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Harry Valentine Edwards was my great-great-grandfather (my mother's mother's mother's father).
He played football for Wrexham and Wales, gaining international caps against Scotland in 1878-80-82-3, against England 1880-2, and Ireland 1884-87. He was captain of the Wrexham team that won the Welsh Cup in 1883, and represented North Wales against Lancashire and Staffordshire.
Harry Edwards was also a capable all-round cricketer, and was a member of the Wrexham St. James's Club, which won the Wrexham and District League.
For more biographical information and family history, see below the team pictures.
He played football for Wrexham and Wales, gaining international caps against Scotland in 1878-80-82-3, against England 1880-2, and Ireland 1884-87. He was captain of the Wrexham team that won the Welsh Cup in 1883, and represented North Wales against Lancashire and Staffordshire.
Harry Edwards was also a capable all-round cricketer, and was a member of the Wrexham St. James's Club, which won the Wrexham and District League.
For more biographical information and family history, see below the team pictures.
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL MATCH
Wales-v-Scotland
Played at Glasgow
Saturday, 25 March 1882
THE WELSH TEAM
Wales-v-Scotland
Played at Glasgow
Saturday, 25 March 1882
THE WELSH TEAM
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Henry Phoenix
John R. Morgan Jack Powell HENRY EDWARDS William P. Owen William Williams Walter H. Roberts John Roberts John Price John Vaughan John Roberts |
Goalkeeper
Captain / Full Back Full Back Defender Midfielder Left Half Midfielder Midfielder Centre Forward Striker Striker |
Wrexham
Derby School & Swansea Druids Wrexham Ruthin Druids Ruthin Ruthin Wrexham Ruthin Corwen/Berwyn Rangers? |
Welsh Cup Final
Wrexham-v-Druids
Played at Wrexham
Saturday, 21 April 1883
THE WREXHAM TEAM
(WINNERS)
Wrexham-v-Druids
Played at Wrexham
Saturday, 21 April 1883
THE WREXHAM TEAM
(WINNERS)
Back Row
George Thomas (Right Back/Welsh International), Jimmy Trainer (Goalkeeper/also Preston and Bolton),
Jack Taylor (Secretary Welsh F.A.), Jack Williams (Left Back)
Kneeling
Bob Davies (Outside Right), Tom Burke (Right Half/also Newton Heath - now known as Manchester United),
Jack Evans (Left Half), Matthias Davies (Centre Forward/scorer of the winning goal), John Davies (Outside Left/became champion runner)
Sitting
Billy Roberts (Inside Right/Welsh International), Harry Edwards (Centre-Half and Captain/Welsh International), Joe Jones (Inside Left)
George Thomas (Right Back/Welsh International), Jimmy Trainer (Goalkeeper/also Preston and Bolton),
Jack Taylor (Secretary Welsh F.A.), Jack Williams (Left Back)
Kneeling
Bob Davies (Outside Right), Tom Burke (Right Half/also Newton Heath - now known as Manchester United),
Jack Evans (Left Half), Matthias Davies (Centre Forward/scorer of the winning goal), John Davies (Outside Left/became champion runner)
Sitting
Billy Roberts (Inside Right/Welsh International), Harry Edwards (Centre-Half and Captain/Welsh International), Joe Jones (Inside Left)
Wrexham St James's Cricket Club
1896
HARRY EDWARDS AND HIS FAMILY
According to his obituary (a cutting in my posession from an unknown newspaper) Harry Edwards...
was for some years proprietor of dining rooms in Bank Street [Wrexham] but subsequently followed his trade as a carpenter. In his early days he was a splendid athlete, and at that period was one of the finest half backs produced in Wales. He gained international caps against Scotland in 1878-80-82-3, against England 1880-2, and Ireland 1884-87. He was captain of the Wrexham team which won the Welsh Cup in 1883, and he also represented North Wales against Lancashire and Staffordshire. He was also a capable all round cricketer, and was a member of the Wrexham St. James's Club, which won the Wrexham and District League. His wife predeceased him and much sympathy is felt with his only child, a daughter, in her bereavement. The internment took place at the Borough Cemetery on Wednesday [20 August 1913] in the presence of a large number of friends.
