Sidney Henry BILLSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Gardener
• Census: 1861, Park House, Parsons Green Lane, Fulham
• Census: 1871, 5, Beulah Terrace, Leather Bottle Lane, Croydon; Living with William Reeves & family. Recorded as a Gardener.

Notes:

Known as Sidney Henry on Marriage Cert of his son

Birth:
Mar Q 1854 1c 1[_8]0 Shoreditch

Census:
With William and Ann Reeves, recorded as Sidney Henry Reeves instead of Billson

Died:
June Q 1896 1d 451 Wandsworth

Informant - Beatrice Billson

Sidney married Emily BUTLER on 9 Mar 1874 in Lambeth. Emily (daughter of John BUTLER and Eliza BOWYER) was born about 15 Mar 1854 in Chipping Hill, Witham, Essex.; died on 7 Oct 1943 in Los Angeles, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: a Paper Hanger

Notes:

3 Leigham Terrace, Wells Lane, Streatham @ Birth.
Court Road, Streatham @ Marriage
Most of his married life lived at Hydethorpe Rd. Balham. Leonard Sidney Billson, possibly born there.
After his wife died LSH Billson brought him back to Rugby to Eastlands Road. It is believed that Ted didn't want to move away from London.

Birth:
Neither Leigham Terrace or Wells Lane exist in 2002.
The Leigham Arms pub used to be in Wells Lane and is still there today on Wellfield Road, between Valley Road and Streatham High Road.

Buried:
Unmarked - believed to be a pauper's grave.

Edmund married Sarah Anne HARRIS on 19 Apr 1897 in The Parish Church, Chipping Norton. Sarah (daughter of Elisha HARRIS and Phoebe HARVEY) was born on 18 Nov 1869 in Chipping Norton; died on 5 Apr 1950 in 68, Hydethorpe Road, Clapham. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Religion: the Anglican Church
• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth
• Occupation: 1901; Manageress to Dyers & Cleaner
• Address: 1920; Address:
  39, Queens Road, Bayswater
• Emigration: 08 Jan 1926; Left Southampton bound for Wellington, New Zealand on the "SS Tainui" Recorded No. 272 in the manifest as living at 117 Anerley Road, Penge, London. Occupation - Manageress ; : 50

Notes:

She was advised to go to New Zealand because of her health - TB?
Beatrice is buried in the same grave as her Grandmother Ann (nee Whitaker) in Purewa Cemetary, Auckland, New Zealand.
Next of kin in 1966 was her niece, Miss Lamb

Birth:
Mar Q 1876 1d 728 Wandsworth

Address:
FreeFormatDate:census

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Buried:
Description: Block E, Row 37, Plot 65 with Ann and William Reeves

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1918, 31, Harpenden Road, West Norwood.

Notes:

Birth:
Mar Q 1881 1d 786 Wandsworth

Buried:
Died of Influenza.

Arthur married Ethel Louise ELDEN on 29 Nov 1910 in St. Lukes, West Norwood. Ethel was born about 1879 in Streatham; died in 1967. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
Mar Q 1884 1d 463 Wandsworth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Gardener
• Census: 1901, 70 Hydethorpe Road, Clapham
• Census: 1930, 2011 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, Los Angeles; Occupation - Florist. Owned the house - value $18000

Notes:

Fred Billson stayed with them in Los Angeles for a time.
They had no children.
Having emigrated they upgraded their job titles; Herbert became a "Horticulturalist" and Alice became a "Clothes Designer"

Birth:
Jun Q 1884 1d 769 Wandsworth

Census:
Description: Engine Cleaner

Staying as a boarder

Census:
Description: US Federal Census

Herbert married Alice HEMSON in 1909 in Guildford. Alice was born on 2 Jun 1878 in Hampshire; died on 25 Sep 1955 in Los Angeles, USA; was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park, Van Nuys, San Fernando Valley, CA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• School Attendance: 18 Jan 1897, Rosendale Road School, Lambeth
• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth
• Occupation: 1901; Nurse Domestic Servant

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1886 1d 765 Wandsworth

Address:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Died:
Jun Q 1974 23 1383 Taunton Deane, Somerset

Amy married John POOK in 1911 in Lambeth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth
• Census: 1911, Potchefstroom, South Africa or Khartoum, Sudan; Billeted in a cantonment (military encampment) with the 12th Royal Lancers. No. 1757. Later with the 8th Somerset Light Infantry. Regimental Number 28851

Notes:

Birth:
Dec Q 1887 1d 769 Wandsworth

Died:
Sep Q 1952 5g 239 Surrey Mid Eastern

Sidney married Rose Marie HALL in 1914 in Lambeth. Rose was born on 24 Mar 1893. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth
• Address: 1920; Address:
  2211 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA.
• Occupation: 1920; Bookbinder
• Emigration: 12 Jan 1920, America
• Census: 1930, 1939 17th St ? Santa Monica, Los Angeles
• Occupation: 1930; Janitor (in a Club)

Notes:

Birth:
Dec Q 1888 1d 780 Wandsworth

Description: from US Death Certificate

Immigration papers say he was born 1890 - which I know to be wrong

Address:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Address:
Description: with his brother Herbert

Emigration:
He sailed from Liverpool on the SS "Cedric" bound for Ellis Island to be with his brother Herbert in Santa Monica.

He is described as having curvature of the spine which affected his height (5' 1") although his general health was good. He had a fresh complexion, brown hair and grey eyes.

Census:
FreeFormatDate:Living with his mother Emily

Description: US Federal Census

Occupation:
FreeFormatDate:US Federal Census

Died:
The Social Security Death Index notes that his last residence was:-
14607 Rochester, Monroe, New York

First name(s) Cyril
Last name Billson
Birth year 1888
Birth month Nov
Birth day 03
Death year 1974
Death month Jul
Place of issue California
State California
SSN 562-18-1090
Record set Social Security Death Index

Notes:

Birth:
Dec Q 1d 696 Wandsworth

Description: 1891 Census

Died:
FreeFormatDate:Dec Q 1891 1d 473 Wandsworth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Milkman
• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth

Notes:

Married Nellie ?

Birth:
Mar Q 1892 1d 800 Wandsworth

Christened:
Recorded twice on the same day at two different churches.
Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill and All Saints, West Dulwich

Occupation:
Joyce remembers he had to be up at 4am to fetch the horse & cart before he went on his rounds

Address:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Died:
Mar Q 1962 5c 1366 Lambeth

Horace married Ellen ETHERINGTON in 1911. Ellen was born in 1890. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Can't find in 1901 Census

Birth:
Jun Q 1893 1d 772 Wandsworth

Christened:
Recorded twice on the same day at two different churches.
Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill and All Saints, West Dulwich

Died:
Mar Q 1907 1d 7 Southwark

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 56, Robson Road, West Norwood; With her mother Emily and brother Cyril
• Address: 1901; Address:
  29, Court Road, Tulse Hill, Lambeth

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1895 1d 795 Wandsworth

Christened:
According to the records she was baptised twice on the same day. At Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill and All Saints, West Dulwich

Address:
FreeFormatDate:Census

Died:
Name: JOHNSON, Lily M
Registration District: Wandsworth
County: London
Year of Registration: 1948
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at death: 53
Volume No: 5D
Page No: 763

Lily married Ernest JOHNSON in 1915 in Lambeth. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Post War; Engineers draughtsman at BTH in Rugby (British Thompson Houston)
• Census: 1901, 68, Hydethorpe Road, Clapham
• Census: 1911, 68, Hydethorpe Road, Clapham
• Military: 1918, 68, Hydethorpe Road; Absent Voters Lists 1918 The voters details for the 1918 General Election were initially supplied by the next of kin of the household of the soldier to local voter registration officers. Once this process was completed, the names of those in the army were sent to the Adjutant General’s Department of the War Office, who then arranged to send voting cards to soldiers who were in the United Kingdom and ballot papers to men in France, Flanders and Italy. Men serving in more distant theatres of war were allowed to vote through use of a proxy voting form.

Notes:

Birth:
Description: 1901 Census - Born in Brixton Hill

Died:
Description: Cardiac arrest & Peripheral vascular disease

Just prior to his death he had to have a leg amputated.

