Just checking that the Davis family (1901 census above) is this marriage:
Marriages June quarter 1876
Lydia Board
William Davis Bristol
'So according to this census, William Davis is a nephew of Henry Robert Clake..but I’m damned if I can find the connection.'
No, Lydia could be his niece, or even a further relationship, and they were using the term nephew rather loosely.
What were the Father's names from that marriage in 1876?
Added:
Lydia Board is in almost 40 ancestry trees, have none of them sorted out the Davis connection correctly?
William Davis in that census is 'Willian Escott Davis' - his mother being Sarah Escott, and his father William Davis 1816/1819 Old Cleeve.
Yes that is the marriage for William Davis and Lydia Board. They were married on the 5th June 1876 in the Register Office in Bristol. They were both aged 22 and single. Their fathers’ were William Davis General Dealer and Frederick Board, Plumber. Lydia Board was born 04 Oct 1852, Blagdon, Somerset.
William Davis was born 1853 at Washford, Old Cleeve, Somerset. Father William Davis, Labourer & Sarah Escott. Reg District Williton
William Davis died 1915 at 17 Duke St Bristol aged 62 a Marine Store Dealer. Lydia Davis, Widow of deceased was the informant.
NOTES: ABOUT WILLIAM ESCOTT DAVIS.
On his Birth certificate he is recorded as William Davis born 12 July 1853 Washford, Old Cleeve, Somerset.
When his eldest son William Henry Davis marries on 25 Dec 1897 his father is recorded as William Henry Davis . When his daughter Lydia Davis marries 14 July 1912 he is recorded as William ESCOTT Davis.
When his son Sidney Davis marries 17 Nov 1923 his father is recorded as William ESCOTT Davis (deceased).
When his son Richard Escott Davis marries 30 March 1929 his father is recorded as William ESCOTT Davis (deceased).
When his daughter Violet Davis married 23 Aug 1926 her father is recorded as William ESCOTT Davis (deceased)
ALL OTHER Birth and Marriage Certificates of his children and his death certificate state his name as WILLIAM DAVIS.
William Davis, Labourer & Sarah Escott Married by Banns 1849 in Church of St Decumans Somerset Both were of full age, single and gave their address as Watchet. William signed the certificate with an 'x' Sarah signed her name.
William's father was also William Davis, Labourer. Sarah Escott's father was Richard Escott, Labourer
Witts: William Shony? & Agnes Escott