Memorial Card of Harry Edwards
Harry was buried with his wife and son By 1913 the 'New Cemetery' was known as the 'Borough Cemetery' It is now know as Wrexham Cemetery |
The grave of Harry Edwards in Wrexham Cemetery
The first person buried in this grave was Harry's son Michael (1899), followed by: Harry's wife Eliza (1910), Harry himself (1913), and finally a two-day old child called Nellie Williams (1932) who was probably the (illegitimate) daughter of Harry's elder granddaughter (Nellie Williams was also the married name of Harry's daughter) Photo kindly supplied by Graham Lloyd |
Harry's wife
Little is known of Harry's wife. Her name was Eliza and she is believed to have been born in 1857. The record of her burial suggests, however, that she was born, like Harry, in 1856 since it states that she died in 1910 at the age of 54 at 23 Fairfield Street, Wrexham (the house appears to be no longer extant). Eliza was buried on 14 November in the same grave as her son Michael (see below). There is no photograph of Eliza; but this is not so surprising given that there are no extant photos of Harry, save those where he is pictured with his sporting teams. The earliest picture of either of Harry and Eliza's children is that of their daughter (with her husband) when she was about 34 years of age (see below).
It seems reasonable to assume that Harry and Eliza lived together at 23 Fairfield Street when Harry was working as a carpenter, after they head ceased to run the Temperance Hotel. However, Harry died at 36, Gibson Street, Wrexham. It is probable that this was the home of his daughter and her husband as they were resident there in 1915 (see below). We do not know whether Harry and Eliza had owned or rented 23 Fairfield Street, but his daughter and son-in-law are understood to have owned 36 Gibson Street, and possibly one or more other houses in the same street. This might explain why they were able to purchase a large residential and commercial property on Chester Street in 1919 (see below).
It seems reasonable to assume that Harry and Eliza lived together at 23 Fairfield Street when Harry was working as a carpenter, after they head ceased to run the Temperance Hotel. However, Harry died at 36, Gibson Street, Wrexham. It is probable that this was the home of his daughter and her husband as they were resident there in 1915 (see below). We do not know whether Harry and Eliza had owned or rented 23 Fairfield Street, but his daughter and son-in-law are understood to have owned 36 Gibson Street, and possibly one or more other houses in the same street. This might explain why they were able to purchase a large residential and commercial property on Chester Street in 1919 (see below).
Harry's Son
Harry and Eliza had had a son, Michael Henry Edwards (April 15th 1881 - November 1st 1899). According to family history, Michael's early death, possibly from influenza, when he was 18 and thus on the threshold of adulthood affected Harry so deeply that he turned to drink and this ultimately led to the father's relatively early death. It is interesting to note that Michael died on 1 November and was buried on 6 November, and that his mother Eliza would die in (early) November eleven years later. Given the family tradition that Michael's early death precipitated Harry's, one cannot but wonder whether Eliza's life was also shortened by it. Is it mere coincidence that she died at a similar time of year to her only son?
Harry's obituary refers to him having been a 'proprietor of dining rooms in Bank Street'. Michael's memorial card (below) confirms family lore that the business was called the Temperance Hotel and that the family lived there. Michael's burial record pinpoints the address as no. 13 Bank Street. At the present time it is unclear whether the building is extant, but it seems possible that it is now Marubbi's 'Temperance Bar' Cafe.
Harry's obituary refers to him having been a 'proprietor of dining rooms in Bank Street'. Michael's memorial card (below) confirms family lore that the business was called the Temperance Hotel and that the family lived there. Michael's burial record pinpoints the address as no. 13 Bank Street. At the present time it is unclear whether the building is extant, but it seems possible that it is now Marubbi's 'Temperance Bar' Cafe.
