1856
Born
1856 at Lincolnshire
1856 Tetney, Lincolnshire— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
William Henry Brock
1856 – 1926
✓ Validated against records · 2026-06-30
William Henry Brock was born in 1856 at Tetney, the third of George and Eliza Brock's children, into the settled world of a master miller's house. It did not last. In 1869, when William was thirteen, his father died of smallpox; his widowed mother could not keep the mill on, and within the year she had remarried and taken the family to Hull. The miller's son became a town boy.
He grew up quickly there. By 1871, at fifteen, he was a warehouse labourer in the riverside parishes of Sutton and Stoneferry; in 1877 he married Elizabeth Clegg, a Hull girl whose father, Robert Clegg, had come east from Rochdale. They married after banns at St James', Sutton, and — a small dignity the register preserves — both signed their own names.
For twenty years William did the heavy, uncertain work of industrial Hull. The censuses follow him across the labouring trades — an oil-mill labourer in 1881, a general labourer in 1891 — moving his growing family of sons between rented addresses in the working streets of the east of the city.
Then, slowly, the direction of his life reversed. By 1893 the directories no longer call him a labourer but a shopkeeper; in 1895 he took over a beer, spirits and wine off-licence in Spyvee Street, and for the next twenty years he kept grocer's shops and off-licences across east Hull — Dansom Lane, Balfour Street, the Dog & Duck at Wincomlee — taking on and giving up licences as the small trade required. By 1913 he was a grocer at 61 Dansom Lane, working on his own account.
It was never wealth — four rooms, a corner shop, a licence — but it was a long climb back from the warehouse floor. Through all of it the family held together: his wife's aged father, Robert Clegg, lived with them into his eighties, and the four sons they raised — George Robert, William Edmund, John Henry and Frederick Edward — all lived to grow up, which no Victorian parent could take for granted.
In his last years William came to rest somewhere his labouring youth could hardly have promised. By 1920 the family had moved to Garden Village, the model suburb the Reckitt family had laid out for their workpeople, with its greens and its own hall, where his son John Henry worked at the Reckitt's canister works. William Henry Brock died there, at James Reckitt Avenue, in March 1926, aged sixty-nine. His widow placed a single line in the Hull Daily Mail a year on — "We hold you still in memory" — and when she followed him in 1928, the notice read simply, "Reunited."
Composed from validated records · 2026-06-30
- Birth
- 1856 Tetney, Lincolnshire
- Marriage
- 1877 to Elizabeth Clegg in St James Church, Sutton, Hull
- Death
- March 1926, Sculcoates, aged 69 years
- Parents
- George Brock and Eliza Stubbs
- Siblings
- Alice Mary Stubbs Brock born 1854 Tetney Christopher George Brock born 1855 Tetney William Henry Brock born 1856 Tetney James John Brock born 1860 Tetney Joseph Thomas Brock born 1861, Tetney Lucy Ann Brock born 1863, Tetney Frederick Edward Brock born 1868, Tetney Charles Stubbs Brock born 1869
- Children
- George Robert Brock born 1878, Hull Lucy Ann Brock, born 1879 (?) William Edmond Brock born 1880, Hull John Henry Brock born 1882, Hull Frederick Edward Brock born 1883, Hull
- 1861c
- Living with family in Tetney, Lincolnshire George Brock, Head born 1830, Haxey Eliza Brock, Wife, born 1831 Cockerington Alice Mary Shelbs Brock, Daughter, born 1854 Tetney Christopher George Brock, Son, born 1855 Tetney William Henry Brock , Son, born 1856, Tetney James John Brock, Son, born 1860, Tetney James Brock, Servant, born 1845, Hull, Miller's Servant Occupation of father: Miller
- 1869
- Father dies
- 1869-70
- Family move to Hull.
