Person:William Fraser (39)

William John Fraser was baptised on 9th April 1830 in the parish of St Botolph without Bishopsgate in the City of London, son of Mary Ann Fraser, formerly Hazell, and her husband John Fraser, an engineer. The family lived at 103 Houndsditch. By the time of the 1841 census they had moved to 10 King's Place on the Commercial Road in the parish of St George in the East, in the East End of London. William appears in both the 1841 and 1851 censuses living there with his parents and siblings. By 1851 he was also working as an engineer, like his father.

The 1861 census finds William, two brothers and a sister still living at 10 King's Place, whilst his parents and other sisters had moved to Bromley-by-Bow. William and his brothers described themselves as engineers employing 60 men and 10 boys.

On 15th November 1865, aged 35, William married a widow called Jane Palmer, formerly Timothy, at St Luke's Church, West Holloway in Islington, in the northern suburbs of London. She had a five year old son from her first marriage, to whom William became stepfather. William and Jane went on to have another eleven children together between 1866 and 1883, although one died as a baby in 1881. The first four children were born in the Hackney area. In about 1870 the family moved to Hampstead, where they lived at 121 Adelaide Road, a substantial villa with fifteen rooms. The 1871 and 1881 censuses each find William, Jane and their children living there along with three servants. From around the 1870s the family also developed an association with the seaside resort of Herne Bay on the Kent coast, apparently becoming regular visitors there.

In 1881, William applied for a patent for "improvements to vehicles propelled by manual labour" - presumably meaning bicycles, which at the time were moving from penny-farthing styles towards safety bicycles with pedals and chains.

William and Jane's five daughters were all musically gifted, between them playing the piano, violin and singing. From 1887 to 1901 the five girls performed professionally, calling themselves the Fraser Quintette and regularly travelling the country giving performances.

The 1891 census finds William with five of his children staying in Herne Bay, whilst Jane and some of the other children were back in London at 121 Adelaide Road. Around the early 1890s William had a house built at Herne Bay. The house was called "Cromartie" and stood on Margate Road on the hill to the south-east of the town.

The 1901 and 1911 censuses each find William back in London at 121 Adelaide Road with some of his children and servants. In both censuses Jane was not with him - in 1901 she appears with one of her sons and his family in Hornsey, whilst in 1911 she was living with another son and his family at a farm in Findon in Sussex. It is possible that she just happened to be away from home on census night, but equally the fact that they were not listed together on census night for three consecutive censuses suggests that they may have been living apart.

William died on 11th July 1912 at Herne Bay, aged 82. His obituary in the local newspaper, the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, describes his long association with the town and how he "was a man of a most charming manner, and all who met him for the first time were attracted by his genial personality". The obituary makes no mention of Jane. She survived William by nearly five years, and married a farmer from Findon a few weeks after William's death, reinforcing the impression that she and William had separated.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. St. Botolph Bishopsgate Church (London). Parish registers of St. Botolph Bishopsgate, 1559-1901. (London: London Metropolitan Archives).

   BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of St Botolphs Bishopsgate in the City of London in the Year 1830
   No.	When Baptized	Child's Christian Name	Parents' Name		Abode	Quality, Trade, or Profession	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   			Christian	Surname
   612	April 9	William John son of	John & Mary Ann	Fraser	103 Houndsditch	Engineer	R. Ruddock

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 696; Book 8; Folio 6; Page 4, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: 10 King's Place, Commercial Road, St George in the East, Middlesex
   John Fraser, male, 35 [1801-6], Engineer, born in county
   Mary Ann Fraser, female, 35 [1801-6], born in county
   William Fraser, male, 10 [1830/1], born in county
   Louisa Fraser, female, 8 [1832/3], born in county
   Caroline Fraser, female, 7 [1833/4], born in county
   George Fraser, male, 5 [1835/6], born in county
   John Fraser, male, 3 [1837/8], born in county
   Mary Ann Fraser, female, 1 [1839/40], born in county
   Sarah Hickman, female, 40 [1796-1801], F[emale] S[ervant], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1547; Folio 131; Page 9, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: 10 King's Place, Commercial Road, St George in the East, Middlesex
   John Fraser, head, married, male, 49 [1801/2], Engineer, b. Clerkenwell, Middlesex
   Mary Fraser, wife, married, female, 49 [1801/2], b. London
   William Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 21 [1829/30], Engineer, b. London
   Louisa Fraser, daughter, unmarried, female, 18 [1832/3], b. London
   Caroline Fraser, daughter, unmarried, female, 16 [1834/5], b. London
   George Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 14 [1836/7], b. London
   John Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 12 [1838/9], b. London
   Mary Fraser, daughter, unmarried, female, 10 [1840/1], b. London
   Ellen Fraser, daughter, unmarried, female, 8 [1842/3], b. London
   Ann Monk, servant, unmarried, female, 24 [1826/7], Dom[estic], b. London

4. ↑ England. 1861 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG9; Piece 276; Folio 116; Page 4, 7 Apr 1861.

