Edward WYNN – The oldest victim of the Gresford Colliery Disaster 1934

Edward Wynn was born 1867 in Wrexham, he was the son of Thomas Wynn a railway worker from Wrexham and Sarah who was from Mold.  He was brought up in Felin Puleston, his mother died in 1878 aged just 40.

Edward married Sarah Emma Evans in 1887, and first they lived in Pierce`s Square, by 1901 they moved to 6 Belle Vue Road and had 4 children. Sarah Lizzie 12, Edward Thomas 10 Maggie 8 and James aged 4. A daughter Elsie had died aged 19 months in 1900. In 1904 another little one Nellie died at just 2 days old. By 1901 Edward was working underground as a coal miner. They were still at the same address in 1911 and now had daughter Edith aged 9. .James was working as an ironmonger and Edward Thomas was a coalminer. 

The entry shows that of 8 children born, three had died but it`s not certain who the other one was as there is no other entry on the register page.

Edward went to Gresford Colliery where work was started on sinking in 1908 and it produced its first coal in 1911. On 22 September 1934 a great disaster affected many families in the area, there was a huge explosion in Gresford and 266 men were killed as the result. The oldest man was Edward Wynn who was now living at 32 Bradley Road. The official explanation was that it was an explosion of firedamp, cause of ignition uncertain, probably by spontaneous combustion, the Dennis section never reopened and the bodies of 254 victims there were sealed in forever.  

Very little is known about Sarah Emma Evans, in 1871 she was living with her grandmother Elizabeth Evans who was a widow also from Wrexham, she isn`t found again for sure until after she married Edward.

Sarah remained in 32 Bradley Road until her death on 4 August 1949. She was buried with two of her young children.

Researched by Annette Edwards.  April 2019.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF EDWARD WYNN, WHO LOST HIS LIFE IN THE GRESFORD COLLIERY DISASTER SEPTEMBER 22ND 1934, AGED 69 YEARS. IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH. ALSO HIS BELOVED WIFE SARAH EMMA WYNN, WHO DIED AUGUST 4TH, 1949 AGED 81 YEARS. ALSO THEIR THREE CHILDREN WHO DIED IN INFANCY

Gravestone Transcription.

Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery A-00145

Gresford Colliery Disaster

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