William Short was a prominent businessman, property owner and Methodist in the village throughout the latter part of the 20thC before retiring to Southwold in 1902.
William was born in the summer of 1843 in Rumburgh, Suffolk to William, also born in Rumburgh and Esther, nee Baldry. In 1851 William Sr was a farmer of 165 acres in Edwards Lane in the village, employing three farm labourers. By 1861 William Jr, at 17, was a draper’s assistant in the High Street in Manningtree in Essex.
By 1871 William had moved to Yoxford and was living in the High Street with his half-sister, Mary Baldry, and employed as a grocer and draper with an apprentice born in Durham and an 18-year old domestic servant. It seems Mary was involved in the business as in subsequent censuses she is listed as a retired grocer and draper.
In 1878 William married widow Mary Ann Smyth. She had been married to Arthur William Smyth 3rd December 1872 but he died at the age of only 26 four years later in Gissing, Norfolk, Mary Ann’s birthplace. He was a Surgeon, Dentist and Chemist in Yoxford according to 1874 White’s Directory and Secretary to the Mechanics’ Institute. He and Mary Ann had three children together. (Arthur was born in 1850 in Aldeburgh, the son of builder James, born in Leiston, who by 1871 was employing 30 men in Aldeburgh. Arthur was then a Chemist and Druggist in the town.)
In 1881 William and Mary Ann were at Suffolk House, which William had named. He was by now a master grocer and draper, employing two grocer assistants, Charlotte Reeve and Emma Roper and two draper assistants, Harry Spooner and Frank Cater. Living with the family was Mary Ann’s 7-year old son Sydney Smith. A general domestic servant was employed, 18-year old Amelia Ablitt. The family were also at Suffolk House in 1891. It was a small business in the sense that William had no horse, only a boy with a handcart so trade was confined to the village. The original shop was the west end only, with a higher parapet. He was a very successful businessman here and sold the goodwill for twice the price he paid for it.
In 1901 William and Mary Ann were living in the High Street, next door to baker Robert Fisher. William was by now retired and employing a male certificated sick nurse, 24-year old James Turner. Daughter Mabel was 18 and the family had one female servant, 15-year old Evelyn Self, born in Peasenhall.
William owned several properties around the village at various times, including Spaldings, Haven House (then three cottages), Rosslyn House, Wisbech Cottage, Hope House and White House. These were often bought and sold in a short time, to make a profit of between £50 and £100.
By 1911 the family had moved to Southwold and were living at 6 Seacombe House. Mabel was still with them, unmarried. Also with them was Mary Ann’s younger sister, Emma Flogdell, aged 57 and a lodging-house keeper. The family employed a 16-year old servant, born in Rumburgh.
William died 5th February 1924 in Ipswich Asylum aged 80. The cause of death is not known. The funeral took place at Yoxford Cemetery on 9th. An extensive obituary appeared in the Halesworth Times and East Suffolk Advertiser of Wednesday 13th February. This stated that he had been the leader of Wesleyan Methodism in the Yoxford Circuit. ‘At one time he had been responsible for six renovation schemes, in addition to the completion of what to him had been a vision of love for years, the erection of a handsome new chapel at Yoxford’. The opening services took place in 1887 and a meeting was held in a large marquee in the grounds of Grove Cottage, William’s residence.
A memorial tablet stone was laid by William in August of 1888 on the front wall of the Chapel.
The building was Grade II listed in 1990 and became a private residence. The listing states that the builder was Smyth of Aldeburgh, so presumably Mary Short’s former father-in-law.
A successful businessman, he ‘consecrated his money to the services of his church, in which he held many appointments, such as class leader, circuit steward, Sunday School Superintendent, representative to conference, etc’. He was also a County Councillor, and a member of both the District Council and the School Board. The first part of the funeral took place in the Wesleyan Church, the remaining part in the cemetery, with many mourners. These included representatives of the village tradesmen, Messrs A Bendall, R Dalby, H Howard and R Day. Mr William Busby, Head Teacher, represented the School Managers, Mr H Edwards and Mr Goddard represented the Chapel trustees.
William left effects of over £4694 to Mary Ann and her son Sydney Arthur Smyth, an accountant in the drapery trade.
Mary Ann is listed on the 1939 Register in Southwold with her son and daughter-in-law. William Wallace Short was unoccupied but a Special Constable, Nellie Mary was a machinist and finisher in a hose factory and in the Womens’ Auxiliary. Mary Ann died in Southwold 7th December 1940.