Emrys Crossley was born circa 1881 the son of John & Martha Crossley (nee Davison). They were on the census for that year, 1881 in the household of Joseph Davison, Martha’s father. They had married in a Civil Ceremony or Registrar Attended marriage in Chester in 1876 (ROC/13/161)
They were living in Aston, Hawarden, but there was no proper address. Joseph, 63 was an Agricultural Labourer and like all his family had been born in Aston, Hawarden, Flintshire. His son Thomas, 25, was a Boiler Maker. Martha Crossley, 22 and John Crossley, 24, were in the household, John was a Coal Miner and had been born in Rhyl, Denbighshire. Their children, Elizabeth A. Crossley, 3 and Emrys Crossley,2 months old had also been born in Aston.
The census was taken on the 3rd April 1881 and by the September Quarter of 1881, sadly Martha had died, age 21 on the North Wales BMD.
There is a marriage of a John Crossley and an Elizabeth Smith in 1883, a Civil Marriage or Registrar Attended (Wirral WW/1/167), any help with this would be appreciated.
The 1891 census shows a John Crossley, 35, a Coal Miner who had been born in the County of Flint, with a wife Elizabeth, 25 who had been born in Leeswood. They were living at 14, Stafford Street, Skelmesdale, Lancashire (St. Paul’s). Their children were John Crossley, 6, born in Cheshire, daughter Minny, 4, and son Levie (sic), 3, both born in Skelmesdale, Lancashire.
In 1891 It seems that Elizabeth A. Crossley, 11 and Emrys Crossley, 10, both scholars and both born in Queensferry, Flintshire, were living with their Paternal Grandparents at 10, Mill Bank, Rhuddlan,Flintshire. Their Grandfather John Crossley, 60 and a General Labourer had been born in Bodfari, Denbighshire, his wife Grace, 61, had been born in Amlwch, Anglesey. Their son Levi, 27 and a Sailor of the seas and his brother Price Crossley, 22 and a Butcher had both been born in Denbigh, Denbighshire.
By 1901 the family were more split up as Grandfather John Crossley had died and Grace was a widow still living at 10, Mill Bank. Grace, 71 states she was born at Penrhosllygwy, Anglesea (sic) and spoke Welsh. Emrys’s sister, Elizabeth A., 21, was a Charwoman and spoke both languages. There was a Boarder, Richard Humphreys,20, single and a Carter on Farm, born Aberfraw, Anglesea (sic) and spoke Welsh.
Emrys’s father John Crossley, 44 and still a Coal Miner (Hewer) and Elizabeth, 35 were living at 60, Clayton Street, Skelmersdale County:Lancashire, with their enlarged family. Sons John, 16 and working on Coal Haulage Underground and had been born in Neston and Levi, 12 and their daughters Miriam (Minny perhaps), 14, Mary J., 9 and Martha, 2 had been born in Skelmersdale Lancashire. Elizabeth’s father Edward Smith, 65, Widower and a Colliery Ventilation Furnaceman had been born in Hope, Flintshire. Her brother, Luther Smith, 29, Single and a Coal Miner had been born in Leeswood as had Elizabeth.
Emrys though, in 1901, had moved to a relative’s house at 71, High Street, Rhosllanerchrugog, Denbighshire. Emeys, 20, single and Collier (Hewer) had been born in Queensferry. His relative was Jonathan & Harriet Wright and an uncle Daniel Wright had been born in Rhosllanerchrugog with their 5 sons being born in Skelmersdale, Lancs.
In the September Quarter of 1901 Emrys married Sarah Jennings at Ormskirk (Vol. 8b, Page 1387)
By 1911 Emrys had trailed further afield to Nottinghamshire, living at 9 Market Street, Shirebrook, Near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. He and Sarah had been married 8 years, 4 children had been born, but sadly one had died. Emrys was now 30 years old, a Colliery Loader and stated he had been born in Aston, Flintshire. Sarah, 26 had been born in Beny Groes Carnarvonshire. Son Levi, 5, had been born in Skelmersdale, Lancs, son William, 3, had been born in Stockford, Nottinghamshire, while Leonard, 1, had been born in Shirebrook, Derbyshire (sic). There were 2 relatives living there as well, an Agnes Jennings, 8, born in Rhyl, Flintshire and an Arthur Crossley, 26, single and a collier (Hewer), born in Skelmersdale, Lancs.
Emrys Crossley in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929, states he died of wounds on the 26th February 1917, contrary to the CWGC database which states 26th February 1916*. It also states the Died of Wounds and the Legatees were his widow Sarah Crossley and children.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 about Emrys Crossley confirms his regimental information above, and tells us that his first Theatre of War was the Balkans and he entered it on the 28th June 1915, but he died of wounds on the 26th February 1917.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 about Emrys Crossley tells us that his place of birth was Aston and he enlisted in Rhyl. Again the date of death is the 26th February 1917.
I still disagree with the CWGC as it is clear that the year is 1917 in the Soldiers Effects and other Army Documents.