 in the Worthing registration district.

      Harold Edward H. Smart was born in the second quarter of 1905 in the Steyning registration district.  He died aged 41 years and his death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1946 in the Worthing registration district.

      Mollie and Harold had the following child:

      1. John H. Smart was born in the fourth quarter of 1935 in the Worthing registration district.

4. Arthur Silverson was born in the third quarter of 1879 in Henfield.  He was baptised on 10 August 1879 in Henfield, at which time his father was a labourer of Henfield.  Arthur died aged 75 at East Kentwyns in Woodmancote and was buried on 7 May 1955 in Woodmancote.  In 1901 he was an unmarried carpenter living with his parents in Blackstone village. 

   Arthur married Bessie Charlotte Mary Cooper on 25 June 1904 in Woodmancote.  He was then a 25 year old bachelor and carpenter of Woodmancote.  She was a 23 year old spinster of Woodmancote.  They were married by the Rector, Edward Winterbottom.  The witnesses to the marriage were William Henry Cooper, Richard Arthur Thomas Cooper and Annie Silverson.  They all able to sign their names.

   Bessie was baptised on 26 September 1880 in Woodmancote and was the daughter of William Cooper (1846-1915) and Maria Gander (1848-?).  Her father was a painter at the time of her baptism.  (Maria's brother George Gander married Jane Silverson in 1879.)  Bessie died aged 105 years in September 1985.

   When the 1911 census was recorded Arthur was a 31 year old carpenter and Bessie was 30.  They and their daughter were living with Bessie's parents in Blackstone.

   Arthur and Bessie had 4 children:

   1. Eva Nellie Silverson was born on 22 July 1905.  She died aged 74 years and her death was registered in the third quarter of 1979 in the Brighton registration district.  She was 5 years old at the time of the 1911 census.

      Eva married Frederick William Cecil Scutt in about May 1931 (not in the Woodmancote parish church).  Their marriage was registered in the second quarter of 1931 in the Cuckfield registration district.

      Frederick was born on 17 July 1903 in Hassocks, Sussex and was the son of Frederick Scutt (1863-1938) and Ellen Louise Hawkes (1862-1916).  He died aged 77 years and his death was registered in the third quarter of 1980 in the Worthing registration district.

      Frederick and Eva had the following children:

      1. Donald B. Scutt married Barbara M. White

      2. Carole M. Scutt married David C.A. Mitchell

   2. Richard William Arthur Silverson born in the first quarter of 1909.  He died aged 13 months in Blackstone and was buried on 25 February 1910 in Woodmancote.

   3. Bessie Beatrice Silverson was born in the fourth quarter of 1911.

      Bessie married Stanley J. Dow in the second quarter of 1942 in the Cuckfield registration district.

      Stanley John Dow was born on 30 June 1916.  He died aged 71 years and his death was registered in December 1987 in the Worthing registration district.

   4. Roy Edwin Silverson was born on 12 September 1920 and died aged 72 years in 1993.

      Roy married Marion Olive Lamb in 1955.

      Marion was born on 30 December 1928.  She died aged 76 years and her death was registered in August 2005 in the Brighton registration district.

5. Annie Silverson was born in the fourth quarter of 1881 in Henfield.  She was baptised on 12 February 1882 in Henfield.  In 1901 she was living in Hove, Sussex and was a then a domestic cook.

   Annie married Ernest William Robinson on 26 August 1905 in Woodmancote.  He was then a 25 year old bachelor and labourer of Newhaven, Sussex.  She was a 23 year old spinster of Woodmancote.  They were married by Edward Winterbottom, Rector.  The witnesses to their marriage were John Silverson and Mary Ann Silverson. 

   Ernest was born about 1880 in Felpham, Sussex.  He was the son of Thomas Robinson (c1842-1901) and Ann Parsons (c1844-?).  His father was a labourer and farm bailiff.  In 1901 Ernest was living in Newhaven and working on the railway.

   When the 1911 census was recorded the couple and their daughter were living at 6 Albert Road, Littlehapton.  Ernest was then a 31 year old railway guard and Annie was 29.

   Annie and Ernest had the following children:

   1. Annie Winifred Robinson was born about 1907 in Newhaven.  She was 4 years old at the time of the 1911 census.

   2. William G. Robinson was born in 1912.

6. Samuel Silverson was born in the fourth quarter of 1883 in Henfield.  He was baptised on 9 March 1884 in Henfield.  He died aged 73 years at Wychwood Farm Cottages in Shermanbury and was buried on 26 October 1957 in Woodmancote.  In 1901 he was a farm labourer living with his parents, and in 1911 he was a 27 year old single gardener living with his father in Blackstone.

   Samuel may have married Lucy Newman.  The banns were published at St. Peter's in Woodmancote on 30 March 1913.  Lucy was then of Twineham.