- 1870
- Mother marries Joseph Waltham from Stickney, Lincolnshire in St. Mary's Church Hull
- 1871c
- Living in the parish of St. James, Hull Joseph Waltham Head, born 1846 Gurisly (sic), Lincolnshire Eliza Waltham Wife, born1831 Pocklington (sic), Lincolnshire Christopher Brock Son, born 1855, Tetney, Lincolnshire William H Brock , Son, born 1856 Tetney, Lincolnshire James Brock, Son, born 1859 Tetney Lincolnshire Joseph Brock, Son, born 1861 Tetney, Lincolnshire Ludy (sic) Brock, Daughter, born 1863 Tetney Lincolnshire Frederick Brock, Son, born 1868, Tetney, Lincolnshire Address: 17 Sidney Street, Sutton/Stoneferry Occupation of William: Warehouse Labourer
- 1877
- Marries Elizabeth Clegg in St James Church, Sutton William Henry Brock, aged 22, Batchelor, Labourer and Elizabeth Clegg Spinster were married after banns in the presence of Nathan Horsefield and Elizabeth Wood Fathers: George Brock, deceased and Robert Clegg, Labourer All signed their names
- 1881c
- Living in the parish of Sutton and Stoneferry William H. Brock Head, born 1856, Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, born 1858, Hull George R. Brock, son, born 1879, Hull William E. Brock born 1880, Hull Address: 6 Church Row, Sutton (The Groves) Occupation: Oil Mill Labourer
- 1891c
- Living in the parish of Sutton and Stoneferry William H. Brock, Head, born 1856, Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, born 1858, Hull George Brock, son, born 1879, Hull William E. Brock , son, born 1881, Hull John H. Brock son, born 1882, Hull Frederick E. Brock, son, born 1884, Hull Address: 8 New Buildings, Cheapside Occupation: General Labourer
- 1892-1894
- Electoral Registers: Living at 49 Spyvee Street, William Henry Brock
- 1893
- Kelly's Trade Directory, 1893 for Hull Listed under Shopkeepers Wm Henry Brock, 49 Spyvee Street, Hull
- 1895
- Transfers agreed to: Off Licences July 30th Beer, spirits, wine and sweet off licence, 73 Spyvee Street from Mary Hunter to William Henry Brock
- 1897+1899
- Electoral Registers: Living at 73 Spyvee Street William Henry Brock
- 1901c
- Living in Hull William H. Brock, Head, born 1856, Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, born 1858, Hull George R Brock, Son, born 1879, Hull William E. Brock , born 1881, Hull John H. Brock, son, born 1882, Hull Frederick E Brock, son, born 1884, Hull Robert Clegg, Widower, visitor, born 1825, ,widower, born Rochdale, Lancashire Address: 61 Dansom Lane Occupation: Shopkeeper (own account) The house had 4 rooms and William and Elizabeth had had 4 children , all still alive.
- 1901-1905
- Electoral Registers: Living at 73 Spyvee Street, William Henry Brock
- 1906
- Transfers agreed to: Off Licences April11th Dog & Duck, Wincomlee from William H. Brock to George Dunstan Transfers agreed to: Off Licences November 1st 134 Damson Lane from Fred Ramsey to William Henry Brock
- 1907
- Electoral Register: Living at 11 Balfour Street, William Henry Brock Transfers agreed to: Off licences September12th Beer Off - 134 Damson Lane, from William H. Brock to Frank Daubney
- 1908
- Electoral Register: Living at 136, Dansom Lane, William Henry Brock
- 1911c
- Living in Hull William H. Brock, Head, born 1856 Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, aged 53, born 1854, Hull John Henry Brock, aged 29, single, born Hull, Labourer at Reckitts Canister Works Robert Clegg, wife's father, aged 85, widower, born Rochdale, Lancashire, Pensioner Address: 61 Damson Lane Occupation: Shopkeeper (own account) The house had 4 rooms and William and Elizabeth had had 4 children, all still alive
- 1911-1914
- Electoral Registers Living at 61 Dansom Lane, William Henry Brock
- 1913
- Kelley's Trade Directory1913 for Hull William Henry Brock, Grocer, 61, Dansom Lane, Hull
- 1914
- Transfers agreed to: Off Licence September 14th 61 Dansom Lane, from William Henry Brock to J. Wood
- 1915
- Electoral Register: Living at 16 Studley Street, William Henry Brock
- 1920-1924
- Electoral Registers: Living at 139, James Reckitt Avenue, Garden Village, Hull William Henry Brock; Elizabeth Brock; John Henry Brock
- 1926
- Electoral Register: Living at 68 James Reckitt Avenue, William Henry Brock; Elizabeth Brock; John Henry Brock
- 1926
- Death of William aged 69 years
- 1927
- In Memoriam In loving memory of my dear husband, who passed away March 8th 1926. We hold you still in memory. From his loving wife and family. Hull Daily Mail, March 8th 1927
- 1928
- Death of Elizabeth aged 70 years 'Brock: 13th of April at the Hull Royal Infirmary, Elizabeth, widow of the late William Henry Brock, aged 70 years. Cortege leaves 68 James Reckitt Avenue, for service in the Garden Village Hall at 1.45pm, Tuesday. Internment Northern Cemetery. Reunited.' Hull Daily Mail April 16th 1928
In your grandmother’s words · from her notebook
Family
Parents
The children of George & Eliza
· · William Henry Brock b. 1856this page · · · · ·
The children of Joseph Waltham & Eliza
· · ·
Marriage
Children
Photographs
