William Fry was the second child of Robert Fry & Alice Fuller born May 25th & christened July 31st, 1882 at Fetcham, Leatherhead, Surrey.
William's mother died in 1886, followed by his younger brother, Frederick, in 1887. William & his widowed father & half brother Robert were living at the Rising Sun, Fetcham in 1891 where his father was a brewer & publican.
By 1901William's father had died & he was now living at Hunts Farm, Withyham, with his aunt Elizabeth Fry who was married to John Hudson. William was described as a farm student. Elizabeth & John Hudson had 3 daughters at home, the oldest, (Mary) Elizabeth, a dressmaker was to become William's wife!
William married Mary Elizabeth Hudson, his cousin, in April-June 1903, the marriage being registered at Reigate, Surrey. Mary was born June 15th, 1878 & christened July 28th, 1878 at St Mary's, Hartfield.
In 1911 William & Mary Elizabeth were living at Bishopstone Farm, Ansty, Cuckfield, Sussex where William was a farmer. They had a 6 year old son William Robert. Also with them at the time of the census was William's cousin, Albert Fry, son of William Fry [f.7.6] & Harriett Hudson, a stockman on the farm. They also had a domestic servant.
A notice in the Mid Sussex Times of September 11th, 1923 gave notice of an auction of livestock & furniture at Bishopstone Farm. This indicated that William was giving up farming there.
The Sussex Agricultural Express of July 15th, 1927 reports an accident in Chailey. A car driver by Mr William Fry of Brook House accidentally knocked down a 7 year old boy who was running along behind a milk float. The boy sustained head injuries. Whether the car was driven by William senior or junior is not known!
In July 1930 William of Brook House Farm, Chiltington had a serious accident when he was gored in the stomach by a bull. Since that time he had 2 attacks of pleurisy but by September was feeling well enough to hopefully attend the annual ploughing match & show at Wivelsfield. William was vice chairman of the Mid Sussex Agricultural Association. (Mid Sussex Times, September 30th, 1930)
The 1939 register shows William & Mary living at Brook House, East Chiltington, Chailey, Sussex where William was a dairy farmer. With them was son William who was helping on the farm.
William died on May 13th, 1948 at Brook House, East Chiltington, Sussex. Probate was granted on March 24th, 1949 to son William Robert Fry, farmer, & Frederick Ernest Newnham, secretary. William’s effects were £7,739.14s.2d.
Mary Elizabeth, of 2 South Common, Chailey, died on April 17th, 1958 at Pouchlands Hospital, East Chiltington. Administration of her estate was granted on July 16th, 1958 to son William Robert Fry, farmer. Her effects were £292.14s.9d.
The children of William Fry & Mary Elizabeth Hudson were:
f.7.2.2.1 William Robert Fry born September 5th, 1904 at Shermanbury, Sussex; died November 11th, 1965 at Cuckfield Hospital, Sussex