Memorial Card of Michael Henry Edwards
son of Harry and Eliza Edwards |
Close-up of the grave of Michael Henry Edwards in Wrexham Cemetery
This is also the grave of his parents and a infant called Nellie Williams (see above) Photo kindly supplied by Graham Lloyd |
Harry's Daughter
Harry and Eliza's daughter was Nellie Victoria Edwards (February 12th 1888 - August 17th 1970). She would later come into a large inheritance from her uncle, John T. Edwards (see below). She was named Victoria after the queen but the choice of Nellie has a more homely origin. The story goes that, when she was born, Harry Edwards (her father) and Michael (who would have been been seven at them time) came into the room where Eliza and her baby were. Michael threw a penny into the crib and said, "Here's a penny for you, Nellie!". And that was that: she was called Nellie.
Nellie Williams (nee Edwards)
daughter and only surviving child of Harry Edwards with her husband (William) Herbert Williams |
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There is more below about the life of Harry's only surviving child
Annie the foundling
Harry and Eliza also brought up a third child, Annie May Walker, who was found one morning on the doorstep of the Temperance Hotel (c. 1902?). Whether Harry and Eliza knew the child's mother prior to taking on responsibility for Annie is unknown; but I have in my possession a letter from what must surely be Annie's mother, one M. A. Walker. It provides evidence of no small amount of warmth, while simultaneously suggesting only sporadic contact, between the author and the family who were continuing to bring up Annie.
The year this letter was written is unknown, but Eliza was still alive, suggesting a date of 1910 at the very latest. At the present time the date of Nellie's marriage to Herbert (who was known as Herbie) has not been established. That information would help date this letter and the letter from Nellie to which it makes reference.
Here is it transcribed in full:
The year this letter was written is unknown, but Eliza was still alive, suggesting a date of 1910 at the very latest. At the present time the date of Nellie's marriage to Herbert (who was known as Herbie) has not been established. That information would help date this letter and the letter from Nellie to which it makes reference.
Here is it transcribed in full:
March 5th
Northlands
Chester
Dear Nellie[,]
I am sure you will think I am never going to answer your letter which I was very glad to receive[.] Sorry to hear that your father and mother had a bad cold[.] I was glad to hear that you were well your self [sic] and that Annie was well[.] I am quite sure she would enjoy her self [sic] with you[.] [I]t was a sudden surprise to hear that you were married but I wish you every Prospect and happiness[.] I know you have got a very nice Husband[.] I am sure he will be kind & good to you[.] [T]hnak your very much for the kind invitation to come and see you[.] I am only here temporary [sic][.] I am going back to Manchester on the 22nd of March if I can posiable [sic] come to se[e] you I will do[? -- word unclear] but I will let you know if I can come[.] [W]ill you remember me to Herbie and I hope that you are both well and in the enjoyment of good health as I am very well at present[.] [W]hen you see your Father and Mother give them my Love & hope that the[y] are well also[.] Annie I hope that She is well[;] glad to hear that she is going to School[.] Best Love to you both[.]
I Remain yours Sincerely
M A Walker
The phrase 'I am quite sure she would enjoy herself with you' suggests that Nellie had written to inform M. A. Walker that Annie was going to leave the care of Harry and Eliza and join Herbert and herself in their new home. Perhaps Nellie had even sought the birth mother's approval of this plan. Herbert and Nellie lived in Gwersyllt when first married and it is known that Annie did indeed go with them.
After Harry's death the family appears to have tried to find out more about Annie's origins -- perhaps the teenager was herself asking questions. I have in my possession a letter of June 29th 1915 from Somerset House, addressed to Mr H. Williams, 36, Gibson Street, Wrexham (the address where Harry had died in 1913), confirming that there was no record of the birth of Anne May Walker in the Marine Register. That this question should have been asked is interesting, suggesting that Herbert and Nellie had reason to believe that Anne had been born at sea.
At the end of the letter quoted above Annie's mother signed herself 'M A Walker'. Is it significant that Annie was A. M. Walker? Does it indicated that her mother was May (or Mary?) Anne Walker?
