Ancestors of Mandy Willard

Felix WILLARD (1864-1949)

and Isabella MITCHELL (c1861-1903)

and Esther WYATT (c1875-1956)

Felix Willard married twice.  Firstly to Isabella Mitchell on 3 January 1885 at St. Andrews parish church in Portslade-by-Sea, Sussex.  He was then a 21 year old bachelor and labourer.  She was a 24 year old spinster.  They were both of Portslade-by-Sea.  Isabella's father's name was not recorded on their marriage certificate.  The witnesses to the marriage were Louisa Mitchell and John Willard.  He then married Esther Wyatt in the third quarter of 1908 in the Epsom registration district.  (They were not my direct ancestors.  Felix was the brother of my Great Grandfather, William Charles Willard (1866-1950).)

Felix Willard was baptised on 19 June 1864 in Greatham.  At the time his father was a labourer of Greatham.  He was the third son and fourth child of George Willard (1835-1902) and Mary Wedge (1840-1911).  He died aged 85 years and his death was registered in the third quarter of 1949 in the North Eastern Surry registration district.

Isabella Mitchell was born about 1861 in Brighton, Sussex - her birth was registered in the first quarter of 1861 in the Brighton registration district as Isabella Mitchell.  So far, I have not found her baptism.  She was the daughter of William Mitchell (1830-1918) and Christiana Abigail Elliot (1830-1917).  She died aged 42 years in the fourth quarter of 1903.  At the time of the 1861 census she was a 3 month old visitor at 45 Baker Street, Brighton, the home of Eliza Turner a 53 year old widow.  When the 1871 census was recorded she was a 10 year old boarder living at 102 Edward Street Court, Brighton, the home of Arthur Thompson, aged 48 and his 31 year old wife Harriet and their 4 children aged between 2 and 11.  Also boarding in the household were 7 year old Louisa Mitchell and 3 year old Fanny Mitchell.  I have not found her in the 1881 census.

Esther Wyatt was born about 1875 in Carshalton, Surrey.  Her death may have been registered in the third quarter of 1956 in the Surrey N.E. registration district as Hester Willard, aged 81 years.

In 1891 the family were living at 43 Abinger Road, Portslade and by 1901 they were at 9 Bampfield Street, Portslade-by-Sea.  Felix was then a labourer.  I struggled to find Felix in the 1911 census but eventually found him as Filex who had been born in Gritton!  He was then a 44 year old farm labourer living in Mitcham, Surrey, along with his 36 year old wife Esther, and their son and 2 children from his previous marriage. 

Felix Willard and Isabella Mitchell had 9 known children:

1. Daisy May Willard was born in the second quarter of 1885 in Portslade.  In 1901 she was a 16 year old laundress living at home with her parents and younger siblings.  She may have married in the first quarter of 1911 in the Epsom, Surrey registration district to either Arthur Gilbert or William G. Taylor (the other bride was Maude King).

2. Alice Louisa Willard was born on 2 July 1886 and baptised on 1 August 1886 in Portslade.  When the 1901 census was recorded she was a 14 year old domestic servant living in the home of Edward Wyndham at 78 Tisbury Road, Hove.

   Alice had 2 known illegitimate sons:

   1. George William Willard was born on 30 August 1905 in Fishersgate and baptised on 5 November 1905 in Portslade.

   2. Arthur Charles Willard was born on 25 April 1911 in Kingston-by-Sea, Sussex.  He died in August 1995 in Croydon and was buried there with his second wife.  He was a grocer's assistant/storeman.

      Arthur first married Nellie Gunner in about 1935, possibly 26 December, in Fleet, Hampshire.  They divorced in about 1947.

      Nellie was born on 21 October 1908 and died in August 1985.  She was the daughter of William Gunner (1884-1952) and Ellen Patey (1877-1967).  Arthur and Nellie had 1 son.

   Alice married William George Truebridge in 1912 in Portslade-by-Sea.  He was born in 1881 in Eastbourne, Sussex and was the son of George James Truebridge and Sarah Jane Hunt.

