Herbert Williamson was born in Thwaite, Norfolk in October 1869 and was the son of Henry and Frances Williamson (nee Davison). No evidence of any brothers or sisters can be found.
Herbert married the Itteringham School Mistress (Laura Ann Cooper) in November 1890 at St Mary's Church, Itteringham. Together they had two sons, William Henry Cooper Williamson and Laurence Herbert Williamson. In 1891 Herbert is listed as being married and living / residing at Wolterton as an Assistant Gamekeeper aged 21. Laura his wife was living on The Street, Itteringham and visiting her was her mother Martha Ann Cooper, her brother Thomas Ernest Cooper and sister Amy Elizabeth Cooper (an Assistant in School). William Henry Cooper Williamson their first son, although 9 days old, is not listed on the 1891 census.
During the period of 1894 to 1898 Herbert Williamson leased the shop in Itteringham and is listed as a Grocer and Draper – Post Office. This is also his profession on the death certificate of Laura Ann Williamson in 1896.
Records indicate that “Mr Herbert Williamson” was the enumerator for the 1901 census taken for the village of Itteringham .
Herbert married again in April 1905 in Aldborough to Edith Teresa Temple. Herbert died aged 79 years (date on headstone is incorrect) and his death certificate for July 1949 indicates that his final profession was a Retired Cemetery Attendant (he is listed on the 1911 census carrying out this profession in Smallburgh). Did he also do this job for the Itteringham graveyard where he is buried with Teresa? (See headstone below).
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Laura Ann Cooper was born in Lea Brook, Brampton Bierlow, Rotherham in 1864, the daughter of William and Martha Ann Cooper (nee Taylor ). In 1881 Laura was 16 and living in Lea Brook, she was a pupil teacher (elementary school). By 1887 she was the School Mistress at Itteringham School , Norfolk . She married Herbert Williamson in November 1890 at St Mary's Church, Itteringham. Laura died in November 1896 aged 32 years. She is buried at St Mary's Church, Itteringham (with no gravestone).
William Henry Cooper Williamson and Laurence Herbert Williamson the two sons of Herbert and Laura Ann Williamson were born in Itteringham village in 1891 and 1894 respectively. Both children were christened in St Mary's Church, Itteringham. After their mother, Laura died in 1896, Herbert found it quite hard to look after the two boys and they spent sometime with their Grandparents, Henry and Frances Williamson at Wolterton (both Herbert and Henry were Gamekeepers on the Wolterton Estate).
Sometime between 1901 and 1911, William and Laurence were sent to live in Maltby, Rotherham with their Aunt and Uncle - Amy Elizabeth and Horace Smith, (Amy was the sister of their mother).
After the outbreak of WWI, William enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He was a Grenadier in the 96th Siege Battery and fought in France shooting Howitzers. William survived WWI and was awarded the Victory and the British Medal. William married Ethel Maud Holden in Welby, Lincs in August 1915 and they went on to have 4 children (2 of which still survive as at April 2010). William went on to become a butcher in Maltby and later a farmer in Tickhill, Nr Doncaster. William never forgot his Norfolk roots and went to visit his father Herbert (who had moved to Erpingham) quite often. Both William and Ethel are buried in St Mary's Church, Tickhill. William reached the age of 81 and Ethel 88.
Laurence Herbert Williamson enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Cold Stream Guards and also fought in France in WWI. Unfortunately, Laurence did not survive the war. He was a stretcher bearer who was attending a fallen soldier in the field and he was shot by a sniper in the shoulder – the bullet came out of his hip. He was taken to hospital in Cambrai to recover, but died about a week later in December 1917 aged 23 years. Laurence was awarded the Victory and the British Medal. Laurence is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery , France (with headstone).
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Other, earlier ancestors of this Williamson family come from Little Barningham, Erpingham, Wickmere, Aldborough and Plumstead by Holt – if anyone has a connection with these Williamson's I would be really pleased to hear your family history.
Heather Williamson - April 2010
(Grand daughter of William Henry Cooper Williamson) |
