William appears on the Dorking South Street Memorial as William Hankinson, the name his mother took when she married in 1895.
Thank you to Lenka Cathersides and Patricia Brazier for the following research.
William Charles Stagg was born on the 16th of April 1891 in the City of London to servant and pauper Martha Elizabeth Stagg. His father is unknown.
William’s mother Martha was born on the 10th of January 1866 in the City of London to charwoman Martha, born about 1832 in Suffolk and lighterman Henry. Martha was baptised on the 7th of July 1872 at St Andrews-by-the-Wardrobe church, London.
William had two brothers and a sister by unknown fathers: Alfred Dorman born in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in the City of London, Emily Elizabeth born in the 4th quarter of 1888 in Hackney, London and Arthur David born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in the City of London.
At the time of the 1891 Census, William’s mother Martha lived with her son Alfred and her mother, charwoman, Martha in the City of London.
London, England, Workhouse Admission and Discharge Records read that Martha and her children Elizabeth and Arthur were admitted on the 30th of March 1893 into the Homerton Workhouse, City of London. Martha’s son William was admitted on the 6th of April 1893. At the time of their admission Martha, Elizabeth and Arthur lived at 2 Green Dragon Lane, London and William at 27 Thomas Street, Woolwich. Martha was single and was working as a servant. Martha, her sons Arthur and William were discharged on the 25th May 1893. They were transferred into The Infirmary, Bow Road, City of London. Elizabeth was discharged on the 27th of April 1893 and sent to the Hanwell School for Orphans and Destitute Children.
(Charlie Chaplin resided there during 1896-98 http://www.workhouses.org.uk/CentralLondonSD/)
At the time of their admission to The Infirmary in 1893, Martha was working as a servant and the family resided at the Homerton Workhouse, City of London. Martha and William were discharged on the 11th of May 1894. She was sent into the Homerton Workhouse and William to a school. Arthur was discharged on the 25th of October 1894 and transferred into the Homerton Workhouse. They left here on the 22nd August 1894 and went back to Infirmary on Bow Road. From 7th September 1894 to 21st March 1895, Martha was back in the Homerton Workhouse. William had been living at Hanwell School.
Martha married John Charles Hankinson, by Banns, on the 23th of November 1895 at Christ Church, Southwark. At the time of their marriage the couple lived at 78 Ponsomby Buildings in Southwark. John, born in 1867, was working as a painter. Lillie born in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in Southwark, London. The couple had five more children.
- John Joseph Hankinson born in the 4th quarter of 1897 in Southwark, London
- Charles Henry Hankinson born in the 2nd quarter of 1900 in Southwark, London
- Amelia Emily Hankinson born in the 4th quarter of 1902 in Dorking, Surrey
- Ethel Elizabeth Hankinson born in the 3rd quarter of 1904 in Dorking, Surrey
- Violet Rose Hankinson born in the 1st quarter of 1906 in Dorking, Surrey.
At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at Block B, 4&5 Peabody Square, Blackfriars Road, Southwark. John was working as a stationer’s warehouseman and Martha was looking after their children: Lillie, John and Charles. The household further comprised of Martha’s children from before the marriage: William and Arthur.
At the time of the 1911 Census, the family lived at 2 Mint Gardens near Church Street, in Dorking. John was working as a painter and decorator and Martha was at home. Of their children: Lillie was working as a day girl, John and Charles were news boys and Amelia, Ethel and Violet were at school. The household further comprised of Martha’s son, dyers assistant Arthur. Martha stated that she had given birth to six children during her present marriage. The accommodation had five rooms.
On the 6th of May 1912 Charles Stagg arrived on SS Ultania from Southampton, England to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. At this time he was working as a baker.
William Charles Stagg enlisted on the 16th of September 1915 at Moosomin, Canada into the ´A´ Company, the 28th Battalion (Saskatchewan Regiment), of the Canadian Infantry. He was a Private with regimental number 104902.
At the time of his enlistment he was a farmer. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. He was a member of the Church of England. His next of kin was his mother Mrs Hankinson of (2 Mint Gardens) Church Street, Dorking.
William Charles Stagg was killed in an action on the 30th of July 1917 in France.
He is burried at the Fosse No 10 Communal Cemetery Extension, Sains-en-Gohelle, France. His grave registration number is: II.A.27. William Charles’ mother Martha Elizabeth Hankinson of 2 Mint Gardens, near Church Street, Dorking had on his headstone engraved: “His Soul at Home With God“.
Martha Elizabeth Hankinson died in 1926. She was burried on the 15th of July 1926 at the Dorking Municipal Cemetery.
| Born | Southwark, London | |
| Lived | Saskatchewan, Canada | |
| Son of | Martha Elizabeth Hankinson (nee Stagg) of 2 Mint Gardens, Dorking | |
| Regiment | “A” Company. 28th Battalion Canadian Infantry. | |
| Number | 10490 | |
| Date of Death | 30th July 1917 | |
| Place of Death | France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 26 | |
| Cemetery | Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery Extension. Sain-En-Gohelle, France |
