Major
William
Greenwood

MAJOR WILLIAM GREENWOOD was born in England around 1868. Major is not a title, this appears to have been his given name. He turns up in Camden City Directories and census records (1930) as William Greenwood, and as Major William Greenwood in the 1910 and 1920 Census, the 1936 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory, and his wife's October 1939 obituary as Major William Greenwood.

Mr. Greenwood came to the United States in the 1880s. A William Greenwood appears in the 1887-1888 and 1888-1889 Camden city directories living on Salem Street, off of Ferry Avenue, and working at the Howland Croft textile mill, as a wool sorter and later as a carder. It appears that these entries refer to Major William Greenwood. Around 1898 Major William Greenwood married Lillie Binns. The couple lived with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Binns, of 220 York Street in North Camden. A daughter, Grace, was born March 11, 1899.

The 1910 Census shows the family residing at the York Street address. Major William Greenwood was then still working in the textile industry, at that time as a grader in a woolen mill, either the Howland Croft & Sons Company mill on Broadway, or the Highland Mill on State Street in North Camden.  On February 29, 1912 he was appointed to the Camden Police Department. He remained on the force for 22 years before retiring in the mid-1930s.

The Greenwoods were still living on York Street in October of 1939 when Lillie Greenwood passed away. Father-in-law Jonas Binns was also still residing there. Major William Greenwood does not appear in the 1947 Camden City Directory. It appears that he had passed away by that time. 

Philadelphia Inquirer - February 29, 1912

MRS. LILLIE E. GREENWOOD

Mrs. Lillie E. Greenwood, 61, died yesterday at her home, 220  York Street. She was the wife of Major William Greenwood, retired Camden policeman. She also is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Grace M. Adams, an attache of the sheriff's office, by her father, Jonas Binns, 85, and a sister, Mrs. George Shawcross, all of Camden. Mrs. Greenwood was born in England and came to this country, when a child and lived in Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood lived at the York Street address 40 years. He retired after 22 years' service in the police department. Mrs. Greenwood was a member of North Baptist Church, and was known for her charitable and religious work. She was an active member of the Ladles' Auxiliary of Cyrene Commandry, No. 7, Knights Templar, and the Ladies Auxiliary of West Jersey Hospital. The funeral will be held at 3:00 PM Monday at the funeral home of Joseph H. Murray & Son, 408 Cooper Streets. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery.