William George WILLIAMS

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service Entered: 8 Nov 1894, HMS Excellent, Portsmouth
• Census: 1901, HMS Royal Oak
• Occupation: 1917; Petty Officer, Chief Armourer. No. 340452
• Occupation: 1925; Chargeman of fitters, Mining School, HMS Vernon
• Inquest: 2 May 1930

Notes:

Witnessed Eva Annie's Marriage in 1897

Medals

1914/15 Star
British War Medal
Long Service & Good Conduct
Military Medal for "bravery in the field"
Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre - Belgium

Birth:
Mar Q 1876 2b 543

Census:
Description: Acting Armourer

Inquest:
From the Hampshire Telegraph 2nd May 1930

The Explosion in H.M.S. VERNON.

Inquest on two victims

Handling of Hydrostatic Fuses


The explosion in HMS Vernon on March 19, 1930 which resulted in the deaths of Gilbert Hutchinson (46) of 39 Wadham Road, North End and William George Williams (54) of 94 Clayhalll Road Gosport was the subject of an exhaustive inquiry by the Portsmouth Coroner (Sir Thomas Bramsdom, JP) at the Guildhall on Wednesday afternoon.
The City Coroner sat with a jury, and Mr S. Brutton represented the Admiralty, Mr E J Bechervause was for the Mining School in HMS Vernon, Mr F A Maxwell-Wells represented the two widows, and Captain Pedlar, the Factory Inspector, was present on behalf of the Home Office. Harold Charles Shotter, a School Teacher, identified the body of the late Mr Hutchinson as that of his Uncle. The next witness was James Smith a clerk in the Dockyard who identified the body of the late Mr Williams as that of his father-in-law.
Lieut-Commander Douglas Geo. Wilberforce Curry, second assistant to the Superintendent of Design at Woolwich, said that last October he received the issue of two Hydrostatic Fuses. They were forwarded to the Superintendent of Mines in HMS Vernon. He understood that the Vernon tests would be carried out in deep water and not in a tank.
Percy Ernest Masters, the shop manager at Woolwich Arsenal spoke to the labelling of the fuses as being loaded when they left Woolwich for the Vernon, via Priddy's Hard. At Woolwich a fuse was always assumed to be loaded unless it was labeled otherwise.
William Neal, a storehouseman at Priddy's Hard said that the case (produced) arrived at the store on February 11. An "Experimental" label was on the box, but it did not show that the fuse was filled.
Commissioned Gunner Anthony Beard of HMS Vernon said that when the fuses were received by him he pointed out to Mr Pickford that there was a possibility of the fuses being loaded. Mr. Pickford, however, thought that they were unloaded. The fuses were delivered to the witness from Priddy's Hard in a box marked "Loaded" and the witness treated them as such.
P O Charles Crook of the Vernon, said that he received instructions from Mr Beard to issue the explosives to the late Mr Williams. The word "filled" did not appear on the box label.

THE EXPLOSION

A fitter named William Samuel, employed in the Mines School, said that on March 19 he saw the two deceased men and Mr Pickford.
Mr Williams had a fuse in his hand, and he asked the witness for a spanner, shortly afterwards be heard a sharp report and saw Mr Pickford with his hand covered in blood. Mr Hutchinson was lying on the floor and in the other end of the workshop Mr. Williams was lying in
great pain.
Mr Jessie Ward, a fitter in the School said that the heard the report and saw Mr Williams and Mr Pickford staggering about. He also saw Mr Hutchinson suffering from severe head injuries.

A FINGER BLOWN AWAY

The chief witness was Mr. Frederick Pickford, the principal technical officer in the Mines School, who appeared with his right hand heavily bandaged. He became distressed when he came to describe the accident. He said that he never thought that the fuse was filled, and he proceeded to take down the fuse. He went across to the test shop and asked the deceased man, Williams, to unscrew the detonator. Unfortunately for the late Mr Hutchinson, his was the first bench they came to and the operations were carried out on this bench. The explosion then occurred and the witness saw that a finger had gone from his right hand. He also saw Mr Hutchinson and Mr Williams collapse. The witness was discharged from Haslar Hospital on Monday. He never saw the box in which the fuses arrived from Woolwich via Priddy's Hard. Had he seen the box he would have expected to find the fuses loaded.
He agreed with the Coroner that in future it would be wise to distinctly mark a loaded fuse.
Replying to Captain Pedlar, the witness said that had he known that the fuses were loaded he would have sent them back to be emptied. He saw none of the correspondence accompanying the fuses.
Surgeon Commander Cory, Dr. R. H. Hodges, and Surgeon Commander O'Flynn gave medical evidence as to the cause of death in each case, and in his address to the jury, Sir Thomas Bramsdon said that the case emphasized the need for loaded fuses being marked as such.

