{"id":1234,"date":"2020-08-30T21:16:20","date_gmt":"2020-08-30T20:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faulder.org.uk\/genealogy\/?p=1234"},"modified":"2023-03-18T15:58:40","modified_gmt":"2023-03-18T15:58:40","slug":"are-we-related-george-willett-1-b-1862-at-whitechapel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faulder.org.uk\/genealogy\/?p=1234","title":{"rendered":"Are We Related: George Willett (1. b ~1862 at Whitechapel)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This post, and its pair<\/a>, is in response to a comment about a possible relationship between the Willetts (from Colchester \u2013 “my ancestors”, as researched elsewhere on this website) and a line of Willetts in the East End of London. The key link seems to be a George Willett born around 1862 or 1863.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post examines how I am related to this George Willett. A second post<\/a> looks at the other line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The comment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Lee Willett \u2014 2 June, 2020 @ 3:02 pm<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Have used your website a couple of time as I investigated my Willett family tree. The stories about Lewis and Wilfred<\/a> in the First World War were very touching. Thank You.

My Great, Great, Great Grandad was John Willett \u2013 who was William Willett Snr\u2019s younger<\/del> older brother and therefore I think we share some lineage. I have also got some photos of George Willett<\/strong> who was William Willett\u2019s cousin if you are interested.

[redacted]

Amazing how history comes back to find you sometimes.

Stay safe<\/p>\nComment on Are We Related: Willett<\/a> summary page<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A later email from Lee indicated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

… John (1834 – 1878) was the older brother to William Senior.
He was married to a Maria Willett (maiden name Mills)
On your chart below John Willett’s son George (1862 – 1936) is my Great, Great Grand Father. 
And then his first son Arthur Willett (1890-1978) was my Great Grandad.<\/p>\nEmail from Lee<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The first part of this ancestry (William Willett and his wife Maria Mills and older brother John) I recognised as being in my family tree. The descendants of George Willett, son of John Willett and Eliza Fenning, seem to be, for me, the new relatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Willett’s relationship to the Colchester Willetts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

George Willett and his parents were added sometime ago to my family tree, so this family bears revalidation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Essex Parish Records (Images online at Essex Record Office) I can confirm John’s parentage via his baptismal record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

No 837
2 Feby John, Everard & Maria Willett of St Leonards, Innkeeper<\/p>\n1834 Entry in Baptismal Register for St Leonards, Colchester (D\/P 245\/1\/6 p105 – Image 56)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This links John to his parents, who we identify through their abode and the father’s profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John’s marriage to Eliza Fenning is also found in the Parish Registers at Essex Record Office:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

149 In the parish of St Leonard, Colch in the Couty of Essex
September 10th
John Willett, 24 Bachelor, Millwright, of St Leonards
Eliza Fenning, 25 Spinster, of St Leonards
Groom’s father: Everard Willett, Publican
Bride’s father: Robert Fenning, Baker
Married in Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by me, Francis Curtis
This Marriage was solemnized between us, John Willett, Eliza Fenning
in the Presence of us, William Fenning, Maria Willett<\/p>\n1857 Entry in Marriage Register for St Leonards, Colchester (D\/P 245\/1\/17 page 75 – Image 77)<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This links the Groom back to his parents and then the Groom to the Bride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1851 Census shows John (a Millwright’s Apprentice) with his parents in Colchester (Queens Head Inn, Hythe St).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1861 Census shows him (a Coal Merchant) with his wife and 3 sons in Colchester (79, Hythe St). <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Name<\/th>Relationship<\/th>Marital Status<\/th>Sex<\/th>Age<\/th>Implied Year of Birth<\/th>Occupation<\/th>Birthplace<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
John Willett<\/td>Head<\/td>Married<\/td>Male<\/td>28<\/td>1833<\/td>Coal Merchant<\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eliza Willett<\/td>Wife<\/td>Married<\/td>Female<\/td>29<\/td>1822<\/td><\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John Willett<\/td>Son<\/td>Unmarried<\/td>Male<\/td>2<\/td>1859<\/td><\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Harry Willett<\/td>Son<\/td>Unmarried<\/td>Male<\/td>1<\/td>1860<\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arthur Willett<\/td>Son<\/td>Unmarried<\/td>Male<\/td>4 months<\/td>1861<\/td><\/td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1861 Census John Willett & Family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

There is no sign of a “John Willett, Millwright” in the 1861 England & Wales Census, so I would presume that he changed profession – the couple’s ages and places of birth in the extract above are consistent. William Mills, whose son William married Susannah Willett (John’s First Cousin) in 1854, was listed as a Coal Merchant in Colchester in the 1851 Census; It is possible that being a Coal Merchant was viewed as a “Family Business”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1871 it appears that John and his family have moved to Whitechapel in London. The Census shows for 75, Leman Street, St Mary Whitechapel:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Name<\/th>Relationship<\/th>Marital Status<\/th>Sex<\/th>Age<\/th>Implied Year of Birth<\/th>Occupation<\/th>Birthplace<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
John WIllett<\/td>Head<\/td>Married<\/td>Male<\/td>38<\/td>1833<\/td>Coal Merchant<\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eliza Willett<\/td>Wife<\/td>Married<\/td>Female<\/td>39<\/td>1832<\/td><\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John Willett<\/td>Son<\/td><\/td>Male<\/td>12<\/td>1859<\/td><\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arthur Willett<\/td>Son<\/td><\/td>Male<\/td>10<\/td>1861<\/td><\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
George Willett<\/td>Son<\/td><\/td>Male<\/td>8<\/td>1863<\/td><\/td>Whitechapel, Middlesex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charles Willett<\/td>Son<\/td><\/td>Male<\/td>3<\/td>1868<\/td><\/td>Whitechapel, Middlesex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eliza Fenning<\/td>Niece<\/td>Unmarried<\/td>Female<\/td>18<\/td>1853<\/td><\/td>Colchester, Essex<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

1871 Census John Willett & Family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n

Is this the same John Willett in 1871 as recorded in 1861 – given relocation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n