THE STAFF AT BERSHAM AND ADWY SCHOOLS.

THE HEAD MASTERS

Richard Morris.
The Principal Teacher at Penygelli from when the School opened in April 1868 was Richard Morris
of Llangerniew born about 1846
He came from a family of weavers and was the son of John Morris, and Gwen Hughes who were
married at Sion Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Llanwrst on 1st June 1844.
Richard married Anne Maria James on 22nd January 1865. At that time he was working as a
schoolmaster in Carno.
Before coming to Coedpoeth, Richard was a Pupil Teacher at Llangerniew and when he left
Penygelli School in December 1871 he moved on to take charge of Taliesin School Board.
From census records it is found that Richard and his wife Anne Maria moved to Llancynfelin,
Cardiganshire where he became a Calvinistic Methodist Preacher, but by 1891 he had moved again
to Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan and was once again `schoolmaster certified`
Richard died 4th April 1919 aged 73; Anne Maria died 25th December 1926 aged 82

Griffith Joseph Jones

Griffith Joseph Jones was the next Head Teacher of the school.
He was born around 1845 in the Tallyllyn area of Merionethshire and was the son of a quarry man
also named Griffith.
Griffith married Jane Hannan on Aug 12 1869 at St Saerons church, Llanynys. Jane was the
daughter of John Hannan a blacksmith from Llanynys.
He was then the schoolmaster at The British School, Gellifor, Llangynhafal, Denbighshire.
Griffith stayed at Penygelli, for many years, raising a family and settling into the community.
In the logs, Griffith mentions that he is going to America to visit his family. During their voyage
there was a collision, between the White Star steamers Britannic and Celtic on Thursday 19th May
1887, 350 miles from Sandy Hook. Five steerage passengers were killed on the Britannic. There is a
report in the Wrexham Advertiser, which confirms that Griffith J Jones and his family were aboard
the Celtic, which had sailed for New York from Liverpool on Wednesday 4th May 1887.
Jane died aged 41 in March 1914, and Griffith died aged 78 and was buried with his wife on 2nd
March 1923 at Coedpoeth Cemetery

Boys School Teachers

John Brookes
John was born in Bersham about 1854; his parents were John Brooks a stonemason who was born
in Llanasa and Caroline nee Thomas who was born in Bersham.
In 1878 he married Mary Anne Rogers and by 1881 he was a schoolteacher at Penyfordd, by 1901
he is the Head teacher in the Board School, still living at Penyfordd. His son John J Brookes born in
1879 is an Assistant teacher.

William Davies
William was born about 1854, he was the son of Edward Davies, a tailor of Bersham and Harriet
who was born Bangor, Flints.
By 1881 William had moved to the Board School House Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant
Montgomeryshire where he is now a Certificated Elementary Teacher and has married Sarah Ann,
who was born in Birmingham.
In 1891 William is back in his home area, and is now a Certificated Teacher at Bwlchgwyn Board
School, in 1901 he is still there along with wife and four children, one of whom is Reginald Trevor
also a Pupil Teacher at the age of 13.
Peter C Evans
Peter Christmas Evans was born in Wrexham on the 25th December 1854, his parents were Peter
Evans, a mason and Rebecca who was born in Cilcaen. When Peter C leaves the school in 1872 “ to
go away” that’s the last we hear of him in the logs.
Fortunately he is mentioned in the book “Coedpoeth Past” and this solves the mystery of where he
went. (Re Penygelli School) G.J. Jones assisted by Peter Christmas Evans, son of Peter Evans,
stonemason. He later became Mayor of one of the States Of America, three times.
Peter married Louisa Kent at West Derby, Liverpool in 1879,