In due course Annie married, set up her own home in Hightown, and had children of her own. But she always remained connected to what was now the Williams family. She was an employee of Harwill Products (see below) and, as a child, my own mother often visited her -- always being treated to egg and chips by 'Auntie Annie'. The cordial relations continued with my mother being a bridesmaid at the wedding of one of Annie's daughters: a tribute to the love and kindness dating back to that morning when Harry and Eliza Edwards took in the baby that had been left on their doorstep.
After Harry's death the family appears to have tried to find out more about Annie's origins -- perhaps the teenager was herself asking questions. I have in my possession a letter of June 29th 1915 from Somerset House, addressed to Mr H. Williams, 36, Gibson Street, Wrexham (the address where Harry had died in 1913), confirming that there was no record of the birth of Anne May Walker in the Marine Register. That this question should have been asked is interesting, suggesting that Herbert and Nellie had reason to believe that Anne had been born at sea.
At the end of the letter quoted above Annie's mother signed herself 'M A Walker'. Is it significant that Annie was A. M. Walker? Does it indicated that her mother was May (or Mary?) Anne Walker?
In due course Annie married, set up her own home in Hightown, and had children of her own. But she always remained connected to what was now the Williams family. She was an employee of Harwill Products (see below) and, as a child, my own mother often visited her -- always being treated to egg and chips by 'Auntie Annie'. The cordial relations continued with my mother being a bridesmaid at the wedding of one of Annie's daughters: a tribute to the love and kindness dating back to that morning when Harry and Eliza Edwards took in the baby that had been left on their doorstep.
Harry's elder brother
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Studio photograph
of John T. Edwards of Plas Hyfryd elder brother of Harry Edwards Born Wrexham c. 1852/3; died Abergele 1927/8 aged 75 and his wife Ann Edwards (nee Jones) Born Abergele 18??; died Abergele c. 1924 
Newspaper notice posted by Nellie Williams (daughter of Harry Edwards) beneficiary of the will of John T. Edwards
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Harry Edwards's elder brother, John, was a tanner by trade. He served his apprenticeship with Mr Cockerton in Abergele and there he met his wife Ann, the daughter of John Jones, mason of Rhuddlan Road. John and Ann were married in St David's Church, Liverpool. This was presumably the St David's that was on Brownlow Hill and known as 'The Welsh Church': it closed in 1910. John seems to have had a very successful career that culminated in him managing a large tannery in Bradford. Prior to that, he and Ann had also lived in Liverpool, Manchester and Burnley. John must either have been very well paid or have made some shrewd investments because, on his retirement, they returned to Ann's home town of Abergele and lived in a large house on Rhuddlan Road that still stands today: Plas Hyfryd (Streetview).
There are three extant newspaper reports of John Edwards's death, the most extended of which appeared on May 19th 1928 in the Abergele and Pensarn Visitor. Written 'by an old friend' it notes that 'his younger brother, Harry Edwards, was a well-known international footballer who played for Wrexham and Wales' and states that John 'was himself greatly interested in football and cricket'. The writer tells us that John was very fond of reading and was interested in all religious and political movements, but liked reading biography best of all. He was (like Harry before he took to the bottle) in sympathy with the temperance movement and took the pledge from Cardinal Manning. John was a deeply religious man and 'an ardent Wesleyan'; he had a 'wonderful' memory and preferred 'the fireside and good book above everything else'. The writer concludes: 'those who had his confidence knew him to be a man of the highest intelligence, of undoubted sincerity, and of deep religious feelings.'
John and Ann had no children of their own. One of the shorter obituaries states that John was found dead in bed by 'His niece, Miss Wenna Hughes, who kept house for him'. According to the same obituary, John had been staying with Mr and Mrs D. R. Hughes, Oglander Road, East Dulwich not long before his death: he usually spent the winter months with them. The other shorter obituary also notes this and describes the Hugheses as 'relations'. Whether Wenna Hughes benefitted from his will in any way is not known: Nellie Williams, daughter of John's brother, Harry Edwards, seems to have been the major beneficiary.
