story of thomas wilcoxon of coedpoeth sailor 1881-1931 for pdf

8/17/2019 Story of Thomas Wilcoxon of Coedpoeth Sailor 1881-1931 for PDF

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THOMAS WILCOXON 1881-1931

Thomas was born in Vron, near to Coedpoeth, Wrexham, on July 5 th 1881; he was the first son of Joseph and

Annie. He spent his early school years at Penygelli and then went on to the County School for Boys at

Wrexham, later known as Grove Park Grammar School. He was admitted on February 11

th

1895 as admission No 83, and left on July 31st 1896 to become a sailor. During the time he spent at the school he was presented

with books as prizes for Book keeping and Shorthand in the Commercial Form.

Presentation to

Thomas

Dated Christmas 1896

A hymn-book was presented to

Thomas on November 27th

1896

By Thomas Edwards,

fishmonger, Coedpoeth.


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THE LOSS OF THE PRINCIPALITY

Thomas joined the crew of the “Principality” a four masted barque owned by the

shipping company of William Thomas who was a non-conformist from Anglesey.

He funded his company with the aid of many North Wales investors who held shares.

Perhaps Thomas` father was one of these.

During his time on board he travelled as far as Newcastle, New South Wales.

The photograph of the crew was taken there. Thomas is seated at the left-hand side of

the front row. He was training to become an officer but did not carry on with this

career and left the “Principality” to return home to Coedpoeth.

The Principality left the port of

Junin on the West Coast of South

America on May 4th

1905 after

leaving for her home ward voyage to

Rotterdam. She was on her journey

after completing a round voyage

from Antwerp and Fredikstat to

Melbourne, Geelong and Newcastle, NSW. across the Pacific Ocean to

the West Coast ports of Valparaiso

and Junin.

She was due to arrive at her

destination at the end of of August

but was last spoken to on July 13th

1905.

There was a crew of 32 men under

the command of Captain John Parry

aged 29 of Llanbedrog. All hands

were lost.


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12 PENYGELLI ROAD, COEDPOETH.

On his return to Coedpoeth, Thomas started working for Wrexham Rural District Council .He met Louisa Alice

Jones who as a child had lived close to his grandfather’s inn on Nant Road. She was employed as a book -

keeper and was the daughter of Owen and Sarah Jones.

They married early in 1903, their son Oswald was born on May 17th

1903.at 12 Penygelli Road Coedpoeth.

Tragically Louisa died two months later and was buried at Coedpoeth on 21st July 1903. Thomas never

re-married.

He was employed in the Valuation Dept of the Inland Revenue as a Temporary Draughtsman and later joined

the Borough Engineer and Surveyor of Wrexham as a trainee pupil. When his articles were completed he was

appointed second assistant and later became Chief Assistant.

He was responsible for the plans for the new housing estates around the Wrexham area that were being built at

that time, and also the surveying, laying out and supervising the great number of new roads in the vicinity.

He was a member of the Institution of Municipal Engineers.

Thomas was still a regular worshipper at Salem Chapel in Coedpoeth, and was a member of the choir.


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By 1917, Thomas had moved to live at Talwrn House, Llewelyn Road, Coedpoeth. He was approached by the

County District Surveyor and asked if he would consent to his name going forward for an appointment on Road

Service in France, he was in favour of this and submitted an application for a commission.


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As he had no reply, after a while he contacted the War Office again with another letter.


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His application was accepted and he requested that he should serve in either the Royal Welsh Fusiliers

or the Welsh Regiment. At the age of thirty-five, his old headmaster and the minister at his local chapel both

remembered him well enough to give him a reference.


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This application was successful and Thomas joined on duty on 25 th March 1917. His request for a Welsh

Division was turned down and he was posted to No. 2 Labour Convoy, Middlesex Regiment.

He was admitted as Temp. Lieutenant and sent to the Southern Front.

Thomas returned to work with the Wrexham District Council, until his early death at the age of 49.He was buried on April 30

th 1931 with Louisa in Coedpoeth Cemetery.

Thomas was released from duty on December 21st

1919, but required to be available to rejoin at

Fovant in case of an emergency.


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story of thomas wilcoxon of coedpoeth sailor 1881-1931 for pdf

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