OWEN ELIAS 1848 – 1927

OWEN ELIAS 1848 – 1927

Owen Elias was born near Pwllhelli about 1848, his father was Richard Elias a tailor, his mother was Anne Ellis.

By 1871 he was working as a draper’s assistant in 80 High Street, Shoreditch, London. It must have been a large shop as there were about 25 more people there working there

Owen moved to Wrexham and lived in 4 Henblas Street; he had married Mary Ann Watkin

early in 1876 in Shropshire and started his own draper’s business.

He was doing quite well and moved to 25 Chester Street by 1891, there were 4 people living there that were shop assistants, along with Elias and Mary Ann and their 5 children. Sadly 2 of their children died there within a few weeks of each other in 1893. Harriet Winifred whose pet name was Gwenni died on 4 March aged 9 years and 9 months and David Watkin aged 19 months died on 26 April.

Also in 1893 his father Richard on 3 December, he left effects of £341, Owen Elias was the administrator.

Owen moved from the town centre and lived on Fairy Road; he was still running the business in the town with the help of his son Richard Watkin, but his wife Mary Ann (Polly) died on 10 January 1909 aged 54.

In September 1916, Owen Elias, 13, Henblas Street, Wrexham, draper, appealed against the decision of the local tribunal in granting exemption to Sept. 30 in respect of his son, Albert Owen Elias as, 4, Court Road, who is the buyer and manager of his drapery business.

The case was dismissed and Albert Owen joined the Machine Gun Corps.

Owen Elias stayed in Mona House on Fairy Road and died there on 9 January 1927.

He died a wealthy man and left effects of £14,736 18s 8d he was buried with Mary Ann and his young children.

MARY ANN (POLLY) ELIAS c 1855 -1909

Mary Ann Watkin was born in Welshpool, she was the daughter of David Watkin, her mother was also named Mary Ann. The family lived in Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury where David was a timber merchant, she had a younger sister named Ruth Harriet.

Mary Ann was a dressmaker before she married Owen Elias in 1876, and after they came to Wrexham her sister Ruth Harriet spent a lot of time with them, she is with them in 1891 and 1901.

Mary Ann Elias died on 10 January 1909 aged 54 and was buried with her husband Owen.

Her mother Mary Ann also spent time in Wrexham and died at 25 Chester Street in August 1885, she was buried in Wrexham cemetery. David remained in Shrewsbury until his death in May 1887, he was 65 but was buried with his wife Mary Ann. He left a personal estate of £150. Ruth Harriet died in 1926 and was buried with her parents in a separate grave.