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Monday 11 May 2015 |
Oswestry Cemetery: Local centenarian - Emma Clark née Jones

Emma Jones was born in Great Ness on 31 July 1841, the daughter of John Jones who was a Coachman to Colonel G R Edwards of The Hall, Great Ness. She died in her 101st year on 1st November 1941 at 75 Salop Road in Oswestry and is buried in Oswestry Cemetery.

 

 

A newspaper report recording her 90th birthday, recalls how as a girl she remembered hearing her elders talk of the impending Crimean War in 1854 and how the local postman told them the news when it broke out, causing great excitement. In the 1860s, Emma, like her father, was on the staff of Colonel Edwards in Great Ness.

In 1866 she married David Clark a wheelwright and joiner from West Felton. The wedding took place at St Mary’s Church, West Derby in Liverpool where David was working at the time. In 1869 they moved back to Oswestry where David initially found employment at the Cambrian Railway Carriage Works. Over the following years he developed a joinery and building business in Oswestry. Several houses on Salop Road were built by him including the houses opposite the garage at the top of Salop Road, where Emma died, and where you can still see his name inscribed under the eaves. Emma also kept a grocery shop, first on Albert Road and then next to the Bear Hotel on Salop Road.

Emma and her husband had 9 children between 1868 and 1884. Sadly their first child Emily Ann died at the age of 4 in 1872 and is also buried in Oswestry Cemetery. In 1903 Emma was widowed when her husband David died aged 59, she then lived with family members until her death in November 1941. Earlier that year her family had celebrated with a party for her 100th birthday and this celebration was reported in local and national newspapers. She received a telegram from the King and visits from local dignitaries including the Mayor and Mayoress.

Emma was buried in Oswestry Cemetery on 6th November 1941 in grave B91, with her husband David, daughter Emily Ann, daughter Edith Mary Beatrice who died in 1950 aged 68, and grandson David Thomas who died in 1899 aged 7 months. At the time of her death it was reported that she had 41 living descendents – 6 children, 17 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Image of David and Emma Clark courtesy of Helen Payne and Roger Clark, please respect ownership rights.