3. George William Willard was baptised on 5 August 1888 in Portslade.  In 1901 he was 13 years old.

4. John Frederick Willard was born in the fourth quarter of 1890 in Portslade.  He was 10 years old in 1901.

5. Albert Edward Willard was born on 14 August 1892 and baptised on 6 November 1892 in Portslade.  He was 8 years old in 1901.  In 1911 he was a 19 year old single farm labourer, lodging in the home of 41 year old widower Arthur Robert Broadhurst, a hairdresser and his 4 children, at 24 St. John's Road, Carshalton, Surrey.

   I am grateful to Claire who came upon the following whilst helping to computerise WW1 army recruiting books:

   Regiment:  East Surrey Regt; Willard, Albert Edward; age 20 yrs 11 months; height 5' 71/2"; chest (expanded) 341/2"; weight 124lbs; complexion fresh; eyes blue; hair fair; scar on right wrist; occupation farm labourer; member of 5/ESR territorials; b. Portslade Sussex; attested 12th Aug 1913 at Kingston on Thames; remarks - E. Weller, Provisions Merchant, 9 Grand Parade, Epsom (this was probably a character referee and implies that he was living in or near Epsom).  (Ref.:  West Surrey History Centre, Woking, Volume 38, page 15.)

   I have checked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site and it would seem that Albert Edward survived the First World War.

6. Mary Elizabeth Willard was born in the fourth quarter of 1894 in Portslade.  In 1901 she was 6 years old.

7. Charlotte Ethel Willard was born in the third quarter of 1897 in Portslade.  The 1901 census records that she was 4 year old Ethel Willard.  As Ethel Charlotte Willard she was sent to Canada in 1905 as a Barnardo's child (ref. Ivan Dyer).

   Many thanks to Aaron David Hill for providing the following details and names of Charlotte's children and grandchildren.

   Charlotte married Raymond Kimble in about 1917.  He was from Bobcaygeon, Ontario, Canada.

   Raymond and Charlotte had 7 children:

   1. Ruby Kimble died as a child of scarlet fever.

   2. Grace Kimble

   3. Alice Kimble

   4. Willard Kimble

   5. Sady Kimble

   6. Don Kimble

   7. Elsie Kimble married Victor Van Allen.  Before her marriage she had a daughter who was given up for adoption.

      Victor and Elsie had the following children:

      1. Peter Scott Van Allen

      2. Charlotte Gail Van Allen married David Earl Hill.

      3. Vickie Van Allen

      4. Ranne Van Allen

      5. Shirley Van Allan

8. Archibald Clement Willard was born on 22 August 1899 in Portslade.  He died aged 82 years and his death was registered in the third quarter of 1981 in the Sutton, Surrey registration district.  The 1901 census records that he was 2 year old Archie Willard.  In the 1911 census transcript his name may have been recorded as Elmer Willard who was 11 years and had been born in Portslade.  On 24 March 1917 an Attestation form was completed by Clement Archibald Willard was was born on 22 August 1899.  He was then of 2 Providence Place, Epsom, Surrey and was enlisted into the Machine Gun Corps.

   As Clement A. Willard he married Dorothy C. Archer in the second quarter of 1924 in the Epsom registration district.

   Clement and Dorothy had the following son:

   1. Gordon Alfred Willard was born on 13 Ocobter 1924 and his birth was registered in the Epsom registration district.  He died aged 68 years and his death was registered in November 1992 in the Brighton registration district.  The supplement to the London Gazette from 1 January 1958 recorded that Detective Sergeant Gordon Alfred Willard of the Metropolitan Police was seconded to the Cyprus Police Force.

9. Nellie Willard was born about 1902 in Portslade.  She was 9 years old in 1911 and living with her father and step mother in Mitcham, Surrey.  Her birth may have been registered in the fourth quarter of 1901 in the Steyning registration district as Ellen Emmeline M. Willard.

Felix Willard and Esther Wyatt had 3 known children:

10. William Charles Willard was born in the fourth quarter of 1909 in Carshalton, Surrey.  He was a year old when the 1911 census was recorded.

