William Stickland was born in 1799 in Christchurch to Jasper and Sarah Stickland (nee Phillips), the second of their 6 children and their oldest son. He was baptised on 22nd May 1799.

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He married Maria Gregory, the 19 year old daughter of William and Frances (nee Miller), at Beaulieu Church on 17th October 1822. 

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At a church meeting on Christmas Day of 1833, William and Maria were two of the 21 members who withdrew from the Chapel’s membership to form the break away Baptist Church, led by the Rev John Bartlett Burt, in Massey’s Lane.

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The 1841 census lists William and Maria living in Furzey Lodge with six children. By 1851, their eldest children have left home and William and Maria are living with daughters Sarah and Eliza along with 2-year-old son, James.

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By 1861, daughter Elizabeth, now 24, and youngest son James remain at home with William and Maria. Also living with them are three of their grandchildren, Hannah (7), Charles (5) and Alice (3 months old), likely their daughter Hannah’s children. The 1871 and 1881 censuses shows William and Maria as ‘empty nesters’, still living in Furzey Lodge.

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William worked as a labourer his whole working life, certainly until the age of 80.

He died aged 84 and was buried 5 days later at the chapel by the Rev. John Bartlett Burt on 8th June 1884.

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The quote on his gravestone is a verse from the King James Version of the Bible, John 6:37.