Churchwarden in St Pancras Vestry in 1889. Chairman of the Vestry in 1897.
William James Wetenhall was born on 1 January 1835 in Southwark, Surrey (now Greater London), a son of Emanuel Wetenhall (1795-1869) and Hannah Wetenhall née Collins (1800-1871). On 16 August 1835 he was baptised in the Church of St George the Martyr, Southwark, where in the baptismal register his family are shown to be living in Garden Row, Southwark and that his father was a painter.
In the 1841 census he is shown as aged 7 years, living in Walnut Tree Place, Lambeth, Surrey (now Greater London), with his parents and an elder brother, Emanuel Thomas Wetenhall (b.1827). His father continued to be listed as a painter.
He was shown as a 16-year-old journeyman painter and glazier in the 1851 census, living at 9 China Terrace, Lambeth, with his parents and two female domestic servants. His father was also described as journeyman painter and glazier.
When the 1861 census was undertaken he was described as aged 26 years and a victualler at the Prince Ernest public house, 33 Princes Street (later it was renamed and renumbered as 64 Clarissa Street), Shoreditch, Middlesex (now Greater London), together with a female domestic servant, a pot-man and a bar-lad.
The 1871 census shows him as aged 36 years and a licensed victualler living at The Lord Southampton tavern, 2 Southampton Road, Kentish Town, London, with his mother, together with a housekeeper, a female domestic servant, a barman and male waiter. He was still listed at this address in the 1881 census, aged 46 years and a licensed victualler, together with two barmen and two female domestic servants.
On 22 October 1885 he was married in The Parish Church of St Pancras, Euston Road, Camden, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the marriage register he is described as aged 50 years, a bachelor and a licensed victualler residing in St Pancras, whilst his wife was shown as Mary Ann Thornton otherwise Dingle (1855-1927), aged 30 years, a spinster living in St Pancras and the daughter of William Thornton, a gentleman.
He was shown as a 56-year-old licensed victualler in the 1891 census, living at 16 Maitland Park Villas, Kentish Town, with his wife, their two sons: William Thornton Wetenhall (1888-1916) and James Cyril Wetenhall (1889-1969), together with a nursemaid and a female general servant.
He was listed as a retired licensed victualler in the 1901 census residing at 8 Maitland Park Villas, Kentish Town with his wife and their two sons, together with a cook and a housemaid.
When he completed his 1911 census return form he described himself as a retired licensed victualler and a J.P., still living in the ten roomed property at 8 Maitland Park Villas, with his wife and their two sons: William Thornton Wetenhall, whom he showed as a law student and James Cyril Wetenhall as an insurance clerk, together with a housemaid.
His death, aged 81 years, on 21 March 1916 was registered in the 1st quarter of 1916 in the St Pancras Registration District. His body was buried on 25 March 1916 in the Islington and St Pancras Cemetery, 278 High Road, London, N2 9AG. Probate records show his address to have been 8 Maitland Park Villas, Haverstock Hill, Middlesex (now Greater London) and that when probate was granted to his widow on 8 May 1916 his effects totalled £4,120-10s-7d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