Leonard married Adelaide Victoria May WILSON on 18 Aug 1923 in Streatham, Surrey, England. Adelaide (daughter of Joseph Frederick WILSON and Sarah Elizabeth WOOD) was born on 22 Oct 1897 in 1 Mary's Cottages, Eastcote Street, Stockwell, London.; died on 14 May 1965 in Rugby. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Leonard married Ivy Lamburne HEMMING, nee GASKELL on 18 Mar 1967 in Registry Office, Rugby. Ivy (daughter of George GASKELL) was born on 18 Feb 1896 in Rugby, Warwickshire; died on 21 Aug 1992 in Clifton on Dunsmore Nursing Home. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1911 1d 436 Lambeth

Died:
Registration No. 2000/1059

Philip married Kathleen M MILES in 1932. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Seaton, Devon.
Widowed

Birth:
Mar Q 1913 1d 1956 Greenwich

Died:
Possible Death

Name: BROWN, Vera Elizabeth
Registration District: Newport
County: Monmouthshire
Year of Registration: 1995
Month of Registration: March
Date of Birth: 9 January 1913
District No: 8361
Reg No: 51B
Ent No: 011
DOR: 0395

Other possible death

Name: BROWN, Vera Emily
Registration district: Taunton Deane County: Somerset
Year of registration: 1986
Month of registration: April
Date of Birth:16 March 1914
Volume no: 23 Page no: 1410 Reg no: 486

Vera married Ernest A BROWN in 1941. Ernest and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Mar Q 1918 1d 1083 Camberwell

Died:
Mar Q 1918 1d 1037 Camberwell

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1911 1d 436 Lambeth

Philip married Kathleen May MILES in 1932. Kathleen was born on 7 Nov 1907; died in Dec 1990. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1914 1d 867 Lambeth

Died:
Registration District: Isle of Wight
County: Hampshire
Year of Registration: 2002
Month of Registration: June
Date of Birth: 1 July 1914
District No:5561A
Reg No: A95A
Ent No: 035
DOR: 0602

Reginald married Olive May WINTER in 1939. Olive was born on 4 May 1915 in Lambeth; died in 2007 in New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Dec Q 1922 1d 694 Lambeth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Cremated: 31 08 2018, Wessex Vale Crematorium; Bubb Lane, West End, Southampton SO30 2HL

Notes:

Cremated:
Joyce’s Wonderful Life, by Celia Walker nee Mills.


