Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

George Arthur Williams (686)

1844 –05/01/1915

Vicar of Western Beggard, Herefordshire

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 686 The Revd George Arthur Williams (1844-1915) 

George was born in 1844 in Bisley, Gloucestershire. He was the 2^nd son of Revd. Isaac Williams and his wife Caroline (née Champernowne). 

In 1851 George was with his older brother John and younger brother Henry in the household of his widowed maternal aunt, Jane Martin, in Paignton, Devon. Also present were her seven daughters and one son and their governess; her mother; an unmarried sister and several servants.

George obtained his BA from Exeter College, Oxford in 1866 and his MA in 1869.

Between 1867-9 he was curate of Tormarton, Gloucs and from 1869 to 1870 curate of Bembridge, Isle of Wight.

From 1870 to 1874 he was curate of Stinchcombe, Gloucs.

George married Emily Bullock Webster, the daughter of a clergyman, in 1871. The 1871 census shows him aged 26, curate of Stinchcombe, living with Emily and his widowed mother, who was head of household. Also in the household was his maternal aunt and two servants. His mother was a landowner.

Gertrude Louisa was born in 1872 in Stinchcombe.

From 1874 to 1880 George was curate of Weston Beggard, Hereford and Vicar there from 1880 to 1890. The 1881 census shows the family employed a cook and housemaid.

George was widowed by 1891 when he was a lodger at Walmer Lodge, a boarding house in Great Malvern, Worcs.

In 1897 he lived at “Hillcote”, Dorking, Sussex.

The 1901 census records him at “Daneholm”, Darley Road, Eastbourne as a retired Church of England clergyman. Gertrude was living with him and they employed a cook, parlour maid and house maid.

Gertrude married in 1903 and in 1911 George was living alone except for a housekeeper and housemaid in 10-roomed “Byron Lodge”, Billingshurst, Sussex.

George died 5 January 1915 aged 70 at “Wayfarers”, Berkhamsted. He left £14,809 (£1,328,000 in 2025 values).