Frederick’s first appearance on a census was in 1901 census, living at 88, Bridge Street, Stalybridge, Cheshire with his father William Hotchkiss 39, an Ironworker and his mother Sarah 40. The children listed were William 11, Frederick 9, George 7 and Benjamin 3.
The 1911 census sees the family living at 15, Dee Road, Connahs’s Quay. Father, William 50, was working at the steelworks as a ‘Sheet Millworker’. His wife of 28 years, Sarah was 49. She had given birth tohad 8 children of whom 3 had died. William was 21, Frederick 19, George 17 and they were all ‘Sheet Millworkers’. Benjamin was13 and at School. A Grandson was living there too, John Norton was 5
UK soldiers who Died In The Great War 1914 -19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms all the regimental information above and adds that he enlisted in Shotton. This source says he was ‘Killed in Action’.
Frederick Hotchkiss in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the Sole Legatee was his father William who was paid £10. 14s 1d on the 23rd May 1918 and his War Gratuity of £14. 10s 0d on the 25th November 1919.
The County Herald November 30th 1917 carried the following obituary. ‘Death of a Soldier – We are informed that on Sunday last the official intimation was received of the death of Pte. Hotchkiss, whose home is in Dee Road, Connah’s Quay. Deceased was before enlistment employed at an ironworks; and was well respected by numerous comrades and friends of the Connah’s Quay and Shotton Districts’. (I don’t know who this refers to – Richard or Frederick, but Richard was killed first, in April and then Frederick in November, but news took time to filter through, so it seems a long time for Richards death to be in the newspapers, but then again, it seems too early for Frederick’s death.)
There is an index card for Frederick in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. (Flintshire WW1 Index Cards 1917 F25) It confirms regimental details and adds the address 15, Dee Road, Connah’s Quay. It says he was killed on the 6th November 1917 . The card was signed on the 22nd Oct 1919 with X Fred ( who was this?)
Hotchkiss, Fred was named on the Memorial Plaque in St.Mark’s Church, Connah’s Quay.
Frederick was the older brother of Richard Benjamin Hotchkiss, who also lost his life in the war and was named on the Connah’sQuay/Shotton Memorial. He has his own page on this website, please click on the link. Neither of the brothers are remembered on the 3 Memorials around Tipton. (Enquiry to Tipton Library 30th January 2015.)
The photographs below are here because of the kindness of Andy, who is researching the Tipton War Memorial, Andy purchased these from the War Graves Photographic Project www.twgpp.org
Please click on the link for Tipton Remembers, where there is a page devoted to Frederick.
