William Towers

William was the fourth child and only son of William and Alice Towers (née Hardstaff), His father William was born in Barkestone, Leicestershire, on 10 July 1861, the son of Richard and Elizabeth Towers. In 1871 William was living with his parents in Barkestone but by 1881 had moved to Nottingham where he was working as a goods porter with the Midland Railway and living with his older brother, Thomas. Thomas (28), a milk dealer, and his wife Ellen (26, née Allen) had two sons, Allen (2) and Aldred (1). Ellen died in 1885 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 31 and Thomas died in 1887 (O/N/D Nottingham) aged 35. William married Alice Hardstaff on 13 July 1884 at Mansfield St Edmund King & Martyr. They were to have five children: Elizabeth b. 10 November 1884, Minnie b. 2 July 1888, Ellen b. 1887 (J/A/S Nottingham), Wlliam b. 1895 (J/A/S Basford) and Edith Alice b. 18 February 1898. The three older children were born in Nottingham but William and Edith were born in West Bridgford. By 1891 William and Alice were living on Hartford Street and he was now working as a milk seller, presumably having taken over the business from his late brother. William and Alice had two children of their own, Elizabeth (6) and Minnie (2), but were also caring for William's orphaned nephews, Allen (12) and Aldred (11). William and Alice had moved to 30 Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford, by 1901. William was now a milk retailer. Four of their five children were in the home on the night of the census: Minnie, Ellen (8), William (5) and Edith (3) as well as Allen (22) a plumber, and Aldred (21) a joiner, and John Wilkinson (15 b. Barton in Fabis) whose occupation was given as milk boy so presumably assisting William in his business. The family was still living at 30 Pierrepont Road, West Bridgford, in 1911. In the home on the night of the census were Elizabeth (26), Minnie (22) a typist, Ellen (19) a milliner, William a solicitor's clerk and Edith Alice who was still at school. Also in the household was a lodger, Joseph James, described as an assistant to a dairyman. William's nephew Allen had married in 1902 and in 1911 he and his wife Henrietta were living at 15 Hartford Street, Nottingham, with their children Rosamund (8) and Allen (7) and Allen's brother Aldred. Allen was a plumber on his own account and Aldred a joiner. William and Alice later moved from Pierrepont Road as CWGC gives their address as 58 Edward Road, West Bridgford. Alice died on 15 September 1925 aged 69. William was still living at 58 Edward Road when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled; his occupation was given as dairyman (master). Also in the home were his unmarried daughters Elizabeth and Minnie. William died on 3 November 1940 aged 88. Probate was awarded to his daughter Minnie and Stanley Scotter, incorporated accountant, his daughter Edith's husband. Of William's four sisters: Elizabeth was living with her widowed father and sister Minnie at 58 Edward Road, West Bridgford, in 1939. She died in 1963 (O/N/D Basford) Minnie was living with her widowed father and sister Elizabeth at 58 Edward Road, West Bridgford, in 1939, She died on 29 July 1974, the probate record gave her address as 68 Loughborough Road, West Bridgford. Ellen has not yet been traced after 1911. Edith Alice married Stanley Scotter in 1920 (J/A/S Basford) and they had at least two children: Betty b. 1921 (J/A/S Sculcoates Yorkshire) and Jean T. b, 1923 (O/N/D Sculcoates). In 1939 Edith and Stanley were registered at the Parkway Hotel, Leeds. However, they were living in Kingston on Hull when Stanley died on 29 November 1958; his widow and daughter Betty were his executors. Edith was living in Lowestoft when she died on 11 December 1972 (O/N/D Lothingland Suffolk).