William was born about 1767, probably in Leeds. He maried Esther Ryder at East Witton in Yorkshire on 3 May 1793 and they started their married life living on Kirkgate. At that time there was farmland along Kirkgate and I think William may have been a farmer. Around the early 1800s a lot of new developments occured and I think William and his family moved out to the Moortown area of Leeds and St Matthews church in Chapel Allerton became their local church.
William and Esther had the following children:
- William (1795-1795)
- Margaret Ryder (1796-1860)
- Christopher Ryder (1798-1862)
- Hannah (1799-1871)
- William (1801- )
- Esther (1803-1874)
- Eleanor (1806- )
- Sarah (1807-1887)
Esther died in 1809 and I think William died in 1829. They were both buried together in the churchyard of St Matthews, William on the 11 December 1829.
SACRED
to the MEMORY of ESTHER the
Wife of William SHILLITO Grazier
in this town who Died June the
23rd 1809 aged 40 Years
Also WILLIAM SHILLITO late
of this Town, and Husband of
the above ESTHER SHILLITO
who departed this Life Dec 7th
1829 Aged 62 Years