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     Neiles Boynton Billany, Christened 16th May 1826, Holy Trinity,  Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire, England the second son of George Billany  and his wife Sarah Smith formerly known as  (Gravaline), daughter of Jonas Gravaline. 

(source  Batch #: C107481, Sheet #: , Source Call #: 0990828-30, 0919483).

     On the 25 April 1839, Sarah, the widowed mother of Neiles Boynton Billany, indentured him to a seven year apprenticeship with Thomas Humphrey a Shipbuilder of Wilberforce St,  Kingston-upon-Hull, England, as an Apprentice shipwright and carpenter.

Above entry from the Hull Directory of 1840 by William Wright

He was to be paid as follows:

Two shillings per week for the first year.

Two shillings and sixpence per week for the second year.

Three shillings per week for the third year.

Three shillings and sixpence per week for the fourth year.

Four shillings per week for the fifth year.

Five shillings per week for the sixth year.

Seven shillings per week for the seventh year.

The document was signed:

At the UK Census of 1841 Both Neiles and his brother George  were shown working for Thomas Humphrey a Shipbuilder of Wilberforce St,  Kingston-upon-Hull, England, as an Apprentice shipwright and carpenter.  Mother Sarah was not about at this time and father George had died in 1831.

(Source Data UK Census 1841 HO107/2131/2/29

     He married Charlotte Ann Morfitt Cleveland on  5th May 1846 at Holy Trinity, Hull.  She was probably the daughter of Jonas & Elizabeth Cleveland born 1828 and baptised 23rd October 1828 at Holy Trinity, Hull, Yorkshire, England.

  Neiles Boynton Billany became a Freeman of Hull in 1847.   This gave him a great thirst for politics.  Freemen had certain advantages. 

(Source Data courtesy of The Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull)

At the UK Census of 1861 the family are shown thus: residing at Cumberland St, Hull, Yorkshire

 (Source UK Census 1861 RG9/3582/F63)

     This couple probably had at least the following six children between 1847 and 1865.  

At the UK Census of 1871 are shown thus: residing at Botanic Terrace, Hull Yorkshire.

(Source  UK Census RG10/4795/F)

At the UK Census of 1881 Neiles and Charlotte are shown thus: residing at Botanic Terrace, Hull Yorkshire.

(Source  UK Census RG10/4795/F)

(Source  1881 UK Census RG11/4753/F)

First Child.   Emily Billany Christened 18th July 1847 at Holy Trinity, Hull, England.    She married Theodore Ludwig, born 1844), the son of Henry Ludwig, a doctor of medicine on 26th September 1869 at Holy Trinity, Hull.  At the time of her wedding, Emily was residing at No 3 Botanic Terrace, Staniforth Place, Hessle Road, Hull, England.   Neiles Boynton Billany was a witness to this service.

(Source Batch #: C107482, Sheet #: , Source Call #: 0990833-5)

Second Child.   Frederick Billany born 1850, Hull, England, married Elizabeth Ann Chester at Hull in 1872.  (Ref Hull 9d 408).   They were probably the parents of two sons. 

Frederick Billany died in 1880, Hull aged 30.

Third Child.   Rusling Billany born 1855 at Poplar, Middlesex.  

On the 18th October 1869, Rusling Billany,  probably the third child of Neiles and Charlotte of 3 Botanic Terrace, Stainforth Place, Hessle Road, Hull,  signed a Deed of Indenture with James Humphrys and Frank Henry Pearson of Hull, engineers and shipbuilders, for a term of seven years, as: Apprentice engineer.  He was to be paid as follows:

Four shillings per week for the first year.

Five shillings per week for the second year.

Six shillings per week for the third year.

Seven shillings per week for the fourth year.

Eight shillings per week for the fifth year.

Nine shillings per week for the sixth year.

Ten shillings per week for the seventh year.

The document was signed:

He emigrated to the USA in 1876 when he was 21 years old.   He married and had one known child - Rusling Billany.   

Rusling Billany senior died in 1882 aged 27.  Six years after emigrating to the USA.  Extract from San Francisco Call Newspaper Vital Records for 1869-1895

Billany, Rusling... died in 1882 ... age 27 ...1882D-290

Fourth Child.   Charlotte Ann Morpheus Cleveland Billany born 1857, Hull.    Charlotte died in 1859 aged two years.

(Source Hull Cemetery Dept)

Fifth Child.   Zillah Smith Billany born Hull, Yorkshire, England,  29th May 1859.  (Profile)

     At the Census of 1901 Zillah is found to be residing at 12 Grove Villas, Grovehill, Beverley, East Yorkshire with her husband, son and widowed mother Charlotte.

Source extract RG_13_4462_49_7

  On the death of her mother in 1904 Zillah is known to have emigrated to New Zealand with her family and her cousin Harry Rusling Billany (1875-1939).    Zillah died in New Zealand on 17th August 1937. (See Profile) 

Sixth Child.   Lincoln Billany   born  25th June 1865 in the Myton district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference MYT/60/221. 

 Lincoln married Betsy Wilson (1867-1943), one of six children to William & Ann Wilson on 9th October 1886 at St. John, Newington in Hull ( Ref Hull Sculcoates 9d 267) and this couple probably had at least four children.  At the time of her marriage Betsy Wilson was living at home at 60 Neptune St, Hull, England.   See Profile 

At the 1891 census the family was residing as follows:

   Source UK Census 1891 extract RG_12_3944/82

From this union was born Harry Rusling Billany in 1887 in the Myton district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference MYT/161/26.   He is not shown on the 1891 census residing with his family but as a visitor else where.   Harry Rusling married Harriet Elsie Wilson in 1911.  

