Obituary

Amy Gronnow WILLIAMS.(nee PRICE)

(1919-2010)

Suddenly but peacefully on 9th August, 2010, of Herbert Jennings Avenue, Acton, aged 90 years. Beloved wife of the late Joseph, much loved mum of Joseph and Sylvia, Jacqueline and John, cherished nanna of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral Service was held at Holy Trinity Church, Gwersyllt, on Tuesday, 17th August, 2010 at 1pm followed by Interment in the Churchyard.

(First published in the Leader on 12th August 2010, distributed in Mold).

Amy Gronnow Price, was the daughter of William Gronnow Price and Amy Shires of Old Rhosrobin, Wrexham. Denbighshire.

From a Wrexham newspaper 16th January 1929.
"At Wrexham William Gronnow Price 57 of New Rhos Robin was sentenced to 6 months Imprisonment with hard labour and his son William Edward Price aged 20 to 3 months for stealing fowls from a Farm. The only clue was an unusual label on a whisky bottle which the men had left behind them."

11th November 2010

"We will Remember them"

As the nation comes together to remember those who have died in service of our country and with our thoughts of those men & women who at this time are serving in Afghanistan, I thought I'd include this piece about another Afghan War, this time 1878-1880.

Captain William Lettson Gronow, of the 1st Batallion Manchester Regiment (Late 63rdFoot)
who in the Second Anglo Afghan War from 1878-1880 joined the 2nd division of the Kandahar force, but was not present in any of the more important actions.
William was the son of the William Lettsom Gronow and his wife Catherine Anne Norman.
Born 9th January 1848 - Died 28th December 1903
He retired a Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Manchester Regt. ( he was also the Grand Nephew of Rees Howell Gronow of Waterloo fame)

In Loving Memory of
Jane Charlotte Gronow
1852-1907

My Great Grand Aunt, a nurse & midwife and a woman devoted to a life of helping others through illness, died in the Liverpool Home for Incurables in 1907 and was buried on the 7th May in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Section D right Grave 284. Her name appears inscribed on a memorial to others from the Hospital. (Pic left).

In 1875 the hospital, known as the Home for Incurables moved to the building in which it would remain for the rest of its existence, on Upper Parliament Street. The home was now run by a General Committee and was 'intended to be a home for women of a respectable class, who are suffering from chronic complaints of an incurable nature. Intake of cancer sufferers was limited as were geriatric cases. Although many patients who entered the home spent the remainder of their lives there, others did improve and were discharged so there was some degree of patient turnover.

After 1885 the home was known as the Liverpool Home for Incurables, a name it retained until its absorption into the National Health Service under the aegis of the South Liverpool Hospital Management Committee in 1948, when it became the Home for Invalid Women. In 1969 after a further change of name the home became Princes Park Hospital. Although it aimed to provide care for younger chronically sick women, increasingly its intake was of geriatric patients. After 1975 the hospital admitted male as well as female patients. The hospital closed in 1986.

I spent a wonderful week last month down by Newport Sands, a family holiday with research combined. I had wanted to visit the graveyards around Dinas for a while and so when the occasion arose, I took the opportunity to visit the Gronow seafarers of the area, I was not disappointed. From Plas Bach a cottage on the hillside of Moylegrove I travelled to the various local Churchyards & Non-conformist graveyards in the area. Macapela with it’s well kept lawns, by the local villagers a testament to the Master Mariners and ocean going sailors of the area. Gronow graves abound, the children, who are used to searching fruitlessly for Gronow markers, were calling “found one”, “look another” “and another” I have never found so many graves in one place as I did on that morning on the hillside in Dinas.

Just down the road from Macapela towards the sea is Ramah graveyard it’s old iron gates not use to visitors any more, we found more old sailors & their wives. Quite by chance, while out walking the dog one evening on the hills around Moylegrove I came across Bryn Bethel perched high up overlooking the sea. One of the quietest and remote graveyards I’ve had the pleasure to visit. Not had chance yet to index all the pictures, but it was nice to be able to put an image to all the places I had been researching, Newport, Dinas, Cardigan, Nevern & Moylegrove.

Recently aquired certificates:

Births:
William Henry Gronow Dec Qtr. 1863 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 288.
Sarah Jane Gronow Dec Qtr. 1879 Haverfordwest Vol.11a page 851
William Henry Gronow June Qtr. 1882 Bridgend Vol.11a page 583
Ronald G A Edwards March Qtr. 1920 Bedwelty Vol.11a page 229
Marriages:
William Gronow March Qtr. 1858 Cardigan Vol.11b page 5.

I've spent the last week looking at family trees on a well known commercial website, these "Public Member Trees" are something else! So far I have contacted over 12 'owners', the response so far 1 reply, who in all credit to him has corrected the mistakes within his tree. In the vast majority of cases it seems to be a case of reproduction without verification. I even had and old contact of mine get in touch, giving me her research only to find, yet again information from a 'Public member tree' had found its way into her family tree.

