The Jones Family in Flint, Flintshire, Wales
And their descendants in Manchester and Bolton, Lancashire, England and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
This page covers one of the many Jones families originating in Northern Wales. Due to the immense popularity of their surname Jones in Wales and Northwest England, it is very difficult to trace our family’s origins earlier than the 19th century. They came from the coalmines of Flintshire, Wales in the early-19th century to the exploding industrial neighbourhoods of Greater Manchester, England, where they were bricklayers. In the early 20th century, they emigrated from the industrial heartland of England to the industrial heartland of Canada to Hamilton, Ontario, where Dick Jones turned his bricklaying skills into a prosperous building contracting and construction company.
Origins Of The Surnames Jones and Evans
Origins Of The Surnames Jones and Evans
Jones and Evans are both patronymic surnames. Jones is an abbreviation of “Johnson” which means “son of John”. Under normal circumstances this would mean that our Jones family is probably descended from an ancestor whose father’s name was John, which could easily be the case as John is one of the most popular male names in the world. However, in the case of the Welsh there is a different story, which we’ll get to after we look at the name Evans.
Evans is an abbreviation of “Evanson”, which means “son of Evan”. Evan is a Welsh form of John (related to the Scot’s Gaelic “Ewan”, the Germanic “Johan”, and the Russion “Ivan”), so Evans also means “son of John”. Thus Evans and Jones are etymologically equivalent names. Evans and Jones are also by far the two most common Welsh surnames.
Prior to the imposition of English naming customs in Wales, the Welsh people, like their Celtic cousins in Scotland and Ireland, used patronymic surnames such as “Evan ap Dyffyd”, which means “John, son of David”. (“Ap” is the Welsh form of the Gaelic “mac” meaning “son of”.) Legend has it that when the English imposed their surname system on the Welsh, the Welsh responded by having everyone take the name Evans or Jones, which to the Welsh were really just the same name. This was apparently done just to confound the English bureaucrats. Whether this legend is based in truth or is just folklore to explain the popularity of the two names may never be known, but it’s certainly a good Welsh tale.
John Jones in North Wales
Our story begins in the mines of northern Wales. We know little of John Jones other than that he was a lead miner and that he had at least one child.
John Jones, b. Abt 1790, Flint, Flintshire, Wales 
, d. UNKNOWN, Flint, Flintshire, Wales.
John Jones’s son, William Jones, at the time of his marriage to Jemima Williams in 1844, indicates that he was a collier (coal miner) from Llwynegrin, and that his father was John Jones, a miner. As the marriage certificate differentiates between collier and miner, we can infer that John Jones mined something other than coal. William does not indicate that his father was deceased. Other than coal, the next most common ore to be mined was lead, so it is likely that John was a lead miner.
Llwynegrin is located about 1 km north of Mold, adjacent to Leadmill. From this, we can infer that there used to be a lead mine nearby.
William’s marriage was witnessed by Evan Jones, who is presumed, but not confirmed, to be William’s brother. We don’t know if Evan was older or younger than William. And entry below suggests that Evan may have been an uncle.
In various census records, William is found living in close proximity to several different mean surnamed Jones who would be the right ages to be William’s brothers. They include men named John Jones, Edward Jones, James Jones, and Henry Jones. Pursuing each of their histories has proved fruitless in trying to connect them to a father named John Jones. Because of the commonness of the surname, we cannot infer relationship simply from proximity in this case.
From William’s marriage record, we would hope to find a record in the 1841 census of a household near Llwynegrin headed by a John Jones born prior to 1800 who was likely a lead miner, with a son William, about age 20, and another son named Evan. No such household has been found.
John Jones is presumed to have married, but no information has been found on his wife. He had the following children:
1. William Jones, b. 1819, Flint, Flintshire, Wales, d. Abt 1853, Flint, Flintshire, Wales (Age 34 years)
William Jones, b. 1819, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. Abt 1853, Flint, Flintshire, Wales (Age 34 years). William Jones’ information is presented below.
2. Evan? Jones, b. Abt 1820, Flint, Flintshire, Wales, d. UNKNOWN
Evan? Jones, b. Abt 1820, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. UNKNOWN.
