William George Cole - Romsey, Hampshire

By william hartley March 20, 2014 at 10:35:50

Looking to find any information about a William George Cole who was born & lived in Romsey, Hampshire. I have collected the 1991 & 1901 Census listings for his family.... (1891 & also the 1881 Census when he was 6; father William Cole, mother Alice Bailey). The 1901 Census lists him as "Master & Painter". He was married in 1894 to Lilian Mary E Hunter, they had at least 5 children. Found that he died in Romsey in 1940, age 65. His son, Percy Edwin died in 1915 in WW1.

I would like to know more about William George Cole's painting & career. At a local auction I recently bought a small watercolour of Dartmoor, Devon which is signed W.G. Cole and wonder if this man in Romsey might be the artist.

Would be interesting to know if he had any reknown in Romsey as a painter being as he was born there & appears to have lived his whole life there?? Would any of his paintings actually be in Romsey (museum or somewhere)?? The signature on my painting is somewhat unique as it appears as if the W G are outlined and then the O in the last name Cole is inside the C.... the uniqueness of this signature alone would probably help prove whether my W.G. Cole is the same man as William George Cole if any of the latter's paintings still exist....

Any information greatly appreciated - THANKS


1911 UK Census Index -

COLE WILLIAM GEORGE M 1874 37 Romsey Hampshire

Also in Romsey -

COLE PERCY EDWIN M 1895 16 Romsey Hampshire
COLE ANNIE FLORENCE MAY F 1906 5 Romsey Hampshire
COLE BERTRAM GEORGE M 1895 16 Romsey Hampshire
COLE ERNEST WILLIAM M 1909 2 Romsey Hampshire
COLE ETHEL GILIAN F 1903 8 Romsey Hampshire
COLE LILIAN MARY ELLEN F 1873 38 Romsey Hampshire
COLE WILLIAM GEORGE M 1874 37 Romsey Hampshire

Marriages December Quarter 1894
Cole William George Romsey Volume 2c Page 170
Hunter Lilian Mary E Romsey Volume 2c Page 170

1901 UK Census -

William G Cole 27 Hants Romsey Of Hampshire Romsey Infra Master And Painter.... (listing below from the IGI)

William G Cole Head 1874 Romsey, Hampshire Romsey Intra, Hampshire, England
Lilian M E Cole Wife 1874 Romsey Woodley, Hampshire Romsey Intra, Hampshire, England
Bertram G Cole Son 1896 Romsey, Hampshire Romsey Intra, Hampshire, England
Percy E Cole Son 1897 Romsey, Hampshire Romsey Intra, Hampshire, England

No replies.