There are too many examples to highlight here, but one I think must be taken to task. There are over 40 trees on this site, with a gentleman by the name of HYWELL GRONOW born 18th February 1757, all 40 trees give the same birth date & marriage date & in most cases same death date. In 30 years research I have never come across him! Most trees say he was born, married & died in Coity, Glamorganshire. Well he is nowhere to be seen in the parish registers of St. Mary Coity, nor have I ever come across him in over 50 parish registers that I have indexed.

So if anyone out there has Hywell Gronow in their tree, and would like to give me the source for his baptism, marriage or death I'll be the first to apologise! once it's been checked & verified of course.

Recently aquired certificates:

Births:
John Gronow Sept Qtr. 1866 Cardigan Vol.11b page 1.
Marriages:
Joseph Gronow Sept Qtr. 1841 Abergavenny Vol.26 page 42.
William Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1850 Haverfordwest Vol.26 page 1001.

For over 70 years a lifeboat has covered the Horton and Port Eynon area of the south Gower coast, Glamorganshire. As part of her crew father and daughter Stuart Gronow (deputy launching authority) & Mari Gronow (crew member) cast a watchful eye across the waters of the Gower Peninsula.

Stuart & Mari's family have lived and farmed in the Gower Peninsula for over 275 years . The Peninsula's richly varied natural environment is renowned for its heathland, limestone grassland, fresh- and salt-water marshes, dunes and oak woodlands. Its mixed geology has given rise to a wide variety of scenery in a relatively small landscape area. Dramatic limestone cliffs, interspersed with sandy beaches and rocky shores, dominate its southern coast. In the north, the coast is low-lying with extensive salt marshes and dune systems.

Recently acquired certificate:

Births:
Samuel George Gronow December Qtr. 1908 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 558.


I'm just in the process of finishing the extraction of images of the 1911 Census, and can I find the above Samuel? not a sight of him, nor his parents. If anyone has Samuel in their extended family I would love to hear from you.

Recently acquired certificates:

Births:
David Gronow June Qtr. 1838 Merthyr Tydfil Vol.26 page 351.
Alfred William Gronow June Qtr. 1840 Swansea Vol.26 page 490.
John Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1853 Bridgend Vol.11a page 304.
Marriages:
William Gronow Dec. Qtr. 1853 Bridgend Vol.11a page 708
James Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1859 Cardiff Vol.11a page 297
John Gronow Sept. Qtr. 1915 Pontypridd Vol.11a page 1433.

Burglary, 26th June 1876.

ARTHUR BROWN (35) , Burglariously breaking and entering the dwelling-house of one Evan Gronow, and stealing therein a coat and waist-coat, his property.

MR. DOUGLAS conducted the, Prosecution.

EVAN GRONOW . I am a shoemaker, of Irongate Wharf, Paddington—On Saturday night, 10th June, at 11 o'clock I was in bed on the ground floor, and was awakened and saw the prisoner pass my coat out at the window—he was three parts in the room, but standing outside—I asked him what he was doing, and he ran away—I went after him, and never lost sight of him—he got behind a cart—I called for help, and Sergeant Tompkins came up he laid hold of him behind the cart—I charged him with stealing a coat and waistcoat—I picked up the waistcoat myself—I have not recovered the coat—the prisoner said he was sleeping on the timber—on the road he said "I had got the wrong shop" and that he had some beer.

THOMAS TOMPKINS (Police Sergeant D 14). I was in Irongate Wharf, I heard some cries and saw the prosecutor and the prisoner dodging round a cart—the prosecutor said the prisoner had stolen his coat—I took him, he said "It is all false, I know nothing about it—I came round here for a sleep"—I said "You arc rather out of breath for sleeping, let us go back and see what it is"—we did so and examined the place, and found it had been opened—on the way back we found" a waistcoat, but not the coat—the prisoner appeared to have been drinking, but was not drunk.

The prisoner in his Defence stated that he was drunk and did not know what had been done.

GUILTY —He was further charged with a previous conviction, to which he PLEADED GUILTY**— Ten Years' Penal Servitude.
Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, 26 March 2010), June 1876, trial of Arthur Brown (t18760626-272).

Census of 2nd April 1871, RG10; Piece: 7; Folio: 85; Page: 46; No.8 Irongate Wharf, Paddington.Marylebone.London.

Inquest Report, Newport. Monmouthshire.

Mr Brewer held an inquest on Friday evening, at the Dock Hotel, on the body of Daniel Gronow, aged 60 years, an engine-driver on the Monmouthshire for many years. The deceased came by his death in the locomotive yard, whilst engaged about his engine. He was crushed by the buffers of a truck striking him against one of the engine buffers. A verdict of "Accidental death" was returned.

[Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales), Monday, March 9, 1874; Issue 1515]

Congratulations to
Tony & Iris Gronow
on the occasion of their
5oth Golden Anniversary

[first published in the Media Wales Group on 27th February 2010]

Congratulations Mum and Dad on your Golden Wedding Anniversary lots of love from-Caroline, Paul, Carl, Janet, Emma, Sean, Cerys and Tomos.