Census 12th Jun 1900 Syracuse, New York

Peter C. Evans Head, white, male, b.Dec 1855 England, 44yrs, married 20yrs, parents
b.Wales, emigrated 1880, grocer, owner of a mortgaged house.
Louisa Evans wife, white, female, b.Feb 185(9) England, parents b. England, emigrated 1880.
They had four children all born in New York.
Edwin H son born Nov 1870, Charles S born Jan 1872, George H. born Dec 1874 and Reginald
S. born Feb 1891
United States Census, 1920
Precinct 94, Los Angeles, California
Peter C Evans Married b.1855 Wales, 65yrs
Louisa Evans Wife b.1860, 60yrs, b.England
Boyd's Duplex Directory of Syracuse, New York 1899-1900.
Peter C. Evans, 18th Ward, Alderman
Peter died on the 23rd February 1947 in Los Angeles

Eli Baddily
Eli certainly moved around the country quite a lot.
Eli was born in Staffordshire about 1852. In 1871 he is living in Dewsbury, Yorkshire and was
already a Schoolmaster. He didn’t stay at Penygelli for very long, and in 1881 he turns up in Irby In
March, Lincoln. He married Elizabeth Fanny Harman at Greenwich in 1872; Her parents were
George who was a gamekeeper and Martha, Elizabeth Fanny was born about 1853 in Amport,
Hampshire. 1891 sees the family living at Steyton, Pembrokeshire and by 1901 at Milford.
Eli Baddily died aged 65 in 1918 at Leek, Staffordshire so after all his travels still ended up where
he came from.
.

Edward Roden
Edward was born in Adwy, Bersham about 1860, the son of Edward a boot and shoemaker who was
born in Welshhampton, his mother Mary was from Wrexham. In 1881 Edward is living at New
Road, Adwy, with his family and is described as a Teacher.
Edward was a member of Bethlehem Chapel and appears in the members list in the Chapel
Registers. He also signed the “Pledge”

Edward Roden, married 24, Adwy`r Clawdd, Teacher. Joined July 6 1884
Entry in the register dated 23/2/1886 Edward Roden 25 Adwy. Date of Pledge taken 1/2/71
I PROMISE TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL INTOXICATING DRINKS AS BEVERAGES

In 1885 Edward married Letitia Jones who was born at Tipton, Shropshire, and in 1891 he is still
occupied as a Schoolmaster.Edward died on Nov 26 and was buried on Nov 30 1895
In 1901 Letitia is living in Chorlton Cum Hardy,and `lets out apartments` but by 1911 she is back
in Smithy Road, Penygelli with Violet, aged 14 who is described as `adopted daughter`
Letitia died in 1924 and is buried with Edward in Coedpoeth Cemetery.
James Pritchard Shelby
James was born in Ruthin in 1863, the son of John Shelby a lead miner from Ysbywty Ystwyth,
Cardiganshire and Sarah who was born in Dyran, Montgomershire. By 1871 the family had moved
to Penygelli and were still there in 1881. By 1891 James had moved to Mold, and was employed as
a Schoolmaster. His whereabouts in 1901 are unknown but James married in 1905 at Forden to
Sarah Elizabeth Rogers.

George Bristow
George was born about 1861 in Aston, Birmingham. His parents were Francis, a timber merchant’s
agent and Harriet. In 1874 George married Eliza Marion Hart at Wrexham, Eliza was born in
Wolverhampton. By 1881 and 1891 they are living at the School House in Bersham Village where
he is an Elementary School Teacher.
George died in 1900 and Eliza died in 1925, they are both buried in Ruabon Road Cemetery in
Wrexham

THE HEADMISTRESSES

Annie Foulkes
Annie Foulkes was the Principal Teacher between 1870 and 1872.
Annie was born about 1843 in Mold and was the daughter of Thomas Foulkes born Halkyn who
was a master mason and his wife Maria born Mold.
By 1861 Ann was already a Pupil Teacher and still living with her parents and younger sisters
in Mold.
Eleanor, one of her sisters had married William Griffiths of Ruabon, and in 1871 Annie was a
visitor at their home in Morton, Rhos on the night on the census. By now she is a Certified
School Teacher.

