Frederick was born in Penzance, Cornwall in 1876.   He is first seen on the Censuses in 1881 in Penzance, living with his family at 3, Green Street, Penzance. His father Richard Grenfell 35 was a Mason. His mother Constance was  30. Frederick J 4, was their eldest child. Ada M. was 3 and Richard was  3 months.  All had been born in Penzance.

The 1891 census sees them still in the same street, but at No.9. Richard 45 was still a Mason.  Constance was 40. The listed children wereFrederick J 14 and a ‘House Aper (Apprentice?) Seller’. Richard J was 10,  Ada M 13, Constance  7,  Edward  6 and  Lilian  was 2.

Before the turn of the century, Frederick had moved to North Wales, and married Phoebe Shaw in St. Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay on the 19th December 1899.  Frederick was a Mariner, age 24.  His father was recorded as Richard Trewnorth? Grenfell a Mason.   Phoebe Shaw 20, was from Connah’s Quay. Her father was Hugh Shaw a Master Mariner. The  Witnesses at the wedding were  John Dodd, William Davies, Margaret Davies Shaw, Elizabeth Godfrey & Hugh Shaw.

On the 1901 census Frederick was Mate on the “Florence Louisa”, the Master being Samuel Shaw 24. There were 2 Able Seamen as well and they were at the Wharf in Connah’s Quay on Census night.

On  the 1911 census Phoebe 32, was  on her own, She was recorded as having been married for 11 years and living at 46 High Street Connah’s Quay. There were no children.  I cannot find Frederick on the 1911 census, he must have been at sea.

It seems that Frederick lost his life on the ship “Hannah Croasdell”.   This ship was owned by the Reney family. Read history of the ship and the loss of Frederick below

The brigantine Hannah Croasdell was built at the Ulverston shipyard of John Wilson, and in her early years operated in the Baltic trade. She was bought by William Postlethwaite in the 1870’s and operated in his Millom fleet until 1898, when she was sold to the Duddon Shipping Association. She was converted to schooner rig in 1882. She ended her days in the ownership of Reneys, of Connah’s Quay.    The Hannah Croasdell struck an enemy mine 4 miles W3/4N of St.Ann’s Head, Milford Haven on 26th February 1917, with the loss of four lives including Frederick Grenfell.

There was no index card for him in the  Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden.