Thomas HUGHES 1832–1900

THOMAS HUGHES 1832 – 1900

MARY HUGHES 1833 – 1900

Thomas Hughes was born about 1832 in the Ruabon area, and in 1855 he married Mary Edwards. All we know about Mary is that her mother was Jane Edwards, in 1851 Jane was a widow, she was a shopkeeper and living in Lambpit Street, only Mary aged 17 was with her.

Thomas and Mary went to live with Jane who in 1861 was a “register of servants” Thomas was an engine fitter, by then he and Mary had Sarah aged 2 and an 8 month old son Thomas Edward. As Jane also had 4 lodgers the house must have been quite crowded with nine persons there.

In 1871 they were all still in Lambpit Street where he was a master engine fitter, his 10 year old son Thomas Edward was an apprentice, mother in law Jane was still there, and now described as formerly a lady`s maid. The children with them were Thomas Edward 10, Mary 9. John Edward 7, Elizabeth 6, Ermine Hughes 3 and Charles Wright aged 8 months.

They moved to Florence Street, Rhosddu and by 1881 both Thomas and his son Thomas Edward were agricultural machine makers. Jane was till there at the good age of 84 but died in 1882.

In 1889 the Stansty Ironworks were advertised for sale by Cudworth and Johnson of the Eagle Foundry, Wrexham. It wasn`t large, only one acre of land. Thomas bought it and by 1891 they moved again and were living in Williams Terrace; this was in what is now known as “Old Rhosrobin” or sometimes Stansty. Thomas was a mechanical engineer, only one son was at home, John Edward who was a coal miner, he was still not married.

In 1900 Mary’s death was announced in the newspapers.

HUGHES -January 19th, aged 67 years, at Stansty Forge, Gwersyllt, Mary, wife of Thomas Hughes.

Just a few months later Thomas died on 24 May 1900 in unusual circumstances.

SUDDEN DEATH AT CHESTER COUNTY COURT. — An inquest was held at Chester, on Friday, on the body of Thomas Hughes, sixty-nine years of age, mechanical engineer, who resided at Stansty Ironworks, near Wrexham. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased had been ailing for a considerable time. On Thursday he was the defendant in an action brought against him by Messrs Mowle and Meacock, of Chester. He conducted his own case, and about four o’clock, just after cross examining one of the plaintiff’s witnesses, he put his paper down on the table and, looking towards the judge, said, “Excuse me, I am overdone.” Thereupon he sat down on a seat behind him, and in a moment he fell over on his right side on the floor. The Registrar (Mr E. S. Giles) went to his assistance, and endeavoured to administer restoratives. Dr King deposed, from a superficial examination of the body and after bearing the statement as to death, he was of opinion that death was due to failure of the heart’s action, probably caused by fatigue and exhaustion. The jury returned a verdict to that effect.
2 June 1900. Wrexham Advertiser.

His death was registered in Chester as that was where he died.

“The Chester company of Mowle and Meacock operated from the Egerton iron and brass foundry. It was demolished by 1910 when Egerton Street school was built on the site. “

Their second son John Edward Hughes died at Wrexham Infirmary on 14 March 1901 aged 37, he was buried with his parents.

Nothing remains of the Stansty Forge now, it was situated very close to the railway line where the Rhosddu Industrial Estate is now.

WILLIAM AMBROSE HIGGIN 1857 -1933

MARY HIGGIN 1862 – 1939

William Ambrose Higgin was born in Manchester; he was the son of George Higgin who was an engineer.

In 1884 he married Mary Hughes at Salford, Mary was from Wrexham, as her father Thomas was in a similar trade perhaps there was a connection between the two men.

They moved to Birkdale where he was a chimney sweep, in 1891 Mary`s brother Charles Wright Hughes was there, he was 18 and a groom. William Ambrose was still in Birkdale in 1901 and now is working for himself.

His wife Mary isn’t at home, she is in Rhosrobin visiting the Williams family.

By 1911 they have moved to Bangor Is Y Coed, and William Ambrose is the manager of the Buck Hotel. In 27 years of marriage they never had any children. They were still at the Buck in 1919.

REPLY TO ROYAL GREETING. I Mrs. Higgin, the Buck Hotel, Bangor Is Y Coed, placed three laurel wreaths near the church on Saturday in memoriam of the 24 Bangor boys who lost their lives in the great war. A telegram was also dispatched to the King by Mrs. Higgin on behalf of the Bangor soldiers offering His Majesty their congratulations on the memorable Peace Day. The following telegraphic reply has been received from the Private Secretary to His Majesty:—” I am commanded to thank you for royal greeting on behalf of the soldier boys of Bangor.”
Llangollen Advertiser 25 July 1919. King and Bangor Boys.