Hij is getrouwd met Florence Ellen Bazley.
Zij zijn getrouwd op 17 oktober 1900 te St Andrew, St Marylebone, England, hij was toen 25 jaar oud.Bronnen 3, 10
Kind(eren):
The partnership for the nursery was not smooth-running: a deed of partnership was drawn up in 1903, but dissolved in 1905. This appears to be when the 'Amenbury Estate' was advertised for sale of building plots by auction, including Ecclesbourne Villas (which the brothers had built in c.1900). However there is no evidence that plots were sold or more houses built at that time. The brothers were in dispute with Henry Steers, developer of the St Nicholas Estate, over access - and the plan for the sale of the Amenbury Estate includes a 'Park Road' off Amenbury Lane, with plots marked out. These were not developed according to this plan.
Edgar snr was in residence and company secretary in Amenbury Lane in 1911, having been listed in Kelly's Commercial section since 1906, as Horticultural Sundriesman and manure manufacturer - which continued there until 1927/8.
Photo:Advertisement in Kelly's Directory
Advertisement in Kelly's Directory
photo - R Ross
A new opportunity arose when George Titmuss retired as Miller at Batford Mill in 1927/8, and brother Leonard Willis moved into Batford Mill. The Willis brothers moved manure manufacture to the mill where they were listed until 1949.
The company came to an abrupt end in 1950, following a court case in 1948/9 when the Willis Brothers (Harpenden) of Batford Mills, Batford were sued by R Ives, a nurseryman from Biggleswade, for compensation for having been supplied with fertiliser contaminated with sodium chlorate weedkiller. The court found in favour of Mr Ives. An appeal by the Willis Brothers was thrown out. A compulsory winding up was ordered on petition of Mr R Ives, as damages of over £600 had not been paid. Edgar John Willis (son of Edgar Thomas) was noted as company director. However, Frederick and Edgar snr had moved to Cornwall by 1938/9. Were they just retiring from active involvement in the business? Edgar jun. appears to have emigrated to New Zealand with his father in 1951. Did they manage to take their business savings with them?
After 1950 there are no known members of this Willis family in Harpenden, but we hope readers of this page will be able to supply information.
The mill was subsequently occupied by Cole Plastics until 1976.
Edgar Thomas Willis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1900 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florence Ellen Bazley |
Edgar T Willis in household of John J Willis, "England and Wales Census, 1881"/ FamilySearch