My Grandfather William Bettis’s father was also called William Bettis, he was born on 1st August 1861, worked as an Agricultural Labourer for his early years when he lived in Epping Forest. After his wedding to Sarah Eleanor Laws on 11th August 1888 (at St Mary’s Church, Theydon Bois) the family moved to Leytonstone in London where he worked as a labourer for the Great Eastern Railway (G.E.R.)
He died on 31st August 1927 He appears on 4 census records, the 1901 and 1891 ones where he’s living in Leyton as we’ve seen in a previous post, and the 1881 and 1871 censuses. The details of the households from theses censuses are shown below
1901 Census – 92 Oakdale Road, Leyton
William Bettis Head 40 G.E.R. Labourer Theydon Bois Sarah Bettis Wife 42 Coopersale William J Bettis Son 11 Leytonstone Eleanor M Bettis Daur 9 Leytonstone Minnie Bettis Daur 5 mo Leytonstone
1891 Census – 3 Thornton Road, Leyton
William Bettis Head 31 Platelayer G.E.R. Theydon Bois Sarah E Bettis Wife 32 Epping William J Bettis Son 1 Leytonstone
The above censuses were from after William had got married and moved into London, before that he had lived in Theydon Bois, Epping Forest. On census day in 1881 he was staying at his Brothers house
1881 Census – Ivy Chimneys Lane, Theydon Bois
Arthur Bettis Head 27 Ag Lab Theydon Bois Charlotte Bettis Wife 26 Theydon Bois Minnie Bettis Daur 7 Scholar Theydon Bois Susannah Bettis Daur 6 Scholar Theydon Bois Charlotte Bettis Daur 4 Scholar Theydon Bois Sarah Bettis Daur 2 Theydon Bois William Bettis Brother 20 ? Theydon Bois
It’s not actually clear on the 1881 Census what William’s occupation was, the actual census taker doesn’t seem to have written anything down, then in another hand an undecipherable word has been written, and then in a third hand what looks like ‘ML’ (for Manual Labourer) has been written, so I presume he worked as a labourer on the farm like his father and elder brothers did
1871 Census – Ivy Chimneys Lane, Theydon Bois
James Bettis Head 47 Ag Lab Stanford Rivers Emma Bettis Wife 46 Matching Mary Ann Bettis Daur 21 Theydon Garnon Arthur Bettis Son 19 Ag Lab Theydon Garnon Henry Bettis Son 16 Ag Lab Theydon Garnon Eliza Bettis Daur 12 Theydon Garnon William Bettis Son 10
Theydon Bois John Bettis Son 6 Theydon Bois Sarah Bettis Daur 4 Theydon Bois Rosetta Bettis Daur 3 Theydon Bois
Ivy Chimneys Road is right on the edge of Epping, though nominally it is in Theydon Bois, which is presumably to do with historic Parish boundaries, though these days the M25 splits it from Theydon Bois quite definitely
As the 1881 map shows, Ivychimneys was formerly a separate little hamlet on it’s own.
With the spreading urbanisation out from London, the whole area has changed in character, what was once a country road with farm workers cottages at the side is now a road of large post second world war semi’s in a desirable commuter location within walking distance (or at least less than 5 minutes drive away) of Epping Tube station.
Hi,
My Grandfather was Authur Bettis husband of Marion (ne Wilton) who lived at 14 Bridge Hill in Epping for most of their lives. The address is so close to Ivy Chimneys that there must be a link.
Arthur was born in 1900. I have his father as marrying some one with the surname ‘Bass’ but have no futher details, i.e. no first names.
Regards,
Ed Grant.