There are three extant newspaper reports of John Edwards's death, the most extended of which appeared on May 19th 1928 in the Abergele and Pensarn Visitor. Written 'by an old friend' it notes that 'his younger brother, Harry Edwards, was a well-known international footballer who played for Wrexham and Wales' and states that John 'was himself greatly interested in football and cricket'. The writer tells us that John was very fond of reading and was interested in all religious and political movements, but liked reading biography best of all. He was (like Harry before he took to the bottle) in sympathy with the temperance movement and took the pledge from Cardinal Manning. John was a deeply religious man and 'an ardent Wesleyan'; he had a 'wonderful' memory and preferred 'the fireside and good book above everything else'. The writer concludes: 'those who had his confidence knew him to be a man of the highest intelligence, of undoubted sincerity, and of deep religious feelings.'
John and Ann had no children of their own. One of the shorter obituaries states that John was found dead in bed by 'His niece, Miss Wenna Hughes, who kept house for him'. According to the same obituary, John had been staying with Mr and Mrs D. R. Hughes, Oglander Road, East Dulwich not long before his death: he usually spent the winter months with them. The other shorter obituary also notes this and describes the Hugheses as 'relations'. Whether Wenna Hughes benefitted from his will in any way is not known: Nellie Williams, daughter of John's brother, Harry Edwards, seems to have been the major beneficiary.
A little about the life of Nellie, Harry Edwards's daughter
Having lived at 36, Gibson Street, Wrexham (with Annie) early in their marriage , Nellie and Herbert Williams appear to have moved to 34a Chester Street at some point between 1915 and 1917. A receipt in my possession of 16 April 1917 is for the purchase of 'that portion of the business carried out at Wrexham by Messrs. Davies and Moulding Herbal Manufacturers of Chester' for the sum of £90. The business address and that of W. H. Williams are both given as 32a Chester Street. This is almost certainly an error since the valuation of the same of 29 March 1917 (see below) clearly states the address to be 34a. Among the other papers in my possession that date from around this time, is a receipt of 17 June 1919 from Charles Henry Foster of 35 Chester Street. In a flowing copperplate hand, blue ink on blue paper it reads:
I hereby acknowledge to have this day received from Mr W. H. Williams the sum of Fifty pounds as a deposit on £825 the purchase price of No 34 Chester Street Wrexham the property being sold by me subject to the reservation of the present passage to No 35 Chester Street Wrexham.
A contemporary notice in the Wrexham Leader for the 'composite sale of properties situate at Wrexham, Acton, Rhostyllen and & Isycoed' describes Lot 1 thus:
NUMBER 34a, CHESTER STREET, WREXHAM
EXCELLENT BLOCK OF FREEHOLD PROPERTY COMPRISING LOCK-UP SHOP TOGETHER WITH DWELLING-HOUSE & EXTENSIVE OUTBUILDINGS AT THE REAR.
The shop is let off to Mrs. Clough at a gross rental of £67 12s. 0d. per annum. The dwelling-house is in hand and comprises on the ground floor Kitchen, Back Kitchen, and Pantry, together with Cellars in the basement. One the first floor Sitting-room, 2 Bedrooms, Bathroom and Lavatory, and on the second floor 4 Bedrooms.
The Outbuildings at present used as a Mineral Water Factory include Bottling Stores, large Stores at rear, with three storerooms over.
THE PROPERTY HAS A FRONTAGE TO CHESTER STREET AND COVERS A TOTAL SITE AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 277 SQUARE YARDS THUS FORMING AN IMPORTANT SITE FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES IN ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL STREETS OF THE TOWN.
What the description does not mention is that the property had (and maybe still has?) a cellar with a river running through it. It was this source of fresh water that explains the location here of a herbal brewery and mineral water bottling factory. Even more tantalising is the family tradition that the tunnel in which the river flowed was part of the network of tunnels under Wrexham that are said to have connected with the medieval parish church of St Giles.
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But to return to 1917: this must have been a busy time for Nellie and Herbert. Herbert was in the process of taking over a herbal brewing works that was part of their new home. Annie was around 15 years of age and helped keep house, which would have been a great assistance since the couple had two young children of their own, Ivy and Henry Herbert (know as Harry -- after his sporting grandfather). On top of all this, Nellie, who was on doctor's orders not to have any more children for medical reasons, was pregnant.
