William Whittker

William Whittker (1832-

The story of William starts not with the 1841 Census, or a baptism, but with a Removal Order issued to James Whitaker, Betsy, John (4), Sarah (2), infant son (4m) [William] to Newington Bagpath, dated 13th January 1832. James was born in Newington Bagpath, hence the destination, but eight years later, in the 1841 Census, the family were living in North Nibley, at Woodend (where the centre of the village is now). Both of William’s elder siblings had been baptised in St Martins, North Nibley.

In 1850, Sarah married Henry Cornock, and, in 1851, James, a thatcher, and Elizabeth, a woollen cloth picker, were living with John (a spinner) and William (an agricultural labourer) in Nibley.

In 1861, James, Berry and William were living in Road Green, just over the parish boundary with Alkington. Ten years later, William had moved furth south, to Heathfield in Berkeley, and was living with his wife Ellen, and two children, Sidney and Ellen. The couple had married in 1866 in St Martins, North Nibley.

In 1881, the family (now with five children) were still living in Heathfield. The couple, without their children, were still there in 1891. William’s occupation was railway platelayer.

In 1901 and 1911, William and Ellen were living in Alkington with their granddaughter Mabel. William was working as a porter on the railway.

Sadly, that is all we know about William. The sheer number of variations on his surname inhibit further searches.