11. Esther M. Willard was born in the fourth quarter of 1911 in the Epsom registration district.  She may have married George Cook in the second quarter of 1927 in the Epsom registration district.

12. George F. Willard was born in the second quarter of 1917 in the Epsom registration district. 

1871 Census - 2 Red House Cottage, Portslade, Sussex, (RG 10/1093, folio 40, page 23)

George Willard, Head, Mar, 34, Ag Lab, born Sussex Pulborough

Mary Willard, Wife, Mar, 33, born Sussex, Pulborough

John Willard, Son, Unm, 13, born Sussex, Pulborough

continued on the next page (RG10/1093, folio 40, page 24)

Sally Willard, Daur, 8, born Sussex, Gritham

Felix Willard, Son, 6, born Sussex, Gritham

William Willard, Son, 4, born Sussex, Portslade

Harry Willard, Son, 3, born Sussex, Portslade

1881 Census - Sea View Terrace, Portslade, Sussex (RG12/1103, folio 80, page 84)

George Willard, Head, Mar, 43, Farm Labourer, born Sussex, Pulborough

Mary Willard, Wife, Mar, 40, born Sussex, Pulborough

John Willard, Son, Unm, 23, Driver of Steam Plough, born Sussex, Pulborough

Sarah Willard, Daur, Mar, 19, born Sussex, Gredham

Felix Willard, Son, Unm, 16, Labourer, born Sussex, Gredham

William Willard, Son, 14, Ag Labourer, born Sussex, Portslade

continued on next page (RG12/1103, folio 81, page 85)

Henry Willard, Son, 12, born Sussex, Portslade

Ellen Willard, Daur, 7, Scholar, born Sussex, Portslade

Clement Willard, Son, 5, Scholar, born Sussex, Portslade

George Willard, Son, 4, Scholar, born Sussex, Portslade

Alice Willard, Daur, 9 months, born Sussex, Portslade

1901 Census - 9 Bampfield Street, Portslade-by-Sea, Sussex (RG13/943, folio 40, page 27)

Felix Willard, Head, M, 37, Labourer, Worker, born Pulborough, Sussex

Isabella Willard, Head, M, 40, born Brighton, Sussex

Daisy Willard, Daur, S, 16, Laundress, born Portslade, Sussex

George Willard, Son, 13, born Portslade, Sussex

John Willard, Son, 10, born Portslade, Sussex

Albert Willard, Son, 8, born Portslade, Sussex

Mary Willard, Daur, 6, born Portslade, Sussex

Ethel Willard, Daur, 4, born Portslade, Sussex

Archie Willard, Son, 2, born Portslade, Sussex

1911 Census - Goodsons, Cootages Little, Wrythe Lane, Mitcham, Surrey  District Epsom, Sub district Carshalton (ref. RG14PN2929 RG78PN101 RD31 SD1 ED6 SN90) from a transcript

Filex Willard, Head, Married, years married 2, M, 44, Farm Labourer, born Gritton, Sussex

Esther Willard, Wife, Married, F, 36, born Carshalton, Surrey

Elmer Willard, Son, M, 11, born Portslades, Sussex

Nellie Willard, Daughter, F, 9, born Portslades, Sussex

William Charles Willard, Son, M, 1, born Carshalton, Surrey

1911 Census - 24 St. John's Road, Carshalton, Surrey (ref. RG14PN2928 RG78PN101 RD31 SD1 ED6 SN185), transcript

Arthur Robert Broadhurst, Head, Widower, M, 41, Hair dresser, born London

Doris May Broadhurst, Daughter, Single, F, 20, House Keeper, born Croydon, Surrey

Minnie Kate Broadhurst, Daughter, Single, F, 18, Domestic Servant, born Croydon, Surrey

Arthur Broadhurst, Son, M, 14, School, born Croydon, Surrey

Jessie Louis Broadhurst, Daughter, F, 10, School, born Croydon, Surrey

Albert Edward Willard, Boarder, Single, M, 19, Farm Labourer, born Portslaid, Sussex 

MITCHELL          WILLARD