1 photograph is with the family — family sign-in
Life
Confirmed — anchored to a recordEstimated — inferred
1861
Census · 1861
1861
Living with family in Tetney, Lincolnshire George Brock, Head born 1830, Haxey Eliza Brock, Wife, born 1831 Cockerington Alice Mary Shelbs Brock, Daughter, born 1854 Tetney Christopher George Brock, Son, born 1855 Tetney William Henry Brock , Son, born 1856, Tetney James John Brock, Son, born 1860, Tetney James Brock, Servant, born 1845, Hull, Miller's Servant Occupation of father: Miller
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1869
In 1869
1869
Father dies— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1869
In 1869
1869
Family move to Hull.— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1870
In 1870
1870
Mother marries Joseph Waltham from Stickney, Lincolnshire in St. Mary's Church Hull— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1871
Census · 1871
1871
Living in the parish of St. James, Hull Joseph Waltham Head, born 1846 Gurisly (sic), Lincolnshire Eliza Waltham Wife, born1831 Pocklington (sic), Lincolnshire Christopher Brock Son, born 1855, Tetney, Lincolnshire William H Brock , Son, born 1856 Tetney, Lincolnshire James Brock, Son, born 1859 Tetney Lincolnshire Joseph Brock, Son, born 1861 Tetney, Lincolnshire Ludy (sic) Brock, Daughter, born 1863 Tetney Lincolnshire Frederick Brock, Son, born 1868, Tetney, Lincolnshire Address: 17 Sidney Street, Sutton/Stoneferry Occupation of William: Warehouse Labourer
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1877
Married Elizabeth Clegg
24 December 1877 at St James Church
No. 240. December 24th [1877]. William Henry Brock — 22 — bachelor — labourer — Stoneferry — father George Brook [Brock], deceased; Elizabeth Clegg — 19 — spinster — Stoneferry — father Robert Clegg, labourer. Married after banns. Witnesses Nathan Mansfield, Elizabeth Wood.— Marriage — St James', Sutton, 1877
Names William's late father over his living stepfather — strong evidence of his parentage — and shows the couple were literate.— Marriage — St James', Sutton, 1877
Read at the image record Evidence
Confirmed against the original record, read at the image:
- Marriage — St James', Sutton, 1877 — Marriage register of St James', Sutton on Hull, entry no. 240, page 120; East Riding Archives ref E-PE120-21. Read from the original register (findmypast image), 7 July 2026. Both parties of Stoneferry; married after banns; both signed their own names. read at the image
- Marriage — St James', Sutton, 1877 — William Henry Brock (22, bachelor, labourer) married Elizabeth Clegg after banns; his father recorded as "George Brock, deceased"; both parties signed their names. From Janet Brock's transcription. from Mum’s research
1881
Census · 1881
1881
Places William in Hull's seed-crushing quarter, working an oil mill, in 1881.— 1881 Census — The Groves, Hull
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research, cited — not yet re-verified at the image:
- 1881 Census — The Groves, Hull — 6 Church Row, The Groves, Sutton; William Henry Brock, oil-mill labourer. The Groves was one of Hull's seed-crushing districts on the east bank of the River Hull; the census records the trade but not the mill (see Our research). From Janet Brock's transcription. from Mum’s research
1891
Census · 1891
1891
Living in the parish of Sutton and Stoneferry William H. Brock, Head, born 1856, Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, born 1858, Hull George Brock, son, born 1879, Hull William E. Brock , son, born 1881, Hull John H. Brock son, born 1882, Hull Frederick E. Brock, son, born 1884, Hull Address: 8 New Buildings, Cheapside Occupation: General Labourer
— From Janet Brock’s research
The record image is with the family — family sign-in
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1891
Census · 1891
1891
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1892
In 1892
1892
Electoral Registers: Living at 49 Spyvee Street, William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1893
In 1893
1893
Kelly's Trade Directory, 1893 for Hull Listed under Shopkeepers Wm Henry Brock, 49 Spyvee Street, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1895
In 1895
1895
Transfers agreed to: Off Licences July 30th Beer, spirits, wine and sweet off licence, 73 Spyvee Street from Mary Hunter to William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1897
In 1897
1897
Electoral Registers: Living at 73 Spyvee Street William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1901
Census · 1901
1901
Living in Hull William H. Brock, Head, born 1856, Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, born 1858, Hull George R Brock, Son, born 1879, Hull William E. Brock , born 1881, Hull John H. Brock, son, born 1882, Hull Frederick E Brock, son, born 1884, Hull Robert Clegg, Widower, visitor, born 1825, ,widower, born Rochdale, Lancashire Address: 61 Dansom Lane Occupation: Shopkeeper (own account) The house had 4 rooms and William and Elizabeth had had 4 children , all still alive.
