WELCOME TO THE GRIFFITHS FAMILY
John Griffiths, George’s father is quite a mystery and possibly because of the surname very difficult to trace. The first real information I could find appears on the 1871 census for Wales. His birth place recorded at Rowley Shropshire about 1942 and aged 29 on this census. Living with his wife Margarit aged 24 and son John Beavon Griffiths aged 3 and William Griffiths aged 1 at Cefn in the town of Cletterwood in the civil parish of Buttington. John’s occupation recorded as Agricultural Labourer. I have been unable to find his marriage details although I do know that his wife Margarit was born in Brecon.
The 1881 Census for Wales gives us slightly more information and shows the family living at Gelli with John Griffiths as Head aged 40, and a Labourer, place of birth Kerry, Montgomeryshire, this differs from the information given in 1871. Margaret, his wife aged 32, birthplace recorded as Brecknock, Brecon. The children as follows:
John Beavon Griffiths aged 13, scholar born Brecknock.
William Griffiths aged 11, scholar born Buttington.
Charles Griffiths aged 9, scholar born Buttington.
George Griffiths aged 5, scholar born Buttington he was my husband’s Grandfather.
Walter Griffiths aged 2. Source: RG11/5493 pages 7 and 8.
George Griffiths was born Quarter Apr/May/Jun 1876 at Buttington Welshpool Montgomeryshire. On the 1881 census George aged 5 listed as a Scholar remember education only became compulsory in 1880 and was not free until 1891. Welshpool at that time spelt Welchpool. He started his working life as a farm worker from a very early age possibly 13. On the 1891 census at the age of 15 he worked as a farm servant at Burgedin Hall for a farmer named Pryce.
In October 2010 and after years of searching I found George Griffiths British Army Service Records online at www.findmypast.co.uk the National Archives reference W097/499/16. George was 18 at his attestation date which took place on 25th January 1894 with the K.L.S.I. (Kings Shropshire Light Infantry) and his attestation soldier number was 4343. The documentation states that George was 5′ 6 1/2″ and his occupation recorded as a Labourer. Next day 26th January aged 18 George started his military career his records show “Home” which probably means that he was stationed at Copthorne Barracks, Shrewsbury which was the home to the KSLI.
From 26th January 1894 until 26th February he was ranked as a Private stationed at “Home” with the KSLI 2nd Battalion. This was for a period of 2 years and 32 days.
At the age of 20 on the 27th February 1896, George was transferred to 1st Battalion and served in India until 21st December 1902 for a period of 6 years and 298 days. His rank was Private. This also explains why I could not find George on the 1901 census for Montgomeryshire or Shropshire.
The 22nd December 1902 aged 26 George was recorded as stationed at “Home” until 25th January 1906 with the 1st Battalion KSLI and ranked as Private.
He married Mary Jane Evans on the 12th November 1903 at the English Baptist Chapel Welshpool. On the 1911 census George aged 35 and Mary Jane where living at 4 Mount Pleasant Cottages, Rhallt, Welshpool. By this time they had 2 daughters, Gladys, Florence and a son Jack. The family home consisted of 3 rooms and a scully.
On the 6th November 1914 aged 38 George signed up for service in World War 1 and his address at this time was recorded as Brickyard Cottage, Buttington, Welshpool. Brickyard Cottage had been the home of Mary Jane’s family the Evans’s. George started his duties on 7th November 1914 with the Territorial Force No: 20031, Local Guards, 7th Batt Royal Welch Fusiliers’ attested to 1 year’s service or the duration of the war rank Private. He served for 4 years and 21 days attached to the Royal Engineers and Royal Navy attaining the rank of Signal Inspector.
On the 10th April 1915 George was appointed Acting Lance Corporal. The 18th August 1916 Acting Lance Corporal Griffiths was transferred, unfortunately the writing on the record is illegible. At the age of 41 on 30th October 1917 he was posted and unfortunately the writing is also illegible.
On the 7th March 1919 he was demobilized his home address at that time recorded as 14 Duke Street. Interestingly Mary Jane’s address was still given as Brickyard Cottages, Buttington. It would appear from the records that George applied for a pension.
After his army service, he became a Railway man for forty years. His first appointment was as a Goods Porter at Welshpool. On a copy of the birth certificate issued on 19th August 1933 for the purposes of unemployment for his daughter Jennie born 1917, he was a Corporal R.D.C. No. 15185 with the Royal Defence Corps. The RDC was formed in 1917 from the Home Service Garrison Battalions of 18 regiments. It was made up of old soldiers who were beyond the age of service, or those who were not fit for overseas duty. His main occupation was that of Railway Goods Porter.
From this we know that in 1933 aged 57 that he was unemployed. He transferred to Oswestry and later moved to Kerry where he was a Guard for two years; he also worked as a Goods Clerk. Finally, he became a Warehouseman at Oswestry. George worked for fifty-five years.
George and Jane celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary on the 12th November 1953 and their Diamond Wedding anniversary on the 12th November 1963. For many years, they lived at 28 Cambrian Drive Oswestry. George and Jane had three sons and four daughters.
George died 12th January 1967 at 27 Lloyd Street, Oswestry the home of his daughter Jennie Kathleen Leech.
See newspaper articles of their Golden Wedding in left column.
Mary Jane known as Jane, died on the 6th November, 1966 aged 84, at 8.35 p.m. at her home 28 Cambrian Drive. Her daughter J.K. Leech was present at her death and the informant. The death certificate was issued to her daughter Florence Embrey Hinder of 45 Blackfriars on the 10th November 1966. Jane was buried on the 10th November at 2.15 p.m. Source: Family birthday book. When Mary Jane died her husband George was too ill to attend her funeral and as you will see from the date of his death he died within two months of her death.
