Samuel Pulford was born in Ysceifiog, Flintshire during the year 1862.
The 1871 Census tells us that the family lived in Holywell, Flintshire at that time. The head of the family was Peter Pulford aged 53, who was a Tailor/Draper and Grocer. His wife Elizabeth Pulford aged 52 and their 6 (six) children – Ann Pulford aged 30, a Grocer’s Assistant, Jane Pulford aged 23, a Milliner, Elizabeth Pulford aged 21, Mary Pulford aged 15, Edward Pulford aged 11 and Samuel Pulford aged 8 years.
Little is known of his early life but at some stage he enlisted in the Merchant Navy. On 19 November 1885, at the aged of 23 he was awarded his Certificate of Competency as a First Mate, by the order of the Board of Trade. He eventually became a Master Mariner.
On 31 May 1890 he was First Mate on the vessel SS Gorgon, which sailed from Liverpool. His pay was £9.0s.0d per month. He served on board this ship until 9 August 1890.
He married Elizabeth Jane Owen in 1907.
On 15 January 1915, giving his age as 50 (he was in fact 53), he enlisted as a soldier in the Welsh Horse Reserve. His Short Service Attestation Certificate states that it was for the duration of the war. He is described as 5’8″, chest measurement 34″, range of expansion 3″. However, some five months later on 11 July 1915, he was discharged as medically unfit. The family at that time lived at Bodhyfryd Road, Holywell, Flintshire.
On 19 November 1915 he made application to join Basingwerk Masonic Lodge, Coleshill Street, Holywell and was inducted into the Lodge on 25 August 1916. His name appears on their Roll of Honour.
He did return to Plymouth and served as a Lieutenant on H.M. Tug ‘Stolic’. He died at the Royal Naval Reserve Hospital, Plymouth on 26 June 1917, aged 55 years.
Following his death he received a Masonic Funeral. At 2.30pm on Friday 29 June 1917 members of the Basingwerk Masonic Lodge adjourned their meeting and formed themselves into a procession wearing their Masonic Regalia, and proceeded to the house where the remains of Samuel Pulford lay and from there marched to Zion Cemetery, Carmel, Holywell, the place of internment. At the conclusion of the burial ceremony all the members of the Lodge dropped sprigs of Arcacia onto the coffin and returned to the Masonic Lodge to resume their meeting.
The England & Wales National Probate Calendar states that Samuel Pulford. Hill Glen, Ffordd Las, Prestatyn, Flintshire died on 26 June 1917 at the RNR Hospital, Plymouth. Probate London 16 August to Elizabeth Jane Pulford, widow, the sum of £9798. 6s. 11d.
Samuel is also remembered on the Prestatyn War Memorial, the Mostyn Memorial and the North Wales Heroes Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales