James Hersey Wills

M, b. 29 January 1815, d. 3 December 1906
FatherLawrence Wills b. c 1786, d. 1 Jun 1829
MotherSarah Hersey b. 21 Aug 1787, d. 8 May 1850
Relationship2nd great-granduncle of David Gardner Crouch
Marriage*James Hersey Wills married Berthia Burton. 
BirthJames Hersey Wills was born circa 1815 at Dawlish, Devon, England.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8  
Baptism*He was baptized on 29 January 1815 at Dawlish, Devon, England.9 
Death of FatherHis father Lawrence Wills died on 1 June 1829 at Sandown, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.10 
(Witness) MarriageJames Hersey Wills witnessed the marriage of Henry Lawrence Wills and Elizabeth Macey on 19 April 1838 at Unitarian Chapel, High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.11,12,13
Occupation*James Hersey Wills was a cordwainer in 1841 at Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.1 
(Member of household) CensusHe appeared on the census of 1841 as a member of the household of Sarah Hersey at Chapel Street, Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.1 
OccupationJames Hersey Wills was a cordwainer in 1844 at Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.14 
Residence*He and Berthia (Burton) Wills lived in 1844 at South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.14 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Berthia Jane Wills on 5 February 1844 at South Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.14,2 
ResidenceJames Hersey Wills and Berthia (Burton) Wills lived in 1845 at 45 Little Southsea Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.15 
OccupationJames Hersey Wills was a cordwainer and labourer between 1845 and 1854 at Southsea, Hampshire, England.15,16,17,18,2,19,20 
(Informant) BirthHe was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Emma Maria Wills on 12 August 1845 at 45 Little Southsea Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.15,21 
(Informant) DeathJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the death certificate of Emma Maria Wills on 16 February 1846 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England; "convulsions - 2 days."21 
ResidenceJames Hersey Wills and Berthia (Burton) Wills lived between 1847 and 1856 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.16,18,2,19,20,22,23 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Edwin James Wills on 31 January 1847 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.16,2,3,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Ellen Wills on 25 November 1849 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.18,2,3 
Death of MotherHis mother Sarah Hersey died on 8 May 1850 at Chapel Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England.32 
Census*James Hersey Wills appeared as the head of a household along with his wife, Berthia (Burton) Wills on the census of 1851 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England. The household also included Berthia Jane Wills, Edwin James Wills and Ellen Wills.2 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Emma Maria Meader Wills on 17 February 1852 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.19,3,5,7 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Elizabeth Wills on 22 December 1853 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.20 
OccupationJames Hersey Wills was a storehouse man or dock labourer between 1855 and 1873 at Her Majesty's Dockyard, Southsea, Hampshire, England.22,23,33,3,34,35,36,24,4,37,26 
Death of DaughterHis daughter Elizabeth Wills died on 17 July 1855 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.22 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Mary Elizabeth Wills on 4 April 1856 at 13 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.23,3,4,6,7 
ResidenceJames Hersey Wills and Berthia (Burton) Wills lived between 1859 and 1862 at 3 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.33,3,34 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Louisa Wills on 20 April 1859 at 3 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.33,3,35,38 
CensusJames Hersey Wills appeared as the head of a household along with his wife, Berthia (Burton) Wills on the census of 1861 at 3 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England. The household also included Edwin James Wills, Ellen Wills, Emma Maria Meader Wills, Mary Elizabeth Wills and Louisa Wills.3 
