Biography
Childhood
A family-held handwritten birth-register abstract gives a birth on 22 June 1844 at 12 King William Street and notes the later registered name as William Edward Wilson. The GEDCOM gives a baptism at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 17 August 1844; the original parish register has not yet been inspected. His father was involved in bankruptcy proceedings when William Edward was approximately ten.
Family and Surrey
The revised Findmypast GEDCOM identifies Mary Ellis as his wife and records seven children, including Walter Joseph William Hawes. Family testimony reports that Walter had eleven siblings, indicating twelve children altogether; this conflicts with the export and remains to be reconciled. A South Norwood 1916 programme written and directed by Mrs Wilson Hawes (identified by the family as Mary Ellis) names several performers whom the family identifies as Walter’s siblings. The 1881 census reference RG11/820, folio 88, page 31 places the family in Croydon. The family associates his residence with Thornton Heath, but the precise address awaits a census transcription.
Working life
The updated Findmypast GEDCOM describes William Edward as a bank clerk; this is now a recorded tree assertion, although the original census occupation column still needs checking. The census occupation field and later trade directories should settle the question.
Death and burial
A printed family memorial card records the death of William Edward Wilson-Hawes on 23 March 1900, aged 55, and burial at Tooting Cemetery. Its hyphenated surname offers a useful alternative spelling for searches. The GEDCOM additionally names Ashfield House, Feltham as his place of death; that location has not been independently verified.
Original family records
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Printed original names Tooting Cemetery; photograph awaiting upload
Read document and research notes →Born 22 June 1844 at 12 King William Street; image upload pending
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Written and directed by Mary Ellis, Mrs Wilson Hawes
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Walter's siblings and Eric among the cast
Read document and research notes →Further reading and sources
This is a research biography, not a fully verified pedigree. Original photographs, contemporary records, later copies, GEDCOM assertions and family recollections are distinguished where their evidential status is known. Details of living descendants are omitted.