George Henry Roberts c.13feb1843 Wakefield
His start in life was modest, a son of
Jervis Roberts a Butcher of Old Crown, Northgate
And Jane Sugden daughter of Joseph Sugden an InnKeeper at the Fleece Inn

George's father died circa 1848-51
possible GRO dates
Joseph Roberts sepqt1846 wakefield 22,562
Joseph Roberts junqt1848
Joseph Roberts decqt1850 Wakefield 22, 503
the later at first seems more probable as Wallace his youngest brother was born marqt1849 confirmed by his age of 2 in 1851 census
However in the will of Joseph Sugden feb 1847 names George's mother Jane Roberts as a widow of Joseph Roberts suggesting the 1846 date in which case, who is the father of Wallace?

By 1851 his widowed mother Jane has moved to Tofts Yard Northgate
with 3 of the children , Jane's eldest daughter Mary Roberts aged 12 is working as barmaid for Janes brother, Edward sugden , at the Fleece Inn
and George henry, aged 8, is living in Albian St with his paternal uncles, who were market gardeners
The 1861 census shows George henry aged 18 a farmer is still working with his uncles and still in Albian St

George married in 1870 to Ellen Pearson daughter of a farmer
and by 1871 census is a market gardener in his own right
did he get a helping hand from his wife's family

Marriage in the Registration District of Wakefield

Marriage solemnized at   St Pauls Church   in the parish of   Alverthorpe   in the county of   York
Number	When Married	Name and Surname	Age	Condition	Rank or Profession	Residence	Fathers name	Fathers Rank
416	October 14th 1870	George Henry Roberts	27	Bachelor	Gardener	Wakefield	Gervice Roberts	Gardener
		Ellen Pearson	22	Spinster		Alverthorpe	Timothy Pearson	Gardener
Married in the Church at Alverthorpe According to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church, by Banns / Licence    by me W.Stevenson, Curate
This Marriage was solomnized between us.						In the presence of: Timothy Pearson, W. Pearson and Mary Ann Briggs

George Henry Roberts seems to have inherited a fortune around 1881-84 this seems unlikely to have come from his wifes family as she was one of thirteen children!
or from his mother See Will of Joseph Sugden
although Ellen Pearson's elder brother William married Mary Ann Briggs whoes family were reputedly very wealthy but why would Ellen & George inherit rather than other Roberts or Briggs siblings
The 1881 census shows he is still a market gardener but
In 1885 builds himself a new home on land he had bought the previous year The land was described in deeds as "used as garden ground in the occupation of John Briggs". the land was owned by the Heywood family. who live opposite in Wentworth house. For years the land was not built on to ensure their view was unrestricted. Around 1885 George henry became an Alderman and in 1898 was made Mayor of Wakefield sadly he died in 1900 . His widow Ellen Roberts seem to have sold Avenue house shortly after as her 2 youngest daughters where married in Scarborough 1904 and 1908 where Ellen lived for several years before moving to wales where she died in 1941 In 1909, when Canon E A Welch was inducted as the vicar of Wakefield, Avenue house became the new vicarage. But not everyone thought it was suitable � when the Rev Noel T Hopkins became the city's vicar in 1933, he thought the house was too big because of its many cellars and attics. He and his family moved to 11 South Parade before settling in the cathedral vicarage in Margaret Street. It was the council's decision to buy the house at this point that saved it from being turned into business premises and its grounds into garages, and it proved to be the perfect building for an art gallery when it opened in 1934.

Roberts info 8 sheet2

Avenue House, Wentworth Terrace now Wakefield's ART GALLERY The spacious reception rooms and bedrooms, designed for the family, all open on to large hallways. The servants quarters had their own back staircase Over the years Avenue House has been very little altered. Its fine stonework, floor tiles and decorative glass door panels with Temporial symbols of power, peace and plenty remain characteristic of Victorian middle-class taste. There is a possibility that his widow Ellen Roberts may have vacated the house and gone to live with her son Joseph prior to selling Avenue house and moving to Scarbrough with her youngest daughter Mary In 1909 the house became the new vicarage for the vicar of Wakefield and when the Rev Noel T Hopkens became Wakefield's vicar in 1933 he found the vast house with its many cellars as well as attics unsuitable.

Front of Avenue house Side showing servants entrance

Roberts,info8 sheet3

Family listed at funeral of
George Henry Roberts  16 sep 1900 St Johns Wakefield

Mrs Roberts, Mr Gervase H Roberts, Horwich(son)
Miss Roberts, Misses Mary and Patti Roberts(daughters)
Mr Edward Roberts(brother), Mr G H Roberts(newphew)
Mr Vine (brother in-law), and Mr J R  Richardson.

see Wills section for full Obit and WILL

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