William Fry [f.2.3.5]

William Fry was the fifth child of William Fry & Elizabeth Stanbridge born Oct-Dec, 1852 at Ardingley.

In 1861 William was living at home at Berry Farm, Ardingley.

By 1871 he was an innkeeper at the Red Lion Inn at Cowfold & living with him was his 28 year old sister Elizabeth Fry, who had married Joseph Pennifold, acting as his housekeeper & niece Alice Pennifold (5). There were 3 lodgers at the Inn, 2 of which were shepherds, & a housemaid.

Red Lion, Cowfold c1900 - now known as the Coach House

20 years later William was still single & was working as a railway signalman in Croydon, Surrey. He was boarding at the home of Thomas Towsey & family, a railway labourer, at Woodside Green, South Norwood, Croydon. His age was given as 40 years old. There was a visitor at the time of the 1891 census – Annie Goodwin (33) born in Essex.

A week after the census, on April 12th, 1891 William married Maria Goodwin at St Lukes Church, Woodside, Croydon, Surrey. Maria was born December 14th, 1851 & christened January 4th, 1852 at St Thomas Charterhouse, Finsbury, London, the daughter of Mary & George Goodwin, a lamplighter. William’s age on the marriage certificate was given as 35 & Maria’s as 33! One of the witnesses at the wedding, Walter Burr, a general labourer, was a next door neighbour of William at the time of the 1891 census.

William & Maria's marriage certificate

In 1901 William & Maria were still living at Croydon, at 79a Woodside Rd, & William continued to be a railway signalman.

William & Maria were living at Corporation Rd, Croydon in 1911. William was still a railway signalman & they had no children.

William died on March 11th, 1931 at 9 Corporation Rd, Croydon. Probate of his estate was granted to nephew Walter Summarsell, commercial traveler & his effects were £290.0s.10d. Walter was the son of William’s sister Anne Fry.