William John Stacey was baptised on the September 13th 1836 in Heston, Hounslow, Middlesex. According the baptism record he was born on August 18th 1835 (His headstone says 1836).
He was the son of William Lyne Stacey and Ann Gibbs. William senior was a Grocer.
In 1851 William Lyne (William John's father) was living in Staines Road, Heston with his wife, 2 daughters and a servant boy. There is no sign of William John living with his parents, nor anywhere else in that census.
In 1861 however, William John was living back with his family. His occupation was a Clerk at the War Office. Interestingly his father seems to have changed his career by then and was a Collector of Taxes.
In 1871 William John was living at 13 Fawcett Street, Kensington with his Aunt and 2 sisters and a servant. He was described as a Clerk in the Civil Service.
William John married Florence Formby on April 22nd 1880 in St Peter's Church, South Kensington. On their marriage certificate it states that both their father's professions were Gentlemen.
In 1881 William was living with his new wife and 2 Servants at 48 Warwick Road, Kensington.
William Reginald Bartlett Stacey was born on 28th April 1881.
Florence Gwendolyn Stacey was born on 28th June 1881
Caroline Winifred Stacey was born in April 1884
Aylmer Geoffrey Stacey was born 18th November 1885
Hilda Mary Dorothy Stacey was born in 1889
In 1889 he was appointed Assistant Director of Contracts at the War Office.
The Director of Army Contracts was responsible for fixing prices for contracts for munitions and all other army supplies, espicially during times of conflict.
At that time Britain was involved in the Mahdist War in Sudan along with Egypt, Italy and Holland. That conflict resulted in Britain and Egypt taking control and ruling Sudan.
In 1891 William was living at 19 Westgate Terrace, Kensington with his wife and children William aged 9, Florence aged 8, Caroline aged 6, Aylmer aged 5 and Hilda aged 1. His sister Ellen was also living with them. They had 3 servants.
William had 2 more children, Enid Gladys, born in 1892 and Brian John, born in 1894. At the time of both of their births the family was still living in Westgate Terrace and William was still the Assisitant Director of Army Contracts.
William died on the 1st May 1899 at Norbury Downview Road, Worthing. His effects left to his widow Florence were £2077 19s 6d.
William's widow Florence hailed from Kent. In 1901 she was still living in the same house in Worthing, but she died in 1909 in Kent. She left £1231 7s 1d. Her executers were her 2 daughters Florence and Caroline.
William John Stacey only had sisters, not brothers. All 3 of his sons died young. Nobody was left to carry on the name. In fact William and Florence's only grandchildren, whom they did not live to see, came from his youngest daughter, Lady Enid Macdonald.
In 1911 William's daughters Florence, Caroline, Hilda and Enid were living with 2 servants at Fairview, London Road, Tonbridge, Lent.
William's children had mixed fates
William Reginald Bartlett Stacey was a Leuitenent in the Army Serving in the Punjab in India in 1903. He died on the 30th March 1913. He was 31 years old. There is nothing to suggest that he died whilst in the Army. He left £218 12s 5d to his sister Florence.
Florence Gwendolen married Edward Cardell in 1911. Edward was a Surgeon. They appear to have had no children. In 1939 they were living in Tiverton, Devon with a Cook. Florence died in 1963 in Eastbourne.
Caroline Winifred died in 1952 in Tiverton, Devon. She never married.
Aylmer Geoffrey joined the Navy and became a Captain. He died of Heart Failure aged 29 in 1915 and is buried in the Aswan British Cemetery in Suez, Tel El Kebir, Mersa Matruh. He left effects of £1768 17s.
Hilda Mary Dorothy died in 1961 in Worthing. She never married.
Enid Gladys married Kenneth Mackenzie Macdonald in in Rangoon, India in 1922. Kenneth was a banker. They had 3 children Kenneth, Margaret and Enid. In 1939 the family were living in Winslow, Buckinghamshire. Enid had now been given the title of Lady. Lady Enid Gladys Macdonald died in Banffshire, Scotland in 1963.
Brian John was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery. He died of Wounds in France in 1917 aged 23. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery in France. He left effects of £4255 13s 7d also to his sister Florence and her husband Edward. (see miscellaneous below)