The family name is listed as Samuel on his birth certificate in the Marblehead town records! His father is listed as a Cordwainer. His marriage certificate lists his occupation as a shoemaker, parents James Samuel and Catherine Black and his residence as Vineland. His wife is Lizzie J. Young of No. Vineland age 19 and parents John Young and Mary Ryan.
In 1880 he is listed, age 21, with his wife of 1 yr with a 2 month old daughter, Lillie. He was working in a shoe shop at the time, born in Mass and his parents from England. In 1882 he and his father both moved their families to San Francisco. He is listed as a machine operator at 613 Linden Ave in 1883/84 and as a shoemaker at 427 Golden Gate Ave in the '84/85 San Francisco City Directory at the same addresses as his father. He lived at 411 Grove in 1887 and moved to his home on Clinton Park in 1889, where he lived the rest of his life. Subsequent City Directories list him as a shoemaker (thru 1891), a partner in the Samuels & Peil liquor store (1892), and beginning in 1893 he was listed as a policeman. In 1900 he was listed as age 40, born Oct 1859, and married 21 yrs. He was living at 243 Clinton Park in SF and working as a Police Officer. At the time they had 8 children living with them, plus his niece - Mamie Samuels (b. Jan 1877 in NY, parents from Ireland).
His home was seriously damaged in the 1906 earthquake and the family moved to a houseboat in Larkspur, across the bay, as it took a year or so to rebuild it. Several of the family caught typhoid from a contaminated well in the months following the earthquake and both William Jr and James died from it in September. In 1910 he was again living on Clinton Park, owned his home, age 50, married 31 yrs and was living on his own income. His father was listed as being from England, his mother from Scotland. At the time 8 of his 10 children were living (Lloyd and Wm Jr both died in 1906) The Examiner reported on 21 Feb 1918 that his wife of 37 years, Elizabeth, and their 9 grown children filed a petition for alimony from Wm C. Samuels, garage owner, for cruelty. She was awarded $90/mo. On March 17th the alimony order was dismissed. In 1920 he was still living on Clinton Park at age 60 with his wife and children, May and Harold. He was listed there in all the City Directories thru 1934, then his wife was listed as a widow at the same address at least until 1951.
A Chronicle article of 12 May 1929 announced their 50th (Golden) Wedding Anniversary banquet for 47 at the Mark Hopkins Hotel that day. Attending were (nearly) all of the children. He was apparently a crusty old fellow, who had a parrot that outlived him and built a boat named Elizabeth on San Francisco bay. Many of the family lived, worked, or played around the water.
His death certificate says he was born in Marblehead, MA and worked for the Police Dept for 28 yrs ending in 1922, lists his parents and their place of birth and was filled out by his son Harold (who lived next door at the time). It says he lived in San Francisco for 52 years (since 1882). Cause of death was chronic fibrous myocarditis, chronic glomerularnephritis, coronary sclerosis and myocardial failure - an autopsy was performed and determined death by natural causes. His obituary says he died July 8th 1934 and lists his age as 74, with 8 (living) children and place of birth as Mass. He was buried in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Birch Section #285, Colma. The headstone has only the name Samuels on it! Four of his children are also buried there. His probate was initiated on 31 July 1934 with the petition of Lizzie J. Samuels (his wife) to administer his estate. Their house was not transferred until 1956, after his wife died - see Ruth's notes.