{Tony is a descendant of Thomas Gronow 1709-1773 Wenvoe, Glamorganshire.}

{Edit 20Aug10}

Sadly Tony died on the 22nd July 2010
at Llandough Hospital after a short illness.
The funeral was on Friday August 6th at Thorn-Hill Crematorium.

24th February 2010
The British Prime Minister has apologised for the U.K.'s role in sending more than 130,000 to the former colonies of Canada & Australia. Britain is the only country in the world with a sustained history of child migration. Only Britain has used child migration as a significant part of its child care strategy over a period of four centuries.
The reality of this policy was to remove children, some as young as three years old, from their homes, from their mothers and fathers, from all that was familiar to them, and to ship them thousands of miles away from their home country to institutions in distant lands within the Commonwealth. Many of these children were removed without their parents' knowledge or consent.

One such young man was Ernest Gronow born in Hendon, Middlesex in 1894. Ernest set sail on the 9th Sept 1909 from Liverpool on the SS Corsican, bound for Quebec. He arrived on the 17th September 1909, his final destination Ottawa, Ontario. He travelled along with 16 other young boys between the ages of 11-15 under the Catholic Emigration Association.

According to the Census taken on the 31st March 1901 Ernest Gronow was a inmate of the Guardians of the poor, of the Hendon Union Schools. [RG13/5336 folio 127. page 4] His birthplace is recorded as unknown. At the same time a Mary Gronow, probably his sister is also in the same institution. I don't know what happened to Ernest or what his life became in Canada, or even if he stayed in Canada, if anyone knows what became of him please get in touch. According to the 1911 Canadian Census a Ernest Gronow was living in Labelle Quebec.

A trip to Chester Record Office proved very interesting in regards to a very early ancestor. While looking at the Church warden accounts for St. Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester I came across the following entry for Easter 1562-1563 were payments are made for 'kneeling places' by one Richard Gronow.
This is a very good early reference to an Elizabethan Gronow, that I have found. More research is needed to establish the origins of this gentleman.

{The Parish of St.Mary-on-the-Hill, Chester, extends beyond the city boundaries, and includes the township of Gloverstone, which is wholly within the city, and those of Upton, Moston, Claverton and Marleston-cum-Lache in Broxton Hundred, and Little Mollington in Wirral Hundred.}

Charles Grunnow, Coach driver, Bromborough. Cheshire.

Birkenhead County Magistrates Court
Thursday Spetember 13th before Messrs S.Stitt & F. Thorneley

CRUELTY TO A HORSE.- Charles Grunnow, cab driver of Bromborough, was fined 15s., with costs for working a horse with open sores on it's back. The animal was also in a very weak condition.
(Liverpool Mercury, Friday September 14th 1888; Issue 12693)

Liverpool Court of Passage.
A sitting of this court commenced on Tuesday at St. George's Hall, Mr T. W. Baylis, Q.C. presiding.

Grunnow V. Forsyth.- In this case, which was of no public interest, Charles Grunnow, car proprietor, Bromborough, Cheshire, sought for the return of a mare, or it's value and damages for the detention against John Forsyth, described as a horse jobber, Dryden Street, Liverpool. The Jury, after a long hearing, found for the plaintiff, awarding him £23 as the value of the mare, and £7 as damages for the wrongful detention.
(Liverpool Mercury, ThursdayOctober 15th 1891: Issue 13658)


Liverpool Police Court
Thursday November 12th, before Mr W.J. Stewart.

Curious Charge of Forgery:
Charles Grunnow of Bromborough, Cheshire appeared in answer to a summons taken out by William Bailey, charging him with forgery. The charge arose out of the sale of a horse by Bailey, who is a horse dealer, to the defendant on August 17th last. It appears that on that date Grunnow purchased a bay gelding from the plaintiff for £18 and the sum of 6s on the spot. A receipt was given leaving a balance of £17 14s. Some time after Grunnow came back evidently dissatisfied with his purchase, and made some arrangements about a black mare. An action was brought by Bailey in the court of Passage for the £17 14s and the jury found for the defendant. The receipt was produced there, and it appeared to have been altered so as to make it seem as though it was in respect to the black mare and not to the geilding the figures £18 and the word "bay gelding" having been scratched out, and the words "Black mare" subsituted. The defendant explained in the Court of Passage that his daughter aged eleven, had written in the words.- Mr Stewart held that there was not a case for a jury, and dismissed the summons.
(Liverpool Mercury, Friday November 13th 1891; Issue 13683)

(The Court of Passage represents the civil jurisdiction of the medieval borough court. By the eighteenth century the “Court of Liverpool”, “Borough Court”, “Mayor’s Court” or “Court of Passage” had gradually confined itself, under the last name, to civil suits. The Court of Passage was abolished in 1971 by the Courts Act 1971.)