Thomas Heywood was baptised 21 February 1818 at Bangor, Caernarvonshire, he was the son of Thomas Heywood and Elizabeth. His father was a very successful and well-known watchmaker, silversmith and jeweller who had his business in Bangor.
On 8 January 1840 Thomas married Elizabeth Pinnington at Shenstone Church, Lichfield.
Elizabeth had been born in Maghull, Liverpool about 1818, her father was Charles a carpenter, her mother was Ann.
In 1851 they were in High street, Wrexham and by 1861 they had moved to 10 Queens Street where they remained for many years. The business remained in premises on High Street where Thomas was a watchmaker and master jeweller.
Elizabeth had given birth to 12 known children, Thomas Ralph 1840 (died 1883), Mary Elizabeth 1841, Lucy Ann 1844, William Henry 1845 (died 1904). Alfred Wright 1846 (died 1883), James Llewelyn 1848 (died 1876), Charles Edward 1850 (died 1875), Frederick Herbert 1850 (died 1872). Phillip Ernest 1852 (died 1879) Fanny Maria 1854, Elizabeth Emily 1855 and Florence 1857 (died 1888) It would seem that Elizabeth spent much of her time pregnant.
Elizabeth died aged 67 on 26 1885 in Queen Street. Many of her sons had died before her.
A couple of years later Thomas put his business up for sale. 15th October 1887
TO BE SOLD by PRIVATE TREATY, all that old established business of a WATCHMAKER and JEWELLER which has been carried on by Mr Thomas Heywood at No 7, High street, Wrexham, for the last 46 years.
Thomas died aged 70 in February 1888, also in Queen Street.
Lucy Ann married William Thomas in 1869; he was a grocer from Wrexham and 20 years older than she was. In 1871 they have a shop on Hope Street, William died on 15 February 1876. Lucy Ann never remarried.
In 1882 Elizabeth Emily married William Lester Hampson at St Giles, he was a cotton porter, it`s not sure where they lived as she isn`t found in 1891 but in February 1892 William Lester took his own life.
SHOCKING SUICIDE. On Friday, Mr T. E. Sampson, coroner, of Liverpool, held an inquest regarding the cause of the death of William Lester Hampson, a cotton porter, 36 years of age, who lived at 32, Saxon-street (This could be Saxon Street, West Derby ) It seemed from the evidence that the deceased had been out of work for a fortnight, and he became depressed and took to drinking. He had several times said he wished he was dead, and he so expressed himself as recently as Sunday last. On Thursday morning Mrs Hampson went out leaving her husband apparently in good spirits. When she returned she received a letter through the post. It was addressed to her by her husband, and contained the following:—” My Darling wife,—I am very sorry I have got to part from you, but I see this world is not worth living for. They study money more than they do God. I have written to your sister Lucy to look after you, and also to your mother. I hope we shall all meet in heaven. From your loving husband, William. It was stated that Hampson in the afternoon went to the public-house, 75 West Derby-road, kept by his brother, and had a pint of beer at the bar. He wrote some letters, and then went into the private portion of the house. He then went to the water closet, and shortly afterwards a couple of explosions were heard. The son of the publican ran to the chamber and found his uncle dead. A revolver was found on the floor, two shots having been fired from it. The body was removed to the Royal Infirmary mortuary. It was stated that the revolver, &c., would cost 7s 6d, the amount which Mrs Hampson gave to her husband in the morning in order to pay the rent. The jury placed on record a verdict of Suicide whilst in a State of temporary Insanity,”
27th February 1892 Wrexham Advertiser.
Elizabeth Emily died the following year on 4 March 1893, she was only 37. She was living at 28 Victoria Road, Wrexham.
Also buried in the grave is Fanny Maria Williams. Fanny Maria had married Joseph Morrison on 18 June 1879.
Joseph was born in Airlie, Angus, Scotland, he was the son of David Morrison and Margaret Anderson. The family lived at Tolkeringham Gamekeepers Cottage, where David was the gamekeeper on the Airlie Estate.
By 1871 they had all moved to Ruabon, David was a gamekeeper and the family were living at the Mountain Lodge on Newton mountain. Joseph was then a pupil teacher. At the time of his marriage he was a commercial traveler.
The marriage was announced in the Wrexham Advertiser, but nothing is said of Joseph`s father. David and Margaret stayed in the same area and he became the keeper at the Ruabon reservoir. He died in 1893.
MORRISON—HEYWOOD
On the 18th inst. 1879, at the Parish Church, Wrexham, Joseph Morrison to Fanny Maria, daughter of Mr. Heywood, jeweller.
Joseph died aged 24 in 1880. His death was announced in the newspapers.
Sept. 28th, aged 24, at Cunliffe-street, Rhosddu, Wrexham, Joseph Morrison.
In 1886 Fanny Maria remarried to William Robert Williams who born about 1859 at Llanwrst. He was a colliery clerk, the couple lived in Ruabon before settling in Wrexham. In 1911 they were living in Colmere Street.
They had no children and in 1913 Fanny Maria died aged 60 at Jesmond, Kings Mills Road which was her sister Lucy`s home.
Researched by Annette Edwards, with help from Cari Pugh. July 2019.
Some images are from Wrexham Museum website.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ELIZABETH, THE BELOVED WIFE OF THOMAS HEYWOOD, JEWELLER OF THIS TOWN, WHO DIED JAN 26, 1885, AGED 67 YEARS. ALSO THOMAS HEYWOOD, HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE, WHO DIED 16 FEBRUARY 1888, AGED 70 YEARS. ALSO ELIZABETH EMILY HAMPSON, DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE, WHO DIED 4 MARCH 1893, AGED 37 YEARS.
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Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery J-02781
