Genealogy Forum UK

From this article in the Black Country Bugle - here

I'm sure his birth date is incorrect, should it be 1896

“Clifford Willetts was born to Thomas and Caroline Willetts on 20th October 1986''

1901: Why Not Street, Cradley, Worc
Thomas Willetts 45 Head Iron Chainmaker
Catherine? (on image) Willetts 40 Wife Iron Chainmaker
Harry Willetts 8 Son
Frank Willetts 5 Son
Clifford Willetts 4 Son
Samuel Willetts 1 Son
Thomas Guest 57 Boarder Marr Colliery Lab above ground Netherton, Worc
(others born Cradley)

Sch# 175
1891: Two Gates, Cradley, Worc
Thomas Willetts 34 Head Chainmaker
Caroline Willetts 30 Wife Chainmaker

also in the same household but not transcribed as such...

Joseph Willetts 28 Head Nailmaker
Selina Willetts 27 Wife
Mary Ann Willetts 5 Dau
Clara Jane Willetts 4 Dau
(all born Cradley, Worc)

anyone see them in 1911 please?

I knew Cliff Willetts and his daughter Hazel from Two Gates Cradley, there is also a son still living, Hazel Married Norman Clifton. Cliff was a self made man, was awarded the OBE, and wrote some books on his life in Cradley:-

Cliff Willetts (1896-1980), O.B.E., is remembered in Cradley for many things, notably being Superintendent of the Two Gates Ragged School for over 50 years but also his writings about Cradley. Perhaps the most well known of these is the autobiographical "When I was a Boy", a story of growing up in Cradley in the early 1900's.

"When I was a Boy" takes us back to a time when there were just 761 dwellings in Cradley, none of which had running water or a bathroom. Water was obtained from wells and pumps - many of which were contaminated. Carpets were unknown in Cradley working class homes.

Cliff describes the rows of terraced houses: Kan Kan Row, Long Row, Bloomer's Row, Edward's Row, Homer's Row, Ladies' Row and Ginger Bread Row; the Anvil Yard; the chain shops; the "brewus" where washing, baking and brewing beer were done.

Cliff's book is a vivid chronicle of everyday life in Cradley in those early years of the 20th century. He tells stories of the first motor car and the first "living pictures" he saw; of the Black Country dialect, "our inheritance"; of Colley Gate cricket club and the unbeatable Cradley St. Peter's football team; of hop picking and the ritual of donkey rides over the Clent Hills. Boats were kept at the Police Station in Colley Lane to rescue people when the river Stour flooded.

Cliff records that to have a piece of toast for breakfast depended on whether there was enough fire in the grate and how "We had more dinner times than dinners!"; and that life in Cradley would not have been complete without groaty pudding.

Sorry I don't have the 1911 Census San, but he lived and died in Two Gates Cradley. Linell.

Thomas Willetts Married Caroline Bills Stourbridge Reg District 1887.

HTH Linell.

I think this must be Caroline Bills in Colley Lane Cradley 1881:-

Septimus BILLS Head M Male 44 Dudley, Worcester, England Chainmaker
Hannah BILLS Wife M Female 45 Cradley, Worcester, England
Caroline BILLS Daur U Female 20 Cradley, Worcester, England Chainmaker
Hezekiah BILLS Son U Male 16 Cradley, Worcester, England Chain Striker
Septimus BILLS Son U Male 14 Cradley, Worcester, England Chain Striker
Selina BILLS Daur U Female 11 Cradley, Worcester, England Scholar
Benjimin BILLS Son Male 9 Cradley, Worcester, England Scholar
John BILLS Son Male 7 Cradley, Worcester, England Scholar
Leah BILLS Daur Female 3 Cradley, Worcester, England

Think this is Thomas in Tanhouse Lane Cradley (just off Two Gates) in 1881:-

Samuel Willetts 49
Rhoda Willetts 45
Thomas Willetts 25
Samuel Willetts 24
Joseph Willetts 19
Clara J. Willetts 4

WILLETTS Samuel MOOR Rhoda Dudley, St Thomas Dudley Register Office 204/014/297 1855

