William Percival was born in Wrexham in 1864; he was the son of George Percival and Sarah Antrobus who were both from Cheshire.
In 1871 they were at Croesnewydd, George was a farm labourer, he later became the farm bailiff there , and in 1881 William was a muck seller.
In 1887 William married Rebecca Candlin who was from Dawley.
Rebecca was the daughter of Richard Candlin and Sarah Ann Swinnerton who had married in 1864. She had been baptised in 1868 at Malinslee, near Dawley.
Richard had died on 7 October 1869 aged 44. In 1861 he was with his parents John and Ann, and then he was an ironstone burner. His probate shows he was a mine burner at the time of his death.
In 1871 Rebecca was aged 3 and was living on High Street Dawley with her widowed mother Sarah Ann who was a dressmaker, she had an elder sister Elizabeth who was 6 years old. In 1876 Sarah Ann had remarried to Joseph Rolls in Wrexham and was living at Stansty Forge Cottages. Joseph Rolls was a coachman and was from Dorset, Rebecca was still with her mother and now had 2 step brothers William Charles aged 4 and Joseph Francis who was just one. How Sarah Ann and Joseph came to be in Wrexham is a mystery.
Joseph Rolls died in Wrexham on 25 February 1884, there was an inquest into his death as he was found injured in the road about a week earlier. Joseph had then been employed at the Town Hall Vaults and was living at 6 George Street, Rhosddu. A doctor’s certificate had been returned, in which the cause of death was attributed to encephalitis or inflammation of the brain.—The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.”
In 1886 Sarah Ann remarried to Robert Williams who was a tailor and her third husband.
By 1891 William and Rebecca had moved to Ruabon Road, and he was now a stoker in a colliery, they had a son William Henry who was only 1 month old. They then moved to Gibson Street by 1901 and William was now a colliery engine driver, William 10, Ethel 6, Charles Leslie 4, Nellie M 2 and Hester Maud aged 1. Charles Leslie died in 1906, he was only 10 years old. By 1911 they were in Peel Street, William was still in the same job, and by now William jnr was a colliery engine cleaner. Of 10 children born, only six were still alive. William, Ethel, Nellie, Hester Maud, Harry 8 and Annie 6 had been born since the last census.
In 1939 Esther Maud was at 3 Ashleigh Road, Solihull, she was in domestic service to 73 year old widow Edith Harcourt Zair. Edith Harcourt had been born in Toronto and had married Alfred Dawson Zair in Toronto. She died in 1954 aged 88, her home address was still Ashleigh Road, Solihull. She left effects of over £11443, and probate was granted to her son Alfred Harcourt Zair a medical practitioner. If Esther Maud was still with Edith it would be nice to think she was left a little something in her will.
Also in 1939 William and Rebecca were at Peel Street, he was a retired fan engine driver.
Rebecca died on 4 January 1941 aged 73, she was in Wrexham Hospital at the time. William died in Peel Street on 26 December 1945 aged 81.
Researched by Annette Edwards. June 2019.
IN LOVING MEMORY OF REBECCA, BELOVED WIFE OF WILLIAM PERCIVAL, WHO DIED JAN 4TH, 1941, AGED 73 YEARS. ALSO WILLIAM, BELOVED HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE, WHO DIED DEC 26TH, 1945, AGED 81 YEARS. ALSO CHARLES LESLIE, THEIR BELOVED SON, WHO DIED MARCH 26TH, 1906, AGED 10 YEARS. “REUNITED”. ALSO ESTHER MAUD, THEIR DAUGHTER, WHO DIED NOV 1ST, 1975, AGED 75 YEARS.
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Grave ref: Wrexham Cemetery A-00165
