William Bettis 1861 – 1927

My Grandfather William Bettis’s father was also called William Bettis, he was born on 1st August 1861, worked as an Agricultural Labourer for his early years when he lived in Epping Forest. After his wedding to Sarah Eleanor Laws on 11th August 1888 (at St Mary’s Church, Theydon Bois) the family moved to Leytonstone in London where he worked as a labourer for the Great Eastern Railway (G.E.R.)
He died on 31st August 1927 He appears on 4 census records, the 1901 and 1891  ones where he’s living in Leyton as we’ve seen in a previous post, and the 1881 and 1871 censuses. The details of the households from theses censuses are shown below

1901 Census – 92 Oakdale Road, Leyton

William Bettis Head 40 G.E.R. Labourer Theydon Bois
Sarah Bettis Wife 42 Coopersale
William J Bettis Son 11 Leytonstone
Eleanor M Bettis Daur 9 Leytonstone
Minnie Bettis Daur 5 mo Leytonstone

1891 Census – 3 Thornton Road, Leyton

William Bettis Head 31 Platelayer G.E.R. Theydon Bois
Sarah E Bettis Wife 32 Epping
William J Bettis Son 1 Leytonstone

The above censuses were from after William had got married and moved into London, before that he had lived in Theydon Bois, Epping Forest. On census day in 1881 he was staying at his Brothers house

1881 Census – Ivy Chimneys Lane, Theydon Bois

Arthur Bettis Head 27 Ag Lab Theydon Bois
Charlotte Bettis Wife 26 Theydon Bois
Minnie Bettis Daur 7 Scholar Theydon Bois
Susannah Bettis Daur 6 Scholar Theydon Bois
Charlotte Bettis Daur 4 Scholar Theydon Bois
Sarah Bettis Daur 2 Theydon Bois
William Bettis Brother 20 ? Theydon Bois

It’s not actually clear on the 1881 Census what William’s occupation was, the actual census taker doesn’t seem to have written anything down, then in another hand an undecipherable word has been written, and then in a third hand what looks like ‘ML’ (for Manual Labourer) has been written, so I presume he worked as a labourer on the farm like his father and elder brothers did

1871 Census – Ivy Chimneys Lane, Theydon Bois

James Bettis Head 47 Ag Lab Stanford Rivers
Emma Bettis Wife 46 Matching
Mary Ann Bettis Daur 21 Theydon Garnon
Arthur Bettis Son 19 Ag Lab Theydon Garnon
Henry Bettis Son 16 Ag Lab Theydon Garnon
Eliza Bettis Daur 12 Theydon Garnon
William Bettis Son 10
Theydon Bois
John Bettis Son 6 Theydon Bois
Sarah Bettis Daur 4 Theydon Bois
Rosetta Bettis Daur 3 Theydon Bois

Ivy Chimneys Road is right on the edge of Epping, though nominally it is in Theydon Bois, which is presumably to do with historic Parish boundaries, though these days the M25 splits it from Theydon Bois quite definitely

ivychimneys

As the 1881 map shows, Ivychimneys was formerly a separate little hamlet on it’s own.

ivychimneys1880

With the spreading urbanisation out from London, the whole area has changed in character, what was once a country road with farm workers cottages at the side is now a road of large post second world war semi’s in a desirable commuter location within walking distance (or at least less than 5 minutes drive away) of Epping Tube station.

iveychimneysbirdseye

One thought on “William Bettis 1861 – 1927

  1. Edward Grant

    Hi,

    My Grandfather was Authur Bettis husband of Marion (ne Wilton) who lived at 14 Bridge Hill in Epping for most of their lives. The address is so close to Ivy Chimneys that there must be a link.

    Arthur was born in 1900. I have his father as marrying some one with the surname ‘Bass’ but have no futher details, i.e. no first names.

    Regards,

    Ed Grant.

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