I don't have any credits, think this maybe him
1911
HOUSEHOLD WILLETTS CLIFFORD M 1897 14 Stourbridge Worcestershire

1861 Park Lane Cradley:-


SAMUEL WILLETTS Head Married 26 yrs
RHODA WILLETTS Wife " 25 yrs
THOMAS WILLETTS Son 5 yrs
SAMUEL WILLETTS " 4 yrs
NANCY WILLETTS Daughter 2 yrs
HENRY WILLETTS Son 10 mth
NANCY MOORE Head Widow 54 yrs
THOMAS HYME Apprentice Unmarried 61 yrs
CHARLES MOORE Grandson 12 yrs

1851 Tanhouse Lane Cradley:-

Joseph Moor HD M 60 Chain Maker Cradley
Nanny Wife Wife 54 Cradley
Caroline DA 18
Harriet DA 16
Rhoda DA 15
Charles Grandson 2 (born out of wedlock)
All Chainmakers all born Cradley.

Linell.

1911 : Two Gates, Cradley Heath, Staffs :
WILLETTS, Thomas Head Married
24 years M 55 1856 Chainmaker Cradley Worcs
WILLETTS, Cariline Wife Married F 50 1861 Cradley Worcs
WILLETTS, Harry Son Single M 18 1893 Chainmaker Cradley Worcs
WILLETTS, Frank Son Single M 15 1896 Horsedriver Cradley Worcs
WILLETTS, Clifford Son M 14 1897 Grocer's Erran Boy Cradley Worcs
WILLETTS, Samuel Son M 11 1900 School Cradley Worcs
GUEST, Thomas Boarder Widower M 68 1843 Colliery Watchman Dudley Worcs

linell wrote:I think this must be Caroline Bills in Colley Lane Cradley 1881:-

Septimus BILLS Head M Male 44 Dudley, Worcester, England Chainmaker
Hannah BILLS Wife M Female 45 Cradley, Worcester, England
Caroline BILLS Daur U Female 20 Cradley, Worcester, England Chainmaker
Hezekiah BILLS Son U Male 16 Cradley, Worcester, England Chain Striker
Septimus BILLS Son U Male 14 Cradley, Worcester, England Chain Striker
Selina BILLS Daur U Female 11 Cradley, Worcester, England Scholar
Benjimin BILLS Son Male 9 Cradley, Worcester, England Scholar
John BILLS Son Male 7 Cradley, Worcester, England Scholar
Leah BILLS Daur Female 3 Cradley, Worcester, England

Poss
1857
BILLS Septimus FORREST Hannah Dudley, St Thomas Dudley Register Office 204/016/180

linell wrote:1861 Park Lane Cradley:-


SAMUEL WILLETTS Head Married 26 yrs
RHODA WILLETTS Wife " 25 yrs
THOMAS WILLETTS Son 5 yrs
SAMUEL WILLETTS " 4 yrs
NANCY WILLETTS Daughter 2 yrs
HENRY WILLETTS Son 10 mth
NANCY MOORE Head Widow 54 yrs
THOMAS HYME Apprentice Unmarried 61 yrs
CHARLES MOORE Grandson 12 yrs

From Notebook 1857
# 37
Stourbridge Road & Tan house lane
Willetts
Samuel, chains, no church
Rhoda, no church
A nephew Charles Moore, 9, unitarian school,
Her mother Anne Moore, no church, widow, aged

1863
# 48
Tan house lane
Willetts
Samuel, chain, no church
Rhoda, no church
Thomas, 8, Nov, unitarian school, free
Samuel, 7, Oct, deaf and dumb
Nancy, 5, Apr
Henry, 3, May, died
Joseph, 1, May
Her mother, Ann Moore, Widow, 67, no church died
mother of Mrs W, Mrs B & Mrs P
Nephew, Charles Moore, 15, May, files, untarian school

Thanks for all that everyone!

That'll keep me busy for the rest of the night

Added a couple of those marriages for look ups

I'll add more when confirmed - so far