The 1901 census tells us that the family was living at Eaton Place, Leeswood (Coed Talon in Welsh) in the Parish of Pontblyddyn, Flintshire. The household consisted of Head, Richard G Evans 42 (born in Mold). He was a fireman below ground at the coal mine. His wife Margaret was 35, born in Denbigh. Their four children were Elizabeth 12, Thomas 7, Catherine A 5yrs and Harriet 3.
Ten years on, the 1911 census finds the family in Pontybodkin. The Head of the household is Richard George Evans. It says he is 50 years old and that he had been born in Pontblyddyn. He is described as a pumpman underground at the colliery. His wife Margaret is listed as a 45 year old woman who had been born in Froncysllte, Llangollen, Denbighshire. The eldest child at home was Thomas Evans aged 17, single and a collier jigger, underground. Harriet was 13, Susanna was 10, George was 7 and Maggie was 4. These were all at school. The census form tells us that Margaret had given birth to 8 children in total and 7 of them were still alive. It also tells us that the family was bilingual, speaking both Welsh and English.
UK Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 -1919 on www.ancestry.co.uk informs us that although Thomas had been born in Leeswood, at the time of his enlistment he was resident in Liverpool.
His Flintshire Roll of Honour card in the Archives Office in Hawarden gives his regimental details and his address as Eaton Cottages in Leeswood. It says he served 1 year and 7 months and that he was wounded in action in France and died of the wounds he received. The card was signed by Gladys A Phillips on 16th Sept 1919.