On 20 July her third (and last) child -- my grandmother -- was born at 34a Chester Street. She was born with a caul, which is traditionally believed to be a sign of good luck and that the child is destined for greatness. In keeping with this superstition, the caul was pressed onto paper and kept by my grandmother for (almost) all her life. Like her mother, this last grandchild of Henry Edwards gained her name in an odd way. She was Christened Maisie (a name she detested) after a member of a trio of performers (acrobats?) 'Maisie, Daisy and Little Max' who were visiting Wrexham at the time and lodging with Herbert and Nellie.
On 20 July her third (and last) child -- my grandmother -- was born at 34a Chester Street. She was born with a caul, which is traditionally believed to be a sign of good luck and that the child is destined for greatness. In keeping with this superstition, the caul was pressed onto paper and kept by my grandmother for (almost) all her life. Like her mother, this last grandchild of Henry Edwards gained her name in an odd way. She was Christened Maisie (a name she detested) after a member of a trio of performers (acrobats?) 'Maisie, Daisy and Little Max' who were visiting Wrexham at the time and lodging with Herbert and Nellie.
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Herbert and Nellie Williams (nee Edwards)
in front of the archway (no longer visible) of 34a Chester Street in 1922 |
Ivy Williams
eldest grandchild of Harry Edwards in front of the archway (no longer visible) of 34a Chester Street in 1922 |
Maisie Williams
youngest grandchild of Harry Edwards on Cooper's Lane (now Park Avenue), Wrexham in 1929 
Harry Edwards's
daughter -- great-granddaughter -- younger granddaughter 1944 |
Maisie Williams
youngest grandchild of Harry Edwards c. 1935? |
In 1939 Herbert and Nellie's son (Harry Edwards's only grandson), Harry Herbert Williams, founded a bakery business In Holt Street, Wrexham. In 1940 it transferred to 34a Chester Street. Around this time, Ivy was living with her family in Chester, Harry moved with his wife to 218 Chester Road, and Maisie married and moved to 214 Chester Road. Nellie had built numbers 212-218 Chester Road (two pairs of semi-detached houses) with some of the money inherited from her uncle (see above). Nellie and Herbert lived variously with Harry and his family, and with Maisie and her family, until Herbert's death in 1943, when Nellie took up permanent residence with Maisie at 214.
Harry Williams and his younger sister Maisie
in the office at 34a Chester Street in a photograph included in a large advertising feature for Harwill Products
published in the Wrexham Leader 31August 1956
(100 years after the birth of their Grandfather, Harry Edwards)
in the office at 34a Chester Street in a photograph included in a large advertising feature for Harwill Products
published in the Wrexham Leader 31August 1956
(100 years after the birth of their Grandfather, Harry Edwards)
The family later lost 34a Chester Street when it was subject to a compulsory purchase order. The council planned to widen the road but this was never executed. It survives as commercial premises and, although the original frontage is much altered (the arch that gave access to the yard behind was long ago filled in to accommodate another business, and the appearance has been ruined by hideous windows and rendering), something of the old character remains along the side wall and the property next door, no. 35, has apparently changed little from Herbert and Nellie's day.
With the loss of 34a Chester Street, Harwill Products Ltd (as the bakery company was known from 1945) moved to The Whitegate Bakery, Hightown, Wrexham. The building is still a business premises. It was run by Harry and his mother Nellie, with Maisie as Company Secretary, until Nellie's death in 1970. The company went into voluntary liquidation in the mid 1970s.
With the loss of 34a Chester Street, Harwill Products Ltd (as the bakery company was known from 1945) moved to The Whitegate Bakery, Hightown, Wrexham. The building is still a business premises. It was run by Harry and his mother Nellie, with Maisie as Company Secretary, until Nellie's death in 1970. The company went into voluntary liquidation in the mid 1970s.
Harwill Products at the Whitegate Bakery, Hightown, Wrexham
