THE WILLMORES of SHEFFIELD - James Willmore(1876 - 1965) and Thirza Hemsworth(1879

THIRZA was born in 1879 in Sheffield and was the eldest child of ALONZO and MARY HEMSWORTH. Thirza married a JAMES HERBERT WILLMORE in the December quarter of 1900 (GRO Ecclesall Brierlow Volume 9C Page 669). At the time of the marriage JAMES was 23 years old and was employed as a Silversmith, the same profession as his father also called JAMES

Dwelling: 131 Broadfield Park Road Census Place: Ecclesall Brierlow, York, England

SURNAME	FORENAME	Age	Status	Rel	Occupation	Place of Birth	County of Birth
WILLMORE	James	38	Married	Head		Birmingham	Warwick
WILLMORE	Eliza	39	Married	Wife		Wrexham	Denbigh, Wales
WILLMORE	Elizabeth	12		Dau	Scholar	Birmingham	Warwick
WILLMORE	Jane	6		Dau	Scholar	Sheffield	Yorkshire
WILLMORE	James	5		Son		Sheffield	Yorkshire
WILLMORE	Frank	3		Son		Sheffield	Yorkshire

James and Eliza must have started their married life in Birmingham - their eldest daughter Elizabeth was born in the city circa 1869, and moved to Sheffield sometime between 1870 - 1875. The name Broadfield Park Road no longer exists and is now known as Broadfield Road. A 1903 map of the area still shows Broadfield Park Road. But it is only half it's present length, comprising the section from London Road southward to a wide bend in the River Sheaf. Later the river was was diverted to the current channel and the road was joined right through to link up to Abbeydale Road. So far I can find no further details of the family after this date. James and Eliza do not appear on the 1901 Census

After JAMES and THIRZA were married they lived at 31 Harefield Road which is a road that leads off Ecclesall Road South in Sheffield. They had two children James Herbert ("Bimmy") who was born in the December quarter of 1901 (GRO ref volume 9c page 458) and Phyllis. Both children married. James to Annie (surname not known) and Phyllis to Reverend Norman Collinge

THIRZA died at the relatively young age of 52 on September 16th 1932. Her husband JAMES lived for another 33 years to the ripe old age of 89 dying on 5th October 1965. The notice of his death that appeared in the Sheffield Star dated 7th October states that a service was going to be held at Heeley St Peters Mission Church, Fitroy Road on Saturday 9th October followed by interment at Abbey Lane Cemetery. His address was given as 16 Norton Lees Lane, Sheffield. My mother does seem to recall that James was an active member of the church for many years. His will shows that he made a bequest to Heeley St Peters Mission Church of £25.00

The couple are buried together in Abbey Lane Cemetery Sheffield. THIRZA has a rather curious epitaph "She has done what she could" which seems to infer that she may have had some form of disability or impairment but that is conjecture on my part

The 1972 edition of Kelly's Directory for Sheffield shows a CONSTANCE WILLMORE living at the address of 16 Norton Lees Lane. I can only assume that she is the granddaughter of James and Thirza