Grandparents

William’s paternal grandfather was Robert Hartley, a cotton manufacturer. He was born in Bury about 1817. His wife, Martha, was born in Bury about the same year. In 1851 they lived at St James’ Place, Heap, Lancashire. At the time of the census, 2 children were living with them, George, 2, and Richard, 2 weeks. However, the 1861 census suggests that they also had 3 older children. They had 2 servants. In 1861 they lived at Orchard, Castleton (probably the one west of Rochdale), with 6 children, William, 18, Elizabeth, 16, Thomas, 14, George, 12, Richard, 10, and Robert (William’s father), 8. All the children were born in Bury. By 1871 Robert Snr had died and Martha was living at Roe Acre House, Castleton, where Martha was described as an assistant and widow. Richard was now a cotton spinner. There were still 2 servants. We have no information on William’s maternal grandparents.

Parents

William’s father, Robert Hartley, was born in Bury about 1853. In 1871 he lived with his mother, Martha, in Castleton and was a cotton broker apprentice. By 1881 he had married his wife, Anna Maria, born in Everton about 1859. They lived in Toft Rd, Knutsford, with son Robert Frederick, aged 6 months. Robert was now a cotton broker and they had 3 servants. In 1891 they lived at 2 Albion St, Royton, with 3 children, Robert Frederick, 10 and born in Knutsford, Reginald William (sic), 8, and Eva Maria, 6 and born in Southport. By 1901 they had moved to 9 Clarence Rd, Withington. By this time Robert Frederick was a clerk in a railway forwarding office and there was now a fourth child, Nora Frances, aged 8 and born in Fallowfield.

William Reginald

William was born in Southport about 1883. In 1901 he was a clerk in a civil engineer’s office. We were not able to find the family in 1911 but at some point William enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers. He served at Gallipoli with the 7th Battalion and died on 20 December 1915, aged 33. By this time his father had died and his mother lived at 24 Sandileigh Avenue, Withington. In 1922 William’s medals were sent to his brother, Robert Frederick at Lissadel, Bramhall Lane, Bramhall. Robert also received his effects of £65 2s 10d.

William was buried in the Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery, Geogheghan’s Bluff Plot, but graves here were not identified. His name is on the memorial, reference Sp. Mem. C. 220.