I believe that Samuel’s parents were Thomas Wilcock and Barbara Wainwright and they married in St. John’s Church, Chester in 1875. (CE13/10/37).

Samuel was born about 1889. The family was living at Penymynydd, Hope, Penyffordd & Penymynydd, Cheshire on the 1891 census.   Head of the household was Thomas Wilcock, 38 a coal miner who had been born in Hope, Flintshire. His wife Barbara, 35 had been born in Bannel, Flintshire. Their children were  Thomas, 13 a Farmer’s Labourer, James, 10,  Mary E, 8,  Martha G, 6 , William, 4, and Samuel 2.

The 1901 census sees the family living at New Road Bannel, Hawarden (Flint), Bannel & Pentrobin, Cheshire. Thomas, 48, was still  a Coal Miner, Hewer.  His wife Barbara was 45.  Their childen were Thomas, 23  a Coal Miner, Fitter,  William, 14  a Farm Labourer,   Samuel, 14,  M. Jane, 16,  John, 7 and Ithel, 2.   Two  of the children (Peter & John) were deaf and dumb.“Deaf & Dumb from Childhood”  Peter had been born in Penymynydd and was missing from the household on this census, because he was a pupil in Liverpool at the School for Deaf & Dumb, Home & School, Melville Place, Liverpool (Mount Pleasant (District)). He was 10.

By the 1911 census the family had decreased in size, Thomas, 58 and wife Barbara had been married 35 years, 13 children had been born and they had sadly lost 3 of them.   They still lived in Bannel.  Samuel, 22 was  a Coal Miner Hewer.   Peter, 19 was a Farm Labourer.  John 18  was a Baker.   Ithel , 12  was a schoolboy.

UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk  confirms Samuel’s  regimental information and also tells us that he was born in Hope and enlisted in Buckley. His medal card also on ‘Ancestry’ details his medals.

There is an index card for Samuel Wilcock in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden.  (Card  Hope F9) tells us his period of service was 1 year 4 months, but his date of death is said to be the 17th August 1916.   The card was signed by Mary Eleana Mullard on the 15th September, 1919.

.Samuel is also remembered on the Hope War Memorial

WILCOCK – Killed in action, Private Samuel Wilcock, of Penymynydd, Buckley, aged 28.

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P.S. Is the Flintshire index card (transcribed below) of  Samuel’s  ‘Deaf and Dumb’ Brother, who survived the War?

Flintshire WW1 Index Card Hope L97 – Wilcock, John, The Well, Penymynydd. 48675 R.A.M.C. Pte. Period of Service:- 3 years 11 months.   Military Medal. Card signed by John Wilcock, 9th September 1919.

Can anyone help?