William John Winder was the first child of John Winder & Eliza Mary Ager born at Church St, Edmonton & christened on October 5th, 1855 at All Saints, Edmonton, Middlesex.
In 1861 William & his parents & younger sister Eliza were living at Webbs Cottages, Edmonton where his father was an omnibus conductor.
At the time of the 1871census William was still at home which was a pub called the Prince Regent at Hoxton New Town, Shoreditch, London where his father was a licensed victualler. His brother Robert & sister Eliza were at home & visiting them was their grandmother Letitia Winder, described as ‘widow of an omnibus proprieter’ aged 69.
In 1881 William was living at Camden Rd with his widowed father & brother & sister. He & his brother & father were all wine merchants. William’s cousin George Frederick Buchanan, the son of Caroline Winder, was living with them. Later that year, on June 23rd, William married Fanny Garrett Drage at Moulton, Northants. Fanny was the daughter of Mary & John Drage, a farmer, born 1858 at Moulton Lodge, Northants, the daughter of Mary & John Drage, a farmer, & christened February 1st, 1858 at Holcot, Northants.
According to Annie Pentecost when his father died in 1887 William inherited his wine merchants business in Fenchurch St. At this time William was living at 47 Lawford Rd, Kentish Town, Middlesex.
William's brother Robert died in 1888 & William was the executor of Robert's will in 1889. He was also the co-executor of his sister's will, in 1889.
William & Fanny continued to live at Lawford Rd in 1891 & William was still a wine & spirit merchant. In the April edition of the 1891 London phone directory there is a number listed (2229) for Winder, Winder & Co at 39 Fenchurch St. William & Fanny had 3 children at this time – Ethel (8), John (7) & Frances (2). They had a domestic servant & a nurse.
On August 24th, 1892 daughter Ethel, aged 10, was admitted to North London Collegiate School for Girls. It was noted on the admission papers that Ethel had not been to public school, but had had a private tutor for 4 years. Her father signed the papers as W John Winder, merchant, of 3 Mincing Lane, City.
An article in the The Sportsman of April 6th, 1892 stated that the St Pancras & District Association would be celebrating their 13th anniversary & William was the President of the Association. It states that William was the head of the eminent wine house of Winder, Winder & Co, proprietors of the celebrated ‘Danvita’ Bitters. William was described as a young man of great energy & business abilities combined with tact & geniality & a good speaker. Also in 1892 W. John Winder of 3 Mincing Lane was listed as a director of the Brixton Theatre.
William died at the age of 38 on December 13th,1894, at 3 Albert Terrace, Regent’s Park, Middlesex . Administration of his will was granted to widow Fanny on December 20th & his effects were £1100. At the time of his death William’s business was still carried on at 39 Fenchurch St & also at 3 Mincing Lane, City of London.
In 1901 widowed Fanny had returned to her parental home at the Grange Holcot, Northants where her 71 year old father was still farming. With her were children Ethel, John, Mabel (Frances) & Gordon (9).
Son John was admitted to Holdenby School in April 1902. He was listed as living in Holdenby, Holcot.
Fanny was still at the Grange, Holcot in 1911. She was acting as house keeper for her retired father & mother. With her was daughter Ethel, & there was also a cook & a housemaid.
Son John was boarding at 2 Featherstone Buildings, Bedford in 1911 with the Roberts family, the head of the family being George Henry Roberts, a master baker. John was described as a journeyman baker. He was to marry Sarah Eliza Jane Matthews in April-June 1913 in Bedford.
Daughter Mabel & son Gordon were both living with their aunt & uncle, Annie & William Handford Painter, a farmer, at The Lodge, Holcot, Moulton, Northants. Annie was their mother’s sister. Gordon was helping on the farm at the time of the census in 1911. Gordon joined the 95th Saskatchewan Rifles in October 1914 & was transferred to the 28th Canadian Expeditionary Force in November 1914. . He became a Lance Corporal but was sadly killed in action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette France, which was part of the Somme offensive, on September 15th, 1916, aged 24. Gordon is commemorated both at the Vimy Memorial, France & on the War Memorial in the village of Holcot.
Fanny died on December 23rd, 1925, aged 68, at Holcot Grange, Northamptonshire. Administration with will was granted on February 11th, 1926 to daughter Ethel May Drage Winder, spinster. Fanny’s effects were £823.15s.5d.
Both daughters, Ethel & Frances were living together at the time of the 1939 register at 31 St Pauls Rd, Holcot, Northants. Ethel was a retired clerk (ill) & Frances was noted as private means, incapacitated.
The children of William John Winder & Fanny Garrett Drage were:
wi.4.5.5.1.1 Ethel May Drage Winder born June 5th, 1882 at 47 Lawford Rd, Kentish Town, Middlesex & christened on July 19th, 1882 at St Paul’s, St Pancras, Middlesex; died January 12th, 1941 at Min-y-fford, Grosvenor Rd, Denbighshire, Wales
wi.4.5.5.1.2 John William Drage Winder born January 11th, 1884 at 47 Lawford Rd, Kentish Town & christened on March 5th, 1884 at St Paul's, St Pancras, London; died January 22nd 1938 at 82 George St, Bedford
wi.4.5.5.1.3 Frances Mabel Drage Winder born September 22nd,1888 at 47 Lawford Rd, Kentish Town, Middlesex & christened December 12th, 1888 at St Paul’s, St Pancras,
Middlesex; died February 18th, 1966 at St Crispin Hospital, Duston, Northants
wi.4.5.5.1.4 Gordon Clarke Drage Winder born February 5th, 1892 at 47 Lawford Rd, Kentish Town & christened May 25th, 1892 at St Paul’s, St Pancras, Middlesex; died September 15th, 1916 at Flers-Courcelette, France