William Morton Bailey (b. 8 April 1855, d. 26 October 1916)
William Morton Bailey (son of John Adams Bailey and Susannah Allcock) was born 8 April 1855 in Sheppeau Stow, Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire, and died 26 October 1916 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire. He married Sarah Anne Beagles on 1877 in St Marks Church, Lincoln, daughter of Eason Beagles and Sarah Woolley.
Notes for William Morton Bailey: 11 Acres 1 Servant 1881 Census, living next door to cousin Simon Farrow
William Morton Bailey 8 April 1855 - 26 October 1916
William Bailey was born in Shepeau Stow,Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire. His parents were John Bailey and Susannah Bailey (nee Allcock). His childhood was to have a major influence on his future activities as his Grandfather and Uncle were both involved in activities which he was to take up in later life.He is found with them on them in the 1861 census:
William B Addams head widr 66 Beerhouse Keeper B Whaplode Drove William B Addams son mar 35 Carter B Whaplode Drove William Bailey grandson 5 Scholar B Whaplode Drove
By 1871 he is still living in Chapelgate, Whaplode Drove, but he is no longer living with any family:-
Mary Crafts head Unm 34 Beerhouse Keeper B Holbeach Lydia Ann Crafts dau 7 B Moulton William Baily Crafts son 3 B Whaplode Drove William Baily lodger 16 Labourer B Whaplode Drove
There is speculation that William Bailey Crafts may have been William Bailey’s illegitimate son but this has been unproven (and unacknowledged by William Bailey himself as no descendents were aware of this until recently, and no reference is made in his Will) This will only be resolved if another William Bailey of the same age is discovered in the census returns of Whaplode Drove and surrounding villages. A search has been made and none has been found.
By 1881 William had married to Sarah Ann Beagles, the marriage taking place in Lincoln. His fortunes had somewhat improved as the census return shows. The Farm was obviously that of his mother in law's, the widowed Sarah Beagles :-
William Bailey head mar 25 Farmer of 11 Acres 1 Servant B Whaplode Drove Sarah Ann Bailey wife mar 31 B Whaplode Drove Harry Eason Bailey son 3 B Whaplode Drove Sarah Beagles mother in law Widw 63 B Spalding
By now he was showing the first signs of interest in Public Transport and is noted in White’s 1882 Lincolnshire Trade Directory as a Farmer and Carrier of Whaplode Drove and was the Carrier for the village undertakings journeys to nearby towns on Market Days ; Spalding Tuesday, Holbeach Thursday, and Peterborough Saturday. A Similar reference is made in the 1885 Kelly’s Trade Directory.
By 1891 William and Family had moved to Peterborough; the date of move is not known but can be narrowed down through a search of Peterborough Trade Directories and Tax Records. It is felt that it must have been in the mid to late 1880’s as by 1891 he had established himself as Auctioneer and almost certainly Inn Keeper at The Swan Inn in Midgate Peterborough where he was living:-
William M Bailey head mar 36 Auctioneer B Whaplode Drove Sarah A Bailey wife mar42 B Whaplode Drove Harry E Bailey son unm 13 Scholar B Whaplode Drove Walter W Bailey son unm 9 Scholar B Whaplode Drove Bertha A B Bailey dau unm 5 Scholar B Whalpode Drove Jane Lyon servant 15 General Servant B Whaplode Drove
It should be noted that the stated birth place of his daughter was incorrect; it was in fact Skegness.
At some time in late 1895/early 1896, William went into partnership with James Griffiths Averill operating a horsebus business. The business was operated from Garret’s Yard, St Johns Street (roughly where The Claypipe Pub stands today) Routes were operated between the City Centre and the surrounding villages of New England, Dogsthorpe, New Fletton, Woodston, Eastfield, Newark, Orton, Werrington, Alwalton and Norman Cross. In addition, a programme of excursions was operated by wagonnettes to Crowland Abbey, The Lynch and other places of interest together with private hire to football and cricket teams.
This appears to have been a successful venture and attracted the attention of those that ran the city who wanted to encourage further growth of the venture. With this aim The Peterborough Omnibus and Carriage Company Limited was incorporated in June 1896. Directors were Aldermen Daniel Henry Redhead, Jesse Adnitt, William Henry Ellington and Councillor Charles Foote. William Bailey was appointed General Manager and joined the board after allotment of the shares. A prospectus for shares in the Company was advertised in The Peterborough Advertiser on 30 May 1896. The company had a nominal share capital of 5000 £1.00 of which 4000 were allotted and 3100 were advertised for sale. The failure to advertise the whole of the share capital was accepted in later years as giving the company a lack of working capital, but in the optimistic prospectus returns of 10% were forecast.
