William Heelis

William Heelis, son of Reverend John Heelis and Esther Heelis, née Martin, was born in February 1872 at Dufton, Cumbria, England, and christened on 18 February 1872 at Dufton, Westmoreland (now Cumbria); presumably his birth date would be within a few days of this.

William Heelis was in partnership as a Hawkshead solicitor (his office was in the 17th-century Lake District townhouse, now Beatrix Potter Gallery) when he met the famous children's author, Beatrix Potter whilst handling her property transactions in the Lake District at Hawkshead, Cumbria. They became engaged in 1912. On 14 October 1913 they married, though against the wishes of her wealthy parents, who selfishly wanted their daughter to remain single.

William was a gentleman of meek and discreet manner. After a long and happy marriage and the hard shock of his wife's death he left their home at Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey, Cumbria and spent the brief remainder of his life in a nursing home at York, North Yorkshire, England. He died 4 August 1945 and was cremated; location of ashes unknown.

Sources

• Find A Grave Memorial# 58303420