William James DENTON (1858-1946)

Events

Parents

Children

Life History

    William James DENTON was born in 1858 at Sutton Wick, being the illegitimate son of Ann DENTON. When William was aged 2, his mother married James STIMPSON at Sutton Courtney Church.

    On the 1861 Census William is listed as William STIMPSON age 3 and living with mother Ann and James, along with William's grandfather Henry DENTON and his family at Sutton Wick. Although Williams birth was illegitimate it seems very likely that James STIMPSON was his real father.

    In September 1870 it is likely that William, now aged 12, participated in the Abingdon ploughing match along with his father, and won 2nd prize in the "3 horse with a driver" class. (see Jacksons Oxford Journal article on fathers page). His father James winning £2 and William winning 10 shillings.

    On the 1871 census, William, now aged 13, is again listed as William STIMPSON at Oday Hill Sutton Wick and working as an Agricultural labourer. It is likely that William worked for farmer Thomas Dewe at Drayton / Sutton Wick, along with his father James.

Only up to the time that William left the family home, in about 1879, was he listed as William STIMPSON, most records after this time list him as William DENTON.

    On Saturday 18-Oct-1879 William married Urania GUNTER SLY (1859) at St Helens Church Abingdon. Urania was from Purton / Brinkworth Wiltshire and was the illegitimate daughter of Harriet SLY (1840) who had later married Richard GUNTER (1837).

    William and Urania had 10 children over subsequent years.

    For a while they lived at Hardwick Berks, and then Marcham, and later Radley where they lived in Goose acre farm cottage. Daughter Ethel died at the young age of 5 years old. Son Ernest emigrated to Australia and died there in 1976.

William and Urania later moved to Swinburn Road Abingdon, and then 1 Council Houses Radley

In 1929 William and Ann celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with a party at Radley where, unusually, his father was also able to attend.

Wife Urania died in 1930 aged 71. William later moved to 76 Swinburn Rd Abingdon, and he died in 1946 aged 87. He was buried along side his wife at Radley Church.

Press cutting Oxford Mail Monday 21^st Oct 1929.

Oxford Times, Friday 25^th Oct 1929.

Census transcripts

BMD Certificates

The information on these pages was compiled by Peter Stimpson from sources available at the time of research. If any errors or additional information is known then please drop me an e-mail.

Last updated Dec-2010