   Lucy was born about 1888 in Twineham and was the daughter of Charles Newman (c1849-?) and Mary (c1853-?).  When the 1901 census was recorded she was 13 years old and living in Twineham with her parents and siblings.

   Samuel married for a second time on 12 June 1940 in Woodmancote to Gladys Louisa Newman.  He was then a 56 year old widower and gardener of 2 The Street, Blackstone.  She was a 40 year old spinster and housekeeper of Lychetts in Woodmancote.  The witnesses to the marriage were Mary Newman and Archibald Henry Buckett.  They were married by the Rector, Hector Sykes MacLean.  They all signed their names.

   Gladys was born about 1900 and was the daughter of Frank Newman who had died before 1940.

7. Mary Anne Silverson was born on 6 March 1886 and baptised on 9 May 1886 in Henfield.  She died aged 84 years and her death was registered in the second quarter of 1970 in the Chanctonbury registration district.  She was living with her parents when the 1901 census was recorded.  In 1911 she was living with her father and she was an unmarried 25 year old housekeeper.  She was known as Aunt Minn to her nephews and nieces.

   Mary Ann married Archibald Henry Buckett on 5 June 1911 in Woodmancote.  He was then a 26 year old bachelor and butcher of 11 Belgrave Street in Brighton.  She was a 26 year old spinster of Blackstone in the parish of Woodmancote.  The witnesses to the marriage were Ernest Buckett, Susan Stillaway and John Stillaway.  They were married by the Rector of Twineham, ?. W. Michell, junior.  All were able to sign their names.

   Archibald was born in the fourth quarter of 1884 in the Brighton registration district.  He was the son of George Buckett (c1851-?) and Emily Hope (c1850-?).  George was described as a deceased verger on Archibald and Mary Ann's marriage certificate.  Archibald died aged 84 years and his death was registered in the fourth quarter of 1968 in the Chanctonbury registration district.  When the 1901 census was recorded Archibald was a 16 year old butcher living in Brighton with his parents and siblings, 17 year old Ernest and 7 year old Emily.  His parents had married in the second quarter of 1879 in the Lewes registration district and in 1881 they were living at 26 Market Street, Brighton and George was then an eating house keeper.  George was born in Warash, Hampshire and Emily in Lewes, Sussex.  In 1911 he was a visitor in the home of soon to be father-in-law, and he was then an unmarried 26 year old journeyman butcher.

   Archibald and Mary Anne had the following children:

   1. Gladys M. Buckett was born in the fourth quarter of 1912.

   2. Archibald Ernest Buckett was born on 28 June 1913.  He died aged 83 years and his death was registered in February 1997 in the Worthing registration district.

   3. Doris K. Buckett was born in 1914.

1911 Census - Blacksone, Henfield, Sussex (4G13PN5232 RG78PN231 RD80 SD4 ED6 SN73) Enmueration district 6 (transcript)

Harry Silverson, Head, Widower, M, 60, Farm Labourer, born Woodmancote, Sussex

Samuel Silverson, Son, Single, M, 27, Gardener, born Henfield, Sussex

Mary Ann Silverson, Daughter, Single, F, 25, Housekeeper, born Henfield, Sussex

Archibald Buckett, Visitor, Single, M, 26, Journeyman Butcher, born Brighton, Sussex

1911 Census - 2 Blackstone Street, Blackstone, Henfield, Sussex (RG14PN5232 RG78PN231 RD80 SD4 ED6 SN57) Enumeration District 6 (transcript)

John Silverson, Head, Married, M, 32, Carpenter, born Henfield, Sussex

Ellen Silverson, Wife, Married, years married under one, F, 26, born Henfield, Sussex

1911 Census - Blackstone, Henfield, Sussex (RG14PN4232 RG78PN231 RD80 SD4 ED4 SN72) Enumeration District 6 (transcript)

Willean Cooper, Head, Married, M, 65, House Painter, born Henfield, Sussex

Maria Cooper, Wife, Married, years married 40, F, 62, born Woodmancote, Sussex

Arthur Silverson, Son in law, Married, M, 31, Carpenter, born Henfield, Sussex

Bessie Charlotte Mary Silverson, Daughter, Married, years married 6, F, 30, born Woodmancote, Sussex

Eva Nellie Silverson, Grand Daughter, F, 5, born Woodmancote, Sussex

Sara Beatrice Gumbrell, Visitor, Single, F, 28, Housemaid Domestic, born Shermanbury, Sussex

1911 Census - 6 Albert Road, Littlehampton, Sussex (RG14PN5348 RG78PN239 RD84 SD2 ED4 SN229) Enumeration District 4 (transcript)

Ernest William Robinson, Head, Married, M, 31, Railway Guard, born Yapton, Sussex

Annie Robinson, Wife, Married, years married 5, F, 29, born Henfield, Sussex

Annie Winifred Robinson, Daughter, F, 4, born Newham, Sussex

SILVERSON          STILLAWAY