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Brentford Councillors - William Grew

Introduction

Janet McNamara has researched details of the men who served as Brentford Local Board Members and Councillors, see intro page for more details of early local government structure.

William Grew

William Grew was a member of Brentford Local Board in 1888 but his name doesn’t appear on any public buildings. In the 1888 and 1896/7 directories he was living at 13, Hamilton Road and also in the 1901 census.

He had been born on November 17th 1824 in Bethnal Green and baptised at St Matthew’s Church on December 12th. His parents were William and Sarah (nee Fleming).

He married Emma Martin in Hackney on July 22nd 1843. Emma’s father was John Martin and he and William and his father were velvet weavers. Emma signed the register with a cross and William and Sarah Grew were the witnesses. Their addresses were shown as Morning Lane.

I have not found him in the 1841 or 1851 census but by 1861 William and Emma were living at South Cottage, Ealing Lane and William was an Inspector to the Brentford Gas Co. His obituary records 'He came to Brentford at the end of the year 1853, to enter the service of the Brentford Gas Company.'

They had three children who had been born in Shoreditch. Son William James was 10, Emma Sarah was 15 and Sarah was 8. They were all shown as scholars. Alice Mary was 2 and had been born in Brentford.

Emma died aged 48 in April 1871 and her death was registered in the June quarter Brentford 3a 57.

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On December 26th 1872 William married Maria Sarah Taylor who was the widowed mother of his daughter Emma Sarah’s husband. Registered December quarter 1872. Brentford 3a 132, see research into Henry Taylor.

In 1881 they were living at 1, Alpha Villa, Hamilton Road. He was 56 years old and an Inspector to Brentford Gas Co. Maria was 60 and William’s daughter Alice M aged 22 was living with them.

I haven’t been able to find any of them in the 1891 census but Maria Sarah died in aged 80 in July 1900. Her death was recorded in the September quarter 1900 Brentford 3a 70.

In the 1891 census William James Grew (son aged 40) a Collector Brentford Gas Coy was living at 25, Beaconsfield Villas, Ealing . His wife Mary Ann was 41 and had been born in Brentford. They had a son William A aged 16 who was a clerk to an Estate Agent and three children Florence (12), Ernest (9) and Stanley(6) all scholars born in Ealing. Emma Dudman their 15 year old domestic servant had been born in Brentford.

In the 1901 census William senior’s address is given as 13, Hamilton Road. He was a widower aged 76 living on his own means. His married daughter Sarah Holley was his housekeeper and they had a housemaid aged 19.

His death aged 86 was registered in the December quarter in Brentford 1910 3a 81.

Other material

Janet has also provided a photos from his time of serving as a councillor (one dated 1888), an example of his signature and an obituary from a local newpaper. To be added as time permits.

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Page published August 2011