Mary Dall
Mary was born about 1856 in Slamanan, Stirlingshire. She was the daughter of William C and
Margaret Dall, William was employed as a Goods clerk for the Railways.
Mary moved to Wales with her younger sister Maggie and was engaged as the Schoolmistress at the
Bersham and Adwy Girls School in December 1877, prior to then she was the Mistress of Tabor
Hill Infants School.
From the School Log Books it seems that Mary met her future husband James Phennah due to his
visiting the School as part of his duties as the relieving officer.
In the autumn of 1881 she married James, the son of Thomas and Ellen Phennah who lived in
Wrexham. Mary gave up her teaching and had a daughter Evelyn and son Reginald.
James died in 1899 and in 1904 Mary married again to Algernon Snell.
Mary died in Cheltenham aged 81 and is buried with her first husband James Phennah in Wrexham
cemetery.
In the 1881 census, Mary and Maggie are lodging in Lloft Wen Adwy, both are described as
`schoolmistress`. When Mary was ill, Maggie took her place for a time at the School, as she was
already employed in the area as a Schoolmistress.
Maggie married Rev James Anderson Beattie, who was also born in Scotland and they became
Reformed Church Missionaries in India, where Maggie managed the Women's Teacher Training
School. In 1914 she and James spent a year's leave in the USA, where James had been a pastor
early in his career. In 1915, as the first leg of their return journey to India, they embarked on the
Lusitania bound for Liverpool. When it was sunk, James drowned but Maggie survived. She
completed her journey to India and continued at the school until she retired in 1921. When the
school moved to a new building in 1919, it was named after James Anderson Beattie.
Sarah Parsonage
Sarah was born about 1855, and according to the 1861 census she was the daughter of Edward
Parsonage, a grocer born in Wrexham and Jane his wife, a dressmaker born in Hawarden. At the age
of 16 Sarah is living with her widowed mother Jane and is already a Pupil Teacher at the British
School.
In 1882 Sarah married Charles Dodd, also a schoolmaster and had four sons of which three became
very famous in their own fields.
Charles Harold Dodd was born in Wrexham on 7 April 1884. In 1930 he became Rylands Professor
of Biblical Criticism and Exegesis in Manchester and was made a freeman of the Borough of
Wrexham in 1963. He died on 25 September 1973.
Percy William Dodd was born in 1889. and studied at Jesus College, Oxford as an Open Classical
Scholar in 1907. He died on 20 May 1931 and left a substantial sum to the college in his will.
Percy was described by the Scottish classical scholar Alexander Souter as an "enthusiastic
investigator" of Roman Britain, whose published report of excavations in Yorkshire were "a model
of their kind".
Arthur Herbert Dodd was born at Wrexham in 1891. He was appointed lecturer in history at Bangor
in 1919. In 1952 a committee was formed to produce a history of Wrexham. A.H. Dodd was
appointed editor of the work Arthur was made a freeman of the Borough of Wrexham in 1963.
Dodd died 21 May 1975 at Bangor
Edward Ernest was the second youngest son. When his brother Percy died in 1931 his address was
in Bangor. The administrators of his will were his mother, Sarah and Edward Ernest Dodd, his
schoolmaster brother. In 1911 Edward Dodd was described as a Classics Master and was boarding
at Beaumaris. It’s highly likely that he would have been at Friar’s School, Bangor.
Sarah and Charles are buried together in Ruabon Road cemetery; Charles died at Clovelly Cottage,
Wrexham and was buried on November 3rd 1928 at the age of 73. Sarah died aged 86 at a Nursing
House, Bangor. Caernarvonshire and was buried on September 9th 1940.

Emily Jones
Emily Jones was born about 1857; she was the daughter of John Jones, a coal miner and Eliza. In
1871 she was a pupil at Elizabeth H Sadlers Private School on King Street, Wrexham
Emily was still unmarried and living with her parents at Heol Maelor, Adwy in 1901, she had a
brother John, also a teacher.

