John Evan Liversage was born circa 1900 and was seen on the 1901 census living at 9, Saltney Terrace, Mold Junction, Saltney, Hawarden, Flintshire. His father William Liversage. 41 was head of the household and was a Foreman Platelayer, Railway and born in Bretton, Flints. His wife Catherine, 35 had been born in Coed Poeth, Denbighshire and was bilingual. Son Thomas, 15 was a Railway Engine Cleaner and had been born in Bretton, Flintshire. Daughter Jane, 13 had been born in Broughton, Flintshire. All the rest of the children had been born in Saltney, Flintshire, they were, son David, 11, daughters Hannah, 9, Catherine 7 and Elizabeth D. 4 and sons Robert W.E., 2 and John E. 1.
The 1911 census see the family living at 11, Saltney Terrace, Mold Junction, Nr. Chester. Wiliam, 51 was still working as a Foreman Platelayer on the Railway (London N.W. Railway) his wife Catherine, 45 had been married 26 years and 10 children* had been born to them but sadly they had suffered the loss of one child. Son David, 21 and single was a Moulder in the Iron Works, daughter Hannah, was 19 and single. Daughter Catherine, 17 was an Apprentice Dressmaker, son Rt. William Ewart, 12, son John Evan, 11 and daughter Mary Ann 7 were at School. There was a Boarder in the household, Thomas Reynolds, 62, Single, a Roadman for Flintshire C.C. and had been born in Bretton, Flintshire.
Their daughter Dinah Elizabeth, seen on the 1901 census as Elizabeth D. Liversage, was visiting Joseph & Jane Whitehouse and their 3 children at 10, North Street, Tarvin Road, Boughton, Chester on the 1911 census. Dinah Elizabeth Liversage was to go on and marry Thomas Horobin in the June quarter of 1920 (Hawarden Vol. 11b Page 593) and their son, William Henry Horobin was to die on the 25 April 1944 after being a POW for 2 years. He is remembered on the Singapore Memorial and on the Saltney Ferry WW2 War Memorial, please click on the link to read his story.
* * I can only find 9 children, perhaps one was born and died between censuses.
I cannot find any Army Service Records for John Evan, but his Flintshire WW1 Index Card (Saltney Ferry F 18) tells us that he signed on for service with the colours for period of 12 months. Died of sickness* 1st March 1919. The Card was signed by Mrs. C. LIVERSAGE on 12th October 1919. (John Evan Liversage’s Medal Card states that he was previously in the TR Battalion (Territorial Reserves?), Regimental Number: 23800, so I believe that he probably attended Camp every year and would have been one of the first to go abroad, but need to see his Attestation Papers, which I have been unable to find to prove my theory or deny it.)
* We would need to buy the Death Certificate for John Evan to find out how and what he died from, his death certificate is (Volume 8a, Page 74) at Chester. He was 19 years old. One asks if it was the Flu, although by then I think the epidemic had died down a lot. Any help would be appreciated.
2 other brothers were also in the Army, but they happily, survived. See their Flintshire WW1 Index cards below:-
Saltney Ferry L 130
LIVERSAGE, David, 11, Saltney Terr. Saltney Ferry. 3980 R.F.A. Period of Service – 3 years, 10 months. Rank W1? Card signed by David LIVERSAGE, 13th October 1919
Saltney Ferry L 131.
LIVERSAGE, William, 11 Saltney Terr. Saltney Ferry. 736069 177th Bde. R.F.A. Gunner Period of Service 4 years 3 months. Card signed by William LIVERSAGE 12th October 1919.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 about John E Liversage tell us that he was also in the TR Battalion, Regtl.No. 23800, but does not tell us his first Theatre of War, nor when he entered it. It appears that he was at “home” when he died, although he could have been wounded or become ill and been sent home from abroad, any help would be appreciated. He was awarded the Victory & British War Medals, which I believe were only given if the soldier served abroad.
Evan J Liversage in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that he died in the War Hospital, in Chester, which may have been in Hoole. The sole Legatee was his mother Catherine who was paid £15 1s 5d on the 19th December 1919.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 about John Evan Liversage confirms his regimental information and tells us that he enlisted at Pontypridd, this also tells us that his theatre of was “Home”.