From an interview given by William Bailey published in the Paeterborough Advertiser on 11 September 1897 it is established that the Company started with a fleet of four or five vehicles and 29 horses, but by 1897 had expanded to a fleet of twelve buses and three cabs and 54 horses. Vehicles were obtained from Sheffield, London and some were built locally. Passenger numbers were in the region of five to six hundred passengers a day, with one bus taking about £4 to £4 10s a day made up of many penny and two penny fares. Services were operated seven days a week between 8 AM and 10.30 PM. Eight horses were allocated to each bus with four changes at three and three quarters hourly intervals a day. During the day. The busiest route was that from Stanground to New England. The busiest day was unsurprisingly Saturday, although additional traffic was achieved on Bank Holidays and during Peterborough Show Week. The Golf Club also generated some extra traffic. Around 20 men were employed with drivers earning £1.00 a week and Conductors earning 17s The Company employed two Blacksmiths and carried out most of its own repairs. The corn feed required for the horses was ground by the company. The company was also looking at taking on newspaper and parcel delivery and had also been involved in milk deliveries.
The future in 1897 looked decidedly rosy for the company. However the storm clouds of progress were gathering on the horizon the British Electric Traction Company were looking at setting up a Tram service in the city. This was resisted most vigorously by the Directors who were Alderman pointing out that the Tram system would be unable to serve the south of the city because of the blockage caused by Narrow Bridge Street and the Railway crossing south of the River bridge during Council debates. However the Electric Traction Company was able to offer an Electricity Generating Station which eventually swayed the argument and thus The Peterborough Electric Traction Company was born. By 1904 William Bailey knew that it was a lost cause. At the AGM in that year he said that the directors had to keep the ship from sinking. By 1905 all was lost and the meeting to wind up the company was held in August. Alderman Redhead who was Mayor in that year did assist in setting up The Peterborough Motor Omnibus Company Limited which was proposed to run vehicles built by Werner,Pffeiderer and Perkins known at the "Mercial" chassis. However nothing seemed to have come of this idea. It is not known how William Bailey felt of these proposals or if his experience was sought by the new venture. He was not appointed a Director of this concern. It was to be some years before Motor buses were to run on the Streets of Peterborough with The Peterborough Electric Traction Company addressing the objections initially raised by the Directors of the horsebus Company some ten or more years previously.
By 1901 William had moved to 57 Westgate, to what is now known as The Royal. He had been widowed two years previously. He was still an Auctioneer:-
William Bailey head wid 41 Auctioneer B Whaplode Drove Harry E Bailey son unm 24 Auctioneer's Clerk B Whaplode Drove Walter W Bailey son unm 19 Hay & Straw Dealer's Assistant B Whaplode Drove Thomas Jellis servant unm 24 Hay & Straw Gardenerman B Peterborough Susan Jellis servant unm 17 Housekeeper B Peterborough
Susan Jellis was to remain loyal to her master for the rest of his life. He died on 26 October 1916 after a long and painful illness. By the time he wrote his will he had moved again to St John's Street - possibly to the premises of the old bus yard. Despite the Great War his services to the city were remembered by the two newspapers of the day which reported the following:-
Peterborough Advertiser 28 October 1916
USEFUL CITIZEN'S DEATH
The death occurred at Peterborough on Thursday of Mr William Bailey, the originator of the horse 'bus service, which was replaced fourteen years ago by electric traction. It was deemed a considerable enterprise at the time, and the old company was wound up several years ago. Deceased added farming auctioneering to his other pursuits and was a most industrial citizen. For many years he was Landlord of the White Swan Inn Midgate, where his wife earned considerable reputation as a theatrical caterer, the principals of the best companies invariably staying there. It was understood that it was here, when travelling in one of the Benson Shakespearian companies Mr H B Irving became engaged to Miss Dorothea Baird, whom he subsequently married. Mr and Mrs Bailey afterwards became the Proprietrs of the Temperance Hotel in Westgate.
Peterborough Advertiser 4 November 1916 FUNERAL OF MR W M BAILEY
The funeral of Mr William Morton Bailey farmer etc of Peterborough whose death we announced last week took place at Whaplode Drove on Tuesday, the Rev C J W Old being the officiating clergyman. the chief mourners were: Mr H Bailey and Mr W Bailey (sons), Mrs Mitcham (daughter), Mrs Bailey (sister), Miss Muriel and Miss Rachel Mitcham (grand daughters), Mrs Login (step sister), Mrs Jellis (housekeeper), Mr J T G Bland, Mrs Eayrs (St Neots), Mr W Farrow (Whaplode) and Mr Jos Farrow (Wisbech) cousins, Mr and Mrs W Beagles, Mrs Dilly, Mr and Mrs T Henson, Mr Goodson, Mr Ford, Mr Fletcher and other village friends. The coffin of polished oak with heavy brass furniture bore the inscription : "WILLIAM MORTON BAILEY born April 8th 1855 died October 26th 1916" There were many beautiful floral tributes. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr W H Snow(C Foote) Westgate, Peterborough.
