THE WILSON FAMILY

Lilian Maud Shelley (nee Wilson)
Ada's sister.

My last two posts concerned my uncle, Herbert (Bert) Bayliss. his wife Ada and their longtime home on Canvey Island, Essex. Imagine my surprise when soon after posting these articles on the blog I received an e-mail from a lady named Barbara who turned out to be a relative of Ada - her great niece to be exact!  I was naturally thrilled as I knew next to nothing about Ada's family prior to her marriage to Bert. Ada's parents were Henry William Wilson, a scaffolder/bricklayer and his wife Mary Ann.  They appear on the 1901 Census and the 1911 Census.  Curiously in 1901 Henry's place of birth is given as Highgate and his wife's as Holloway, yet in 1911 (when Henry filled the form in himself) they are given as Caledonian Road (which is certainly not Highgate) and Newington Butts (which is in South London) respectively. The 1901 Census lists the couple's children as Annie Beatrice, Lilian Maud, Emma Rosetta and Joseph.  Joseph is not listed on the 1911 form but, of course, Ada Florence, born 1903, is.  Henry also lists the names of four other children who had died.

Interestingly, the Wilson sisters, Annie, Lilian and Emma, like Ada and Bert, also lived at Leigh Beck on Canvey Island and Barbara (who is Lilian's granddaughter) thinks that they made a mass exodus from London in the late 1940's. Like the Bayliss family the Wilson sisters and their families were regulars at the Admiral Jellicoe pub and Barbara was herself born on the island and has memories that seem to coincide with my own - even down to the best place to buy ice lollies!

Frederick Charles Shelley, husband of  Lilian Maud  

Many thanks to Barbara for the photographs.