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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser. Wednesday 09 Dec 1891
Page 5 Column 3
DEATH OF MR W. B. HELLARD. - We regret to announce the death, which occurred on Saturday evening, at his residence, the Chestnuts, Staplegrove-road, Taunton, of Mr William Burge HELLARD, an old and much-respected townsman. Mr HELLARD was a native of North Curry, where his family had resided for generations past, but came to Taunton when a young man, and commenced business as a draper in Fore-street, at the shop now occupied by Mr Alfred LEWIS. He followed that occupation for only a few years, and then became a wine and spirit merchant, taking the premises, No. 50, Fore-street, where he remained in business till within the last few months, when he disposed of the property. He has altogether been in business in the town for some 40 years, and during that time has taken a prominent part in public life. He has always been a staunch Tory, and was the personal friend of the late Serjeant COX, it being through Mr HELLARD that that distinguished lawyer in the first instance contested the borough. Mr HELLARD for the past six years or so had been the chairman of the Taunton Conservative Association, ans was also the founder in 1867 of the Taunton and West Somerset Licensed Victuallers' Association, of which he has ever since then been the president. He had also been the president of the Benevolent Fund in connection with that association ever since it was started in 1881 by Mr W H COOKSLEY. He was probably the oldest Freemason in the town, and has held the following offices:- 1858, W M LODGE 261; 1879, W M S Alfred Chapter, Rose Croix; and 1871, first principal of the Sincerity Chapter Arch Masons. He had been largely instrumental in starting the Taunton Deane Horticultural Society, under the auspices of which the flower show is every year carried out, and has been president of the association for many years past, having formerly been one of the secretaries. For many years he was a Market Trustee, and has also been a member of the Taunton Board of Guardians, representing St James's parish, retiring a year or two ago. He also served as a churchwarden at St James's, and as a member of the Burial Board for that parish. He had a seat on the old Board of Health, which ceased to exist after the borough had been re-incorporated. For years past Mr HELLARD had been at times a martyr to gout, and latterly failing health and advanced years had obliged him to live very quietly. The announcement of his death, through a cause of real regret to all Tauntonians, who had learnt to much respect him, was, however, scarcely a matter of surprise, as it had been known for a long time past that recovery was almost impossible. He had done very good work for the several organisations, and they were many, with which he was connected, but at the same time the work was done quietly. He lent valuable aid to the Conservative party at the time when the cause he championed was at a low ebb in the borough, and the improved position of the Conservative party in the town at the present time is not a little due to his efforts and to his influence, which was more potent than might be generally imagined. He also rendered very material service to the Licensed Victuallers' Association, and the appreciation which the members felt for him and for the aid he had rendered to the organisation was fully shown by the way in which year after year they re-elected him as their president, though he would willingly have retired in favour of a younger man. He never sought election as a Town Councillor, though often pressed to do so, but had he become a member of that body he would probably have been elected Mayor of the town.
<NOTES: William Burge HELLARD son of Samuel HELLARD and Nancy BURGE, married Hannah MILWARD>