Christiana Evans was born in 1863 in Perthey which is just outside Ellesmere, Shropshire, she was the daughter of Joseph Evans and Sarah Davies. In 1871 the family were living in Ridge, which is also part of Ellesmere. In 1881 Christiana visiting 79 year old Eliza Chase in Welsh Hampton. Christiana`s occupation was a general servant.
In 1889 Christiana married Joseph Evans, the son of Thomas Evans at St Mary’s, Ruabon, and in 1891 they were living at 11 Cae Coch Lane, Joseph was the same age as his wife, there is a 5 year old daughter with them, Alice who was born in Ellesmere. The census was taken on the 5 April, and just a short time later Joseph died in a horrific incident which was reported in the Llangollen Advertiser 24 th April and a fuller story in the Wrexham Advertiser 25th April 1891.
CEFN AND RHOSYMEDRE. FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE CHEMICAL WORKS.
On Wednesday week, whilst a man named Joseph Evans, aged 21 (24), a married man residing at Cae coch lane, Cefn Mawr, labourer, was in the act of carrying a tin of carbolic acid, he by some means stumbled, and some of the poison was supposed to have got into his mouth. He was picked up, but died before he could be removed to his home. Dr. Roberts was called in, and pronounced life extinct. He has left a wife and two children. An inquest was held on Friday morning, at the Miners’ Arms Inn, and a verdict was returned in accordance with the facts.
Wrexham Advertiser 25th April 1891
It`s not known who the second child was and he or she may have been with another family member on the census night.
Between October and the end of December 1891 Christiana had another daughter named Mary Martha so it`s likely she was pregnant when Joseph died.
In the summer of 1894 Christiana married Robert Jones a labourer who was from Rhosymedre and by 1901 they had their own children. The family were at the Old Toll Bar in Plas Madoc. Alice and Mary Martha were there, they are the step children of Robert. Also there are Robert Thomas aged 5, Sarah A 4 and Alfred Ernest who less than one month old. By 1911 they were in 11 Manley Road, Wrexham. Robert Thomas was a grocers errand boy, Alfred Ernest and Mary Martha are also still at home.
Christiana died on 5 July 1917 aged 53, she was buried in Wrexham Cemetery. Her son Robert Thomas Jones died on 10 May 1919 aged just 23 at the Military Hospital, Lady Well Road, Bermondsey.
Even though his Army Records have not survived, it`s been possible to find a little information about Robert Thomas Jones.
His RWF 8416 number is a Territorial Force (TF) number (RWF 4th Bn). The fact that it’s on his Medal Card/Roll shows he went overseas under this number and then transferred to Royal Engineers. His RWF enlistment date is mid Nov 1915 so he was transferred to RE sometime after landing in France in 1916 and before ‘early 1917’.
The Soldiers Effects entry shows he was in 3rd Reserve Bn. He died of “illness” and his next of kin father was his father Robert who received £20 16s 5d.
His War Graves certificate shows that his father had moved from Wrexham and was living at Brown`s Lane, Cefn Mawr. Nothing else has been found on the family.
Researched by Annette Edwards. Military help from “Gwil”. May 2019.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF CHRISTIANA, THE BELOVED WIFE OF ROBERT JONES, CRESCENT RD, WREXHAM WHO DIED JULY 5TH, 1917 AGED 53 YEARS. 128825 PIONEER R. T. JONES, ROYAL ENGINEERS, 10TH MAY 1919. AGE 23.
Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery A-06066