Evan Jones is recorded as the witness of William Jones’ wedding in 1844 in Llwynegrin, between Northrop and Mold, south of Flint. Evan is presumed to be the brother of William, but his age is unknown. Their father, John Jones was a miner.
There are multiple matches for an Evan Jones residing near Llwynegrin in the 1841 and 1851 census records. The best contenders are:
1. Evan Jones, 20, miner, with wife Sarah Jones, 20, and son John Jones, 3 months, residing in Northrop. They were residing next to the families of Thomas Williams and Robert Griffiths. (marriage in 1839 shows father as William Jones).
2. Evan Jones, 25, miner, with wife Mary Jones, 25, son Thomas, 4, and daughter Ann, 1, residing in Northrop. (Evan Jones of Northrop and Mary Jones married 1834, married in Cilcain, about 6 km west of Mold, witnessed by Thomas Jones and Ann Jones)
3. Evan Jones, 25, collier, with wife Maria, 30, and children, Ann, 2, and John, infant, residing in Waen-y-Balls, Flint Mountain, between Northrop and Flint.
4. Evan Jones, son of John Jones, saddler, m 25 Dec 1849 in Mold to Harriet Barrett
Life in the Lead Mines of Northern Wales
Life for a miner living in Northern Wales in the early 19th century was hard. Mining was physically demanding and often dangerous work. Miners would typically spend long hours underground, working in cramped and poorly ventilated spaces. They used hand tools like picks and shovels to extract lead ore from the earth.
Miners faced various health risks, including exposure to toxic substances such as lead, which could lead to lead poisoning or other respiratory issues. Accidents were also common and there was a constant threat of cave-ins, flooding, and fires. Wages were generally low. They were often paid based on the amount of ore they extracted, which could be a challenging and uncertain source of income. Labor disputes and strikes were not uncommon as miners sought better working conditions and fair wages. Child labour in the mines was not outlawed until 1842, and even then, the law was often ignored. (Mines of Wales)
Miners typically lived in small, close-knit communities near the mines. Housing conditions varied, but many lived in basic cottages or terraced houses, often provided by the mine owners. These houses were typically simple and lacked modern amenities. They lived in multi-generational households with the entire family often playing a role in mining activities. Women and children might help with tasks like washing and sorting ore, while men were primarily involved in underground work. Education for the children of miners was often limited. Schools were not as readily available in rural mining communities, and children’s participation in education was frequently intermittent due to the demands of family labor. Mining communities tended to be close-knit, and social life revolved around the mining industry.
William Jones and Jemima Williams in Flint, Flintshire, Wales
William Jones, b. 1819, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. Abt 1853, Flint, Flintshire, Wales (Age 34 years). William married on 8 Dec 1844 in Mold, Flintshire, Wales, to Jemima Williams, b. 1819, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. UNKNOWN, Lancashire, England.
William Jones was a coalminer according to his son John’s marriage record. The marriage record does not give John’s mother’s name. John’s death record indicates that John was the son of “William Jones and Jemima Williams”.
William Jones has not been confidently identified in the 1841 census.
On 8 Dec 1844, William Jones, a collier, residing in Llwynegrin, son of John Jones, a miner, married to Jemima Williams, residing in Mold, daughter of William Williams. Their ages were given only as “of full age.” The marriage was witnessed by Evan Jones and Margaret Williams, presumably their siblings. Llwynegrin Lodge is located adjacent to a lead mine, about 2 km north of Mold and about 8 km south of Flint.
(Llwynegrin was built in 1830 by Thomas Jones of Chester for Philip Davies Cooke of Gwysaney as a dowager house in Tudor style. It was originally symmetrical and stuccoed, it has since been extented and the later outer wings are now cement rendered. The original centre block is approximately E-shaped with advanced gabled outer bays and central two-storey gabled ashlar porch with swept roof. There are medium pitched slate roofs with stone ridges. There are diagonal stepped buttresses to the corners. The interior has been adapted for office use.) https://coflein.gov.uk/en/site/35987/?term=shire%20hall
(Chester is on the border of England and Wales, 15 km east of Mold.)