(Informant) BirthJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the birth certificate of Sarah Hersey Wills on 10 February 1862 at 3 Gold Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.34,4 
ResidenceJames Hersey Wills and Berthia (Burton) Wills lived in 1863 at 21 Green Row, Southsea, Hampshire, England.35,38 
(Informant) DeathJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the death certificate of Louisa Wills on 8 February 1863 at 21 Green Row, Southsea, Hampshire, England; "marasmus - 1-1/2 years, ascites - 10 months."35,38 
(Witness) MarriageJames Hersey Wills witnessed the marriage of Thomas Foden and Berthia Jane Wills on 14 December 1867 at St. Jude's Church, Portsea, Hampshire, England.36 
Marriage of SonHis son Edwin James Wills married Adeline Cobby, daughter of Henry Cobby, on 22 August 1869 at St. Mary Parish Church, Portsea, Hampshire, England.24  
Residence*James Hersey Wills lived in 1871 at 11 Osborne Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.4 
CensusHe appeared as the head of a household along with his wife, Berthia (Burton) Wills on the census of 1871 at 11 Osborne Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England. The household also included Mary Elizabeth Wills and Sarah Hersey Wills.4 
ResidenceJames Hersey Wills and Berthia (Burton) Wills lived in 1873 at 10 Osborne Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.37,39 
(Informant) DeathJames Hersey Wills was listed as an informant on the death certificate of Berthia (Burton) Wills on 13 January 1873 at 10 Osborne Street, Southsea, Hampshire, England.37 
(Witness) MarriageJames Hersey Wills witnessed the marriage of Edwin James Wills and Angelina Murley on 15 November 1873 at St. Mary Parish Church, Portsea, Hampshire, England.26 
Marriage of DaughterHis daughter Ellen Wills married Worthy Punter in 1878.  
OccupationJames Hersey Wills was a pensioner between 1880 and 1906 at Her Majesty's Dockyard, Southsea, Hampshire, England.27,5,6,7,8 
Marriage of SonHis son Edwin James Wills married Emily Ann Thompson, daughter of George Thompson and Mary Ann Elizabeth Hickman, on 26 June 1880 at St. James Parish Church, Milton (near Portsea), Hampshire, England.27  
Census*James Hersey Wills appeared as the head of a household on the census of 1881 at 37 Hanover Street, Portsea, Hampshire, England. The household also included Emma Maria Meader Wills.5 
CensusJames Hersey Wills appeared as the head of a household on the census of 1891 at 54 Byerley Road, Portsea, Hampshire, England. The household also included Mary Elizabeth Wills, Edgar Stuart Meader and Alice M. Crabb.6 
Death of SonHis son Edwin James Wills died on 18 February 1899 at 12 Montgomerie Road, Southsea, Hampshire, England.30,40 
CensusJames Hersey Wills appeared as the head of a household on the census of 1901 at 10 Graham Road, Southsea, Hampshire, England. The household also included Emma Maria Meader Wills, Mary Elizabeth Wills, Dora Alice Foden and Edgar Stuart Meader.7 
Death*James Hersey Wills died on 3 December 1906 of "bronchitis - 4 days" at 13 St. Paul's Road, Southsea, Hampshire, England, at age 91. The informant listed on the death certificate was Ellen (Wills) Punter.8 

Family

Berthia Burton b. c 1822, d. 13 Jan 1873
Marriage*James Hersey Wills married Berthia Burton. 
Children
Last Edited13 Nov 2024

Citations

  1. [S4423] 1841 census of England, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Newport, p. 3, Sarah Wills household; digital image, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.co.uk : accessed 22 Mar 2024); citing Class: HO107; Piece: 405; Book: 11; Civil Parish: Carisbrooke; County: Hampshire; Enumeration District: 7; Folio: 24; Page: 3; Line: 13; GSU roll: 288805.
  2. [S4593] 1851 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, Landport, p. 9, James Hersey Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 5 May 2024); citing Class: HO107; Piece: 1659; Folio: 25; Page: 9; GSU roll: 193565-193566.
  3. [S4594] 1861 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, Landport, p. 31, James Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 5 May 2024); citing Class: RG 9; Piece: 643; Folio: 190; Page: 31; GSU roll: 542676.
  4. [S4595] 1871 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, Landport, p. 31, James H Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 5 May 2024); citing Class: RG10; Piece: 1144; Folio: 111; Page: 31; GSU roll: 827787.
