Wandsworth is a workhouse and at this time they took in people who were sick or broke.

~ Wilfred Gayleard

William Gayleard was born in Portsmouth was married twice and moved to the London area and had 1 daughter. At this point I cannot find records for either of his marriages.

This is William Gayleard and his first wife Mahala in the 1841 census found in Portsea in the are of Rudmore. He is 37 years of age and Mahala is 38 which put William being born 1804. He is also listed as being a painter by trade.

The 1851 census had William and his wife Mahala still living in Portsea and this time William has his name clearly written as Gayleard. And he is identified as a Journyman Painter.

Unfortunately Mahala passes away in 1859 in Newington, London. So at some point between 1851 and 1859 both William and Mahala move to the London area.

Mahala Gayleard passes away on July 10th, 1859 of heart issues. Her age is listed as 57.

In the 1861 census William Gayleard is still living in the London area, Newington, Lambeth. However he is now remarried to Harriett and this is both their second marriages as Harriett has 4 children; Mary Ann, Sarah, Elizabeth and Daniel Peachey. William is listed as a Painter and having been born in Portsmouth. It has him down as being 55 in age so born around 1806. At this point I have not found any marriage information for William and Harriett, however from research I have found that Harriett’s maiden name is Hallett.

In the 1871 census William Gaylead is still living in the London are with his wife Harriett and his daughter of Clara Jessie who is 9 years old. Although they are together at the beginning of the year, it appears that William Gayleard by June ends up at the Workhouse in Wandsworth.

The name gets spelled either Gaylard or Gaylord and to further confuse the issue she lists her father as Henry, even though it is William.

~ Wilfred Gayleard

Wandsworth is a workhouse and at this time they took in people who were sick or broke. So either William fell ill several times or was there from June until October.

William Gayleard passes away on November 15th, 1871 of heart disease. He was living at the Wandsworth Workhouse at the time.

Although in the index you will find Clara Jessie written as Gaylard, you can see by the birth certificate that it is actually Gayleard and her parents are William Gayleard and Harriet, formerly Peachey.

In 1883 Clara Jessie Gayleard marries Thomas Henry Hills around London. The name gets spelled either Gaylard or Gaylord and to further confuse the issue she lists her father as Henry, even though it is William. William is also listed as deceased. So sometime between 1871 and 1883 William passes away. I cannot find William, Harriet or Clara in the 1881 census.

However by 1901 Clara and Thomas had good sized family and were living in Surrey.

Although I cannot find the marriage certificates for either of William Gayleard’s marriages and thereby find out who his father is I am pretty certain that William Gayleard, painter, is the first son of William Gayleard, saddler and his wife Elizabeth Ashford. By and large the age does look extremely close to the William Gayleard who was baptized in Portsmouth in 1806.

Continue Reading: 3. George Gayleard and Ann Pearce 1807-1900