William '2 Towns

  Noted events in his life were:

• Notes for William TOWNS. He married (1) SUSANNA 1852. He married (2) ZilPAH BELL Apr 5, 1859 in Aunsby, Lincolnshire, England, daughter of William BELL and Mary ANN

For birth location notes see John Towns of same generation.

William was born at Aunsby and baptized on 14 May, 1826. He was the second youngest of the family. In 1841, aged 14, only he and Elizabeth remained with their widowed father at Aunsby. In 1851, one year after his father's death, he lived with his sister Elizabeth, the local school mistress. They were both at Dembleby by which is about 1 mile to the south of Aunsby.

William married Susan about 1852 and they had three children before she died in August, 1857. William re- married a widow, Zilpah Tyler (nee Bell), who had a five year old daughter, Sarah Tyler. They had four more children. Zilpah was buried at Aunsby on 22 February, 1889. (Her slate tombstone is the only one standing and is very legible).

William, his wife Zilpah of two years, and his family appear in the 1861 Census, living at Aunsby with William described as a fall laborer. The baby at that time was Elizabeth who was 11 months old.

William and most of his family appear in the 22 April, 1871 census, beginning with son John, aged 14. It appears that the first two children had moved on at that time.

William was still at Aunsby in the 1881 Census and still there in the 1891 Census, described as a 63 year old widowed farm laborer, and head of a household of two people. The other person was Ann Bell, described as a 62 year old housekeeper, widowed. This may have been Zilpah's older sister; more work is required.

In 1896, the Lincolnshire Gazeteer listed William Towns of Aunsby as being a 'cowkeeper', which was a business designation for a person who lived in “town” and kept 1 or more cows in the back yard for milking purposes; the milk to be sold from a front window or door to the public.

At some point during the next ten years William moved to New Sleaford and died at his 'abode' there. The funeral service and internment was held at St. Thomas a Beckett church, Aunsby, on 31 May, 1901 and was officiated by A. S. Hunter Wood, Off Min.

• Marriage Notes for William TOWNS and Zilpah BELL. Married by Octavius Luard. William was described as a laborer and a widower, and Zilpah was described as a widow, maiden name of Bell. John Towns and William Bell were the witnesses.

William married Susanna (Towns) Rossington in 1852. (Susanna (Towns) Rossington was buried on 7 Aug 1857 in St. Thomas a Beckett church. Aunsby.)

William next married ZilPAH Bell, daughter of Samuel Bell and Sarah, on 5 Apr 1859 in Aunsby, Lincolnshire, England. (ZilPAH Bell was born on 18 Mar 1822 in Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire, christened on 18 Mar 1822 in Great Gonerby, Lincolnshire, died on 19 Feb 1889 and was buried on 22 Feb 1889 in Thomas a Beckett church, Aunsby.)