HENRY HILL
Subject Name: Henry Hill (b 1872 – d 1920)
Henry Hill’s life story reads like an over-imaginative soap opera – but one that is actually true!
Henry was born on 21 November 1872 in the Guildford Union Workhouse, the son of unmarried 32-year old Elizabeth Hill of Godalming (1, 2). No father was named on the Workhouse Register of Births, and it is not known if Henry ever knew who his father was. Henry was baptised there on 9 February 1873.
At the time of the 1871 Census, Elizabeth had been living with her widowed father James, age 59, and her 17-year old brother John in Catteshall Lane, Godalming (3). James passed away in 1874 (4), and around that time John was admitted to the Guildford Union (5). John was to spend the rest of his life there, which was almost 40 years, so it seems likely that he was unable to care for himself in some way. Where Elizabeth was in the eight years after Henry’s baptism is unknown, but it appears she was not at the family home when her father passed away because a neighbour was witness to his death, not Elizabeth (4).
In 1881 Elizabeth and Henry were in the Guildford Union Workhouse, with Elizabeth was noted as a domestic servant (6). It’s possible that she and/or Henry had been living elsewhere at some stage, but equally they could have been in the Workhouse since Henry’s birth. Henry was now age eight, and most likely would have been attending the school in the Workhouse.
Ten years later, life for Henry and his mother was looking much better. The 1891 Census showed that Henry was now in employment, working as a labourer for one of the local paper mills and boarding with Charles and Mary Trussler in Mead Row, Godalming (7). Elizabeth was a live-in house servant in nearby Busbridge (8).
In 1901, Henry remained a labourer at a paper mill and living in Meadrow, and still had a room with Charles and Mary Trussler next to the Unitarian Chapel and Half Moon beer house (9). On the day of the Census, 31 March, their niece Edith Trussler, a 28-year-old unmarried laundress, was paying them a visit. Less than eight months later, on 12 November, Edith gave birth in the Guildford Union Workhouse to Mary Rose Trussler – the daughter of Henry Hill (10).
Henry clearly ignored his duties as a father, because on 14 February 1902 Edith summoned Henry for maintenance for their daughter (11). The bench “considered the case proved”, ordering Henry to pay 3 shillings and 6 pence a week (17.5p in today’s money) plus 22 shillings costs.
This did not stop Henry 18 months later on 31 October 1903 marrying 20-year old spinster Elizabeth Childs at Hambledon Register Office (12). Elizabeth had very recently given birth to a daughter who was almost certainly Henry’s child (13).
Henry’s mother had continued to work for the same couple as a live-in servant into the early stages of the 20th century (14), but by 1904 she was back in the Guildford Union suffering from a number of ailments. She passed away there on 29 November 1904 age 64 (15).
Henry’s problems with the affiliation order for the maintenance of Mary Rose had not gone away during this time as he continued to avoid paying Edith Trussler for her upkeep. So in December 1905 he was sent to prison for seven days (16), and again for 14 days in January 1906 when he still didn’t pay (17).
Things came to a head in the summer of 1906 when Henry was in court once more, having not paid any money to Edith for over a year. The Surrey Times of 28 July quoted Henry, who now had two children by his wife Elizabeth (13, 18), complaining that “he earned 15 shillings a week as a carman, and that it was impossible to pay 2s 6d a week out of that”. The article went on to say that Henry expressed his willingness to look after Mary Rose in his own home, but Edith would not agree to this: “I would sooner go to the Workhouse than give it up”, she said. Henry’s wife Elizabeth added that if he was sent to prison it would mean that she and her two children would suffer (19).
The case was adjourned for a month to give Henry the chance to start paying. As he still did not, the court reconvened in August 1906 when it was decided, after a private discussion between the magistrate, Henry, Edith and Elizabeth, that he would pay 1 shilling (5 new pence) per week towards Mary’s upkeep (20). The case was again adjourned for one month to see what contribution Henry did make, otherwise “the law would have to take its course”. In September Edith reported that Henry had still not paid anything. Henry paid 4 shillings there and then, and said he would “endeavour to pay” – the case was adjourned for three months (20).
A couple of weeks later, Henry’s wife Elizabeth was back before the Godalming Bench, this time following a “squabble” with neighbour Amelia Ellis during which Elizabeth claimed she was hit by Amelia’s husband William. Henry was also involved, as he said that his shirt and waistcoat were torn as he scuffled with William, while Amelia alleged that Elizabeth had attacked her husband with a hat-pin. The judge ruled in favour of Elizabeth, fining William five pounds plus costs (21).