In 1851, at age 32 (or 37), William Jones was residing at Parish Lane in Flint, Flintshire, Wales, employed as a labourer. He was residing with his wife, Jemima Jones, age 32, and their sons, William age 5, and John, age 3. Listed immediately preceding in the census is Edward Jones, age 33, an engine driver, with his wife, 30 year old Elizabeth, and their sons, John, age 6, and Robert, age 4. Edward is believed to be William’s brother.
William Jones died sometime between 1851, when he last appears in a census, and 1854 when his widowed wife remarried to George Griffiths.
In 1861, William’s sons are found residing with “Jemima Griffiths” who is the same age as their mother. From this entry it is presumed that William died between 1851-1861 and Jemima remarried to a man surnamed Griffiths.
In 1891, John Jones and Ellen Evans were residing at 16 Baythorpe Street in Little Bolton, Lancashire, England. Living two houses away at 12 Baythorpe Street, was William Jones, age 43, born in Wales, a tailor, with his wife Mary Ann, age 43, born in Wales, and their children:
Frederick W. 20, Wales, cotton piercer
George H, 18, Wales, cotton cloth tacker
Edith, 15, Preston, Lancashire
Ernest, 14, Blackpool, Lancashire
Annie, 11, Blackpool, Lancashire
Florence, 5, Bolton, Lancashire.
1861 census reveals potential family members for William Jones residing on Duke Street in downtown Flint, just two blocks from the parish church of Saint Mary, Flint. These residences are located above various stores.
Residing at 7 Duke Street, Flint is:
Jemima Griffiths, head, age 40(?), a charwoman, born in Flintshire.
William Jones, son, age 15, a bricklayer’s apprentice, born in Flintshire.
John Jones, son, age 13, a bricklayer’s labourer, born in Flintshire.
Residing next door at 8 Duke Street is:
James Jones, head, age 42 (1819), a labourer, born in Flintshire.
Mary Jones, wife, age 52 (1809), born Flintshire.
Elizabeth, daughter, age 20 (1841), scholar, born Flintshire.
Lucy Madlesy, visitor, age 1, born Carnarvon.
Residing next door at 9 Duke Street is:
Ann Jones, head, age 52 (1809), a charwoman, born in Flintshire.
Jane Jones, sister, age 32 (1829), a charwoman, born in Flintshire.
Mary Jones, sister, age 19 (1842), a charwoman, born Flintshire.
Robert Jones, son, age 18 (1843), a labourer, born in Flintshire.
Margaret Jones, daughter, age 9 (1852), a scholar, born in Flintshire
Thomas Jones, son, age 2 (1859), born in Flintshire.
Residing nearby at 4 Duke Street is:
Catharine Williams, boarder, 57 (1804), a stovemaker, born in Flintshire.
Residing nearby at 3 Duke Street is:
Sarah Dean, head, widowed, age 69 (1792), pauper, born in Flintshire.
Harriet Griffiths, granddaughter, age 3 (1858), born in Flintshire.
Family
William and Jemima had the following children:
1. William Jones, Jr., b. 1846, Flint, Flintshire, Wales, d. UNKNOWN
William Jones, Jr., b. 1846, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. UNKNOWN.
In 1851, at age 5, William Jones was residing in Flint, Flintshire, Wales, with his parents and brother.
In 1861 William is found with his widowed (and remarried) mother and his younger brother John residing in Flint, Flintshire, Wales. William is shown as a bricklayer’s apprentice and his brother John is a bricklayer’s labourer.
2. John Jones, b. 13 Jan 1848, Flint, Flintshire, Wales, d. 26 Apr 1924, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 76 years)
John Jones, b. 13 Jan 1848, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. 26 Apr 1924, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 76 years). John Jones’ information is presented below.
