RootsChat.Com
Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Flintshire => Topic started by: Smilingwillowb on Monday 21 October 24 19:31 BST (UK)
-
I came across this mention of his death, and a poem to commemorate him, both of which appeared in several newspapers towards the end of August 1902. He'd served on H.M.S. Powerful during the Boer War in South Africa, and seems to have been part of the naval brigade that helped to relieve Ladysmith, but, other than saying that he died in Holywell, the report has no more information, not even the date of death, which was may have been in July or August.
Can anyone add anything to this, please? I'm no relation to him, just saddened that he's been completely forgotten.
JOHN JONES.
[John Jones, A.B., one of the men who served the 4.7 guns of his Majesty's ship Powerful during the siege of Ladysmith, has died at Holywell. Paralysis followed the reaction of the relief, and Jones was invalided home on a small pension that was secured with difficulty.]
There's nought romantic in the name—John Jones,
It sounds prosaic, flat and tame—John Jones.
Beside your Percys, Drummonds, Lacys,
Maguires, Macdonalds, Duffs and Tracys,
It wears the plainest of all faces—John Jones.
He got to Ladysmith in time—John Jones;
Took part in that defence sublime—John Jones;
One of the "Powerful's" thunderers he
Served with dogged ability,
Helping the gallant town to free—John Jones.
He paid for glory with his life—John Jones;
Best is his portion instead of strife—John Jones;
Far in the wilds of his native Wales
There he'll sleep in one of the dales
Till the great Trump the air assails—John Jones.
There's many like him, you take my word—John Jones,
Their names perhaps are not often heard—John Jones;
They haven't the chance to man a gun,
But they toil from morn to the set of sun,
And 'tis honest sweat when the day is done—John Jones.
Deeds of daring below the ground—John Jones,
Deeds with immortal glory crowned—John Jones;
When dawns at length the last great Day
And prouder names have fallen away,
"Well done," an awful Voice will say, "John Jones!"
......Western Mail."
...........................................................IDRIS.
-
Could be this death
Sept qtr 1902 Holywell 11b 149 - John Jones aged 30
Only 2 other deaths in that qtr - aged 2 & aged 60
www.freebmd.org.uk
You can download a digital copy of his death cert for £3
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp
-
There are only 3 deaths in the North Wales BMD for John Jones in the sub-district of Holywell see below
North Wales Death indexes for the years: 1902
Surname Forename(s) Age Year Sub-District Registers At Reference
JONES John - 1902 Holywell Flintshire (Mold) HOL/35/74
JONES John - 1902 Holywell Flintshire (Mold) HOL/35/89
JONES John - 1902 Holywell Flintshire (Mold) HOL/35/91
Ray
-
Freebmd shows the ages which helps with elimination on age.
It also shows the quarter in which the death was registered which appears to be Sept 1902 if the above article appeared late August 1902
-
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3176215/3176222/33/john%2BOR%2Bjones
Says he was buried a few days ago and spared a paupers coffin and parish grave through the sacrifices of his sister.
-
Parish Church Holywell
John Jones, bur Aug 18th, residence Bryncelyn, age 30
The FindMyPast trancript shows "Bagillt"
Possibility?
-
See replies 1 & 3
-
See replies 1 & 3
Had noted 1 & 3 but whenever dealing with a Jones, and particularly a John Jones, never comfortable submitting info. unless qualifying with "?"!
The medal roll for HMS Powerful lists a J. Jones, Able Seaman, being awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal " ... sent to sister Mrs Williams 21 Jun ...".
Also was sad to note in newspapers " ... developed muscular rheumatism until he could not move", " ... invalided home on a small pension that was secured with difficulty ..."
-
Thank you all for your responses. I shall get a copy of his death certificate, then at least I'll have the definite date of his death, also whether he died in hospital or at home.
https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3176215/3176222/33/john%2BOR%2Bjones
Says he was buried a few days ago and spared a paupers coffin and parish grave through the sacrifices of his sister.
Thank you for the translation.
Parish Church Holywell
John Jones, bur Aug 18th, residence Bryncelyn, age 30
The FindMyPast trancript shows "Bagillt"
Possibility?
Thanks very much, I'll have a search in the 1901 census for him in Bagillt.
-
The death certificate says that he died on the 14th August 1902, so I'd say it's odds on that he's the same John Jones that was buried at Holywell Parish Church on the 18th. He died at Greenfield, and the name and address of the informant was Robert Williams - whose signature was "X The mark of Robert Williams" - who lived at Bryn Celyn, Greenfield, and he was the brother-in-law of John Jones.
-
Thanks for the update.
-
I did a search in the 1901 census for anyone by the name of Robert Williams living in Greenfield, who might have had a John Jones also living at their address, but nothing. Also looked for a John Jones who was in hospital at the time of the 1901 census. There were about 15 with that name at the Royal Naval Hospital, Haslar, and there was a John Cadwallader Jones, born Liverpool in 1870, but it wasn't the right John Jones because that one died in 1944.
-
In the 1911 census a Morris Williams was living at Bryncelyn Cottage with one of his sons, his daughter and son in law and a nephew Robert Edward Williams age 23."England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X7JV-46D : 23 July 2019), Morris Williams, Holywell, Flintshire, Wales, United Kingdom; from "1911 England and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey. Another of the sons of Morris Williams was named Robert A Williams (1881 and 1891 Census). Could this be the Robert Williams who was the informant on the death certificate of John Jones?
Ray