Birth: 14 April 1886 Brackley House, Worsley, Lancashire, UK
Father: Unknown
Mother: Mary Ellen (Helen) Roberts [Williams] 1863-1910
Christening: 25 June 1886 St Mark, Worsley, Lancashire, UK
Marriage: 13 Jun 1907 Sion Chapel, Conway, Caernarvonshire, Wales, UK
Wife: Catherine Ann Hughes 1889-1960
Death: 2 March 1952 12 Chapel Street, Penmaenmawr, Caernarvonshire, Wales, UK
Buried: 5 March 1952 Dwygyfylchi Council Cemetery, Penmaenmawr, Caernarvonshire, Wales, UK
Catherine Ellen Roberts [Thomas] 1908-1979
John Llewellyn Roberts 1911-1977
Owen Francis Roberts 1915-1991
Birth of William Francis Roberts in FreeBMD in April-June 1886 in Barton I (8C 647). "District of Barton upon Irwell Sub-District Worsley Births in the Sub-District of Worsley in the County of Lancaster [No.] 430 Fourteenth April 1886 Brackley House Worsley William Francis [mother] Mary Ellen Roberts a Domestic Servant [informant] M E Roberts Mother Brackley House Worsley [on] Twenty fourth May 1886".
Entry in Ancestry Manchester, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915 for William Francis Roberts baptised on 25 June 1886 at Worsley, St Mark, Lancashire, mother Helan (sic) Roberts. "Page 17 Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Worsley in the County of Lancaster in the Year One thousand eight hundred and eighty six [...] 1886 June 25th No. 184 William Francis [mother] Helen Roberts [a] Servant [of] Eccles".
His mother married Robert Williams in October-December 1889 in Conway.
In the 1891 census as William F Roberts, born in Manchester, Lancashire and living with his grandparents (Richard and Ellen Roberts), three uncles (John, Llewellyn S and Richard Roberts) and aunt (Ann Roberts) at 5 Upper Maenau? Dwygyfylchi, Caernarvonshire, Wales.
Two possible entries in Ancestry UK, Military Campaign Medal and Award Rolls, 1793-1949 for W F Roberts No. 4918 3rd Battalion Liverpool, South Africa-Second Boer War 1899-1902 and 9389 Royal Army Medical Corps No. 18 Stationary Hospital, Krugersdorp. There is a later reference to being in South Africa but he was under 15 at the time and was in Wales in the 1901 census so I am not sure these are relevant.
In the 1901 census as William F Roberts aged 14, born in Manchester, working in the stone quarries, and living with his widowed grandmother (Ellenor Roberts), and two uncles (John and Llewelyn S Roberts) at 53 High Street, Dwygyfylchi, Caernarvonshire, Wales.
Entry in Ancestry Scotland, Ireland and Wales, Militia Attestation Papers, 1800-1915 for William Francis Roberts aged 19, born in Manchester, single, a sett maker, enlisted 6 April 1904 as 3307 23rd Foot (Welch Fusiliers). A sett maker, also known as a "squarer", was a stonemason who cut large blocks of stone into smaller, more manageable pieces:
Marriage of William Francis Williams and Catherine Ann Hughes in FreeBMD in July-September 1907 in Conway (11B 783).
His daughter was born on 3 October 1908 and was registered in October-December 1908 in Conway.
In the 1911 census as William F Roberts aged 26, born in Manchester (not in the index), married for 5 years with one child still living (crossed out) and a labourer living in four rooms at 3 Ceiri Terrace, Llanaelhaiarn, Chwilog RSO. His wife and daughter were living with her mother at 5 Llanrwst Road Gyffin Conway.
His son was born on 4 July 1911 and was registered in July-September in Pwllheli.
His son was born on 5 April 1915 and was registered in April-June 1915 in Conway.
Entry in Ancestry UK, World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923 for William Frances Roberts born in 1885, living in Penmaenmaur N. Wales, No. 205254 Royal Army Medical Corps discharged 18 May 1917.