  5. [S4600] 1881 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, pp. 45-46, James H. Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 5 May 2024); citing Class: RG11; Piece: 1145; Folio: 26; Page: 45-46; GSU roll: 1341280.
  6. [S4603] 1891 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, p. 14, James H Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 6 May 2024); citing Class: RG12; Piece: 859; Folio: 6; Page: 14.
  7. [S4605] 1901 census of England, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Portsmouth and Mid Southsea, p. 23, James K Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 6 May 2024); citing Class: RG13; Piece: 1007; Folio: 123; Page: 23.
  8. [S4606] England, death certificate for James Hersey Wills, died 03 Dec1906; citing 2b/350/260, Portsmouth registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  9. [S4396] Dawlish Parish, "Register of Baptisms [1813-1833]," p. 20, entry no.159, James Hersey Wills, 29 Jan 1815; imaged, "Devon Baptisms," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 14 Mar 2024), image 24 of 204; citing 1859A/PR/1/5 held by the Devon Heritage Centre.
  10. [S4413] National Archives of the UK, Admiralty: Coastguard and predecessors: Records of Service, "Establishment Book, England, 1826-1832," p. 38 [handwritten]. p.26 [stamped], Cowes: Shanklin Preventive Station, Lawrence Wills, arrived 09 Dec 1826 and died 01 Jun 1829; download PDF of images [not indexed], The National Archives (https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/… : accessed 19 Mar 2024), PDF p. 37 of 377; citing ADM 175/5.
  11. [S7157] House of Industry (Newport), "Weekly minute and outdoor relief book (Jul 1836-May 1838)," pp. 231 and 234, Henry Lawrence Wills and Elizabeth Macey, notice of marriage, 05 Apr 1838 and 12 Apr 1838; images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/… : accessed 19 Dec 2025), images 787 and 790 of 2065; citing FHL digital film 008068923 of original records in the Isle of Wight Record Office, reference Z/HO/44.
  12. [S4565] England, marriage certificate for Henry Laurance Wills and Elizabeth Mascey, 19 Apr 1838; citing 08/369/6, Isle of Wight registration district and subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
  13. [S7161] "Married [Wills-Macey]," Brighton Patriot, 24 Apr 1838, p. 3, col. 6; digital images, OldNews (http://www.oldnews.com : accessed 26 Dec 2025).
  14. [S4582] England, birth certificate for Berthia Jane Wills, born 05 Feb 1844; citing 8/223/326, Isle of Wight registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  15. [S4583] England, birth certificate for Emma Maria Wills, born 12 Aug 1845; citing 7/135/456, Portsea Island Union registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  16. [S4584] England, birth certificate for Edwin James Wills, born 31 Jan 1847; citing 7/152/357, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  17. [S4585] Bible Christian Minsters in the Portsea Circuit, "Register of Baptisms [1840-1877]," unpaginated, entry no. 38, Edwin James Wills, 14 Mar 1847; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Baptisms," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 30 Apr 2024), image 8 of 96; citing CHU 81/U1/1A/1 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  18. [S4586] England, birth certificate for Ellen Wills, born 25 Nov 1849; citing 7/167/207, Portsea Island Union registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  19. [S4587] England, birth certificate for Emma Maria Meader Wills, born 17 Feb 1852; citing 2b/412/219, Portsea Island Union registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  20. [S4588] England, birth certificate for Elizabeth Wills, born 22 Dec 1853; citing 2b/380/428 [1854], Portsea Island Union registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  21. [S4575] England, death certificate for Emma Maria Wills, died 16 Feb 1846; citing 7/89/206, Portsea Island Union registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  22. [S4589] England, death certificate for Elizabeth Wills, died 17 Jul 1855; citing 2b/234/4, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  23. [S4590] England, birth certificate for Mary Elizabeth Wills, born 04 Apr 1856; citing 2b/390/71, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  24. [S5372] St. Mary Parish (Portsea), "Register of Marriages [21 Jul 1869-06 Sep 1870]," p. 21, entry no. 41, Edwin James Wills and Adeline Cobby, 22 Aug 1869; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Marriages," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 13 Nov 2024), image 23 of 143; citing CHU 3/1D/69 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  25. [S5382] 1871 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, Landport, p. 23, Edwin Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 14 Nov 2024); citing Class: RG10; Piece: 1145; Folio: 93; Page: 23; GSU roll: 827788.
