Edward Hughes was born about 1879 in Wrexham; he was the son of Noah Hughes a tailor and Maria Jones.
Noah had been born about 1841, his father Edward was also a tailor in Denbigh.
In 1864 Noah married Maria Jones, and the family came to live on Madeira Hill in Wrexham.
Maria had been born in Bodfari and was the daughter of Ellis and Margaret Jones.
Noah and Maria went to live at Bailey Street, Oswestry, but by 1891 were back in Wrexham at 3 Smithfield Road.
Noah died in 1898 and Maria moved to Ashfield Road, Stansty. In 1901 only she and her son Edward were at home, Edward was working as a coalminer hewer.
Edward went to Rhondda Cynon Taf and found work at the Meiros Colliery, Llanharan. Sadly, he was killed while at work.
Evening Express. 14th November 1905
LLANHARAN FATALITY At the Meiros Colliery, Llanharan, on Monday, Edward Hughes was instantly killed by a stone falling from the roof. Deceased was 26 years of age, and leaves a widowed mother.
Noah and Maria`s daughter, also Maria had married in 1903 to John Francis Jones. John Francis was born in the Ffrith and the son of Meredith and Margaret Jones. Meredith Jones was also a tailor. The family moved to Rhosddu, which is probably where Maria met James Francis.
In 1911 Maria was living with them in Spring Road, Rhosddu. The couple had one son at the time. John Francis joined the RWF in 1914 but tragedy struck again the following year later when John Francis died suddenly at the age of 33.
Llangollen Advertiser 22nd January 1915.
SOLDIER DIES IN THE STREET, The death of a private in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, named John Francis Jones who, until the outbreak of war, worked as a miner at Wrexham, and who died suddenly in the street at Chester, was investigated by the Chester Coroner, on Monday. Jones was acting as an orderly at Watergate House to the Officers of the Western Command. On Thursday evening, when walking along the street, he was seen to fall. When picked up he was insensible, and a doctor who was called pronounced life extinct. Jones had served in the army twelve years, and was called up in August as a reservist. His wife lives at 86, Spring Street, Rhosddu, Wrexham. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.
The official military report states cause of death as heart failure.
Maria Hughes stayed at Spring Road and died there aged 79 in February 1920. Her daughter Maria Jones also stayed in the same street and died in 1944 aged 58 she was buried with her mother and husband.
Researched by Annette Edwards. July 2020. Headstone photographs by Graham Lloyd.
Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery A-00026A