Elizabeth was about six months pregnant at this time with their third child, Mary Ellen, who was born in December 1906 (22). Their only son, Henry Albert James, was their fourth child born three years later (23).
The 1911 Census provided a startling revelation about Edith Trussler, the mother of Henry’s first child Mary Rose (24). Age 38, she was still living with her uncle and aunt in Meadrow, Godalming, but it stated, in the frank language of the time, that Edith was an “imbecile”. Edith had clearly been well enough to be able to stand her ground in front of a magistrate in 1906, so one can only presume her health had dramatically declined after that. Her daughter Mary Rose was missing from the Census but remarkably, the next record found for her is her marriage in 1918 – in Australia (25)! All that is known about Edith after 1911 is that in 1939 she was in the Hambledon “Public Assistance Institution” (the re-named workhouse) (26). Her ultimate fate is unclear.
Henry and Elizabeth and their four children in 1911 were living at 43 Catteshall Lane, Godalming (27). Henry, 34, was noted as a carter at a timber yard. Their fifth child Ivy May arrived in 1912 (28), but the family unit was by now on the point of collapse. At 7 Catteshall Lane was Francis Watkinson, a 25-year old unmarried carter at a timber merchant (29), so almost certainly a colleague if not a friend of Henry. Soon after this Francis became a lodger with Henry’s family. In Henry’s opinion, Francis became too close to Elizabeth, so Henry decided to leave them to it and moved out (30). Where Henry went to is unclear, but it may well have been Redhill where tragedy would strike some years later.
Henry was undoubtedly correct about the relationship between his wife and Francis, as in the latter stages of 1914, shortly after The Great War had started, Elizabeth gave birth to William Frank Watkinson Hill (31).
Around this time, many thousands of men enlisted in what they believed was going to be a quick and glorious campaign against Germany. It would seem likely that Henry, presumably living alone, would have been one of those, even though he was now over 40. It also seems that his wife was aware of him signing up too, and the news of a soldier called Hill being killed in action in 1916 was to lead to a chain of events culminating in a very public trial (30).
Records for World War 1, as it came to be known, are not complete, as many of them were destroyed in a bombing raid during World War 2. Henry’s record was one of those lost, but one that did survive was that of Elizabeth’s lover, Francis Watkinson, who signed up at Chertsey on 15 February 1916 (32). He named his widowed mother Caroline as his nearest relative, with her address as 11 Catteshall Lane, Godalming, the same as Elizabeth Hill.
Shortly after Francis signed up, and before his first posting, Elizabeth and Francis decided to get married, so on 1 July 1916 they tied the knot in Farnham Registry Office (30, 33).
This proved to be a disastrous move, as in May 1917, Elizabeth confessed to the police that she had entered into a bigamous marriage with Francis, as Henry was still very much alive serving with the Army in France (30). Stories like these were food and drink to the newspapers, with the Surrey Advertiser devoting many column inches to the tale of deception and half-truths.
Elizabeth told the judge that she had been informed at the time of her marriage to Henry in 1903 that it “was only good for seven years” because it was conducted in a Registry Office. She also said that she believed that she needed to be married to Francis to be able to receive the Soldiers’ Separation Allowance, although that was not true as the claim she sent to the War Office three months before her marriage had been approved, coincidentally receiving the acceptance of the claim on the day of her “marriage”. “A wedding present from the War Office?” the judge exclaimed, causing laughter in the court.
Elizabeth also said that she had taken to the police a few years earlier a letter written by Henry around the time of their split in which he had expressed an intention to commit suicide. She added that in their time together, Henry had knocked her about and led her a terrible life. When she had read in the newspaper in 1916 of the death of a soldier called Hill, she assumed it was Henry, but after discovering it wasn’t, she said to the judge “I am only too sorry that he is still alive”.
The judge was clearly sympathetic towards Elizabeth, giving her a nominal sentence of just two days in prison before being released.
With no record existing of Henry’s military service, it is not possible to know much about what he was doing during that time, although Ada Elliott, his former neighbour in George Street, Farncombe, said during the trial that she had seen him in December 1915.
Henry did survive the War, but Francis did not, as he lost his life in Flanders on 27 May 1918 (34). Henry almost certainly did not return to his wife Elizabeth, as just under a year after the Armistice, she gave birth on 6 November 1919 to Alfred John Lynch Hill at 11 Catteshall Lane (35). No father was named on the birth certificate although there is probably a big clue to who he was in the child’s name!