   Address: 10 King's Place, Commercial Road, St George in the East, Middlesex
   William John Fraser, head, unmarried, male, 32 [1828/9], Engineers employing 60 men & 10 boys, b. Bishopsgate, Middlesex
   George Coleman Fraser, brother, unmarried, male, 25 [1835/6], Engineers employing 60 men & 10 boys, b. Bishopsgate, Middlesex
   John Hazel Fraser, brother, unmarried, male, 23 [1837/8], Engineers employing 60 men & 10 boys, b. Bishopsgate, Middlesex
   Mary Ann Fraser, sister, unmarried, female, 20 [1840/1], No occupation, b. St George East, Middlesex
   Sarah Hawkins, servant, unmarried, female, 34 [1826/7], General Servant, b. Cripplegate, City of London

5. ↑ England. England and Wales. 1871 Census Schedules. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG10; Piece 194; Folio 71; Page 71, 2 Apr 1871.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, Middlesex
   William John Fraser, head, married, male, 41 [1829/30], Engineer Master For[?] employ ab[ou]t 100 men, b. London, Middlesex
   Jane Fraser, wife, married, female, 28 [1842/3], b. London, Middlesex
   Cassannet T. Fraser, son, male, 10 [1860/1], b. London, Middlesex
   Violet M. Fraser, daughter, female, 4 [1866/7], b. London, Middlesex
   Leslie McG. Fraser, son, male, 3 [1867/8], b. London, Middlesex
   Ida Fraser, daughter, female, 2 [1868/9], b. London, Middlesex
   Frank H. Fraser, son, male, 1 [1869/70], b. London, Middlesex
   Ethel M. Fraser, daughter, female, 5mos [1870], b. London, Middlesex
   Eliza Tercher, servant, unmarried, female, 22 [1848/9], Dom[estic] Serv[ant], b. London, Middlesex
   Eliza Parkins, servant, unmarried, female, 29 [1841/2], Dom[estic] Serv[ant], b. London, Middlesex
   Elizabeth Pardee[?], servant, unmarried, female, 21 [1849/50], Nurse Dom[estic] Serv[ant], b. Worcestershire

6. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 175; Folio 105; Page 34, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, Middlesex
   W[illia]m J. Fraser, head, married, 51 [1829/30], Engineer, b. London, Middlesex
   Jane Fraser, wife, married, female, 38 [1842/3], b. London, Middlesex
   Thomas Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 20 [1860/1], Engineer, b. London, Middlesex
   Voilet [sic] Fraser, daughter, female, 14 [1866/7], b. London, Middlesex
   Lesley M. Fraser, son, unmarried, male, 13 [1867/8], b. London, Middlesex
   Ida Fraser, daughter, female, 12 [1868/9], b. London, Middlesex
   Frank Fraser, son, male, 11 [1869/70], b. London, Middlesex
   Ethel Fraser, daughter, female, 10 [1870/1], b. London, Middlesex
   Mabel L. Fraser, daughter, female, 9 [1871/2], b. London, Middlesex
   W[illia]m A. Fraser, son, male, 7 [1873/4], b. London, Middlesex
   Stella Fraser, daughter, female, 5 [1875/6], b. London, Middlesex
   John M. Fraser, son, male, 2 [1878/9], b. London, Middlesex
   Guy Fraser, son, male, 1mo [1881], b. London, Middlesex
   Mary Kallen, visitor, female, 21 [1859/60], b. London, Middlesex
   Mary G. Cook, servant, female, 32 [1848/9], Serv[ant], b. London, Middlesex
   Sarah Galetford, servant, female, 18 [1862/3], Ser[vant], b. Birmingham, Warwickshire
   Pauline Keutergale[?], servant, female, 26 [1854/5], b. Paris, France

7. ↑ England. 1891 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG12; Piece 710; Folio 135; Page 17, 5 Apr 1891.