VERDICT AND RIDER

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." and added a rider to the effect that the fuses should be clearly marked.

Died:
General Peritonitis following wounds to the abdomen and peritoneal cavity brought about by the explosion of hydrostatic fuse which was being taken to .... for experimental purposes at the Naval .... .... HMS Vernon on the 21st March 1930 of the same month accidental death.

Another sailor working with him was killed instantly.

Inquest around 30th April 1930

Buried:
Description: with his wife Lily

William married Lily PENN on 2 Dec 1896. Lily (daughter of Henry PENN and Harriet LIVERMORE) was born in 1873 in Sheet, Hampshire; died on 21 May 1959 in 169, Dover Road, Copnor, Portsmouth; was buried in Haslar Naval Cemetery, Plot N-20 2. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
FreeFormatDate:Dec Q 2b 1160 Portsea

1. Lillian Amy WILLIAMS was born on 1 Jan 1897 in Portsmouth; died in 1977.
2. Winifred Eva WILLIAMS was born on 25 Jan 1907 in Alverstoke; died on 27 Mar 1989 in Portsmouth.
3. William George WILLIAMS was born on 30 Jul 1910 in 94, Clayhall Road, Clayhall, Alverstoke; died on 30 May 1984 in Lady Forester Hospital, Much Wenlock, Shropshire.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1873, Clayhall; a journeyman plumber at the birth of Eva Annie
• Census: 1891, 3, Palestine Place, Alverstoke, Hants
• Occupation: 1897; Plumber at the time of marriage of Eva & Thomas

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1839 Warminster V111 3_5

Census:
Description: Plumber

Occupation:
This note is taken from Eva Annie's marriage certificate which presumably should have read "deceased"

Died:
Dec Q 1896 2b 354 Alverstoke

Description: Asthma, Bronchitis

Informant was M A Williams, Sister in Law.
This would have been his brother Charles Williams' wife - Mary Ann (Hutchins)

William married Amy Augusta NEWNHAM on 9 Mar 1868 in the Parish Church, Portsea. Amy (daughter of Obediah NEWNHAM and Augusta Priscilla Garret VINER) was born on 8 Mar 1846 in 2, St. Vincent Street, Southsea; died on 3 Jan 1925 in 88, Clayhall Road, Clayhall, Alverstoke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1861, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea
• Census: 1891, 3, Palestine Place, Alverstoke, Hants
• Census: 1901, 88, Clayhall Road, Clayhall, Alverstoke, Hants
• Census: 1911, 88. Clayhall Road, Alverstoke
• Inquest: 6 Jan 1925

Notes:

Birth:
FreeFormatDate:Jun Q Portsea Island V11 144

The family bible says 1847.

Census:
Living with her mother and family

Inquest:
Description: Accidental Death

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Jan Q 2b 805

Description: Concussion of the brain following a fall

Informant was the Coroner

Notes:

Married:
Mar 1868 Portsea I. 2b 564

Description: Ellen Williams & William Newnham

FreeFormatDate:Census

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1871, 3, Charlie Street, Clayhall, Alverstoke; Recorded as a Widow, occupation Gardener and living with daughter Ann and son John

Notes:

Christened:
Recorded as son of William & Anne.

Possibility exists that Anne was the first wife of William Williams. Census records show a 17 year difference in age between William and Caroline which may also suggest that Caroline wasn't George's mother.

Died:
Described as:- Pensioner, Civil Service.
Informant was Mary Ann Williams nee Hutchins (wife of his son Charles George Williams)

George married Anna Maria GARRETT on 15 Sep 1838 in Fovant Parish Church, Wiltshire. Anna (daughter of Charles George MILLS and Elizabeth GARRETT) was born on 29 Dec 1816 in Fovant, Wiltshire; died on 04 Apr 1865 in Alverstoke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 19 Jan 1817, Fovant, Wiltshire
• Census: 1861, Charley Street, Clayhall, Alverstoke

Notes:

Birth:
Census indicates born 1818

Baptism:
The Parish Register of Baptisms records that she was "Base Born Daughter of Elizabeth;Garrett;Fovant;Single woman"

Died:
Jun Q 1865 2b 284 Alverstoke

Cause: Rheumatic Meningitis.
Source: Pat Deering-Smith research

Notes:

