The Jillett family was another Sussex family who lived and worked around Sussex for many years. There is very little in the records about them they lived very ordinary lives.
William's father was William Huggett Jillett and he was a Miller. His mother was Sarah (nee Carey, born in Lewes) and the couple had 8 children.
William Huggett was born in Fletching, in 1844, to Frances Jillett, after his father had died. His mother died 2 years later and he was raised by his mother's family, and apprenticed to a Miller.
William junior was born at Clayton in November 1868.
In 1871 the family was in Plumpton, where there was a watermill. William H described as a Miller, and the family as Visitors'.
By 1881 the family had moved to Lamberhurst village, William Henry, with his parents, sister Flora Jane (born in Lamberhurst) and four brothers John, George, Nelson and Albert.
In 1899 William married Harriett (Jupp) in Steyning.
Harriett's father was Charles Jupp, and her mother Charlotte, nee Stilwell. Harriett was one of Charles and Charlotte's 10 children. In 1881 the family was living in St Pancras, Chichester. Charles was a Bricklayer. By 1891, Harriett was a General Domestic Servant in Park Road in the home of Grocer, Percy Golds.
In 1901 at 87 Becket Road were William, 33, Nursery Gardener, Harriett, 28, born Chichester, daughter Alice Maud, aged 1. (Alice was baptised at Heene in 1899.) Plus visiting Kate Hubbard, Retired School Governor, aged 52, from Norfolk. Albert Henry was born, and died, in September 1901.
(Father William H. Jillett and family was at no 79 Becket Road William now aged 56, Market Garderner's Labourer, born Fletching. Sons George and Nelson, living with their parents, were also Market Gardener's Labourers. Son John was a Butcher.)
In 1907 William and Harriett's son William Herbert Tom was born.
By 1911 William (now a Jobbing Gardener) and Harriett were living in Clipper Castle Cottage, Tarring. With them were Alice Maud, 11 and son William Herbert Tom, aged 3.
William lost his younger brother, Nelson in 1917 Nelson was part of the British Expeditionary Force.
In 1918, aged nearly 50, William joined the RAF briefly and by 1919 he was in the Reserve. He was officially Retired in 1923.
In 1939, William was living, with daughter Alice, at 71 The Drive, Worthing. He was described as an Old Age Pensioner.
He was still living, at The Drive, when he died. William and Harriett were buried together, but not with their baby son Albert.
Alice died in 1952 aged 53.
(William Herbert Tom married Delisa Perham, in Chanctonbury, in 1944.)