George Houghton Sallis

George Houghton Sallis was born 29 November 1876, in the parish of Feltwell, Norfolk. His obituary describes him as "a native of the Fen Country, for which he had a great love". Feltwell is just to the east of the parish of Littleport, Cambridgeshire. The Sallis family had lived in Littleport since at least the mid-1600s.

George's father, Little Elihu Sallis, is listed as a groom on George's birth certificate. His mother, Janet Maria Houghton, was born in Ely to a family from the village of Wicken. George was named after his maternal grandfather, George Houghton, who was a shoemaker.

George's parents were married in St. George's Church, Littleport, in 1872. George was the third of ten children born to Little and Janet. He had one brother and eight sisters: Elizabeth, born 1874; Agnes, born 1875; Eliza, born 1879; Janet, born 1881; Barbara, born 1883; Ursula, born 1885; Horace, born 1889; Georgina, born 1890; and Hilda, born 1894.

In 1878 George's family were living in Cockthorpe, a village on the Norfolk coast. George is not listed on the 1881 census as living with his family in Littleport; his sister Janet had just been born three weeks previously and it is possible that he had been sent to stay with his maternal grandparents in Ely; this, however, has not been verified since some of the census records for Ely are missing. In 1883 the family is living in Ely, and in 1885 in the village of Haddenham, about five miles south-west of Ely.

On the 1891 census George is listed as living with his parents and eight siblings in Ely on Walpole Lane; this was just to the west of Ely Cathedral on the grounds of the Cambridgeshire Militia (since 1881 4th Battalion The Suffolk Regiment). George, then aged 14, is listed as a militia drummer.

At some point before 1894 George's family moved to the village of Wilburton about five miles south-west of Ely; his grandaughter Julie still owns a Bible which is inscribed "G.H. Sallis, Wilburton" on the front flyleaf. George's youngest sister Hilda was born at Wilburton in 1894, and his sister Agnes married there in 1895. In the 1901 census, George's parents and three of their children (Horace, Georgina, and Hilda) are listed as living at West End, Wilburton; George's father is described as a coachman and gardener. George's sister Barbara was also living at Wilburton in 1901; she worked as a housemaid in the vicarage.

George's obituary records that "while a youth, he went to live at Hastings". His eldest sister Elizabeth had moved to the neighbouring town of Saint-Leonards-on-sea, where she was a housemaid to the widow of a barrister. In 1901, when George is 24 years old, he is listed on the census as living at White Rock House, St. Margaret's Road, Hastings (about two blocks up from Hastings Pier). He was groom to Louisa Darell-Brown, a 69 year-old lady who was the wife of the art collector Henry Darell-Brown. Also living in the house were a cook, a footman, and a housemaid. Some years ago the house was demolished and a modern apartment building with the same name erected in its place.

In 1902 a major change occurred in George's life. His maternal grandfather, George Houghton, had died in December 1901, and it is possible that George was left a small legacy. Since George Houghton died intestate, it has not been possible to verify this. What is known is that somehow his grandson George had enough money to move to Tunbridge Wells and to set up a business as a newsagent at 16 St. John's Road.

On 7 September 1902, in Emmanuel Church, Hastings, George married Annie Marchant. Annie was one of the four children (two boys and two girls) of Eli Marchant, a wine merchant cellarman, and his wife Elizabeth. The Marchants were originally from Hawkhurst, Kent, but Eli and his family had moved to Hastings in the 1870s. Annie was born 15 August 1879, but her mother Elizabeth died only three months later. Annie was adopted by her uncle John Marchant and his wife Jane who lived in Hawkhurst. In the 1880s Annie moved with her adoptive parents and their son Harry from Hawkhurst to Hastings where Annie's adoptive father worked as a greengrocer. They lived on Manor Road, and later on Emmanuel Road just a few blocks north of Emmanuel Church. Since this is on the other side of Hastings from White Rock House where George Houghton Sallis lived, it is unclear how George and Annie met.

Emmanuel Church, Hastings

George and Annie settled down to married life in Tunbridge Wells. Their home was at the back of the newsagent business at 16 St. John's Road. The business grew, with George soon becoming the wholesale agent and distributor for the London morning and evening newspapers: The Times, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Daily Herald, The News Chronicle, The Evening Standard, The Star, The Evening News, The Sunday Pictorial. The family grew as well: on 12 March, 1905, a daughter, Edna Houghton Sallis, was born; a second daughter, Hilda Houghton Sallis (called Chump) was born early in 1911.

Edna and Chump, 1912

Just as George and Annie's family was increasing, his parents and eight sisters were embarking upon a new adventure. Between October 1909 and May 1911 they emigrated to Canada. (For more information see here.) George and his younger brother Horace were the only members of the family to remain in England, although his eldest sister Elizabeth eventually returned home.

In World War I George served with the rank of Air Mechanic 2nd Class in the 54 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. This squadron was formed in May 1916 and posted to France in December 1916. It was the first British unit to be equipped with the new Sopwirth Pup aircraft. While George was in France his wife Annie carried on the newsagent business.

George at the Tunbridge Wells Railway Station

At a certain point the newsagent shop moved from 16 St. John's Road to a more central location in Tunbridge Wells, 5 Calverley Road. In 1926 George's elder daughter Edna married Sydney Edward Prior. Sydney joined the newsagent business and helped George to expand it so that he became the sole distributor of the London newspapers in Tunbridge Wells and district. Later George and Annie moved their home to 56 Dudley Road, and finally to 40 Dudley Road.

George with his son-in-law Sydney Prior (left) Grove Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells

George's obituary goes into some detail about his leisure pursuits:

Mr. Sallis was a very well-known figure in the town, and was interested in all forms of sport. He was a member of the Monson Swimming Club, to which he presented the "Sallis" Cup for competition among the junior members. He was particularly interested in physical culture, and at one time conducted physical culture classes at the Byng Hall. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Druids.

On 24 June 1938, at the age of 61, George died at Lansdowne Nursing Home. He was buried in the Kent and Sussex Cemetery, a short way to the left of the entrance. Today his grave is mostly covered by a large cypress tree. George's wife Annie survived him for over twenty years; she died 15 March 1960.

George's widow Annie (in the hat) with her two daughters, her sons-in-law, and her four grandchildren. Bexhill, Summer 1945