MARY ELIZABETH RICHARDS / BOWMAN/ MELLOR/ DAVIES 1863 – 1945

ALSO OF NEWTON MELLOR, KINGS HEAD, WREXHAM, WHO DIED JUNE 4TH, 1924, AGED 47 YEARS. ALSO HIS WIFE MARY ELIZABETH, WHO DIED JULY 26TH, 1945, AGED 81 YEARS. “AT REST”. MARY ELIZABETH RICHARDS / BOWMAN/ MELLOR/ DAVIES 1863 – 1945 Mary Elizabeth Richards was the eldest daughter of the Thomas Richards and Harriet Wynne who were both from Wrexham, she was born late in 1863 in the West Derby district of Liverpool. Mary Elizabeth had married Alfred Edward Bowman, but he died in 1901. On 20 November 1907 Mary Elizabeth married Newton Mellor, also at St Giles; Newton was from Slaithwate Yorkshire and was about 14 years younger than his bride. Mary Elizabeth is still at the Nelson Arms. In 1911 they are at the Talbot Inn, Newton is in charge, Daisy, Harold and Dorothy, three of her children by Alfred are also there. Newton died in June 1924 at the Kings Head, Wrexham and Mary Elizabeth married again in 1925 to John Watkin Davies, again the marriage took place at St Giles. He has died by 1939 as she is found at 19 Bron y Dre, and she is a widow, also with her is one of her daughters. Mary Elizabeth Davies died at Bron y Dre on 26 July 1945; she is buried in the family plot with her first and second husbands, Alfred Edward and Newton. She is named twice on the grave as wife of both of them. NEWTON MELLOR 1877 – 1924 Newton Mellor was born in Slaithwate, Yorkshire on 17 July 1877 and baptised on Christmas day the same year. The parish register has him as son of Phoebe Mellor, there is no father`s name so he was illegitimate. In 1881 he is with his mother and grandparents in Slaitwaite Yorkshire. His grandfather Daniel was a book keeper at a corn mill, also there are his grandmother Rachel and his mother Phoebe Mellor who is still not married, she is 29 and a woolen brusher. Phoebe got married in 1882 to James William Bryan who was a cloth miller but sadly she died and was buried on 8 October 1889 in Slaithwaite. Newton is still with his grandparents in 1891, and at the age of 13 is a grocer’s assistant. He moved away and by 1901 he is a manager at a dairy in Prescot. Lancashire. 20 November 1907 Newton Mellor married Mary Elizabeth Bowman (Richards) at St Giles, Wrexham. Newton gave a wrong age; he says he is 37 which make his birthdate 1870, in fact he was 30. His occupation was a dairy manager and he is living at 31 Wellington Road. He names his father as James William Bryan, a cloth miller. Was he his real father though? In August 1910 Newton is mentioned in an article about the Llangollen Traders' Association Annual Dinner at the "Bridge End" Hotel. Mr. T. C. Davies, the president, was in the chair. The musical talent, comprising a number of well- known performers, friends of the landlord, from Wrexham was admirable in every way and contributed materially to the evening's enjoyment. Mr. Newton Mellor was in splendid voice, his “turns" being loudly cheered. In August 1917 Newton appeared before the East Denbighshire Appeal Tribunal. Newton Mellor, Talbot Hotel. Adjourned for three weeks to find work By September 1917, he had been granted exemption. Newton Mellor, Talbot Hotel, conditional exemption while engaged on national work. It would be interesting to find what his “national work” was. From 1916 the Military Service Act declared that men from 18 to 41 years old were liable to be called up for service in the army unless they were married, widowed with children, serving in the Royal Navy, a minister of religion, or working in one of a number of reserved occupations. Later it was extended to liability to married men, and later the upper age limit was set at 51. Objectors to call-up could apply to a local Military Service Tribunal which were bodies set up by local councils for men who wanted to appeal for an exemption from conscription. By 1919 Newton was the general secretary of the North Wales Football Alliance and their meeting in August was held at the Talbot Hotel. Newton Mellor died on 4 June 1924, at the Kings Head Hotel, Wrexham and was buried with his in-laws. He left effects of £607. 10s. JOHN WATKIN DAVIES c 1861 - 1933 Even though Mary Elizabeth`s third husband isn`t buried in the Bowman grave it was worth a try to find who he was, and he was from Montgomeryshire. They married on 17 November 1925, James Watkin was aged 64, he was a widower and a clothier, and he lived at Larkfield on Bersham Road, his father was John Davies, a deceased clothier. Both witnesses were Bowman`s. A search for John Watkin Davies found one who was buried on 2 February 1933 aged 72 at Croesnewydd Hospital, a check for the same grave number finds his wife, Mary Davies who died at Larkfield, Bersham Road and was buried on 18 November 1924. Researched by Annette Edwards with help from Judy Roberts of Chirk. August 2018. Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery J-02397 & 02398
Story added by Graham L
 Mynwent Wrecsam
MARY ELIZABETH RICHARDS / BOWMAN/ MELLOR/ DAVIES 1863 – 1945
  • MARY ELIZABETH RICHARDS / BOWMAN/ MELLOR/ DAVIES 1863 – 1945

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