— From Janet Brock’s research
The record image is with the family — family sign-in
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1901
In 1901
1901
Electoral Registers: Living at 73 Spyvee Street, William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1901
Census · 1901
1901
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1906
In 1906
1906
Transfers agreed to: Off Licences April11th Dog & Duck, Wincomlee from William H. Brock to George Dunstan Transfers agreed to: Off Licences November 1st 134 Damson Lane from Fred Ramsey to William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1907
In 1907
1907
Electoral Register: Living at 11 Balfour Street, William Henry Brock Transfers agreed to: Off licences September12th Beer Off - 134 Damson Lane, from William H. Brock to Frank Daubney— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1908
In 1908
1908
Electoral Register: Living at 136, Dansom Lane, William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1911
Census · 1911
1911
Living in Hull William H. Brock, Head, born 1856 Tetney Elizabeth Brock, wife, aged 53, born 1854, Hull John Henry Brock, aged 29, single, born Hull, Labourer at Reckitts Canister Works Robert Clegg, wife's father, aged 85, widower, born Rochdale, Lancashire, Pensioner Address: 61 Damson Lane Occupation: Shopkeeper (own account) The house had 4 rooms and William and Elizabeth had had 4 children, all still alive
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1911
In 1911
1911
Electoral Registers Living at 61 Dansom Lane, William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1913
In 1913
1913
Kelley's Trade Directory1913 for Hull William Henry Brock, Grocer, 61, Dansom Lane, Hull— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1914
In 1914
1914
Transfers agreed to: Off Licence September 14th 61 Dansom Lane, from William Henry Brock to J. Wood— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1915
In 1915
1915
Electoral Register: Living at 16 Studley Street, William Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1920
In 1920
1920
Electoral Registers: Living at 139, James Reckitt Avenue, Garden Village, Hull William Henry Brock; Elizabeth Brock; John Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1926
In 1926
1926
Electoral Register: Living at 68 James Reckitt Avenue, William Henry Brock; Elizabeth Brock; John Henry Brock— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1926
In 1926
1926
Death of William aged 69 years— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1926
Died
19 March 1926 at Sculcoates
March 1926, Sculcoates, aged 69 years— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1927
In 1927
1927
In Memoriam In loving memory of my dear husband, who passed away March 8th 1926. We hold you still in memory. From his loving wife and family. Hull Daily Mail, March 8th 1927— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
1928
In 1928
1928
Death of Elizabeth aged 70 years 'Brock: 13th of
April at the Hull Royal Infirmary, Elizabeth, widow of the late William Henry Brock, aged 70 years. Cortege leaves 68 James Reckitt Avenue, for service in the Garden Village Hall at 1.45pm, Tuesday. Internment Northern Cemetery. Reunited.' Hull Daily Mail
April 16th 1928
— From Janet Brock’s research
Mum’s record Evidence
From Janet Brock’s research notebook.
Our research
Which oil mill did William Henry work at?
Open question · Hull's seed-crushing trade
The 1881 census records William as an oil-mill labourer at 6 Church Row in The Groves — but, like every census, it names the trade and not the employer. He lived inside Hull's seed-crushing quarter on the east bank of the River Hull, so the mill was almost certainly a short walk away.
Candidate mills (east bank, c. 1881)
- Groves Oil Mill, Lime Street — the front-runner: it carried the name of his own district and stood on one of its seed-crushing streets.
- Eagle Oil Mill, Eagle Terrace (off Cleveland Street).
- Stoneferry Oil Mills, Stoneferry — the district he had lived in in 1871.
- Lion Oil Mill and the Wincolmlee Oil & Cake Mill, across the water at Wincolmlee.
How to settle it
Place 6 Church Row on the Ordnance Survey town plan of the 1880s–90s — the National Library of Scotland's free georeferenced viewer labels the mills by name — and cross-check an 1881 Hull trade directory's "oil & seed crushers". (Context: Paul Gibson, "Oil seed crushing".)