Married:
Sept Q Vol 8 Page 571

Description: George Garratt & Caroline Garratt

Occupation - Gardener

Census:
Description: Gardener

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Jun 1817, Niton, Isle of Wight
• Occupation: 1846; Stonemason
• Census: 1851, 3, Corporation Road, Portsea
• Occupation: 1861; Seaman
• Census: 1871, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea

Notes:

Baptism:
IGI

Census:
Description: Stonemason

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Not recorded in the 1861 Census

Census:
Description: Stonemason

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Jun Q 2b 316 Portsea Island

Obediah married Augusta Priscilla Garret VINER in 1842 in Isle of Wight. Augusta (daughter of George S VINER and Amy VAUGHAN) was born in 1817 in Alverstoke, Gosport; died in 1883 in Portsea Island. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 29 Jun 1817, Alverstoke Parish Church
• Census: 1851, 3, Corporation Road, Portsea
• Census: 1861, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea
• Census: 1871, 24, Gloucester Street, Portsea
• Census: 1881, 15, Rutland Street "The Orange Tree" Portsea

Notes:

Census:
Description: Wife of a Seaman RN

Census:
Description: Beer House Keeper

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Dec Q 2b 313

Notes:

Married:
FreeFormatDate:Sept Q 1842 Vol 8 Page297

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1838; Publican
• Census: 1841, Spring Gardens, Gosport
• Census: 1861, The Railway Hotel, Gosport. (Top of Spring Garden Lane)
• Occupation: 1876; Landlord

Notes:

Probably lived at some time in either Milford on Sea or Upton Lovell

Occupation:
At the time of George's first marriage

Census:
Description: Tapkeeper

Census:
Description: Porter

Occupation:
Not known whether he was actually alive at this time (George's second marriage)

Died:
Dec Q 1863 2b 304 Alverstoke

William + Caroline. Caroline was born about 1800 in Middlesex; died in 1870 in Alverstoke. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Dec Q 1870 2b 321 Alverstoke

Notes:

Census:
Description: Porter

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: 1813, Fovant, Wiltshire; Lime Burner
• Occupation: 1838, Fovant, Wiltshire; Farmer, Innkeeper, Lime Burner

Notes:

It is presumed that the marriage of Charles Mills and Ann Phillips was never annulled, so the children of his association with Elisabeth Garrett kept their mother's surname.
There is no record of a marriage in the Fovant Parish Registers.

Occupation:
Found in
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~dutillieul/ZOtherPapers/S&WJNov11813.html

Monday Nov 1st 1813 - Salisbury & Winchester Journal

Fresh Lime.

Two Hundred Quarters of the best Chalk Lime, burnt with coal and furze kept separate, is ready for sale, at C.G.Mills's Kilns, Fovant, the whole burnt within the last month. Will be sold in place, or delivered in the neighbourhood by paying for carriage. To Farmers wanting 40 or 50 quarters for manure an allowance will be made from the regular price. Any quantity burnt.

Died:
Mar Q 1852 5a 163 Wilton

Buried:
Headstone: Sacred to the memory of Charles George Mills who died December 29th, 1851 Aged 75 Years. Also to the Memory of George Son of Charles George Mills who died December 27th, 1857 Aged 41 Years.
From Wiltshire Memorial Transcription Index - RefNum 78000 & 78137

Charles + Elizabeth GARRETT. Elizabeth (daughter of Job GARRET and Anne MOGER) was born in 1781 in West Lavington; was christened on 29 Apr 1781 in Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire; died on 23 Dec 1846 in Fovant, Wiltshire; was buried on 23 Dec 1846 in Fovant Parish Church, Wiltshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Christened:
IGI

Birth:
There's a tree on ancestry that states that our Elizabeth Garrett is actually a lady called Elizabeth Davis from West Lavington. She married a William Garrett in Maddington. They had a number of children including a Jane Garrett born 1808. This could be our Jane and could explain why she is not listed in the births for Fovant. I have provisionally put this new data on to my Ancestry tree in the hope that ancestors can see it and comment. Best regards Adney

Died:
Dec Q Vol 8 Page 341 Wilton

Not proven

Notes:

Census:
Recorded as a Publican

James + Elizabeth NOBBS. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1871, 3, Blakes Buildings, South Street, Gosport

Notes:

Census:
Description: Tin Plate Worker and Brazier

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Dec Q 2b 317

George married Amy VAUGHAN on 30 Jun 1813 in Alverstoke Parish Church. Amy was born about 1789 in Alverstoke; died before 1871. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Possible Christening 27/28th Dec 1788 @ Bishopstoke, Hants
Parents John and Amy

Notes:

Census:
Description: Tin Plate Worker