Evelyn Jekyll Williams (1887 - 1976)

Born 1887 in Bath, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

Husband of Laura (Orton) Williams-Leir — married 17 Nov 1917 in St Matthew's Church, Ealing, London, England, United Kingdom

Died 12 Apr 1976 at about age 89 in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Evelyn was born in 1887 and grew up in Weston House, Bath. By 6 his family were living at 5 Hillingdon Road, West Hillingdon, London he was the son of Edmund Jekyll Williams and his wife, Annie^[1].

Marriage

Evelyn Jekyll Williams married Laura (Orton) William-Leir (1884-1981) on 17 November 1917 at St Matthew's Church, Ealing, West London. ^[2][3] (Maybe Laura's brother, Charles was a friend and introduced them as he also worked for GWR at that time?) Evelyn then worked for Napier Ltd in London producing aero engines during WWI. ^[4]

Children

Laura and Evelyn had a son, Gilbert Jeckyll Williams born in the Brentford registration district, Middlesex in 1919. ^[5] Gilbert changed his surname to Williams-Leir.

Life Story

Evelyn was an audit clerk with the Great Western Railway from the age of 15 yrs. ^[6]

Evelyn's father, Edmund succeeded to the Weston Estate, Bath in 1922 on a condition that he and his children adopted his mother's surname of Leir, becoming Williams-Leir. ^[7] After their marriage, Laura and Eveyln used the surname Williams-Leir.

In 1939, on the England national register Laura is shown staying at Annandale, Charleston Road, Burnham on Sea, Somerset. ^[8] In 1940, Evelyn and Laura were living at Weston House, Bath from about 1940 to late 40s, which they had inherited through Evelyn's family. ^[9] Evelyn is shown in the 1939 Kelly's Directory as a mechanical engineer. ^[10]

Evelyn's father, Edmund died in 1946 leaving him as a beneficiary. ^[11]

On 12 August 1954, shipping records record Laura returning to Southampton, England from a visit to Quebec, Canada, on the Cunard line's Scythia; they give her address then as 38 St Paul's Road, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. ^[12]

Death

Evelyn died 12 April 1976 in Henley, Oxfordshire. By this time they had sold Weston House and their address was 'Riviera', Bolney Avenue, Shiplake, Henley, Oxfordshire. Their lovely home overlooked the river and had a workshop. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ 1901 England Census
2. ↑ Ealing Gazette and West Middlesex Observer 17 November 1917
3. ↑ England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1916-2005. Laura Orton, Evelyn J Williams, 17 Nov 1917. Brentford, Middlesex. Vol 3a pg 268
4. ↑ Information from Rick Leir via Leir Ancestry site [1]
5. ↑ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007. Name: Gilbert J Williams Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration District: Brentford Inferred County: Middlesex Mother's Maiden Name: Orton Volume Number: 3a Page Number: 168
6. ↑ UK, Railway Employment Records, 1833-1956. Evelyn Jekyll Williams Age 15 Birth Date 21 Ju 1887 Residence Date 4 Jun 1903 Company Great Western Description Register of audit clerks 1841-1904
7. ↑ Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 25 August 1945 pg 4
8. ↑ England 1939 Register
9. ↑ British Phone Books, 1880-1984 for E J Williams-Leir. 1940-1959. 1940 (Southampton/ Portsmouth/ Bournemouth / Taunton/ Exeter/ Plymouth/ Cornwall / Bristol / Gloucester)
10. ↑ UK, City and County Directories, 1766 - 1946. for Evelyn Jekyll Williams-Leir England. Somerset. 1939 Kelly´s Directory
11. ↑ Western Daily Press 21 October 1946 pg 3
12. ↑ UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960. Laura Williams-Leir Arrival Age 70 Birth Date 1884 Port of Departure Quebec, Canada Arrival Date 12 Aug 1954 Port of Arrival Southampton, England Ports of Voyage Quebec Ship Name Scythia Shipping Line Cunard Steamship Company Ltd Official Number 143730
13. ↑ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1861-1941. Evelyn Jekyll Leir Death Date 12 Apr 1976 Death Place Shiplake Henley On Thames Oxon Probate Date 12 Jul 1976 Probate Registry Oxford

• 1917 marriage