   Address: 10 Eversley Villas, Herne Bay (Urban Sanitary District), Herne (Parish), Kent
   W[illia]m John Fraser, head, married, male, 61 [1829/30], Civil & Mechanical Engineer, employer, b. Bishopsgate, London
   Violet M. Fraser, daughter, single, female, 24 [1866/7], Artiste Musical, neither employer nor employed, b. Hackney, London
   Leslie M. Fraser, son, single, male, 23 [1867/8], Mechanical Engineer, employed, b. Hackney, London
   Ethel M. Fraser, daughter, single, female, 20 [1870/1], Artiste Musical, neither employer nor employed, b. Hampstead, London
   Mabel L. Fraser, daughter, single, female, 19 [1871/2], Artiste Musical, neither employer nor employed, b. Hampstead, London
   William A. Fraser, son, single, male, 17 [1873/4], Engineer Student, employed, b. Hampstead, London
   Frederick D. Bullock, visitor, single, male, 20 [1870/1], Student Theology, b. Lancaster Gate, London
   Edith Lester, servant, single, female, 19 [1871/2], Housemaid General Domestic Servant, b. Herne Bay, Kent

8. ↑ England. England. 1901 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG13; Piece 124; Folio 41; Page 12, 31 Mar 1901.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, London
   William J. Fraser, head, married, male, 70 [1830/1], Civil Engineer, employer, b. England
   Violet M. Fraser, daughter, single, female, 34 [1866/7], b. England
   John M. Fraser, son, single, male, 22 [1878/9], Journalist author, b. England
   Muriel Chester, visitor, single, female, 22 [1878/9], b. England
   Mary Walton, servant, single, female, 29 [1871/2], Cook - Domestic, b. England
   Edith Walton, single, female, 23 [1877/8], Housemaid - Domestic, b. England

9. ↑ England. 1911 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom: The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.))
   Class RG14; Piece 617; Schedule 335, 2 Apr 1911.

   Address: 121 Adelaide Road, Hampstead, London
   15 rooms occupied
   William John Fraser, head, male, 82 [1828/9], married 45 years, 11 children born to marriage, 10 children still living, Civil Engineer retired, b. Bishopgate, London
   Violet Mary Fraser, daughter, female, 44 [1866/7], single, b. Hackney
   Gertrude Jane Whitmer, sick nurse, 40 [1870/1], single, Dispenser & Cert. Midwife, b. Keysoe, Bedfordshire
   Mary Walton, servant, female, 39 [1871/2], Cook, b. Rostherne, Cheshire
   Edith Walton, servant, female, 33 [1877/8], Housemaid, b. Rostherne, Cheshire

10. ↑ Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

    d. William John FRASER, September Quarter 1912, Blean Registration District, Volume 2a, page 923, aged 84 [1827/8]

11. ↑ England. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations),1858 onwards. (Ancestry.com).

    1912
    FRASER William John of Cromartie Herne Bay Kent died 11 July 1912 Probate London 7 August to William Richmond Marsh woollen merchant Charles Woodward Neele electrical engineer and Edward Henderson Johnstone newspaper manager. Effects £10443 2s. 1d.

12.   Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 8, 20 Jul 1912.

    HERNE BAY.
    DEATH OF MR. W.J. FRASER. - General and sincere regret is expressed among the inhabitants at the death of Mr. W.J. Fraser, of "Cromartie," Margate Road, Herne Bay, at the advanced age of 84 years. The deceased gentleman, who was a members of the firm of civil engineers who have a big establishment in Essex, had been connected with Herne Bay for about forty years, and some twenty years ago he built "Cromartie," a house most pleasantly situated on a hill to the south-east of the town. He was a man of most charming manner, and all who met him for the first time were attracted by his genial personality.

13.   Hampstead & Highgate Express, in United Kingdom. The British Newspaper Archive
    Page 3, 12 Feb 1881.

    LOCAL PATENTS.
    THIS list of patents is specially compiled for the Hampstead and Highgate Express by Messrs. Des Voeux and Colton, patent solicitors and engineers, 32, Southampton-buildings, W.C., of whom all information, including pamphlets of instruction, may be obtained...
    NOTICE TO PROCEED.
    William J. Fraser, of 121, Adelaide-road, Haverstock-hill, engineer, "Improvements in vehicles propelled by manual labour."