Girls School Teachers

Sarah Jane & Emily Evans

Both were the daughters of Ellis and Elinor Evans. Ellis was a leadminer from Llanbedr and his
wife was a milliner and dressmaker from Gwernafield Flint.
Emily was born 15th May 1863 and Sarah born 2nd June 1866 at Coedpoeth, they and their siblings
were all were baptised at a Wesleyan chapel.
Ann born 13 8 1861, Ellis born 20 1 1869, Agnes born 1 3 1871.
By 1891 when they were living Talwrn Rd, Ellinor is a widow, Emily is an Assistant School
Mistress, Sarah has no occupation and younger son Ellis aged 22 is a railway clerk

Winifred Moss
Winifred Moss was born in 1866. Her parents were George Moss a carpenter from Llanarmon and
Elizabeth, nee Pugh, who was born in Brymbo. Sadly her father died on 7th March 1866 aged 53,
shortly before Winifred was born
By 1871 Elizabeth and her six children were living at Lloft Wen, Adwy. Samuel 15,George 13
Thomas Henry 11,Alice 9, Abraham 7 and Winifred aged 5
Winifred never married, she died aged 70 and was buried in Coedpoeth Cemetery on 30th December
1936.
Elizabeth Jane Taylor
Elizabeth Jane Taylor was born in Coedpoeth in 1862. She was the daughter of John Taylor a
stonemason and his wife Elizabeth who came from Llantisilio. They had four other children
Samuel, Anne. Catherine, Harriet.
They were living at the Masons Arms pub for nearly 30 years. Her elder sister Anne Taylor married
Joseph Wilcoxon who later became a member of the Bersham School Board.
Elizabeth Jane died in 1884 at the age of 24.

Harriet Ann and Elizabeth Davies

Harriet Ann was born in 1850, Elizabeth about 1852, they were both born in Adwy, Coedpoeth and
were the daughters of Edward Davies, a tailor and Harriet his wife who came from Bangor, Flints.
There were also three sons William, John, and Edward, and in 1881 the family were living at Offa
House, Adwy. Harriet Ann is described as an “Infant School Mistress.”
All the children were well educated, as Harriet’s brother William also became a teacher and spent
some time in Llanrhiader, and his brother John was a solicitor’s clerk at the age of 15.

Sarah Ellen Price

Sarah Ellen was born on 15 April 1861 in Brymbo, she was the daughter of Noah Price and Hannah
his wife who was from Hope.
The family ran a grocers and bakers shop on High Street, Coedpoeth.
Her brother David James also became a baker and kept the family business on High Street, there
were three other siblings who died very young.
They were a Wesleyan family and Sarah Ellen was baptised at Rehoboth Chapel, where many of the
family were buried.
Sarah Ellen married Peter Jones Roberts in 1890. He was a Wesleyan Minister born in Barmouth.
He had also been a Pupil Teacher. The family moved to the Barmouth area, and later to Caernarfon,
by this time they had six children.

Laura Jeffreys Michell

Laura was born at Minera in 1884; she was the daughter of Sampson Michell and his wife Martha
Ellen nee Moses. Martha was also a schoolteacher and was born in Prescot.
Sampson was born in Llanfihangel and was a lead mine agent at the Park Lead Mining Co, Minera.
His family had original come from Devon, to work in the lead mines. Sampson died aged 33 in
April 1888. In 1915 Laura married John E Griffiths at Minera.