MARY JANE AND GRANDSON 1948
George died on the 13th January 1967 at 9.45 p.m. aged 90, at his daughter Jennie’s home at 27 Lloyd Street Oswestry. His daughter Jennie was the only person who would have her dad after her mum died. He was buried on the 18th January 1967 at 3.30 p.m. Source: Family birthday book.
George and Mary Jane’s children
Gladys Beatrice Griffiths born Quarter June 1904 at Forden, Montgomeryshire. She married William Redvers Speakman in 1926 and they had two children both living.
Florence Embrey Griffiths born 1906 at Forden. Married Ernie Hinder. Known as Florrie or to her nieces and nephews as Auntie Dick. Florrie and Ernie did not have any children. Auntie Dicks passion was her football and she was a big supporter of Oswestry Town Football Club. As far as I can remember she often helped with fund raising for the club.
Jack Griffiths born Garnet George Beauchamp Griffiths at Prestwich Lancashire on the 14th June 1908. Source: GRO Vol 8d, page 353. At this point I have no idea why he was born in Prestwich as all the other brothers as sisters were born at Forden Nr. Welshpool.
On 27th Novmeber 1933 Jack arrived back in the United Kingdom aboard the Britanna which belonged to the Anchor Shipping Line, official number 148894. The port of Departure was Bombay, and the ship sailed to Marseilles and Gibraltar, Jack embarked at Gibraltar. The country of residence was given as Wales his home address 28 Cambrian drive, Oswestry. He travelled tourist class and his occupation was given as Bandsman. This shows that he had enlisted in the Army before WW2 and I know he served in tha war.
Garnet George Beauchamp Griffiths known as Jack Griffiths 1972
He married Jenny and they had no children as far as I am aware they did not marry until the 1950’s. Jenny was a lovely person very gentle and my husband and me use to visit them quite a lot. Jenny never forgot my children’s birthdays and at Christmas she always gave them a voucher. Jack liked a pint and could often be found in the bar at the Unicorn Pub in Oswestry. He died on the 9th November 1987 and he was buried on 16th November at Oswestry. Source: Family birthday book and GRO Vol 30, Page 184, Reg No. 1187.
Walter Melbourne Griffiths born 19th April 1912 at Forden. He died February 1988 at Oswestry. Source: Vol 30, Page 195, Reg No. 288. He was married twice. He and first wife Cathy had two children Edna and Tommy. Sadly, Tommy died in his early forties. They lived in Edinburgh. When my husband and I first married we did see them quite a bit Mel and Cathy came to our wedding in 1971. When Cathy died, Mel married Margaret and they lived in Oswestry until his death.
George William Griffiths born 7th March 1914 at Forden. Source Vol 11b, page 286. He and his first wife Ada had children and lived in Edinburgh. Bill and Ada celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on the 28th August 1970. I liked Ada very much she was full of fun I met her twice and she and Bill came to my wedding in August 1971. When Ada died Bill married Jean from Abergele and he lived there until he died. He died June 1999 at Abergele. Source: District No: 8111A, Reg No: A107, Ent No 121. Jean is now in a nursing home at Abergele, my father-in-law keeps in touch by telephone a couple of times a year. Source: Family birthday book.
The Griffiths’s were a family that were at odds with one another although nobody seems to know why. The greatest compliment I could give Bill would be that of Peacemaker he managed to hold the family members together and acted as mediator. To the best of my knowledge, he stayed in touch with all the family.
Jennie Kathleen Griffiths born 11th August 1917 at Brickyard Cottage Cletterwood. She married Reg Leech on the 3rd February 1940 at the time of her marriage aged 22 she lived at home with her parents at 28 Cambrian Drive Oswestry. Her occupation was Shop Assistant and she gave up work on her marriage to Reg. They had two children, three grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Jennie feels that she had a harsh upbringing and the early years of her marriage were tough. Jennie adored her brothers especially Bill as they grew up together. She frequently had to share shoes to go to school with her brothers. At the time, it was considered more important to send her brothers to school than Jennie. So she could only go when her brothers had new shoes and she had her brothers cast offs. As a thirteen year old, she often went to stay with her sister Gladys in Formby. Reg lodged with Gladys before he and Jennie married. Sadly, her and Gladys became estranged and nobody seems to know why. However, she always looked up to Gladys and held her in high esteem. Many times I heard her say how her sister had bought a house and “if Gladys can do it, so can I”. Thankfully, Jennie and Reg were able to contact Gladys’s son when they were able to travel and visited occasionally and they are still in touch. This contact means a lot to both Jennie and Reg.
The photograph below is of Jennie and Reg’s wedding from left to right Albert Leech, Reg’s brother and Bestman, Joan Griffiths, Jennie’s sister and Maid of honour and George Griiffiths, Jennie’s father. Front row Reg and Jennie.
Jennie and Reg’s Wedding
The photograph below was probably taken in the garden of 28 Cambrian Drive Oswestry in the 1950’s.
This photograph of Jennie was taken in York Street when Higgins owned the corner shop. Taken 1950’s.
Edna Joan Griffiths born 23rd May 1923 at Oswestry and known to her family as Joan. She married three times and to the best of my knowledge had children with two of her husbands. Her first marriage was to Frederick Valentine Hollingworth born 14th February 1900 at Birkdale in Lancashire known as Val he died c1960. Joan’s second husband Charles Heritage born c1920 and he came from Wiltshire. Finally, she married Benjamin Wood born c1920 no further details available. Joan died (details to follow) her children and grandchildren are living in the London area as far as I am aware. Although my husband remembers Joan because as a young boy he saw quite a lot of her I never met her.
mypastonline.uk 