William Ellis was the ninth child of John Ellis & Elizabeth Watson born Oct-December 1846 at Ripley, Derbyshire.
In 1851 William was living with his parents & 3 sisters & a brother at Greenwich, Ripley, Derbyshire.
William was still living at home with his parents at Greenwich in 1861 & working as a coal miner like his father.
In 1871 William was employed by Sir Thomas William Evans, a magistrate & land owner, of Allestree Hall, Derby. He was lodging at School Masters House & Post Office, Allestree & working as an engine driver.
William married Susan Cooling on November 10th, 1872 at St Alkmund, Derbyshire. Witnesses at the wedding were Alexander Thorpe & Frances Elizabeth Cooling. Susan was christened October 16th, 1853 at Metheringham, Lincoln, the daughter of Ellen & James Cooling, a miller & baker. The 1871 census shows Susan was working as a dairy maid at the Manor House, Timberland, Lincolnshire.
In 1881 William & Susan were living at Lower Carrington St, Litchurch, Derby where William was a stationary engine tender. They had 2 children by this time – Emma (7) & Florence E (2).
The family were still living at 123 Carrington St, Litchurch in 1891 & William was still an engine tender. Emma was still at home & working as a basket maker & they now had George R (9), Susan (7), Florence (4) & Francis W (1). Daughter Susan had been admitted to St Andrews Girls school in September 1890.
In 1901 William & Susan were at the same address & William was now described as an engine fitter. Children at home were Emma, a general domestic servant, George Richard, an iron moulder, Susan, a machine hand in a printers mill?, Florence Adelaide, a ruler at the printing works, Francis William & Gertrude Helena (7).
Son George Richard married Minnie Wilkins on September 19th, 1903 but sadly George died 2 years later.
Daughter Florence Adelaide married Charles William Henchliffe, a printer, on July 22nd, 1910 at St Andrew’s, Derby. Witnesses at the wedding were Florence’s brother William Francis & her sister Gertrude Helena Ellis. Charles was born March 19th, 1885 in Derby, the son of Annie & William Edward Henchliffe, a turner. Daughter Emma married William Elliott, a fitter’s labourer, on November 6th, 1910 at St Luke’s, Derby. William was born c1865 at Hope, Derbyshire, the son of William Elliott.
William & Susan had moved to 14 New St, Derby by 1911, a 5-roomed house. William was an engine tender at the timber works, but noted as unemployed. Children at home were Francis William, a wheelwright, Susan, a folder counter at the printers & Gertrude Helena, a ruler’s assistant at the printers. It was noted on the census that of their 10 children, only 5 were still living.
Susan died aged 65 at 14 New St, Derby on November 9th, 1918. Probate of her estate was granted to widower William, retired engine tender, & her effects were £316.1s.4d.
Son Francis William married Nellie Harvey in Oct-December 1923 at Derby & in 1939 they & their family were living in Harrington, Derby & Francis was still a wheelwright.
William died aged 77 at 14 New St, Derby on March 3rd, 1924. Probate of his estate was granted to son Francis William, wheelwright, & daughter Emma Elliott & his effects were £419.14s.4d. An entry in the Derby Daily Telegraph recorded that William who was in feeble health had fallen on the pavement outside his home last December & fractured his right leg. He recovered from the injury but it left him more susceptible to bronchitis from which he previously suffered. The autopsy verdict was that death was caused by bronchitis accelerated by the injury.
Daughter Gertrude never married & in 1939 she was a housekeeper for Ernest J Stone, a retired widowed printer’s reader, at Hill Top, Belper Lane, Belper, Derbyshire. On her death in 1985 Gertrude left an estate worth over £45,000. She left £10,500 in personal bequests & the remainder of her estate was divided between various Christadelphian organisations. (Derby Daily Telegraph, February 8th, 1986) Daughter Susan also did not marry & in 1939 she was living at Boundary House, Uttoxeter Rd, Derby & described as a retired grocery shopkeeper.
The children of William Ellis & Susan Cooling were:
el.6.1.9.1 Emma Ellis born Jan-March 1874 in Derby
el.6.1.9.2 Florence Elizabeth Ellis born April 21st, 1877 & christened January 6th, 1879 at St Alkmund’s Derby; died Jan-March 1879 in Derby
el.6.1.9.3 Florence Helen Ellis born December 18th, 1878 in Henry Street, Derby & christened January 30th, 1879 at St Alkmund’s, Derby; died Jan-March 1883 at Derby
el.6.1.9.4 George Richard Ellis born Oct-December 1881& christened January 4th, 1882 at St Andrews, Derby; died April-June 1905 at Derby
el.6.1.9.5 Adelaide Ellis christened January 17th, 1883 at St Andrews, Derby; died Jan-March 1883 in Derby
el.6.1.9.6 Susan Ellis born April 4th, 1884 in Derby
el.6.1.9.7 Florence Adelaide Ellis born July 23rd, 1886 & christened August 11th, 1886 at St Andrews, Derby; died Oct-December 1967 at Derby
el.6.1.9.8 Francis William Ellis born February 18th, 1890 & christened April 2nd 1890 at St Andrews, Derby; died Oct-December 1971 at Derby
el.6.1.9.9 Daisy Ellen Ellis christened January 19th, 1892 at Derby; died Jan-March 1892 at Derby
el.6.1.9.10 Gertrude Helena Ellis born February 4th, 1894 & christened March 21st, 1894 at St Andrews, Derby; died April 27th, 1985 at 19 Sherbourne Rd, Birmingham