William Skinner
Son of Jacob Skinner
Born 1847 at Comberton (Cambridge) U.K.
Died 1923 at Prahran, Victoria.
Father of Frank, William,
Herbert & Percival.

Mary Ann Skinner
(nee Hubbard)

WILLIAM was born in 1847 at Comberton (UK) and at the age of 7 years came to Australia with his family.
He lived at first on a property at Western Port with his parents then in the Fitzroy/Collingwood area before moving to Union Street, Windsor, Victoria.

In 1875 at the age of 28 years WILLIAM married Mary Ann Hubbard, born 1851, the daughter of David  Hubbard and . Elizabeth (known as Betsy) Morby. They had 4 sons, *William John born 1876 - died 1956 (New Zealand), Frank born 1878 - died 1878 aged 6 months, *Herbert Henry born 1878 - died 1958 (New Zealand), Percival George born 1887 - died 1972. *SEE the SKINNERS in New Zealand.

WILLIAM and Mary Ann first lived with his parents at 89 Union Street, before moving to their own home at 29 Union Street, in 1884. WILLIAM's occupation, according to his death certificate was a storeman but it is not known where he worked. Stuart recalls that even though his grandfather died before he was born, that when visiting his grandmother as a small boy he use to love to go to the shed at the end of the yard at 29 Union Street and look at his grandfather's tools etc. that were still stored there.

WILLIAM was obviously a handyman as well as a gardener. Shortly after WILLIAM died in 1923 a companion named Anne Rouget was found to look after Mary Ann who was suffering with a heart complaint. Every 2 weeks or so in the 1930's Stuart accompanied his parents in visiting grandma and he can only remember her as a large lady either sitting in a cane chair or sitting up in bed but always crochetting (tatting) some article - a task she continued to do right up to her death.

In 1927/28 her grand-daughter Ethel visited her from New Zealand. It is not known whether William John, her son, also came at this time but he certainly came at Christmas, 1938 before her death on 1st July, 1939.

Both WILLIAM and Mary Ann were buried at St Kilda Cemetery - WILLIAM in his Father's grave (one of five) and Mary Ann in her Father and Mother's grave (David and Betsy).

*SEE the SKINNERS in New Zealand.