William Donson

William Donson was born in 1873 at Southwell.; He was the son of John, a silk weaver, and Martha Donson née Morton of Westhorpe, Southwell. His father John was born in 1838 at Southwell; he died in 1903 at Southwell aged 66 yrs. His mother Martha Morton was born in 1842 at Southwell. They were married in 1863 at Southwell and had the following children; John b1867, Ann b1871, William b1873, Mary b1875 and George b1879. All the children were born in Southwell. William married his wife Mary Elizabeth Thornley (b1877 Surfleet Lincolnshire) at Spalding in 1898. They had the following children, William Ernest b1898 Grantham, Cyril b1900 Grantham, Ethel born 5th April 1902 Grantham, Bertha born 22nd May 1903 Birmingham, Louisa born 11th January 1905 Birmingham, Annie born 3rd December 1906 Taunton, John Edward born 27th June 1908 Taunton, George Thornley born 22nd January 1909 Taunton and Mary born 17th September 1914 Taunton. In the 1911 census the family are living at 2 Portman Terrace, Cheddon Road, Taunton and are shown as William 39 yrs, a superintendent for the Refuge Assurance Co. who was living with his wife Mary Elizabeth 34 yrs and their children, William Ernest 13 yrs a scholar, Cyril 11 yrs a scholar, Ethel 9 yrs a scholar, Bertha 8 yrs a scholar, Louisa 6 yrs, Annie 4 yrs, John 3 yrs and George Thornley 1 year of age. William's pension card shows his widow Mary Elizabeth was living at 26 Victoria Road, Frome, Somerset, at his time of death. She was awarded a pension of 36 shillings for herself and her children from 7th May 1917.