  26. [S5373] St. Mary Parish (Portsea), "Register of Marriages [11 Aug 1873-16 Aug 1874]," p. 69, entry no. 138, Edwin James Wills and Angelina Murley, 15 Nov 1873; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Marriages," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 13 Nov 2024), image 46 of 138; citing CHU 3/1D/73 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  27. [S5371] St. James Parish (Milton near Portsea), "Register of Marriages [30 Oct 1879-30 Jul 1882]," p. 48, entry no. 96, Edwin James Wills and Emily Anne Thompson, 26 Jun 1880; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Marriages," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 13 Nov 2024), image 50 of 252; citing CHU 47/1B/5 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  28. [S5384] 1881 census of England, London, Camberwell, p. 11, Albert Wheeler household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 15 Nov 2024); citing Class: RG11; Piece: 678; Folio: 138; Page: 11; GSU roll: 1341158.
  29. [S5421] 1891 census of England, Hampshire, Portsea Island, p. 15, Edwin J Wills household; digital image, Findmypast (http://www.findmypast.co.uk : accessed 26 Nov 2024); citing Class: RG12; Piece: 874; Folio: 76; Page: 15.
  30. [S5419] England, death certificate for Edwin James Wills, died 18 Feb 1899; citing 2b/361/258 (Q1 1899), Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  31. [S5420] Portsmouth Burial Board No. 8, "Register of Burials [02 Dec 1897-29 Jul 1901]," p. 47, entry no. 922, Edwin James Wills, 22 Feb 1899; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Burials," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 26 Nov 2024), image 50 of 156; citing G/BBH2/8 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  32. [S4421] England, death certificate for Sarah Wells, died 08 May 1850; citing 8/156/163, Isle of Wight registration district and Newport subdistrict; General Registry Office, Southport.
  33. [S4591] England, birth certificate for Louisa Wills, born 20 Apr 1859; citing 2b/402/450, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  34. [S4592] England, birth certificate for Sarah Hersey Wills, born 10 Feb 1862; citing 2b/442/417, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  35. [S4596] England, death certificate for Louisa Wills, died 08 Feb 863; citing 2b/307/453, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  36. [S4601] St. Jude's Parish (Portsea), "Register of Marriages [1851-1870]," p. 219, entry no. 437, Thomas Foden and Berthia Jane Wills, 14 Dec 1867; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Marriages," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 06 May 2024), image 221 of 252; citing CHU 36/1B/1 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  37. [S4598] England, death certificate for Berthia Wills, died 13 Jan 1873; citing 2b/292/230, Portsea Island registration district; General Registry Office, Southport.
  38. [S4597] Portsea Island General Cemetery Co., "Burial Register [1861-1881]," unpaginated, entry no. 16396, Louisa Wills, 15 Feb 1863; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Burials," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 05 May 2024), image 76 of 663; citing G/PGC4/4 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  39. [S4599] Kingston Cemetery (Parish of Portsea), "Register of Burials," p. 657, entry no. 21603, Bertha Wills, 20 Jan 1873; imaged, "Hampshire, Portsmouth Burials," database and images, FindMyPast (https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript : accessed 05 May 2024), image 658 of 929; citing G/BBK4/3 held by the Portsmouth History Centre.
  40. [S5423] Winchester District Probate Registry, letters of administration for Edwin James Wills (23 Mar 1899); PDF copy of official transcript obtained from "Find a will," database with pay-for images, GOV.UK (https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills : downloaded 27 Nov 2024); Principal Probate Registry, London.