Jabez Gilbert Pagden’s birth was in the Jul-Aug-Sep Qtr., 1898, Registration district: Chester (Volume: 8a Page:446). He was the Son of John Hailsworth Pagdin and Lena Brooksbank who married in the December Qtr. Of 1897 ( Volume 8d Page 789) at Ashton.
The 1901 census saw them living at Chester Road, Shotton, Flintshire. Head of the household was John, 31, a Foreman (Galvanized Iron Packing ), who had been born in Stalybridge Cheshire. His wife Lena, 30 was born in Ashton U Lyne Lancashire. Their son Jabez G. Pagdin ( named after John’s father) was 2 and had been born in Hawarden.
In 1911, the census records that the family had moved to Fern Cottage in Queensferry, Flintshire. John Hallsworth 41 was a Galvanizing Works Manager. His wife of 13 years, Lena, 40 was recorded on this census as having been born in Hurst Lancashire. 2 children had been born to them, and were still living. Jabez Gilbert was 12 and Edith Mary, 8. They were both at school and both had been born in Shotton.
Jabez attended Hawarden County School please click on the link to read his entry.
There is an index card for Jabez in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. ( F19 Queensferry). It tells us that Jabez joined the RAF as a 2nd Lietenant in the Kite Balloon Service and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in Aeroplanes. He served in Salonika & Egypt. Jabez died in 4th Northern Military Hospital in Lincoln on the 30th October 1918 from pneumonia in the influenza epidemic of that year. His period of service was 2 years. The card was signed by his father John H Pagdin.
Jabez was buried in the family grave in St Deniol’s Churchyard, Hawarden.
(St. Deniol’s Churchyard -Monumental Inscriptions. Lovelock ( Page 134) wrote ‘ Fern Villa’, Queensferry. Died, Lincoln of Influenza.
Jabez left a will England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations). Pagdin, Jabez Gilbert of Fern Villa, Queensferry, Flintshire second-lieutenant in His Majesty’s Royal Air Force died 30th October 1918 at Brighton on Active Military Service. Administration St. Asaph 10th May to John Hailsworth Pagdin Works Manager. Effects £150 17s 10d. Death Place: Flintshire, Registry: St. Asaph.
Gilbert Jabez Pagdin’s RAF service records exist and three casualty cards are reproduced below. There are other papers that I have that have proved problematic to post on the website as they are very difficult to read but if anyone is interested please contact me via this website. Jabez died ‘at home’. This means that he died in the UK and not abroad. He actually died in 4th Northern General Hospital Lincoln and His death was registered in Lincoln. He was buried in Hawarden.
There was an obituary of Gilbert in the Flintshire Observer 14th November 1918 which is reproduced below. Here is a transcript.
Lieut J O Pagdin son of Mr J H Pagdin, Manager of Marsh Mills, is one soldier more to be accounted among those who having escaped the dangers of sword, have succumbed at home to the ravages of the dread epidemic of influenza. He was only 20 years of age and was a very promising youth. He was trained at Hawarden County school and studied Engineering, previous to enlisting at Liverpool University. He joined up when 18, left England in 1917, saw service in Salonika and Egypt and then went to France. He was in England latterly to study the management of heavy bombing machines. The funeral at the Hawarden Church was attended by a large number of relatives and friends and a firing party under Sergt major watts followed the coffin which was covered with the Union jack. There was a large number of wreaths.
If you would like the rest of the article, but Mr. Pagdin is not mentioned, please get in touch with the website.
Jabez is also remembered on the Hawarden County Grammar School’s Roll of Honour. and St. Ethelwold’s Roll of Honour.
Jabez Gilbert’s Father John Hallsworth Pagdin was named in the Masonic Hall, Hawarden as being a Worshipful Master (Deeside Lodge) in 1925.