Joyce Olive Mills made her dramatic entry to the world on the 18th November 1924 in Rugby; by a difficult breach birth (she was very proud to tell this). She felt that this had set a marker for her, as, in those days, so many such births ended in tragedy for both mother and baby, and so lived her life with determination and endeavour . She was the eldest of three children born to Len and May Billson. By her own account, she was a serious child who seemed to have an adult head on her from the word GO! She loved her brothers, Fred and Ron but always thought their games were too babyish for her! They both emigrated to the States in their 20s so she saw very little of them or their families during her life.
Her greatest love as a child was being at school. She was a voracious learner, Maths was her favourite subject, and she was always top of the class - something which she remained fiercely proud of her whole life. She attended Rugby High School for Girls and whilst achieving academic excellence, also enjoyed sports and being in the school netball team as goal shooter and captain; and in the hockey team, playing at right back.
Her school days were cut short after gaining distinctions in all her School Certificate exams (the equivalent of A star GCSEs) when her father wouldn’t allow her to continue her education. So, at 17, she left school to work in the accountancy offices of the local council in order to contribute to the household. This was her biggest, but only, regret of her life as she would have dearly loved to have gone to university to continue her studies and achieve her potential.
However, this cloud had a silver lining! The mother of Joyce’s best friend had taken in a lodger. A young man of 19, Ron Mills, had moved from his home in Hampshire to work as an apprentice in the electrical engineering industry which was based in Rugby. By his account, as soon as he saw Joyce he knew he was going to marry her and so began their friendship soon blossoming into romance and their marriage in 1946.
They lived in rooms for nearly four years but in 1950 when they announced the imminent arrival of Corin, their landlady refused to have a baby in the house and they had to move out and live with the Joyce’s parents. They desperately wanted their own house but had no deposit. This is when their Indian Adventure idea began to take shape. Ron had been offered a job with BTH in Calcutta to help the heavy electrical engineering industry after India’s recent independence. It was the answer to their prayers as it would allow them to accrue enough money for that all important deposit. So together with Corin, an 18 month old toddler, in 1951 they embarked from Southampton on a three-week sea voyage to India, First Class, all paid for by the Company. Mum’s recollection of this voyage was not a happy one as she suffered badly with sea sickness but still had to attend to Corin’s needs! The next stage of the journey was a 3 day sleeper train ride across India from Bombay to Calcutta. Again, another very trying time!
Life in India was very different. She had servants for everything, even an Ayah (nanny) to look after Corin! Joyce’s days were mostly spent socialising with the other European ladies. It was a life of luxury, but she admitted to being very bored with it! Whilst there, I was born. It hadn’t been a good pregnancy as Joyce had contracted dysentery, which continued for months after the birth. Her health was poor, and Ron couldn’t afford to send her to the hills to escape the heat of Calcutta, so the company flew her home, whilst Ron had to stay and complete his contract.
The journey home on a Lockheed Super Constellation required three stops for refuelling. During the stop in Beirut, Joyce, being so accustomed to having servants do all the fetching and carrying, she left 3 month old Celia in her carrycot in the airport café, only realising when a request came over the tannoy for a certain Joyce Mills to return and collect her baby! They finally landed at Heathrow, which then was just a collection of corrugated sheds, and were met by Ron’s father.
Her memory of the flight included noting that as they flew from East to West, the sun in front of the plane never set.
After the best part of a year living with her in-laws in Gosport, Joyce’s beloved Ron returned, and they moved to Sheffield where he had secured a job. They were able to put a deposit on their first house using the ‘India’ money and this was where Brian was born. Her little family now complete, Joyce found herself, for the first time, with no support network of servants or family but her strength of character saw her through a hectic life with three small children.
After a couple of years spent in Sheffield, Joyce and Ron moved back to Rugby to another new house in Old Bilton where their young family grew up. During this time she was an active member of the local Townswomen’s Guild, and was Chairwoman several times. Once the children were all at school, and still relatively short of money, Joyce made the decision to pick up her education. At aged 40, she learnt to drive and then attended Coventry Teacher Training College, taking a two-year accelerated course to become a teacher. True to form, she gained a distinction for her Certificate in Education.
Joyce then worked as a junior school teacher and revisited her love of netball by coaching the school netball team. They were very successful and won lots of their matches – something which she was rightly proud of. Her teaching career spanned 20 + years and included specialising in special needs education in which she gained several promotions. She loved teaching and like everything she turned her hand to, made a great success of it. She said it had made up for just a little of her disappointment at not going to university!
As her children became adults, she welcomed their partners, Lynne, Paul, and a few years later, John and June with love and warmth, enfolding them into her family. They held a special place in her heart.
In 1977, Joyce became a grandmother first to Emma, and then quickly followed by Matthew, Elena, Zoe and finally, James. She and Ron absolutely loved this new role and were the most wonderful grandparents who doted on their grandchildren who loved them back in equal measure! Many happy times were spent at their house in Pratts Bottom..... a place name which still gives much amusement to everyone!
After retiring from teaching, Joyce and Ron enjoyed several happy years travelling abroad for holidays in Cyprus, going to the theatre, concerts, the opera and the ballet, visiting museums and galleries and generally enjoying the freedom to do what they liked when they liked!
Unfortunately, this lifestyle was cut short by Ron having a heart attack and his health deteriorated considerably. It hit Joyce hard and she suffered greatly with anxiety. The next 10 years were difficult for her but she showed her strength and managed to carry on, although it did take its toll. After her beloved Ron died, Joyce became very depressed and the next 5 years were her darkest, experiencing loneliness (she’d never been on her own) and never really recovering from her loss.
Over several years, Joyce once again warmly welcomed new members to the family, Emma’s partner, now husband, Chris, Matthews’s wife, Belle, Elena’s husband John, James’ wife Sarah and recently Zoe’s partner Darren.
2 years before Ron died, their first great grandchild, Daniel was born, closely followed by William! A source of great joy to them both. After Ron’s death, Joyce was blessed with more; Along came Poppy, Isabelle, Jenson, Benjamin, Keeka, Harriet, Josie, Edith, Joshua and Esmee. They have all brought new, untold joy and love into her life. She was so proud to boast that she had 12 beautiful great grandchildren!
Joyce was first and foremost a home maker, a family woman, a beloved wife, a caring and loving mother, a devoted grandmother and great grandmother. During the last years of her life, her greatest joy came from knowing that her children were happy and successful good hearted people who held the same ideals by which she lived her life and that they in turn have raised their children to be the same, who are also in the process of doing likewise with their children. We are her legacy, a family who love, care and support each other no matter what.
Rest in peace, our lovely Mummy, Nana, Great Nana. You may have gone from view but you’ll never leave our hearts. We all loved you very much and trust that you and your beloved Ronnie are together now for all eternity.
'Til we meet again …….



