William Dolby at Woodgate End cottage

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William and Elizabeth in 1917

Shared by Johnathan at 16 Broad Wheel Road

Cottage at Woodgate End

William Dolby lived in a cottage at Woodgate End (Broad Wheel Road) both as a young single man and when he was first married.

William Walter Dolby was the son of Edmund and Sarah Ann (nee Chapman) born in Helpston in 1891. On the Census record of 1901, William’s age is recorded as 9 years old and in 1911 recorded as 20 years old and working as a Bricklayer’s labourer.¹ The Census enumerator recorded the address as Woodgate, however local and family records show the family were living at a cottage in Woodgate End now known as Broad Wheel Road.

William married his neighbour.

On the 14th August 1915, William married Elizabeth Mary Townsin. Elizabeth also lived in a cottage at Woodgate End with her widowed father. On the marriage certificate William’s age was recorded as 25 years and his wife’s age was 36 years. At the time of his marriage his occupation was recorded as a Labourer.²

Army life

After World War 1 broke out, William signed up and joined the Army Labour Corps. His name appears on the School list of young men who served during the Great War, hanging in Helpston Village Hall. William survived the war and was discharged in November 1919.³

Married life

William and Elizabeth remained at Woodgate End cottages, living with her father as recorded on the 1921 Census. This record was completed by William Townsin, as Head of the household and William Dolby his son in law now records his age as 36 years and 10 months with his occupation as a Labourer. Elizabeth his wife’s age was recorded as 42 years and 11 months. A grand daughter is also registered, Lydia age 4 years and 3 months.⁴ In the cemetery in Maxey Road, Lydia was buried at the age of 16 years.

On the National Register taken in September 1939, the family had moved to Maxey Road. William was working at the Paper Mill, employed as an Engine Attendant. On this record he records his birth date as 1889.⁵

The end of an era

Elizabeth his wife who was 12 years older than William, died in September 1946 at the Memorial Hospital in Peterborough. She left a small estate valued at £252 16s 11d which was bequeathed to William. On the probate record, William’s occupation is recorded as an engineers millwright.⁶
William died in 1961, aged 70 and is buried alongside his daughter and wife in the village cemetery in Maxey Road.

1, 2 ,5  and 6 Ancestry.co.uk
3, FOLD3
4, Find my past