Biography:
William Graham Waterton (483)
16/03/1872 –21/02/1937
William Graham Waterton (483)
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William Graham Waterton
William Graham Waterton was born 16th March 1872 to a “single women”, Lucilla Waterton in Walworth, Southwark. No father is quoted in the Baptism entry. Records show that William’s mother, Lucilla, was born and raised in Berkhamsted. In the 1871 census Lucilla was working as a servant in the household of William and Rosa Claridge in Eggington, Bedfordshire. It is interesting that a little over 12 months after this census Lucilla is giving birth to William in London. We can speculate about who the father might be. Did William Claridge take advantage of his servant, Lucilla, as happened in many instances during the Victorian period.
By the time of the 1881 census William is living in Berkhamsted with his grandparents, Joseph and Lydia Waterton, although he is listed in the census as being their son, quite a feat for a 59 year old Lydia! In the same census Lucilla is working in a large house in Wimbledon as a housemaid, far away from her son.
In the 1891 census William is back with his mother, Lucilla, living in Berkhamsted with Joseph and Lydia. William is shown as working as a Charcoal Manufacturer, working with his grandad, Joseph.
We next find William when he marries Marion Alice Nash Coote in 1897 in Berkhamsted. William is listed in the 1901 census as being a Process Dairyman and Charcoal Merchant and is living and running his business from 8 Gravel Path, Berkhamsted. Their eldest son, Harold Joseph is born in 1899, with a further son, Douglas William (please see footnote) following in 1901 and a daughter, Lucilla, in 1908.
The 1911 census continues to show Willam running his dairy business from 8 Gravel Path, assisted by Marion. Strangely we can not find William in the 1921 census, although the 1921-30 electoral rolls confirm him and Marion still living at 8 Canal Path.
The last record we find for William is his death on 21st February 1937 at the age of 64. He had a modest estate valued at £937 (£81,000 in 2025).
Footnote – Douglas William Waterton
Douglas went out to Hong Kong in 1936 to work as a senior inspector in wireless telegraphs. When Hong Kong was captured by the Japanese at the end of 1941, Douglas was interned in Stanley Camp. Due to his skills with telecommunications Douglas was recruited to help with resistance activities in the camp by the British Army Aid Group (part of M19 – army intelligence). Douglas used a radio to transmit information out of the camp to M19. Sadly, the Japanese found out about these activities and after a trial, Douglas and a further 32 internees were sentenced to death – with the executions carried out 29th October 1943.
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William Graham Waterton
William Graham Waterton was born 16th March 1872 to a “single women”, Lucilla Waterton in Walworth, Southwark. No father is quoted in the Baptism entry. Records show that William’s mother, Lucilla, was born and raised in Berkhamsted. In the 1871 census Lucilla was working as a servant in the household of William and Rosa Claridge in Eggington, Bedfordshire. It is interesting that a little over 12 months after this census Lucilla is giving birth to William in London. We can speculate about who the father might be. Did William Claridge take advantage of his servant, Lucilla, as happened in many instances during the Victorian period.
By the time of the 1881 census William is living in Berkhamsted with his grandparents, Joseph and Lydia Waterton, although he is listed in the census as being their son, quite a feat for a 59 year old Lydia! In the same census Lucilla is working in a large house in Wimbledon as a housemaid, far away from her son.
In the 1891 census William is back with his mother, Lucilla, living in Berkhamsted with Joseph and Lydia. William is shown as working as a Charcoal Manufacturer, working with his grandad, Joseph.
We next find William when he marries Marion Alice Nash Coote in 1897 in Berkhamsted. William is listed in the 1901 census as being a Process Dairyman and Charcoal Merchant and is living and running his business from 8 Gravel Path, Berkhamsted. Their eldest son, Harold Joseph is born in 1899, with a further son, Douglas William (please see footnote) following in 1901 and a daughter, Lucilla, in 1908.
The 1911 census continues to show Willam running his dairy business from 8 Gravel Path, assisted by Marion. Strangely we can not find William in the 1921 census, although the 1921-30 electoral rolls confirm him and Marion still living at 8 Canal Path.
The last record we find for William is his death on 21st February 1937 at the age of 64. He had a modest estate valued at £937 (£81,000 in 2025).
Footnote – Douglas William Waterton
Douglas went out to Hong Kong in 1936 to work as a senior inspector in wireless telegraphs. When Hong Kong was captured by the Japanese at the end of 1941, Douglas was interned in Stanley Camp. Due to his skills with telecommunications Douglas was recruited to help with resistance activities in the camp by the British Army Aid Group (part of M19 – army intelligence). Douglas used a radio to transmit information out of the camp to M19. Sadly, the Japanese found out about these activities and after a trial, Douglas and a further 32 internees were sentenced to death – with the executions carried out 29th October 1943.
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