William Gilson Humphry was born on 30 January 1815 in Sudbury, Suffolk, the eldest of the six children of William Wood Humphry (1787-1865) and Betsy Ann Humphry née Gilson (1790-1862). He was baptised on 6 February 1815 in St Gregory's Church, Sudbury, Suffolk. His father was a barrister-at-law and his siblings were: Joseph Thomas Humphry (1816-1887), George Murray Humphry (1820-1896), twins Henry Humphry (1823-1842), Alfred Humphry (1823-1845) and Sophia Ann Gilson Humphry (1828-1868).
In addition to his that gives much information about this man we also know that he obtained his Master of Arts (MA) in 1840 and his Bachelor of Divinity (BD) in 1850.
He is shown on his entry on the 1851 census as 'B.D., Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge and Chaplain to the Bishop of London'. He and his brother, Joseph Thomas Humphry who was described as a barrister in practice, were lodging at 13 Arlington Street, Westminster, the home of a Stephen Collins, who was an usher at Marlborough Street Police Court, and Mrs Margaret Collins, their daughter Adelaide Collins, together with two female domestic servants.
On 21 October 1852 he married Caroline Maria D'Oyly (1826-1890) at the Parish Church of St George, Hanover Square, Middlesex where in the marriage register he is described as a bachelor and a clerk living in Arlington Street and his wife as a spinster residing in Upper Chelsea, Middlesex, the daughter of George D'Oyly (1778-1846), a clerk & DD.
The 1861 census shows him as the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields residing at 6 St Martins Place, Westminster, with his wife, their four daughters: Alice Mary Humphry (1854-1942), Mary Caroline Humphry (1855-1931) Ellen Frederica Humphry (1857-1934) and Grace Humphry (1860-1861), together with a man servant, a cook, a housemaid, a nurse and a nursemaid.
He was still described as the Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields in the 1871 census living at 6 St Martins Place, Charing Cross, with his wife, their three surviving daughters, together with a butler, a page, a cook, a lady's maid and two housemaids. He was similarly described in the 1881 census and was still residing at 6 St Martins Place, with his wife, two of their daughters, Alice and Ellen, together with a butler, a page, a cook, a lady's maid, a housemaid and an under-housemaid.
He died, aged 70 years, on 10 January 1886 at 6 St Martins Place, Charing Cross, London and was on 14 January 1886 in Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road, London, SW10 9UG.
Probate records show that his will with a codicil was proved on 25 February 1886 by his widow and his brother Joseph Thomas Humphry of 4 New Square, Lincolns Inn. His personal estate was registered as £45,722-18s-2d. However, it would appear that they left it unadministered and on 14 June 1890 administration was granted to his daughter Alice Mary Humphry of 17 Rutland Gate, South Kensington, who was one of the residuary legatees. His personal estate was now registered as £44,267-19s-5d.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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