This couple probably had seven children.   At least four of them died in infancy.   

Daughter Eva Billany born in June, 1912 in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/82/280.  

Eva married Charles Edward Wilkin at Bourne Lincolnshire in March 1941.  

Son Dan Billany,  Born 14th November, 1913, in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/87/385.  MIA presumed killed November, 1943, in Italy. (See Profile)

Daughter Peggy Billany born in October 1914 in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/90/2. 

Daughter Kathleen Billany born in 1916 - 1919 in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/95/103. 

Daughter Joan Billany born in December 1920 in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/103/32. 

Son  Harry Billany born In April 1921 - 1921 in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/107/179. 

Daughter Pamela Billany born in 1923 in the Hessle district of Hull, Yorkshire.   Birth reference HES/114/57.

     In 1932 this family moved to 15 Lakeside Grove, Gypsyville,   Hull. 

(Source Data courtesy of Imperial War Museum)

     On 30th March 1851 wife, Charlotte and two children, Emily and Frederick were living at  East Sculcoates, Hull. 

In 1855, they were living at East India Dock Road, Poplar, Middlesex, when their third child, Rusling Billany was born.  Neiles was working for the East India Dock Company.  The family returned to Hull about 1857. 

On 7th April 1861, Neiles was living at :

9 Cumberland Street, Hull with his wife, Charlotte, now a shopkeeper and four children, Emily, Frederick, Rusling and Zillah. 

(Source RG9/3582 folio 63)

During 1870/1871, they were residing at 3 Botanic Terrace, Staniforth Place, Hessle Road, Hull.

In 1881, Neiles Boynton BIllany, whose occupation was that of a Ship Carpenter, his wife Charlotte were residing at St Quintin's Place, Drypool, Hull, East Yorkshire, England.     

At the census of 1891 Neiles Boynton Billany, whose occupation was that of a Ship Carpenter, his wife Charlotte were residing at 97 Hessle Road, Hull, East Yorkshire.

Annie Elizabeth Woulds age 20 was also residing at this address, employed as a domestic help (Housemaid).

(Source extract  UK Census 1891 RG/12/3912-2942/48-3945)

Newspaper Article - Candidate For Central Hull.

Hull Radical Club   The Radical Club came into being after the reformation act of 1832, it was the forerunner to the Labour Party.

At a meeting of the Hull Radical Club in May 1885:

President:  Mr James Needler

Treasurer:   Mr W Fulton

Hon. Secs:   Mr GT Hall and Mr T Ellis

     held in the Forrester's Hall, Charlotte Street, Hull, Mark Hastings (Guy Hayler), introduced his 'Radical Songs for working men', songs specially  composed for the election meetings  in support of N.B. Billany, prospective Parlimentary Candidate.

   In the General Election of November 1885 Neiles Boynton Billany stood for Parliament as leader of the Hull Radicals. However, the winning candidates were as follows; Hull East; W.Saunders, Hull Central; H.S.King, C.H.Wilson. 

   The Hull Daily Mail of 26th November talks of Mr Billany having expected to poll around 2 - 3000 votes but his followers just fell away, eventually he received a low poll of only 735 votes.

    Under the Alphabetical Directory of Trades and Professions for Hull, from Bulmer's Gazetteer (1892)  Neiles, was listed as an agent and was registered at  97 Hessle Road, Hull, East Yorkshire.

(Source RG/12/3912-3945/Hull Public Records Office)

Contained within the Council Minutes of Hull Council 1896-97 there is a motion to erect a memorial fountain.  The request to build the memorial was put forward by Mr G T Hall who was the Honorary Secretary of the Billany Memorial Fund. The letter which was sent to the Council was dated 31st December 1896. It stated; 

' that in order to perpetuate the name of the late Mr N B Billany, the Committee had decided to erect a public drinking fountain ; that the design which had been adopted was suitable for a public place ; and asking the Parks Committee to allow it to be erected in one of the parks, (the West Park being preferred by Mr. Billany's family) ; and stating that he would submit the design if the Committee decided to accept the fountain on behalf of the Town,,,,' 

There are further references to the fountain being erected in Committee minutes, the dates were as follows; Monday 15th March, Wednesday 7th April and Wednesday 4th August 1897. 

A Memorial Fountain was erected in 1897 at West park, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire in honour of Hull Politician NB Billany.   It was accidentally destroyed during the 1939-45 war - no trace of it remains today.   Extensive enquiries to the Hull City Council have failed to resolve the question as to its exact demise.  Although some reference exists in an article  "Hull Street Shrines and Rolls of Honour" that it was knocked down by a reversing vehicle during a 'Blackout'?

The Neiles Boynton Billany memorial Fountain West Park, Hull

(Source Data courtesy of The Brynmor Jones Library, University of Hull DX101/2/104/105 and DX 102/1)   

West Park entrance before and after the memorial fountain.

   Neiles Boynton Billany died on 30th May 1896 aged 70 and was buried on 1st June 1896 in plot no 7199, grave 522 at the Western Cemetery, Hull.  At the time of death Neiles was residing at 36 Havelock Street, Hull.   His wife Charlotte moved to live with her daughter Zilla at Beverley where she died on the 13th May 1904 aged 76 and was buried in plot 19526 alongside her husband on 15th May 1904.   Her place of death was declared as 12 Grove Villas, Grove Hill Road, Beverley, East Yorkshire.   These plots were visited in the year 2001 and verified.   Although no headstones are now visible - the area having been grassed over.  

(Source Hull City Council Cemetery Dept)

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