Arthur Ernest Williams

He was born about 1883 the son of John Williams and Phoebe Williams (nee Fatherly) who in 1911 had been married for 29 years and had had 12 children born alive of whom 11 were still living. Eleven children are named on the census between 1881 and 1911; Charles Arthur (b. Skellingthorpe), George Henry (b. Skellingthorpe), Anne E (b. Skellingthorpe), William Thomas (b. Skellingthorpe), Lucy Elizabeth (b. Bracebridge), Arthur Ernest (b. Stragglethorpe), Edith M (b. Doddington), Emily A (b. Doddington), John F (b. Doddington), Phoebe F (b. Doddington) and Agnes M (b. Doddington). In 1881 John Williams was a farm foreman and he and Phoebe were living in Bracebridge, Lincolnshire, with their five children; Charles Arthur (8), George Henry (7), Anne E (4), William Thomas (2) and Lucy Elizabeth (8 months). In 1891 John was still a farm foreman but he was living and working in Doddington, Lincolnshire. He and Phoebe had seven children at home; William, an agricultural labourer at the age of 13, Lucy, Arthur (8), Edith (6), Emily (4), John (3) and Phoebe (1). Also in the household was John's widowed father-in-law, Charles Fatherly, who was a shoemaker, and an agricultural servant, John Lanes (18). They were still at the same address ten years later in 1901 but only four of their children were at home on the night of the census; Edith, John, Phoebe and Agnes (8). Also in the household was John's widowed brother, Jone (sic) Williams (82), and a servant (waggoner/farm worker), Thomas Trigg (19). Arthur was not in the household on the night of the 1901 census but he was back with the family by the time of the 1911 census. His father was now a farmer in Eakring and Arthur was described as working on his father's farm. Arthur and John were the only two children still at home. An older brother, George Henry, was a police constable living in Mansfield with his wife, Emma (nee Stuffins), and their baby, Constance. Arthur's mother, Phoebe, died in 1917 at the age of 67 and his father, John, died on 15 February 1924, he would have been about 77 years of age. John was living in Clipstone at the time of his death. Arthur Ernest was single at the time of the 1911 Census and later married Ada Louisa Williams; the CWGC record gives her address as Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, although Arthur is commemorated on memorials in North Collingham.