Peterborough Citizen 2 November 1916 FUNERAL OF MR W M BAILEY
The funeral of Mr William Morton Bailey of St John's Street whose death occurred at the age of 61 years took place at Whaplode Drove on Tuesday. Mr Bailey was a native of that place but had farmed in the neighbourhood of Peterborough for some years, and was well known. His illness which was of a very painful nature, had extended over a period of one year nine months. The first part of the service was conducted by the vicar, who also officiated at the graveside. The mourners were: Mr Harry Bailey and Mr Walter Bailey (sons), Mrs Mitcham (daughter), the misses Muriel and Rachel Mitcham (grand daughters), Mrs Bailey (sister), Mrs Login (step sister), Mr J Bailey (step brother), Mrs Jellis (housekeeper), Mr J T G Bland, Mr J Farrow, Mr W Farrow, Mr and Mrs W Beagles, Mr and Mrs T Henson (Peterborough) and Mrs Dilley. The coffin of polished oak with brass fittings was inscribed: "WILLIAM MORTON BAILEY born April 8th 1855 died October 26th 1916" The wreaths bore cards as under In memory of our dear father from his sorrowing children : To dear grandpa from his favourite Babs: To dear grandpa from his loving little Ruie : With deepest sympathy from S Jellis : With loving sympathy from Mr and Mrs Wadsley (Wisbech St Mary) : In kind remembrance from Dorothy : With deepest sympathy from Mrs T Henson (Eastfield Road) : With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Benjamin Greenwood (Ramsey) : In remembrance of an old friend from Mr and Mrs G E Tatham : With deepest sympathy from Mrs Gaunt and family : With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs C Baker (Woodston) : With deepest sympathy from Mr G Walden and family : With sincere sympathy from Mr and Mrs Joseph Jellis : With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Eayrs (The Square St Neots) : With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Stapleton (Oundle). The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Foote(Mr W H Snow) Westgate.
NOTES Mr Harry Bailey and Mr Walter Bailey (sons), self explanatory Mrs Mitcham (daughter), self explanatory the misses Muriel and Rachel Mitcham (grand daughters) self explanatory Mrs Bailey (sister), A Bailey marriage to a Bailey !! Should not be impossible to find Mrs Login (step sister), Confirms John Bailey did remarry Mr J Bailey (step brother), There is a John Bailey aged 15 in 1881 with parents John and Harrit at Whaplode Drove RG11/3207/77/25. This gives a theory to John's second marriage Mr J T G Bland My Grandfather Mr J Farrow, Mr W Farrow, William b 1844 and Joseph b 1849 sons of Joseph Farrow and Rebecca Allcock (William's Aunt) Mr and Mrs W Beagles William Ash Beagles, son of Robert Beagles (brother of Eason Beagles - William Baileys father in Law) and Elizabeth Ash Mr and Mrs T Henson (Peterborough) Could be a tenant or possibly related in some way. Mrs Dilley Mabel Alice Isabel, daughter of William Ash Beagles and Sarah Ann Weatherall Mr G Walden and family The Waldens were related by the marriage of his mother's sister. I don't recognise the other names family friends or relations?
In his will he rewarded Susan Jellis for her service leaving her a life interest on the sum of £300. The rest of his estate was left to family members. Interestingly, despite his illness at the time of writing his will some four months before his death he had recently purchased twelve houses in Coneygree Road Stanground from The Eyres Estate. His will was probated at the value of £9105 5s.
John Richard Glendy Bland 15 May 2003.
More About William Morton Bailey: Burial: Unknown, Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire. Census 1861: 1861, RG9/2326/4/51/70 Aged 5, Scholar with William B Addams. Census 1871: 1871, RG10/3326/6/74/6 Labourer, 6 Chapel Gate, Whaplode Drove with Mary Crafts, Beerhouse Keeper. Census 1881: 1881, RG11/3207/6/69/60 Whaplode Drove,Lincolnshire Farmer of 11 acres. Census 1891: 1891, Auctioneer, Swan Inn, Midgate, Peterborough. Census 1901: 1901, Auctioneer, 51 Westgate, Peterborough. Occupation 1: 7 July 1896, Managing Director, Peterborough Omnibus and Carriage Company Ltd. Occupation 2: Farmer. Occupation 3: 1885, Auctioneer, Hay and Straw Merchant,Peterborough.
More About William Morton Bailey and Sarah Anne Beagles: Marriage: 1877, St Marks Church, Lincoln.
Marriage Notes for William Morton Bailey and Sarah Anne Beagles: It is believed that this couple married at St Mark's Church, Lincoln in 1877. This was when Sarah was heavily pregnant. Although the Register has to been examined, it is felt that the ceremony was arranged by the Rev. R G Ash who had married into the Beagles family. It is known that he was Curate there, and this was the right time frame for him to be starting out in his career.
Children of William Morton Bailey and Sarah Anne Beagles are:
Harry Eason Bailey, b. 26 May 1877, Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire, d. date unknown.
Herbert William Bailey, b. 2 May 1879, Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire, d. 13 August 1879, Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire.
Walter William Bailey, b. 23 July 1881, Whaplode Drove, Lincolnshire, d. date unknown.
+Bertha Alice Beagles Bailey, b. 19 June 1885, Skegness, Lincolnshire, d. 28 June 1970, Peterborough, Northamptonshire.
William Morton Bailey (b. 8 April 1855, d. 26 October 1916)
Notes for William Morton Bailey: