Frederick Wills obelisk Key Hill Cemetery

[pollypops]

This tall Obelisk (plot K710) in Key Hill Cemetery is in memory of Frederick Wills (solicitor) and his wife Melissa Tertius Wills. Frederick died on 31st December 1874 and was buried in K820 however he was moved to K710 in 1879 - the year his wife died - presumably so they could be buried together??? As his wife has an unusual second name I wondered if anyone could tell us anything about her - I am told that Tertius is Latin for three and interestingly the memorial inscription is all in Roman numerals.
Any information found on Frederick or Melissa will be put in the Key Hill folder. Thank you.

 

[ladylinda]

Deaths Mar 1891
Melissa Tertius Wills aged 64 Solihull 6d 395

Marriages Dec 1860
Melissa Tertius Challener Daventry 3b 235
Frederick Wills Daventry 3b 235

Melissa Tertius Wills of Bentley Heath,Knowle,widow,died 4th January 1891.
Probate London 2nd January 1892 to John Edmonds,secretary to Birmingham General Cemetery Company,Edwin Jaques,gentleman and Thomas Chamberlain,miller.
Effects £3164 0s 3d.Resworn May 1892 £3246 6s 3d

 

[bewdley]

1841 census RG number:	HO107
Piece:	1145
Book/Folio:	1/18
Page:	28
Reg. District:	Birmingham
Sub District:	St Peter
Parish:	Birmingham
Enum. District:
Ecclesiastical District:
City/Municipal Borough:	Birmingham
Address:	High Street, Birmingham
County:	Warwickshire

Name	Relation	Sex	Age	Birth Year	Occupation	Where Born
JENKINS, Melissa		F	50	1791		Warwickshire
CHALLENER, Edward		M	30	1811		Warwickshire
CHALLENER, Melissa A		F	30	1811		Warwickshire
CHALLENER, M T		F	14	1827		Warwickshire
CHALLENER, A A		F	7	1834
CHALLENER, A		F	4	1837		Warwickshire

1851 Census Melissa was living with Grandmother Melissa Jenkins at Suffolk Street, Birmingham

1861 census shows her to be born in Birmingham in 1827 - 33 years younger than Frederick – address 22 Temple Row, Birmingham
1881 census shows her to be a Solicitors widow living at Dorridge Road, Solihull,

 

[ladylinda]

Frederick's will was proved by Melissa Tertius Wills,the relict of the marriage,living at The Dell,Dorridge Rd,Knowle,in 1875.
He left effects of less than £3000.

Melissa was the daughter of Edward (occ clerk )and Melissa Challener and she had at least 1 sister,Anne.
In 1841 they are living with Melissa Jenkins,(Edward's mother-in-law) on High Street,City Centre.
Before her marriage to Frederick,Melissa was a dressmaker.
1851 sees her and Anne living with her grandmother Melissa Jenkins,at 48 Suffolk Street.
Her parents,Edward and Melissa died in 1841 and 1847,respectively.

possible marriage for Melissa's parents

marriage date:09 May 1825
marriage place:Saint Martin,Birmingham,Warwick,England
groom's name:Edward Challenor
bride's name:Melissa Probin

Frederick Wills was the son of William and Eleanor Wills and he was born 10th July 1793 and christened at St Pauls 28th February 1797.
From 1851 to his death,his address was 22 Temple Row.
He appears to have married very late in life, to a lady half his age!

 

[mikejee]

Mostly From directories:

Not listed 1823

1829-29 Wills Frederick, solicitor. 22 Temple Row
In 1826 he is listed in the Morning Chronicle as one of the solicitors to contact over a Deritend bankructcy
1841 Wills & Oliver , solicitors, 21 Temple Row
1845-49 Wills Frederick & Oliver Edward, solicitors, 22 Temple row
(In 1845 & 1848 Frederick is living at. Sellywick, Northfield )
1858-68 Wills Frederick solicitor 22 Temple Row (business & home address)
1872 Wills Frederick solicitor & commissioner in all courts, 22 Temple Row (business & home address)
1873 Wills Frederick solicitor, 22 Temple Row; home: Knowle

In 1845 he is on the Committee to oversee the the construction of the Birmingham & Worcester Railway
Note In earlier directories he is described as an attorney & solicitor, rather than just solicitor, but I have listed all as a solicitor

 

[Key Hill Brian]

Great Info - as usual.

Where on earth does Tertuis come from as a middle name - Latin for 3rd?
Has she 2 elder siblings - Primus & Secundus ?

Brian

 

[ladylinda]

Perhaps she was 3rd in the female line to use the name?
Her mother and grandmother were Melissa's!

 

[Key Hill Brian]

Good thinking - much better than the American trend Melissa the third!
hadn't considered that at all!

Brian

 

[pollypops]

Brilliant information - thank you everyone. Frederick certainly spent many years in Temple Row. Ladylinda that does sound like a possible explanation for the unusual name of Tertius and as you say here was a big age difference between Frederick and Melissa - 34 years!

I have found a newspaper advert dated Dec 1891 for the sale of a collection of ancient and modern pictures that belonged to the late Melissa Tertius Wills of The Dell, Knowle, Warwickshire Relict of the late Frederick Wills Esq.