William Tom Hallam

William Tom Hallam was the second child and eldest son of Hannah Hallam formerly Chambers nee Rushby by her second husband, Thomas (Tom) Hallam. William's mother Hannah Rushby was born in about 1861 at Egmanton, Nottinghamshire. She and her first husband, Henry Chambers, were married at Weston, Newark, in 1881 (J/A/S Southwell) and had two sons, John b. 1882 (A/M/J Southwell) bap. Weston All Saints 14 May 1882, and Henry (Harry) b. 1883 (O/N/D Southwell) bap. Weston All Saints 3 February 1884. Henry Chambers senior died at Weston in 1884 (J/A/S Southwell) aged 51, and was buried at Weston All Saints on 14 September 1884. Hannah married Thomas (Tom) Hallam in 1886 (O/N/D Southwell). The 1911 Census gives the information that they had eleven children but this figure probably included John and Henry Chambers as census and birth registration records suggest there were nine children from Hannah's second marriage: Sarah Elizabeth b. 1887 (O/N/D Southwell), William Tom (Tom William) birth registered 1890 (J/F/M Southwell), Bertha Kate (Kate) b. 1892 (A/M/J Southwell), Alfred George (George) b. 1893 (J/A/S Southwell), Joseph (Joe) Cragg b. 1894 (O/N/D Southwell), Mary Ada b. 1896 (J/A/S Southwell) d. 9 November 1920 age 24, Agnes birth prob. registered 1899 (J/F/M Southwell), Lewis/Louis b. 1900 (J/A/S Southwell) and Olga Ellen b. 1901 (O/ND Southwell). With the exception of George and Agnes, all the birth registration records give the mother's maiden name as 'Rushby'. All the children were born in Carlton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. In 1891 Hannah and Thomas Hallam (31), a malster's labourer, were living at Station Road, Carlton-on-Trent, with Hannah's sons by her first marriage, John (9) and Henry (7), and their children Sarah (3) and William (1). The head of household was Thomas' widowed father, William Hallam (74), a farmer. All four children were described as William Hallam's grandchildren. Hannah (39) and Thomas (40), now a boatman on the River Trent, were still living with William Hallam in 1901 although by then the family had moved to Village Street, Carlton-on-Trent. Also in the household on the night of the census were eight children of the marriage: Sarah (13), William (11), Bertha Kate (9), George (7), Joseph (7), Mary (5), Agnes (2) and Lewis (0). Their youngest child, Olga, was born later that year. John and Henry, Hannah's sons by her first marriage, have not yet been traced on the 1901 Census although John joined the army in November 1901. John gave his mother's address as Middle Holme Lane, Sutton-on-Trent, when he named her as his next of kin when he enlisted in November 1901 and this was still the address of his mother and stepfather in 1911. Thomas (51) was still working as a boatman on the River Trent. Five of their children were in the home on the night of the census: Joseph (16), a farm boy, Mary (14), Agnes (12), Lewis (10) and Olga (9). Their four other children were all in service in households in the county. Sarah was at North Muskham, a domestic servant in the household of Herbert Banks Friend (41 b. Sheffield), a retired manufacturing silversmith's manager, who also employed a housekeeper, Eliza Martin (68). William was at Spring Farm, Ossington, a waggoner in the household of Richard Clark (37), a farmer, and his family. Bertha Kate was a general domestic servant at The Park, Gunthorpe, in the household of Elizabeth Tansley (69), her son, daughter-in-law and grandson. George was also living in Ossington, working as a farm servant for Charles Herbert Wright, farmer, who had a wife and three children. The children's half-brother, John, had transferred to the Army Reserve in 1910 but has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census. His brother Henry had married Edith Cartwright in 1910 (J/F/M Southwell) and in 1911 they were living at Ricks Yard, High Street, Sutton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Henry (27) was a platelayer with the Great Northern Railway. He and Edith (20, b. Bathley) had one child, Edith Mary (8m b. Sutton-on-Trent). William's sister Mary Ada died on 9 November 1920 aged 24 and was buried in Sutton-on-Trent cemetery. Bertha Kate married Frank Pykett in 1914 (O/N/D Southwell). In 1939 they were living at the School House, Southwell, with their son KG Pykett (b. 10 May 1915, A/M/J Southwell), a wholesale tobacconist's assistant. Frank (b. 8 August 1887) was a railway platelayer while Bertha Kate was engaged on unpaid domestic duties. Bertha Kate died in 1989 (J/F/M Newark). William's mother Hannah Hallam died aged 74 in 1935 (J/F/M Southwell). His half-brother, John Chambers, served in the York and Lancaster Regiment (313318 Private) in the war and was killed on 10 April 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. (See John Chamber's record on this ROH). According to a report of William's death in 1916, Hannah had two other sons (not named) serving, one in France and another in Ireland.