Henry’s most likely destination was Redhill, where he died age 48 in a dreadful accident on 21 December 1920 (36, 37). Henry had been working in the sidings of Redhill Goods Station and while trying to unload some hay, he was crushed between the buffers, dying instantly.
The inquest held three days later on Christmas Eve called upon Henry’s estranged wife to identify the body. Interestingly, the death certificate noted Henry’s address as Elizabeth’s at 11 Catteshall Lane, although at the time of the accident the newspaper reported that Henry was living at 109 Cromwell Road, Redhill, very close to the railway station. It was concluded that his death was an unfortunate accident, and no one was to blame.
Henry’s death now left Elizabeth able to legally remarry, and on 21 January 1922, the 39-year old married bachelor Percy Bigmore at Godalming Parish Church (38).
Henry’s life was never easy, with many problems that he had brought upon himself. However, he was unable to defend himself at his wife’s bigamy trial, where she made allegations about his character. It would’ve been interesting to hear what he would have had to say about her behaviour during their marriage, and about the letters he had written in which Elizabeth said he had mentioned suicide. There does seem the possibility that he did see her or at least his children in the last months of his life, as her address was put on his death certificate. Wherever the full truth lies in Henry’s story, it was a sad end to the colourful life of a man who had spent his early years in the Guildford workhouse, had navigated his way through illegitimacy and serious marital issues, and had survived World War 1 only to lose his life in an avoidable work accident.
November 2020
References
(1) Henry Hill Birth 21 November 1872, Baptism 9 February 1873. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Guildford Workhouse Births 1866-1936. Reference: BG6/37/1, page 14. Ancestry.co.uk
(2) Elizabeth Hill Baptism 9 February 1840. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, Holy Trinity, Bramley 1813-1841, Reference: BRAM/1/3, page 110. Ancestry.co.uk
(3) James, Elizabeth, John Hill. 1871 England Census, Catteshall Hatch, Farncombe, Godalming, Surrey. Reference RG10; Piece: 814; Folio: 66; Page: 66. Ancestry.co.uk
(4) James Hill Death September Quarter 1874, Guildford Vol 2a Page 48, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Full death certificate available from General Registry Office gro.gov.uk
(5) John Hill “Guildford Board of Guardians …. 40 Years in the Workhouse”. West Surrey Times, 31 October 1908, page 6. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(6) Elizabeth & Henry Hill. 1881 England Census, Guildford Union Workhouse, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG11; Piece: 778; Folio: 90; Page: 4. Available at Ancestry.co.uk
(7) Henry Hill. 1891 England Census, Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG12; Piece: 561; Folio: 64; Page: 20. Ancestry.co.uk
(8) Elizabeth Hill. 1891 England Census, Busbridge, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG12; Piece: 562; Folio: 46; Page: 15. Ancestry.co.uk
(9) Henry Hill. 1901 England Census, Farncombe, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG13; Piece: 606; Folio: 68; Page: 35. Ancestry.co.uk
(10)Mary Rose Trussler Birth 12 November 1901. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Guildford Workhouse Births 1866-1910. Reference: BG6/37/1, page 61. Ancestry.co.uk
(11)Edith Trussler v Henry Hill “Godalming Borough Bench – Maintenance”. Surrey Advertiser, 17 February 1902, page 1. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(12)Henry Hill and Elizabeth Childs Marriage December Quarter 1903, Hambledon Vol 2a Page 338, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Full marriage certificate available from General Registry Office gro.gov.uk
(13)Elizabeth Alice Childs Birth September Quarter 1903, Hambledon Vol 2a Page 169, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
(14)Elizabeth Hill. 1901 England Census, Compton, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG13; Piece: 607; Folio: 51; Page: 18. Ancestry.co.uk
(15)Elizabeth Hill Death 29 November 1904. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Guildford Union Workhouse Deaths 1887-1914, Reference: BG6/38/2, page 969. Surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/researchers/guides/poor-law-records/guildford
Elizabeth Hill Death December Quarter 1904, Guildford Vol 2a Page 72, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Full death certificate available from General Registry Office gro.gov.uk