John Jones and Ellen Evans in Lancashire, England
Victorian Manchester and Bolton
Victorian Manchester, England
Manchester, as a city, was not only the leading example of the best of the Industrial Revolution, but also its worst. Not only was labour employment booming, but so was labour exploitation. The only people making money off the industrial revolution were the factory owners, while labourers were exploited and lived in horrific poverty. In the absence of labour laws the normal workweek was 14 hours/day, seven days a week. A few of the more benevolent employers would allow Sunday mornings off for church, but if you skipped church then you’d be fired. Children could be employed as young as age 6, and since they could also be paid less than adults it was more profitable for owners to employ as many children as possible. Far too many of these children died on the dangerous factory floors. Workers lived in slums built by the factory owners for maximum capacity, not comfort. Multiple families would share the same apartment, sleeping and eating in shifts. There were no plumbing facilities and it was normal for families to share one outhouse per 100 apartments (keeping in mind that each apartment probably housed two to three families!). Disease was rampant and the death rate was appalling. By the 1860s Manchester’s poverty had become a public embarrassment and some social reforms were beginning, but this is probably an apt description of the Manchester our Jones family moved to.
Late 19th Century Bolton, England
Bolton grew slowly over the centuries from a small settlement on the wild Lancashire Moors. The town is best known for its industrial heritage. Local inventions gave enormous impetus to cotton manufacturing and the establishment of Lancashire’s mill towns. It grew as a boomtown in the 19th century to become one of the leaders in the Industrial Revolution. Its population grew from 17,000 in 1801 to 10 times that number by 1901. Cotton was king, but other industries flourished also, from supporting trades such as engineering, and the building of the railways which fostered all industry, to the rise and fall of such enterprises as the now defunct mining industry.
For many people, the Greater Manchester area ended up being a hollow and unfulfilling promise of a decent living for a hard working family. It’s no surprise then, as Manchester’s economy was beginning to implode, that many people immigrated to the “New World” and particularly to the industrial heartland of Canada, that is, Hamilton, Ontario. In 1907, most of the extended Jones and Liptrot families, immigrated to Hamilton.
John Jones, b. 13 Jan 1848, Flint, Flintshire, Wales , d. 26 Apr 1924, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 76 years). John married on 2 Jul 1871 in Cathedral, Manchester, Lancashire, England to Eleanor (Ellen) Evans, b. 1847, Rhuddlan, Flintshire, Wales , d. Dec 1912, (or 1913) at sea between England and Canada (Age 65 years).
No birth record has been found for John, however his death record shows his parents as “William Jones and Jemima Williams.” Harriett Jones (John’s granddaughter) recalled that John was born in 1848 in Flintshire, Wales, with parents: Richard Jones and Unknown Williams. Census records also indicate Flint as his birth place. John’s death certificate gives his parents’ names as William Jones and Jemima Williams. It also says that he had resided in Ontario for 60 years at his time of death, which is impossible.
In 1851, John was residing on Parish Lane in Flint, Flintshire, Wales, with his parents William and Jemima and his older brother William.
About 1853, when John was about 5 years old, his father died of unknown causes.
In July 1854, when John was 6 years old, his mother remarried to George Griffiths.
In 1861, at age 13, John was residing with his mother, Jemima Griffiths, and brother, William Jones, at 7 Duke Street in Flint, Flintshire, Wales. His step-father was not at home. Several other Jones families were living next door who could be William’s siblings.
Sometime between 1861-1871 John moved to Atherton (a suburb of Bolton, which is itself a suburb of Manchester), Lancashire, England.
In 1868, John Jones and Ellen Evans had a son, Daniel, three years prior to their marriage.
In May 1870, John Jones and Ellen Evans had a son, John, who was recorded as being 11 months old in the 1871 census on 2 Apr 1871. His birth was not registered until Jul-Dec 1871, after his parents marriage.
In 1871, John Jones appears twice in the census. Firstly, at Bottom of Valenton Brown, Blackley, Lancashire, England, with his widowed mother, Jemima Griffiths, and half-sister, Harriet Griffiths.
On 2 July 1871, at age 23, John Jones married at Manchester Cathedral in Manchester, Lancashire, England to Ellen Evans, age 25. They were both living at 196 Hamilton Street (a row house located in Atherton on the outskirts of Bolton), Manchester, Lancashire, England, at the time of their marriage. They already had two children. John was employed as a bricklayer. John’s father’s name was William, a coalminer, and Ellen’s father’s name was Thomas, a mariner. The mothers’ names were not given. . As Ellen came from Rhuddlan, Flintshire, Wales, about 15 miles west of the town of Flint, it is presumed that John and Ellen met in Wales prior to moving to Manchester.
Sometime between 1883-1887, John Jones moved his family to the town of Bolton, just outside Manchester (now a suburb of Manchester). Bolton was experiencing a similar industrial boom to Manchester, but being a smaller town was somewhat cleaner and subject to less corruption and exploitation. Somewhat less.
In December 1912, John and Ellen Jones set sale for Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, having been preceded there in March 1907 by their son Richard Evan Jones and his wife, Annie Liptrot. Ellen died during the crossing and was buried at sea.
Family
John and Ellen had the following children:
1. Daniel Jones, b. 1869, Bolton, Lancashire, England, d. Sep 1874, Flintshire, Wales (Age 5 years)
Daniel Jones, b. 1869, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. Sep 1874, Flintshire, Wales (Age 5 years). Daniel died in childhood.
2. John Evans Jones, b. May 1870, Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. UNKNOWN
John Evans Jones, b. May 1870, Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. UNKNOWN.
John Jones was born in May 1870 in Bolton, Lancashire, England. In the 1871 census, conducted on 2 Apr 1871, John was recorded as 11 months old. He was born just slightly before his parents were married. He worked as a bricklayer. He was residing with his parents in 1871, 1881, and 1891. His later whereabouts is unknown.
3. William Thomas Jones, b. 8 Jun 1874, Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. 27 Jan 1918 (Age 43 years)
3. William Thomas Jones, b. 8 Jun 1874, Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 27 Jan 1918 (Age 43 years).
William Jones was a bricklayer like his brother, RIchard Jones. He lived in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada. It’s not known if he worked with his brother or not.
In 1911, William was residing in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, with his brother Richard. His son Arthur was with him. However, Arthur was also recorded in the same census as being with his mother in Bolton, Lancashire, England.
CEF Military Attestation Papers: 2 SEP 1915, show that he was residing in Hamilton at the time of his enlistment.
William married Abt Dec 1890 in Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England to Elizabeth Alice Harrell, b. 1870, Preston, Lancashire, England , d. UNKNOWN, Canada . They had the following children:
- Arthur Jones, b. Abt Sep 1892, Halliwell, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. UNKNOWN. Arthur married on 5 Feb 1919 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Mary Ann Sutcliffe, b. 1894, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:
- Leonard William Jones, b. 1920, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 8 Feb 1921, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 1 years)
- Patricia M Jones, b. 31 Oct 1926, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 14 Oct 2007, White Bear Lake, Ramsey, Minnesota, USA (Age 80 years). Patricia married to Lloyd Edward Anger, b. Abt 1923, Saskatchewan, Canada , d. 15 Dec 2014, Washington County, Minnesota, United States of America (Age ~ 91 years)
Obituary – Anger, Patricia M. Loving Wife, Mother, Nana age 80 of White Bear Lake Survived by loving husband of 52 years, Lloyd E; daughter Elizabeth (Kevin) Mahle and son David (Jim Broberg), beloved granddaughters Katy and Amy. Also survived by family in Canada and England and many dear friends. Patricia and Lloyd had the following children:- Mary Elizabeth Anger, b. 1961
- David Anger, b. Abt 1965, Minnesota, USA
- Leonard William Jones, b. 1920, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada
- Edith Alice Jones, b. 8 Feb 1898, Halliwell, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. 7 Apr 1974, Clinton, Oneida, New York, USA (Age 76 years). Edith married on 26 Dec 1925 in Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to George Barlow, b. 12 Aug 1895, England , d. 9 Dec 1945, Clinton, Oneida, New York, USA (Age 50 years).
