James Morris Footballer/Publican Oswestry

[noddy59]

I'm looking for information on James Morris B Abt 1863 Trefonen. Married Mary Jane Davies 1888. Died Oswestry 1915. I have him living in Sheffield in 1901 and landlord of the Five Bells Oswestry in 1909 until his death. His wife ran the pub until 1937 ? He also had something to do with Oswestry town football club.

I would really like to know what year he returned from sheffield so if anyone has any records of the Five Bells or Oswestry Town FC with him being there between 1901 and 1909 or can point me in the right direction as to find his whereabouts during those years I would love know. Thanks

[CaroleW]

According to the 1901 census - he was in Sheffield at that time. 

 

[CaroleW]

have you looked for him on the 1911 census which is strictly pay per view - lookups are not allowed here

The last child born in Oswestry was aged 1 in 1901

The 1911 will show if any children were born after 1901 and where - which will help narrow down his return date

Full 1901 entry for Sheffield - all b Oswestry

James Morris 38 boiler makers holder up??
Mary Jane  32
Emily Jane 12
Eva Gertrude  9
Elizabeth Ann  7
James Cecil  3
John William  1
RG13 Piece 4332 Folio 116 Page 29

[Gadget]

Hi noddy 

One of our members, Canary, has written extensively on footballers of that era and might well have lots of information about him.

I'll send him a personal message alerting him to this thread.


gnu

[Canary]

Noddy,

I have him as born in Trefonen, nr Oswestry in 1864 and died Oswestry 16 July 1915. He was a half back and played one match for Wales v Scotland at Wrexham on 21 March 1887. He made his only Welsh appearance when he stood in for the indisposed captain Humphrey Jones.  I've looked a couple of match reports and he gets two mentions - once when he cleared his lines and the second when he conceded a free kick for hand ball. The Scots won the match 2-0 which wasn't a bad result because Scotland had a very strong team at the time.   I have his playing career as Trefonen 1881-84, where I believe he was captain, then Oswestry 1884-91. His association with Oswestry football lasted a long time because he was a committee member after giving up the game.  In early life he was a brickmaker. I don't know when he returned from Sheffield but he was certainly in Oswestry just before WW1. And as you know he became the landlord of the Five Bells Inn in Willow, Street, Oswestry.

[Gadget]

I'm just wondering if Oswestry Local Studies Library might be able to help. They do keep extensive indexed clippings from the local newspapers and have been very helpful to me in the past:

http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/library.nsf/open/FFAD4D758B3AAB2E80256CD2004AD81C

Scroll down to the bottom for contact details.

They obviously moved between 1901 and 1909, when he was listed in Kelly's  but I can't find an online  Trade Directory for Oswestry in the 1901-1908 period.


gnu

[Canary]

I should have added that I used the Oswestry Advertiser to track his football career as best I could.

The local newspaper would have recorded when he took the licence of the Five Bells but it could be a difficult search given the number of years to potentially cover.

[Gadget]

A bit of lateral  ~

The occupant in the 1901 was a James Edward Ashley b. circa 1869, Oswestry

Death:

James Edward Ashley Sept q, 1903, Oswestry, aged 34

So the time frame is probably a bit narrower - 1903-1909


gnu

PS - Canary,  I think the Library would have the cuttings indexed under James Morris or the Five Bells, so the search would not be too difficult.  They've got a pretty good indexing system to my knowledge

[Canary]

Thanks. News to me. The last time I contacted them for microfilm photocopies they weren't that helpful and their machine had broken!