Sarah Ellen and Clara Kitto

Both were daughters of Samuel and Christiana Kitto who had both come from Cornwall. Samuel
had come to Coedpoeth to work as a foreman in the lead mines, as did many other Cornishmen at
that time.
Sarah Ellen was born in Coedpoeth in 1876, by 1901 she had given up Teaching was working as a
Stationers Clerk. On 2nd April 1907 at Minera Church she married Daniel Lloyd who was a School
Master
Clara was born in 1879, she never married and died from Influenza aged 34 and was buried in
Coedpoeth Cemetery on 1st January 1914.
Her mother Christiana lived till she was 80 and was buried with Clara on 14th July 1919
There was another sister Emma Louisa Kitto born in Minsterley in 1868. On 9th August 1905 at
Minera Church she married Philip Jones a School Master, sadly Emma died in October 1906.
Edith and Bertha Wilcoxon
The daughters of Joseph Wilcoxon and Annie, previously Taylor. Joseph was the Chairman of the
Bersham School Board.
Edith was born in Coedpoeth in I883. After passing her examinations she went on to Cardiff, and
completed her training to become a teacher. She married Albert Rogers in December 1915
Edith and Albert moved to Wallasey where she continued teaching for many years. Edith died at the
age of 99.
Bertha was born in Coedpoeth on March 19th 1890
Later she became the headmistress of the Council School at Frondeg that had been officially opened
by her father on October 1st 1894. During her teaching career Bertha also taught at Pentre Council
School and at Westminster Church of England School at Hoole in Chester.
Bertha commenced as head teacher at Frondeg on March 4th 1913 and at the time of her resignation
on February 25th 1919 she was the Headmistress.
In late November 1915 she married Thomas Hughes. Sadly Bertha was knocked down by a car
and died instantly, she was only 40. On April 20th 1930 she was buried in Coedpoeth Cemetery.

Myfanwy Gwenhwyfor, and Morfudd Anghared E Jones

Myfanwy was born in Coedpoeth in 1874, she was the daughter of Griffith J Jones and his wife
Jane. Griffith was the Headmaster at Bersham Boys School for many years.
In 1899 Myfanwy married Jonathon Price, he was a watchmaker and jeweller and in 1901 they are
living in 12 High Street, Coedpoeth with their young son Mwyndeg Prys.
Myfanwy died aged only 41 and was buried with her parents in Coedpoeth Cemetery on 6th
September 1915
Morfydd Anghared was born about 1877. In 1901 she married Edward Davies Hughes, by 1911
they were living in Pwllheli.

Adah Loiusa Pulpher

Adah was baptised 5th October 1873, at Raunds, Northamptonshire. Her parents were Jabez and
Susan Pulpher. Jabez was a Shoe Manufacturer. Adah was already a Pupil Teacher in 1871 before
she moved to Wrexham.
In 1898 Adah married Goronwy Idwal Jones of Coedpoeth at Christ Church, Chester, and by 1901
they had moved to Bootle.

Lilian Jean Thom

Lilian was born in Hetton le Hole, Durham 1871
She was the daughter of James Thom born Scotland and Jessie; in 1891 the family are living at
Eppleton House, Hetton le Hole. Her father is also a Teacher, and younger sister Anne Ella is a
pupil teacher.
Lilian returned to Durham and married in 1902 to William Godlee Rickman and by 1911 they are
living in Hunslett. Yorkshire.