- George B Barlow, b. 1927, Massachusetts, USA , d. UNKNOWN
- Edith Barlow, b. 1928, Massachusetts, USA , d. UNKNOWN
- Ruth Barlow, b. 1929, Oneida County, New York, USA , d. UNKNOWN
- George B Barlow, b. 1927, Massachusetts, USA
- Mary Ellen Jones, b. 16 Mar 1900, Halliwell, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. 2 Sep 1984, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 84 years). Mary married on 18 Jun 1924 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Thomas Lodge, b. 21 Oct 1899, Bradford, Yorkshire, England , d. 25 Mar 1972, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 72 years). They had the following child:
- Lieut. Arthur Lodge, b. 17 Jan 1925, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 11 Nov 2010, Bracebridge, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada (Age 85 years)
- Lieut. Arthur Lodge, b. 17 Jan 1925, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada
- Phyllis M Jones, b. 29 Mar 1909, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 2000, Stoney Creek, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 90 years). Phyllis married on 18 Oct 1930 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Bruce Paine Wallace, b. 1908, Canada , d. UNKNOWN.
- Beverly Wallace, b. Abt 1932 (Age ~ 91 years)
- Sonya Irene Wallace, b. 28 Jun 1936, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 21 Jul 2000, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, USA (Age 64 years)
- Irene Jones, b. Aft 1909, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. UNKNOWN. She married Abt 1935 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Jack Nicholson, b. Abt 1900, d. UNKNOWN. They had the following children:
4. Daniel Jones, b. 1876, Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. UNKNOWN
Daniel Jones, b. 1876, Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. UNKNOWN.
According to his niece, Daniel never married. It is not known if Daniel came to Canada or not. He is last found in the 1901 England census residing with his parents. As his family did not immigrate until after 1911, he is not found in the 1911 Canadian census.
5. Sgt. Richard Evan Jones, b. 6 Nov 1879, Harpurhey, Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. 1 Sep 1936, Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada (Age 56 years)
Sgt. Richard Evan Jones, b. 6 Nov 1879, Harpurhey, Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 1 Sep 1936, Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada (Age 56 years). Richard’s information is presented below.
6. Elizabeth Ann Jones, b. 30 Jul 1882, Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. 24 Jan 1918, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 35 years)
Elizabeth Ann Jones, b. 30 Jul 1882, Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 24 Jan 1918, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 35 years). Elizabeth married on 2 Apr 1904 in Bolton, Lancashire, England to James Pilling, b. 4 Jun 1878, Southport, Lancashire, England , d. 1 Nov 1946, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 68 years).
On 17 Aug 1911, Elizabeth arrived in Quebec, Quebec, Canada on the Empress of Ireland with her son Harry and Daughter Edna. Her husband James had arrived previously. They followed her brother Richard Evan Jones.
Elizabeth and James had the following children:
- Harry V Pilling, b. 30 Jul 1907, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. 10 Mar 1984, Rancho Cuamonga, San Bernardino, California, USA (Age 76 years)
- Edna Pilling, b. 1910, Bolton, Lancashire, England , d. 16 Dec 1918, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 8 years)
- Doris Pilling, b. 31 Dec 1912, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 25 Apr 1949, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 36 years)
- Child Pilling, b. 24 Jan 1918, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 24 Jan 1918, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 0 years)
7. Harriet Ellen Jones, b. Abt Dec 1887, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. Aug 1906, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England (Age ~ 18 years)
Harriet Ellen Jones, b. Abt Dec 1887, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. Aug 1906, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England (Age ~ 18 years)
Richard Evan Jones and Annie Liptrot in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
From Britain's Industrial Heartland To Canada's Industrial Heartland
From Britain’s Industrial Heartland To Canada’s Industrial Heartland
Hamilton, Ontario in the early 20th century was very much the Manchester of Canada, yet with less of the social decay associated with Manchester. Heavy industry was booming and so was housing. Hamilton certainly had its share of poverty and labour concerns, but things were not as bad as in Manchester. It was the perfect place for a building contractor to settle with his immigrant family.
Dick and Annie Jones with their daughters Edna, Harriett, Hilda, along with their horse, Captain, in front of their home on Wilson Street near Sherman Ave. in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, ca. 1911. The house was built by Dick Jones.
Sgt. Richard Evan Jones, b. 6 Nov 1879, Harpurhey, Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 1 Sep 1936, Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada (Age 56 years). Richard married on 12 Jul 1902 in Bolton, Lancashire, England to Sarah Annie Liptrot, b. 22 Dec 1880, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 2 May 1926, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 45 years). Annie’s family history can be found on my Liptrot Family History Page.
