The family of William Alfred Phillips

William Alfred Phillips was born in June quarter 1861.  He was the son of John Phillips, a farm labour from Stone and his wife, Anna.  By 1881 he had got involved with 'steam'.  He was a steam plough steersman on a farm in Alkerton, Eastington.  In the census, he was the only person listed in the household, and unusually given the status of 'person in charge'.

William married Eliza Cole in Chepstow in September quarter 1883.  They had one child in Chepstow, Francis George, born in September quarter 1884.  The family then moved to Thornbury where William Henry was born in June quarter 1886, John Leonard born in September quarter 1888 and Fanny Elizabeth E. was born on Christmas Day 1889.

The 1891 census shows the family living at 2 Sawmill Lane, an old  small cottage situated near the recently opened saw mill.   The family consisted of William, a stationary engine driver aged 29 from Thornbury, his wife, Eliza aged 29 from Newent and their children: George aged 6 born in Chepstow, Henry 4, John 2 and Fanny aged 1, all born in Thornbury. 

In 1899 Rate Book shows the family had moved to 3 Horse Shoe Lane on the corner of Horseshoe Lane and Gillingstool.  The house was known as 'The Old School House'.  In the 1901 census William was described as an engine driver - steam roller.  His son, 'George' was now an apprentice tinsmith aged 16 and Harry was a house decorator aged 14.  John and Fanny now had a little brother, Ernest aged 9, and sister, Beatrice aged 7.  They were still in 3 Horseshoe Lane at the time of the 1904 electoral register and 1905 Rate Book.

By 1907 the family had moved to a house described in the electoral register as being at 'Streamleaze'.  This house later became known as 3 Upper Bath Road.

William's wife, Eliza, died on 8th January 1908 aged 46 years.   He re-married in September quarter 1909, his wife was Elvere Adelaide Crowe.  Elvere was born in West Somerton in the area of Flegg, Norfolk in 1872, the daughter of Richard T Green, an agricultural labourer and his wife, Emma M.  In 1891 the Green family were living in Carlton Colville in Norfolk.  In 1898 Elvere married Richard Knights Crowe in the Norwich area and they had at least one child, Ella Millicent born on 19th October 1901.  Following Richard's death, Elvere moved to Thornbury where she married William Alfred Phillips.  Her daughter, Ella Crowe started at the Council School in 1909.

William and Elvere had at least one son, Herbert Wallace was born in 1910.  They continued to live at 3 Upper Bath Road until William died on December 30th 1925 aged 64 years.  Miss Higgins has a funeral card which shows he was interred in Thornbury Cemetery.

Elvere Adelaide carried on living in the house until she died on December 18th 1948 aged 76 years.  She is buried in the same grave as William in Thornbury Cemetery.  The house was taken over by William's grand-daughter, Mollie and her husband, John Blenkinsopp.

Of William's children:

William Henry became known as 'Harry'.  He enjoyed playing the cornet and whilst at the Grammar School he regularly played the Last Post at the annual Remembrance Day service.  Harry was a painter and decorator and in 1920 he married Bertha Stone, the daughter of George and Eliza Stone.  George was a deacon and elder of Thornbury Baptist Church and Bertha was the organist and Harry, the choirmaster there.  Harry and Bertha had one daughter, Rachel born in 1921.  The photo on the right shows the two of them outside number 3 Upper Bath Road, although they lived at 63 High Street.  This house had the unusual name 'Gilgandra'  - which might suggest there was some connection to the place by that name in Australia.  Harry and Bertha were shown as still living here in 1958.  Harry died on 5th June 1963 aged 77 years.  Bertha died on 6th July 1986 aged 95.

Francis George known by his middle name 'George'.  George married Fanny Elizabeth Millard in 1910 and they had a daughter, Mollie born in 1913 and a son, John W. born in 1916.  George and Fanny lived in the High Street in the house which was later to become number 62 when house numbering was introduced in the 1950's.  The earliest record we have of them living there was in 1919 when Mollie started at the Council Upper School. 

George appears to have taken over the job of steamroller driver from his father and we were told he used to park the vehicle outside number 3 Upper Bath Road.  Many years later Mollie recalled childhood of how she used to meet her father at the end of the day to gain a ride on the roller's coal box.  George Phillips died in 1960 aged 75 years and his wife, Fanny died on 22nd October 1975 aged 89 years.  Click here to read more about Mollie and her husband, John Blenkinsopp

This page was last updated: 14/12/2008