Joseph Thomas Ankers’ parents, William Ankers and Lizzie E. Cowper, I believe, were married in St. Mary’s Church in Chester in 1881.(CE14/9/117)
Joseph was the 2nd of 3 sons born to the couple, and first appears on the 1901 census living at the Lifeboat Inn, Saltney (Flint), Sandycroft, Cheshire with his family. Head of the household and Joseph’s father was William Ankers, 41, a Grocer, born in Kellsall Cheshire. They had been at the Lifeboat Inn on the 1891 census when William was a Grocer and an Inn Keeper. William’s wife was Lizzie, 46 and born in Burton Shropshire. Their children were all born in Hawarden, son William was single,18 and a Labourer, daughter Adalaide was 17 and a Barmaid, daughter Mary was 15 and a Housemaid ( Domestic), daughter Annie was 13, daughter Ethel was 9, son Joseph was 6 and son George E was 4. There were 4 boarders.
The 1911 census sees the family on the Saltney Road Pentre, Flintshire (7 Children had been born, all living). William was now a Butcher (Home) and age 51, wife Lizzie was now age 56 and assisting with the business, they had been married 29 years. Lizzie now states that she was born in Ruyton Eleven Towns, Salop. Son William Henry was single, age 28 and still a Labourer, but born in Sandy Croft Flintshire on this census. Son Joseph Thomas was single, age 16 and a Coal Checker also born Sandy Croft Flintshire and son George Edgar was single, age14 and an Errand Boy also born Sandy Croft.
The census was written by the head of the household in 1911 and should only have people who were living at that address on the night of the census, but William who filled in the census form had included his 3 daughter on it, then they were crossed out, presumably by the Enumerator, but as a matter of family history, I am adding them here:-
Adelaide Gertrude Ankers Dau 27 Married (Married 2 years) all born Sandycroft.
Mary Elizabeth Ankers Dau 25 Single Servant
Annie Evelyn Ankers Dau 23 Single Servant
Ethel Doris Ankers Dau 18 Single Servant
St. Deniol’s Churchyard, North Extension (West Side) – M 7 Stone base for cross (missing).
George E. Ankers* who died April 2 1916 aged 19 years. Also of Joseph T.Ankers, Killed in Action in France December 6th 1916 aged 22 years. the Beloved Sons of William & Lizzie Ankers, Pentre, Hawarden. On the south side:- Also Annie Evelyn Ankers who died October 17th 1928 aged 41 years. “Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let light Perpetual shine upon her”.
* In the index for the memorial, it states that George E. Ankers also died in France. 1916.
I cannot find any trace on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database of George Edgar Ankers who is mentioned on the Monumental Inscriptions above, but here is a death certificate for George Edgar: – Ankers, George Edgar 1916 Hawarden Flintshire (Mold) North Wales HAW/09A/96
No Flintshire WW1 Index Card either “Fallen” or “Living” for Joseph, but one for a William Henry, Joseph’s Brother (see 1911 census), he survived, it seems, see below.:-
Flintshire WW1 Index Card Sandcroft L4 – Ankers, William Henry, Pentre, Sandycroft. 32202 R.W.F. Disch. April ( crossed out) 1918. Pte. Period of Service 2nd March 1916 – 6th June 1918. Transferred to A.S.C.. M.T. Home Service (Medically unfit for overseas.) Card signed by L.E. Ankers. 30th September. 1919.
I wonder if William Henry died later from his war service? Here is a death certificate for a William Ankers ;- Ankers, William 1920 Hawarden Flintshire (Mold) North Wales HAW/12A/96
If I am correct, William & Lizzie would have lost their 3 sons by 1920, we have George Edgar and Joseph Thomas on the Gravestone above and William Henry was discharged by the look of things circa 1918 and if the death is “our” William then it shows he died in 1920* . How sad for them and their remaining children. * I need to ask Superintendent Registrar if William died of War Wounds, or Army Service, as he was “medically unfit for overseas” on his Flintshire WW1 Index Card. If so, we can try and bring him “in from the cold” and have him entered on the CWGC database for perpetuity. Any help would be appreciated.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission additional information: Son of William and Lizzie Ankers, of Main Rd., Pentre, Hawarden, Flints. The Register of the Graves, which is under the certificate on the website, tells us that Joseph “Died of Wounds”.
Joseph Thomas was formerly 1618, Cheshire Yeomanry. He also remembered on the Hawarden War Memorial and the Sandycroft War Memorial in St. Francis’s Church Sandycroft.
Adelaide had married John Moorhouse in 1908 at St. Deniol’s Church in Hawarden.
Joseph obviously attended the Queensferry School, but I have no details of when he was there.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms Joseph’s regimental details and tells us that he was born in Hawarden and enlisted in Chester. This source that tells us he was killed in action in France/Flanders and that he was formerly a Cheshire Yeoman. His Medal Index Cards also on ‘Ancestry’ tells us his medal entitlement.
There is no index card for him in The Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record office in Hawarden.