A Poem for my Nanna by Emma Bolton.

We had a wonderful Nanna
One who never really grew old
Her smile was made of sunshine
and her heart was solid gold.

We had a wonderful Nanna
In her cheeks pink roses you'd see
Her eyes were as bright as shining stars
And tha'ts the way she will always be.

We had a wonderful Nanna
We're all here to wave her goodbye
So Nanna, cuddle up with Grandpa
With that chocolate box in the sky!

Joyce married Ronald George MILLS on 24 Aug 1946 in the Parish Church, Rugby. Ronald (son of Major William George MILLS, R.E and Eileen Grace FRANCIS) was born on 20 Jul 1923 in 67, North St, Gosport; was christened on 17 Oct 1923; died on 16 Jan 2007 in Southampton General Hospital. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 7 Dec 1949, New York
• Military Service Entered: Between Dec 1950 and Dec 1952

Notes:

According to Joyce he was engaged to be married to a girl called Fowler?. before he emigrated.
A month before the wedding the engagement was called off and all the wedding presents had to be returned.

Fred and Ron at the wedding of Amanda Billson and Craig Crawford - 2004

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9GlpsKsAM

Emigration:
Description: and settled in California Dec 1952

Fred was persuaded by Aunt Ella and Uncle Frank Powell to go to America. This was just after he had split up with his fiancee N? Towers.
Ella was a cousin of May Billson and lived in Detroit. He didn't get on with them very well, visited them once after he left then never saw or heard from them again.
He stayed in Los Angeles with his grandfather's brother Herbert Billson who had emigrated in 1910

Military Service Entered:
Description: U.S Army

Family/Spouse: Beverly Mae KINQUIST. Beverly was born on 16 Feb 1927 in Detroit City, Michigan; died on 16 Apr 2006 in Clark, Las Vegas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Polly Ann. Polly and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Frederick married Renee E DEVANEY on 06 Apr 1968 in Los Angeles, and was divorced on 2 Dec 1983. Renee was born in 1942. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 1958, California

Notes:

Fred and Ron at the wedding of Amanda Billson and Craig Crawford - 2004

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH9GlpsKsAM

Ronald married Pamela SUNLEY on 14 Mar 1964 in St. Augustines, Santa Monica, California. Pamela was born on 16 Sep 1934 in Darlington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1933 1d 739 Wandsworth

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1934 1d 693 Wandsworth

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1935 2a 459 Surrey Mid E.

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1938 2a 516 Surrey Mid E.

Kathleen married Stanley A HAMILTON in 1961 in Bermondsey, London. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1933 1d 739 Wandsworth

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1934 1d 69 Wandsworth

Died:
Name: Ronald Peter Billson
Birth Date: 28 Jun 1934
Date of Registration: Dec 1981
Age at Death: 47
Registration district: South Shields
Inferred County: Tyne and Wear
Volume: 2
Page: 1477

Notes:

Birth:
Sep Q 1936 2a 459 Surrey Mid Eastern

Notes:

Birth:
Jun Q 1938 2a 516 Surrey Mid Eastern