Richard Evan Jones was born on 6 Nov 1879 in Manchester, England, or “Dick” as he was known, but grew up in nearby Bolton.
The Jones family were staunch Methodists and were very active in their church. Dick’s daughter Harriett recalled the name of the church as Ulswater or Allswater Street Methodist Church. No such church has been found, however, in 1891, the Jones family were living in All Souls parish. It’s possible that “All Souls” was mistakenly remembered as “Allswater.” Dick sang tenor in the church choir which is where he met his future wife Annie Liptrot who was as a “beautiful contralto” in the choir. Dick was very musical and also played the flute (as does his namesake great-grandson, Richard Brown).
In 1881, at age 18 months, Richard Evan Jones was residing in Harpurhey, Manchester, England, with his parents and siblings.
In 1891, at age 11, Richard Evan Jones was residing at 16 Baythorpe Street in Little Bolton, Lancashire, England, in All Souls parish. He was a student and was residing with his parents and siblings.
In 1901, at age 21, Richard E. Jones was residing at 94 Grasmere Street in Little Bolton, Lancashire, England, with his parents and siblings. He was employed as a bricklayer, as were his father and brother Daniel.
(Living 3 houses away at 91 Grasmere, was James Morris, 49, born in Risley, Cheshire, a cotton spinner, with his wife, Sarah I (or J), age 47, born in New Wells, Derbyshire, and their children: Mary E, 16, Anne E, 14, Ada A. 13, Charles H., 8. And father Thomas Morris, age 74, born in Horwich, Lancashire.)
According to their daughter Edna, they lived at 345 Blackburn Road in Bloton, Lancashire, England.
In 1903, at age 24, Dick suffered from pneumonia, according to his later military record.
Dick (28) and Annie Jones (27) just prior to emigration in 1907.
On 30 Mar 1907, Dick Jones arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, on the Empress of Britain, having departed from Liverpool, England. His wife and daughters were not with him. (Empress of Britain (1905) )
Their daughter Hilda Jones recalled her mother saying it was April Fool’s day, while Hilda’s sister, Harriet Jones, recalled it being in March. A Liptrot family photo was taken in March 1907 just days before Richard and Annie left for Canada. They were the first of the Liptrot clan to emigrate and were followed shortly by Thomas and Elizabeth Liptrot.
Upon arriving in Hamilton, Dick and Annie stayed with a family named Bryers. It is not known how they were connected with the Bryers.
In Canada, Dick became more than just a carpenter and bricklayer. He began taking contracts to build houses and became moderately prosperous as a building contractor and owned his own private contracting company. Dick built many homes in the present Aberdeen area of Hamilton, including the home that his family eventually moved into on Maple Avenue (now Maplewood) near Gage Park. Many of those houses still stand today.
The family were very active in Ryerson Methodist Church (later Ryerson United Church) and Dick did the brickwork when the present sanctuary was built in 1915. Dick played piccolo in a drum and bugle corps in Hamilton and sang regularly in the choir at Centenary Methodist Church and Ryerson United Church in Hamilton.
I911, at age 32, Dick Jones was residing at 505 Wilson Street in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and their three daughters. Also residing with them was Dick’s brother, William Jones, born 1871 in England, and William’s son, Arthur Jones, born 1892 in England. Also residing with them was Eick’s brother-in-law, James Pillings, born 1877 in England, and lodgers Elizabeth Morris, b 1861 in England, and Hilda Morris, b Mar 1870 in England. (The census is extremely blurry and the dates for the Morrises may be wrong.)
On 1 Apr 1916, at age 37, Dick enlisted as a Private in the 205th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. He resided at 220 Maple Ave in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, and was employed as a builder at the time.
On 6 May 1916, Pvt. Dick Jones was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
On 31 Oct 1917, at age 38, Sgt. Dick Jones was transferred to the No. 2 Special Service Company, Machine Gun Corps.
On 3 Jan 1918, at age 39. Sgt. Dick Jones was discharged from military service for “special conditions” which appear to be related to medical conditions. He was diagnosed with chronic pleurisy (inflamation of the lining of the lungs) and a weak heart valve. These caused shortness of breath and dizziness on exertion. He served entirely in Toronto and never shipped overseas.
