Willis Photo Gallery

My mother, Margaret (Bursey) Scribner was the daughter of Mary (Willis) Bursey and Herbert Bursey. Her grandparents were William(Will) & Mary Ann Willis. The following history of the William Willis family in Moncton is one of the more interesting parts of our ancestry.

William Willis was my great grandfather and was born May 30, 1865 in Clapham, Surrey Co., England. His father, Edward Willis was a woodturner and operated his own business in Clapham for his entire life. His mother was Mary Margaret (Ponton) Willis who married Edward on October 12, 1851 in Brixton, Surrey Co., England. They had a large family of nine children: Harriet M.1852, Mary M.1855, Edith E.1867, Edward 1857, John 1861, Henry 1863, Walter 1870, Thomas(died) 1859, Ann Margaret(died) 1854 and my great  grandfather William 1865.

The 1871 Census has my great great grandfather Edward Willis living at 61 Larkhall Rise where he had his woodturning shop. William(Will) was only 6 years old at this time but he and his siblings were taught a respect for god, mankind and hard work. William became an apprentice woodturner at an early age working in his father’s shop. Later in his life he became an Itinerant Minister where he would preach the gospel to the poor in the slums of East London. He may have been associated with the Salvation Army because the 1901 Census records show two Salvation Army officers as lodgers in their home.

William fell in love with his sweetheart Mary Ann Hones who lived in the town of Battersea, Surrey County not far from William’s hometown. She was born in 1866 and she fell for this fair-haired lad whom she met at the county fair. They married in 1890 and moved into their first home at 21 Lillieshall Rd in Clapham, Surrey Co. My grandmother Mary Willis was born in 1892 and was their only child until 1900 when her sister Miriam was born. Then in 1903 William Jr. was born. They were a happy family with lots of fun, love and laughter.

Both of William’s parents were getting on in years and his mother Mary Margaret’s health was failing.  When she died in 1894 at the age of 63 her husband Edward moved to 50 Ravenwood Rd., Balham, Surrey Co. where he died on March 10, 1900 at the age of 74. With his father gone and the woodturning business on the decline Will and Mary Ann began to think of other challenges in their lives so they decided to emigrate to Canada. In 1908 they boarded the S.S. Kensington at Liverpool and arrived in Quebec City on May 10^th. From there they loaded all their possessions on the train for Moncton where he had a job with the Intercolonial Railway (ICR later became CNR) waiting for him. He was able to apply his trade as a cabinet maker and wood finisher in the passenger car maintenance shop in Moncton.

They found a nice lot on the Shediac Rd. just outside the village of Lewisville. Here they built a home, tilled a garden plot and were prepared for hard work. My grandmother Mary was 16, her sister Miriam was 8 years and little William Jr. was 5 years old. The children adapted to the new school system and were quick to make friends. Since William Sr. was an employee of the Intercolonial Railway he and the family could travel free on their railway Pass. They travelled everywhere including Sydney NS to visit friends and eventually built a cottage across the river from Sydney in Westmount.

My grandmother Mary was at the age where she wanted her independence and got work as a domestic caring for children. She soon discovered my grandfather (Herb Bursey) or vice versa and soon they were dating, fell in love and were married October 11, 1911. Mary and Herb started a family immediately and within a few years had three boys and two girls: Herb Jr. 1912, Harold W. 1913, William E. 1915, Miriam K. 1918 and my mother Margaret Louise 1916.

In 1914 as the clouds of war loomed over Europe and the British Isles William Willis felt compelled to return to his homeland to do the honourable thing and help defend England. He was 49 years of age – too old for combat – but could perform duties on the home front with the Territorial Force (Army Reserve). Arriving back in England he joined the 4^th Royal Berks on September 19, 1914 in the home defence corps. He brought his family back to England leaving our grandmother Mary, Herb and family to live in their house on the Shediac Rd. His job in the military was fulltime maintaining law and order on the home front. During this period the family lived at 36 Connaught Rd., Newbury.

In 1917 at the age of 52 and with some medical problems William was given an honourable discharge from the army. The war was winding down and in 1918 Germany surrendered thus ending WW1. The Willis family remained in England for the next six years – the children (Miriam & William Jr.) had finished their schooling and were now young adults in the work force. However, William Sr.’s health continued to decline until his death in 1923.

Following her husband’s death Mary Ann was determined that her family should return to Canada to be near her daughter Mary, Herb and their family in Moncton NB. In addition the prospects for employment and marriage for her two other children looked better in the bustling railroad town of Moncton. So in early October they boarded the S.S. Canopic in Liverpool and landed in Halifax Oct 8, 1923. They were happy to be back in Moncton near all her family and the especially her grandchildren.

It wasn’t long before William Jr. started prowling the dances, parties and enjoying the life of a sought after bachelor. He found a good job with the railway and was soon dating a pretty little Miss (Agnes Greene) from Springhill NS who worked as a secretary in Moncton. They married in 1929 and Bill’s job took him to Campbellton NB where their daughter Carol was born in 1936. Their next stop was Halifax with the CNR posting and they set up residence in Dartmouth across the harbour. Carol went on to study nursing and later met her true love Harold Smith. In 1963 Carol gave birth to Lesley who was the pride and joy of the Willis and Greene grandparents.

 Miriam Willis worked in the offices of the T. Eaton Co. in Moncton for many years making many friends both male and female. She enjoyed life and had a hearty laugh entertaining everyone with her stories. One gentleman who became enthralled with Miriam was Robert Doswell from Toronto. His wife had died and he needed the companionship and spirit that Miriam offered. They married in 1950 and Miriam was off to Toronto to begin a new life with Bob, his cats and gardens.

Mary Ann Willis was getting on in years and becoming quite feeble. She eventually moved in with her daughter Mary & family on the Shediac Rd. The old homestead on Shediac Rd. became the social centre for family with Gram Willis at the helm. She remained there until her death on Oct. 18, 1947 at the age of 81. The family was devastated by her passing only to be further crushed by the death of my grandmother eight days later on October 26, 1947. She died of a massive heart attack at the age of 55.

Miriam Willis was my mother’s aunt but all the children called her Aunt Miriam. She lavished gifts on all the great nieces and nephews as if they were her own children. She was a jolly person and loved to laugh as she entertained the little ones – giving each child her undivided attention.

The circle of life continues for the Willis/ Smith family. Carol is still active in Acton ON with her painting and socializing with friends. Lesley is an English professor at UNB in Fredericton NB.