(16)Henry Hill “Godalming”. The Surrey Times, 9 December 1905, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(17)Henry Hill “Godalming Borough Bench – Arrears”. The Surrey Times, 27 January 1906, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(18)Olive Rose Hill Birth December Quarter 1904, Guildford, Vol 2a Page 103, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Olive Rose Hill Baptism 18 November 1904. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1901-1917, Reference: 5315/1/2, page 156. Ancestry.co.uk
(19) Henry Hill “Godalming Borough Bench – Maintenance”. The Surrey Times, 28 July 1906, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(20)Henry Hill “Godalming Borough Bench – Maintenance”. The Surrey Times, 22 September 1906, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(21)Elizabeth Hill “Godalming Borough Bench – A Squabble”. The Surrey Times, 6 October 1906, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(22)Mary Ellen Hill Birth March Quarter 1907, Guildford, Vol 2a Page 105, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Mary Ellen Hill Baptism 21 December 1906. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St John, Farncombe 1900-1917, Reference: FNC/1/4, page 72. Ancestry.co.uk
(23) Henry Albert James Hill Birth December Quarter 1909, Guildford, Vol 2a Page 104, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Henry Albert James Hill Baptism 8 October 1909. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Baptisms, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1909-1917, Reference: 5315/1/2, page 6. Ancestry.co.uk
(24) Edith Trussler 1911 England Census, Meadrow, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG14; Piece: 3089; Schedule: 184. Ancestry.co.uk
(25) Rosa M Trussler and Bert E A Collins Marriage 1918, Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. New South Wales Government Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Registration number 11672/1918. Familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au
(26)Edith Trussler. 1939 England and Wales Register, Hambledon. Reference RG 101/1958A/027/26. Letter code DNOO Ancestry.co.uk
(27)Henry & Elizabeth Hill, Elizabeth, Olive, Mary, Henry 1911 England Census, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG14; Piece: 3091; Schedule: 333. Ancestry.co.uk
(28)Ivy May Hill Birth September Quarter 1912, Guildford, Vol 2a Page 226, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
(29)Francis Watkinson 1911 England Census, Godalming, Guildford, Surrey. Reference RG14; Piece: 3091; Schedule: 353. Ancestry.co.uk
(30)Elizabeth Hill “Bigamy Charges”. Surrey Advertiser, 16 May 1917, page 4. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
– “Both ‘Husbands’ Overseas”. Surrey Advertiser, 21 May 1917, page 3. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
– “Godalming. A Charge of Bigamy. Accused Sorry Her Husband is still Alive”. Surrey Advertiser, 4 June 1917, page 1. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
– “Godalming Bigamists. An ‘Unmarried Wife’s’ Allowance: The Judge Shocked”. Surrey Advertiser & County Times, 30 June 1917, page 2. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(31)William Frank Watkinson Hill Birth December Quarter 1914, Chertsey, Vol 2a Page 106, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915. Ancestry.co.uk
Full birth certificate available from General Registry Office gro.gov.uk
(32)Francis David Watkinson British Army World War 1 Pension Records 1914-1920; WO364; Piece 4599. Ancestry.co.uk
(33)Elizabeth Hill and Francis Watkinson Marriage September Quarter 1916, Farnham, Vol 2a Page 319, England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005. Ancestry.co.uk
(34)Francis David Watkinson Death 27 May 1918. UK Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919, British and Irish Military Databases. Ancestry.co.uk
(35)Alfred John Lynch Hill Birth December Quarter 1919, Guildford, Vol 2a Page 218, England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007. Ancestry.co.uk
Full birth certificate available from General Registry Office gro.gov.uk
(36)Henry Hill Surrey Mirror and County Post, 31 December 1920, page 5 “Sad Redhill Fatality. Shunting Accident Causes Tragic Death”, page 3. Surrey Advertiser, 16 May 1917, page 4. FindMyPast.co.uk / British Newspaper Archives
(37)Henry Hill Death December Quarter 1920, Reigate, Vol 2a Page 241, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007. Ancestry.co.uk
Full death certificate available from General Registry Office gro.gov.uk
Henry Hills (sic) Burial 24 December 1920. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Burials, St Mary, Reigate 1919-1922, Reference: 6909/1/19, page 69. Ancestry.co.uk
(38)Elizabeth Hill and Percy Bigmore Marriage 21 January 1922. Surrey History Centre, Woking, Surrey, England; Surrey Church of England Parish Registers; Parish Marriages, St Peter & St Paul, Godalming 1918-1927, Reference: 5315/1/7, page 58. Ancestry.co.uk