In 1921, at age 41, Dick Jones was residing at 220 Maple Ave. in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, employed as a brick layer and contractor. He was residing with his wife, their three daughters, and Dick’s 73 year old father, John Jones.
On 2 May 1926, when Dick was age 47, his wife Annie died prematurely at the age of 46 leaving Dick to raise their three daughters, ages 16, 19, and 22. He was also caring for his widowed father, John Jones, who had immigrated a few years after Dick and Annie. Dick’s mother died at sea on the voyage to Canada.
In 1931, at age 51, Richard E Jones was residing at 220 Maple Ave in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, with his daughter, Hilda. He was employed as a brick layer and was listed as an employer in the building industry.
Dick died in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, although his death certificate indicates that he resided in Hamilton and had only been visiting in Kingston for four days at the time of his death. It’s not known who he was visiting.
Family
Dick and Annie had the following three daughters who all lived to venerable ages:
1. Edna Anne Jones, b. 24 Nov 1903, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. 16 May 1996, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 92 years)
Edna Anne Jones, b. 24 Nov 1903, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 16 May 1996, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 92 years). She married on 29 Jun 1929 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to Clayton Anthony Zurbrigg, b. 2 Oct 1903, Wingham, Huron, Ontario, Canada , d. Jun 1991, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 87 years).
In 1929, Edna’s father, Dick Jones, built Edna and Clay a new home at 260 Houghton Street in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, as a wedding present.
Edna has not been located in the 1931 census.
They had the following children:
- Richard Evan Zurbrigg, b. 23 May 1939, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 7 Jan 1941, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 1 years)
- Living Zurbrigg
2. Harriett Ellen Jones, b. 13 Oct 1906, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England, d. 2000, Mississauga, Peel County, Ontario, Canada (Age 93 years)
Harriett Ellen Jones, b. 13 Oct 1906, Bolton, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England , d. 2000, Mississauga, Peel County, Ontario, Canada (Age 93 years). Harriett married on 5 Apr 1930 in Ryerson United Church, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada to John Stewart Brown, b. 28 Jun 1905, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 29 Jan 1979, Burlington, Halton, Ontario, Canada (Age 73 years). His information is found on the Brown Family in Hamilton page.
Harriett was named after her father’s sister, Harriet Ellen Jones, who was probably named after her father’s half-sister, Harriet Griffiths.
Harriet was a classmate and childhood friend of Ruth Brown. Harriet married Ruth’s brother Stewart with Ruth as the maid-of-honour. Harriet would also have been Ruth’s maid-of-honour but was unable to attend Ruth’s wedding because of the death of her mother Annie Jones (Liptrot). Harriett was a gentle and proper woman; a classic Victorian. Her affections were carefully given.
In 1931, at age 23, Harriett was residing at 279 Wexford Ave. in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada with her new husband, Stewart Brown. They were residing in a house built for them by Harriett’s father, Dick Jones. Their home was valued at $4500.
Harriett and Stewart had the following children:
- Beverly Anne Brown, b. 10 Apr 1932, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 29 Dec 1992, Etobicoke, York, Ontario, Canada (Age 60 years)
- Kenneth Richard Brown, b. 18 Apr 1937, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 9 Sep 1998, London, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada (Age 61 years)
3. Hilda Mae Jones, b. 10 May 1910, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada, d. 20 Nov 2010, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 100 years)
Hilda Mae Jones, b. 10 May 1910, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 20 Nov 2010, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 100 years). Hilda married on 5 Jun 1937 in Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada William James Hunter, b. 11 Oct 1910, 320 King St. E., Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada , d. 29 Apr 2000, Hamilton, Wentworth, Ontario, Canada (Age 89 years).
Hilda married in 1937 to Bill Hunter. Unlike her two older sisters, she did not receive a new house built by her father, Dick Jones, as a wedding present. Dick’s construction business had been hit hard by the Great Depression and he could not afford to build his youngest daughter a marital home.
Hilda lived to be 100 years old when the average lifespan for someone born at that time was 50 years.
They had the following children: