St. Deniol’s Church, Hawarden was the venue for Henry Hough and Catherine Weigh’s marriage on the 19th December 1885. Henry was 22, a Clerk, his abode was Saltney, and his father was John Hough, also a Clerk. Catherine Weigh was 21 and she lived in Ewloe Town. Her father was Joseph Weigh, a Collier.
The 1891 census records the family living at Wood Lane, ( next to Vickers Nest or Rest, 2 doors before Wood Cottages, Level Road), Hawarden, Flintshire. Henry was head of the household, 28 a Storekeeper who had been born in Shotwick, Cheshire. Catherine, his wife was 27 and like the rest of the family had been born in Hawarden. Their children were John 4, Harriet 2 and Mary was 1 month old.
The 1901 census shows that John was living at the home of his Uncle, William Hough who was 42 and a blacksmith (an employer). William was married to Eliza Hough who was 42. Living in the household with them were Robert Hough (William’s brother) who was 28 and an Iron Driller, John Hough (William’s nephew) who was 14 and a Blacksmith’s Apprentice. There were also two boarders both apprentices from Warwickshire. They were all living at Bridge House (between 4 & 5 Dee Cottages, Queensferry, Flintshire).
The 1901 census records that John’s parents were living at Pentre, Hawarden. Henry, 37 was a Foundry worker at the Ironworks. Catherine was 36 and the listed children were Harriet 12, Mary 10, Joseph 7, William 4 and Catherine 3. They had all been born in Hawarden.
John was back home on the 1911 census with his family.Henry Hough was 47, a Boiler Fireman and Catherine his wife was 46. They had been married for 26 years and she had born 9 children, one of whom had died. John was 24, single and a Catcher in the Sheet Mills, Ironworks. Mary, 20 was a dressmaker, Joseph 17, was a Hammer Driver in the Ironworks. Henry, 9 and Peter Edward were both at school. There were two Granddaughters listed, Sarah Brandreth 4 and Jane Elizabeth Brandreth 2 had both been born in Everton, Liverpool.
UK, Soldiers who Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry .co.uk confirms the regimental information above and tells us he was born in Ewloe, his residence was Hawarden and that he had enlisted in Chester. His medal card also on ancestry details his medal entitlement.
For John to have been killed so early in the war and in Ceylon, suggests that he was already a professional soldier when war broke out. It has not yet been possible to locate his records. Can anyone help with his story?
John is also remembered on the Sandycroft War Memorial Plaque in St. Francis’s Church, Sandycroft.
A Mrs Hough is listed as having given a subscription of 1/– to the Queensferry Memorial Fund.
John is also remembered on the Sandycroft War Memorial in St. Francis’s Church.
Post script William Hough (John’s brother?)
There is a William Hough named on the Queensferry School Roll of Honour.
There is an index card for a William Hough in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. It is filed with the “Living” servicemen. (Queensferry L52). It states the address as 1, Dee View Terrace, Pentre, Hawarden. It says he served 4 years and when he signed his card on the 21st October 1919, he mentions “Present engagements”, so he may have been still in the Army on that date.
