Knill William George 1864 - 1935 and Elizabeth Griffiths 1883 - 1934 approx

[LydiardKnill]

Hello,
I am a total newbie … looking for my grandparents. As far as I know my grandfather came from Devon, perhaps Barnstable born in 1864 approximately. He ended up in Swansea later in life died at 71 in 1935. He married my grandmother Elizabeth Griffiths, who I know nothing about except her birthday 9th May 1883 which she wrote in a welsh bible. They had my Dad in 1923, in Swansea. My Dad will be 101 in September. My Dad had no relatives that he was aware of so knows no family history. I would love to know if either of my grandparents had any family and who they were. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[jorose]

Hi there, as your father is still living at the superb age of 101 I've just taken his name out of your post.

At https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl you will be able to see the 1923 birth, but also a 1932 marriage between William George Knill and Elizabeth Griffiths.  Do you have the 1932 marriage cerificate? That should give you both their father's names.

[LydiardKnill]

Thank you for your help, unfortunately we don’t have the marriage certificate.

[CaroleW]

Hi & welcome to Rootschat

I was struck by the ages of William & Elizabeth.

If William was b 1864 - he would have been 68 when he married Elizabeth whereas she was 49

Your father was born 1923 but the marriage wasn't until 9yrs later in 1932.

I wonder if William was previously married

[CaroleW]

In 1911 William George Knill aged 48 b Ilfracombe is in lodgings in Devon - occ carpenter & joiner.  Shows himself as married for 23 years & 3 children born to the marriage

There is a marriage in Ilfracombe in 1887 between William George Knill aged 24 to Martha Vicary.  William's father is shown as Thomas Barnes Knill

Looks like Martha only died 1931

[CaroleW]

Here is the 1891 entry for Ilfracombe - all b Ilfracombe unless shown otherwise

William George Knill 27 Joiner
Martha  23    Wife
Lizzie  3 (b 1887)
Ernest  1 (Ernest William b 1889)    
John Vicary  64    Father-in-law b Oakford Somerset
Martha Vicary 62    Mother-in-law b Bishops Nympton Devon
John Vicary 19    Brother-in-law
Piece 1778
Folio 74

[CaroleW]

1901 entry - all b Ilfracombe

William Knill  38 Joiner & Carpenter
Martha 39 Wife
Lizzie 13
Ernest 11
Winnie Knill 10 months 
John Reed  57  Boarder
Piece 2149 Folio 160 Page 24

Living next door is a Thomas B Knill aged 40 b Ilfracombe occ Builder

[CaroleW]

1911 for Martha Knill

Martha Knill 49    Head - lodging house keeper
Lizzie Knill  23
Hilda Christine Winnie Knill 10
Piece 13367

Hilda Christine was b June qtr 1900 & is the Winnie shown in 1901 as 10mths.  Her birth reg does not show a 3rd christian name
   
Deaths December qtr 1931   
Martha Knill aged 69    Barnstaple    5b   545

[softly softly]

KNILL, WILLIAM  GEORGE     mothers maiden name DAVEY 
GRO Reference: 1863  J Quarter in BARNSTAPLE UNION  Volume 05B  Page 497

1921 census records William as single.

SS