Benjamin Threlfall Vickers was born on 18 July 1842 to Benjamin Randall Vickers and Margaret (nee Threlfall) when they were living at Camp Place in Leeds. He was baptised on 28 August 1842 at Brunswick Chapel.
The 1851 Census shows that Benjamin was boarder at a school in Moorville House on Moor Road, Headingley along with his younger brother Thomas Henry.
In 1861 the census shows that Benjamin (18) was living at Willow House with his parents and younger brother Thomas (16) and that both brothers were apprentices to their father who was an Oil Merchant.
Benjamin’s mother died in February 1871. The Census from a couple of months later records Benjamin (28) still living with his father (72) but it does not give him an occupation though his father is still shown as an Oil Merchant and Drysalter. Thomas is now married with two young children and living two doors away.
Benjamin married Anne Elizabeth Smith at the beginning of 1874 and they had the following children:
- Agnes Threlfall (1876-1972)
- Margaret Irene (1878-1955)
- Helen Randall (1880-1983)
- William Farrar (1882-1977)
- Benjamin Randall (1885-1959)
At the time of the 1881 Census the family were living at 5 Woodland Grove on Newton Road in Potternewton. Benjamin was 38 years old and described as “Oil & Dry Saltery Mer. & Commis. Agent Also Oil & Manure Manu Employ 12 Men”.
Benjamin’s father died in August 1881. Sometime after, Benjamin moved into Willow House and he is shown in the 1891 Census to be living there with his wife and three of their children. Benjamin was 48 and described as an “Oil Merchant”
The 1901 Census records Benjamin still at 114 Chapeltown Road (Willow House), he is now 58 and still an Oil Merchant. He is living with his wife Anne (51), Margaret (22), Helen (21 Medical Student) and William (18 Clothing manufacturer).
Benjamin and Anne are still at Willow House in 1911. Benjamin was 68 and still working as an Oil Merchant, Anne was 61. Living with them were their son William (28) who was described as an “Oil Merchants Son (Commercial Traveller), their daughter Helen (31) who had been married to Dr George Hadden for 2 years and was described as a “Medical Practitioner”, Helen and George’s son Patrick aged 1 who had been born in China, Jessie Farrar Smith (Anne’s sister) and two servants.
Benjamin died in Loughrigg in Ambleside on 18 July 1917 and was buried in St Matthew’s graveyard on 21 July.
Probate reads:
VICKERS Benjamin Threlfull (sic) of Willow House 114 Chapeltown-road and of Gascoigne-street Boar-lane both in Leeds died 18 July 1917 at Loughrigg Ambleside Westmorland Probate London 26 February to William Arthur Smith chartered accountant Anne Elizabeth Vickers widow and William Farrar Vickers oil merchant.
Effects £18705 15s. 8d.