Agnes Jones
Agnes was born in Minera in 1864; her father Joseph was a Blacksmith and his mother Mary
came from Manchester. By 1871 the family were living on Ruthin Road, Coedpeth and had a
confectionery and smallware shop. Agnes had an elder brother Philip who taught at the Boys
School.
In 1894 Agnes married Robert Owen from Beaumaris Anglesey. They had children Mary and Philip
both born in Coedpoeth, but by 1901 they had moved to Kirkdale, Liverpool where Robert was
employed as a joiner.
Hannah and Mary Rogers
Hannah was born in Wern, Esclusham about 1857, the daughter of Thomas Rogers a coal miner and
Jane his wife who was from Brymbo.
In 1881 she is living with her parents in “Bryntirion”, Adwy. In 1889 Hannah married Thomas
Ellis Thomas who was a Congregational Minister from Anglesey. Hannah died aged only 35 early
in 1892
Mary was born in Wern about 1853. In Sept qtr 1880 she married Thomas Andrews at St Giles,
Wrexham. Thomas was a widower who had been born in Illogen, Cornwall. On 4th June 1888
Thomas died, and was buried in Wern graveyard.
In 1893 Mary Andrews married Thomas Ellis Thomas in Chester. In 1895 a son John Euryn was
born, but sadly he died aged 2 years old.
In 1901 living at “Bryntirian” Adwy are Thos E Thomas 43 Congregational Minister b Anglesea.
Mary 47 b Esclusham Above.
The Rev Thomas Ellis Thomas had married both sisters Hannah and Mary.
Mary died in 1937 aged 83 yrs, Thomas Ellis lived till he was 93 and died in 1952 in Beaumaris.
They are buried together in Coedpoeth Cemetery with their son John Euryn who was buried 25th
October 1897 aged 2 years 6 months

Sarah Ann and Mary Ellen Beckett

Sarah was born in 1857 in Penygelli, the daughter of James and Hannah. James was a joiner and
grocer. In 1871 the family ran a grocers and provisions shop in Penygelli Road, both Sarah Ann
and her elder sister Mary Ellen became teachers. There was also a younger sister Elizabeth.
In 1877 Sarah Ann married Peter Evans a coal miner, they lived with Sarah’s Mother who was still
carrying on the grocery business at 4 Smithy Road, Penygelli. In 1901 she is recorded as being
`blind` she is only 44.
Sarah Ann died aged 50 in March 1907. Peter lived on till he was 83 and died in August 1937 they
are buried together in Coedpoeth Cemetery with their son James who died in January 1948.
Mary Ellen was born in 1855, but never married and in 1901 is living with her sister and family, she
died in 1918.

Catherine Ellinor Baines

Catherine was born in Llangollen in 1878, her father was John, a carpenter from Merionethshire,
and her mother was Anne nee Evans of Minera. The family lived in the Ruabon area, and in 1901
Catherine is still living at home in Maelor Terrace, Acrefair.

Mary C Jones.
Mary was born about 1872, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones. Her father was born in St
Harmon, and ran a grocers shop in Smithy Road, Penygelli.
Her sister Margaret also became a Schoolmistress, and elder sister Jane was an apprentice grocer
in her fathers shop in 1881.

Phoebe Roberts.
Phoebe was born in Mold about 1867, by 1871 she was living in Pentre Saeson, Brymbo, her father
John,was from Chester and was an Engine fitter at the colliery, her mother Ann Marie had been
born in Sedgely, Staffs.
In 1889 Phoebe married Hugh Robert Roberts at St Giles, Wrexham and in 1890 a daughter
Gertrude was born. In 1901 Phoebe is living in Bwlchgwyn with her mother and daughter.
Coralie Williams.
Coralie was born in 1886, her father was Thomas, a carter from St Asaph, her mother was Sarah
who was born in Coedpoeth. The family were Wesleyan and children were baptised in the Chapel.
She had three sisters and one brother, Florence Annie, Gwendoline and Beatrice Noel, and
Maldwyn Lloyd.

Eliza Anne Chowen

Eliza was born in 1879 in Coedpoeth; her parents were Henry, a leadminer, born Cornwall and
Elizabeth nee Warne from Devon. In 1881 the family were living at Williams Row, High Street
Coedpoeth and in 1901 at 2 Lesters Villas. Adwy. Other children were John Henry, Philip George
Lizzie Mary and Frances James.

Catherine Emma Gibbons.

Catherine was born in Coedpoeth in 1863, she was the daughter of George Gibbons and Mary Ann
Baker. Her father was a dentist and medical practitioner, who was born in Kenilworth.
George and his brother Charles, a lime works manager had moved to Coedpoeth where the Gibbons
families became very well known, George was the School Medical Officer in the area.
The family lived at Poplar House, Adwy.