I believe that Robert Wainwright and Mary A. Shone married in Manchester in 1874 (Vol 8d Page 381),
In the 1891 census, the family of Charles Wainwright was living at Scotland Cottages, Moor, Hawarden. Robert, 44 was a General Labourer, who had been born in Doddleston, Cheshire. His wife Mary A, 36 had been born in Golftyn, Flintshire. Their listed children were Robert 13, William 9, John, 7, Edward 5, Charles 3 and Albert 1. (Charles had been born in Sandycroft). Their daughter Catherine, 11 was listed in the household of John N. & Harriet Wynne and their 4 children as a Nurse at Hope Cottage, Tarvin Road, Chester, Cheshire
The 1901 census records the family at 3, Cedar Cottages, Saltney, Shotton, (then in the County of Cheshire). Robert, 53 was an Iron Works Labourer. His wife Mary A was 46. Their listed children on this census were Robert, 22 a Labourer at Tub Works (Pudd). Catherine was 21. William, 19, was an Iron Sheets ‘Dubler’. John, 17 was a Labourer. Edward, 15 was an Iron Scrap Cutter. Charles, 13 was a Postman. Albert was 11, Florence 8 and Samuel 4 . A “Friend”, Arthur Lees, 19, an Iron Works Labourer was in the household.
By the 1911 census the family had moved to 15 Butler Street, Shotton, Flintshire. Robert, 63 was a Labourer at an Iron Iron & Steel Manufacture, Galvanised. Sheet Iron Works. All his sons except Samuel, worked in the same place, probably John Summers & Sons. His wife of 37 years, Mary Ann was 55 and 9 children had been born and all had survived. Listed were John, 27 and Edward 25 both ‘Shearers’. Charles, 23 was a ‘Doubler’, Albert, 21 was an ‘Opener’, May was 18, Samuel, 14 was a Junior Clerk in an Office. The census form had been filled in by someone else as it was signed ” on behalf of Robert Wainwright”.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms Charles’s regimental information and tells us that he enlisted in Hawarden. His medal card, also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals.
There is an index card for Charles in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. (Card Sealand F10) The address given is 31, Brookside, Sealand . His regimental details are confirmed. He served for 3 years and died of fever in Hospital in Mesopotamia on June 8th 1917. On the reverse of the card it said ‘ Lance Corporal Charles Wainwright’ .The card signed by Mary A. Wainwright. 26th September 1919.
Four of Charles’s Brothers were in the war too and along with Charles, Samuel was killed. Their Mother Mary Ann signed the Flintshire Index Cards. Bless her. Follow the link to Samuel’s page on this website.
I have transcribed below the Flintshire cards for the 3 brothers who survived.
Flintshire WW1 Index Card Sealand L102 (“L” denoted living.) – Wainwright., Albert. 31, Brookside, Sealand, 240122. R.W.F. Pte. Period of Service 4 years 9 months. Service Medal. – Card signed by Albert Wainwright. 26th September 1919 ( He wrote some of the card.)
Flintshire WW1 Index Card Sealand L103 – Wainwright., John. 31, Brookside, Sealand. 39662 5th R.W.F. Sergeant. Period of Sevice 4 years 9 months. Card signed by John Wainwright. 26th September 1919 ( Again part of the card was written by John.)
Flintshire WW1 Index Card Sealand104 -Wainwright., Edward. 31, Brookside, Sealand. 45446 76th Lab. Corps. Pte. Period of Service” 2 years 1 month. Discharges through wounds”. – Card signed by Edward Wainwright. 26th September 1919. (Edward wrote on part of the card )
Addendum
I wrote an article about my research on the Connah’s Quay& Shotton Cenotaph and the Hawarden War Memorial and after my article was published in the November, December, January & February editions of the St. Ethelwold’s Church Parish Magazine, I received a lovely letter from Sam Jones and with his permission I have transcribed it below. Many thanks to him for all his information on the family.
13th February, 2013
Dear Mrs. Williams,
I have been given & read with great interest the Shotton Parish Magazine of November, December & January. The First World War has always been something that I have researched at great length.
Your mention of Mrs. Annie Leatherbarrow prompts me to write & tell you my Father knew the Leatherbarrow well and I remember him telling me there were two brothers who were killed during the war.
My father, born 1890 in Flint & living at 29, Brookside, Garden City Volunteered, like thousands of brave but disillusioned men on the day after war was declared. He served with 1/5th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Gallipoli & Palestine.
Try as I might I could never get him to talk about those horrific years, but in the last few months before he died, aged 94, he did start to tell me a few things, one of which was that he did not get back to England until May 1919. He was dropped off at a railway station at Prees Heath & walked all the way back to Garden City. He said the weather was very warm & they were knocking on doors asking people for a drink of water, some of the doors being slammed in their faces because of their ragged, unshaven faces.
Five Uncles, my mother’s brothers, also served in the conflict. They were Samuel, Jack, Charles, Albert & Edward Wainwright & resided at 31, Brookside, Garden City.
Sam, Royal Artillery was killed at Arras, France aged 20 on 5th April 1917, buried at Faubourg D’Amiens cemetery Arras. Charlie, South Wales Borderers, died of fever in Mesopotamia 1917 & is buried in El Amara, now Iraq. Jack, Royal Artillery survived the war, as did Albert, 1/5th R.W.F. & Ted, Labour Corps.
Jack had been discharged on medical grounds after being wounded in France. He went to work in South Wales but was being given white feathers by women every time he left his workplace so enlisted & joined my Dad in Palestine in 1917.
I have my Uncle Sam’s diaries from 1916 – 17 which give a fascinating picture of those times. His last entry 4th April 1917, “No firing in day, guard at night. Battery stand to at 11.15pm for raid action. 3.45am for raid. Up all night.”
He was killed the next day. His 21st birthday would have been 11th April 1917, there is an entry on that day which is “My 21st birthday where will I spend it?”
There are tear in my eyes as I write.
I am
Yours sincerely,
Sam Jones
This letter truly touched me and confirmed that no matter how many years elapse, the pain of the loss of loved ones never really goes away once you open the doors to your memories.
Mavis Williams 18th February 2013
Both Charles & his brother Samuel died and are remembered on the Screen to the left of the Altar in St. Ethelwold’s Church, Shotton. They are also remembered on the North Wales Memorial Arch (Panels) – Bangor, under Sealand Parish.