Entry in Ancestry UK, British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 for William Francis Roberts. The following is an extract from a large number of documents. He attested on 26 November 1914 aged 29 years, address Manchester House, a sett maker, as 20308 14th Corps Royal Welsh Fusiliers having been in R W F 3rd. His wife was Catherine Anne Hughes formerly a spinster married 13 July 1907 at Sion Chapel, Conway now living at Manchester House, Penmaenmaur, and his three children were born 3 October 1908 in Conway, 4 July 1911 in Criccieth and 5 April 1915 in Conway. He was a private on 26 November 1914, acting corpl 18 January 1915, act serg 29 January 1915 reverted acting corp 11 March 1915, serg 13 April 1015, reverted 12 March 1915 and discharged 28 March 1915, much of the detail illegible. He was in the Welsh Guard 23176 from 5 April 1915 to 5 June 1919, wife and next of kin Catherine Ann Roberts formerly Hughes, a spinster married 13 June 1907 in Sion Chapel, Conway, address 29 High Street or Manchester House, Penmaenmawr, three children Catherine Ellen born 5 October 1908 in Conway, John Llewllyn born 4 July 1911 in Llanaelhaiarn and Owen Francis born 5 April 1915 in Renmaenmaior - the last place names are in the index, originals illegible. He first attested 9 June 1915 for Lancashire Fusiliers aged 29 years 2 months, a Setts quarryman, had served in 3rd Volun Batt WR W Fusiliers rejoined Welsh Guards in Guard Detention Room awaiting trial on 19 May 1916, convicted of desertion on 27 May 1916. Then attested July 1919 in Royal Army Medical Corps, aged 34 years born in Manchester, Lancashire, a dispenser living at 29 High Street , Penmaenmawr, had served in Welsh Guards, posted from Aldershot on 10 August 1919 to RAMC Edinburgh, posted absenttee 12 December 1919 from No. 2 Scottish General Hospital Craigleith, arrested in plain clothes by police in Conway, Wales and rejoined 15 January 1920 and was discharged on 13 March 1920. A note 27 May 1920 states This man was declared a deserter and was put up for trial when his admission to hospital intervened. Whilst a patient in hospital he again absented himself whilst under treatment for mental decease. Bearing in mind the following rulings on the subject of insanity it was considered that to bring the man to trial would result in an aquital, and charges were therefore withdrawn. He attested again on 22 July 1919 born in Manchester, Lancs aged 34, a dispenser, had been in Welsh Guards, and was discharged 13 May 1920. He attested again 14 April 1921 in Bangor for 90 days emergency service aged 35, height 5 ft 8 in, fresh complexion, auburn hair, discharged 23 June 1921. A letter from Headquarters, Welsh Guards, Buckingham Gate London SW1 September 12 1917 states "No. 2376 Private William Francis Roberts of the Welsh Guards [...] attested on the 9th June 1915, and joined the Lancashire Fusiliers the same day. He was transfered to the Welsh Guards on the 17th December 1915. The date of May 27th 1916, as shown on Army Form O. 1845 is the date from which his service is reckoned, as, owing to desertion, he forfeited all former service to that date." Another from the same dated September 19th 1917 "re William F Roberts of the Welsh Guards. His full name is William Francis Roberts. Prior to the War he was a Chemist. I am unable to give you his date of birth, but according to my Records his present age would be about 31 years 5 months". In a Deserters report he deserted on 26 March 1916 but subsequently rejoined. A report dated 3 April 1917 at Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich SE 18 states "This man has been under observation for a month and at no time has he shown evidence of Insanity. He evidently had some mental aberration which would account for his actions. The man makes no complaints except that at his age he finds the Guards Ceremonial Drill very Trying. His conduct has been exemplary since being here". He was discharged 27 April 1917 to Manchester House, Penmaenmawr, as no longer fit for War Service, and applied for employment at T.N.T Munition Works, Queens Ferry, Chester. There is a letter dated 21 March 1923 "William Francis Roberts - admitted for trial to the Assizes. The above person is awaiting his trial at the next Assizes to be held for the County of Carnavon on a charge of Forgery. [...] arrested at Conway on 23rd February 1930 for being an absentee from the 2nd Scottish General Hospital, Cragleith, Edinburgh". A subsequent letter states he was "sentenced to six months imprisonment without hard labour for Forgery." There is a lot of correspondence.
Entry in Ancestry UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920 for William Francis Roberts 2376 Welsh Guards enlisted 9 June 1915, did not serve oversea, discharged 18 May 1917 due to sickness.
There is an entry in The North Wales Weekly News Thursday, June 7, 1923 headed Carnarvon Assizes Penmaenmawr Forgery Case, The Judges Comments which states that William Francis Roberts was secretary of a local committee administering funds for the United Services Fund for ex-servce men. He forged the names and details of friends who had not applied to the fund and received money in their names. He received £72 5s and kept £36 15s 6d. He was charged with forging medical certificates. Mr Ellis W Roberts said that early in life he developed fits of melancholy in which he developed a certain stupidity and an attitude of indifference. When he joined the army this indifference developed, he had halluncinations and threatened to commit suicide. A Dr. Parry said he was injured in the head in the African War and was a man of weak will.
In the 1921 census as William Francis Roberts born in Manchester, Lancashire in 1886 and living with Catherine Ann Roberts (wife?), John Llewellyn and Owen Frances Roberts (sons?), and Catherine Ellen Roberts (daughter?) in Dwygyfylchi, Conway, Caernarvonshire.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register as William F Roberts born 14 April 1885 (sic), married, a sett maker clight W??, and living with Catherine A Roberts (wife?), and Dorothy T Roberts (daughter-in-law?) and June M Roberts (granddaughter?) at 29 High Street, Penmaenmawr, Caernarvonshire, Wales.
Death of William F Roberts in FreeBMD in January-March 1952 aged 65 in Conway (8A 161),
Entry in Ancestry UK and Ireland, Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current for W F Roberts, spouse C A Roberts aged 65 of 12 Chapel Street, in North Wales Weekly News, Colwyn Bay, Clwyd, Wales on 13 March 1952 "Obituary Mr. William F Roberts. The funeral took place at the council cemetery on Wednesday of last week, of Mr. William Francis Roberts, aged 65, 12, Chapel Street, Penmaenmawr [...] Chief mourners included Mrs. C. A. Roberts, widow; Mr and Mrs. J. D. Thomas, daughter and son-in-law; Messrs J Ltl Roberts and O. F. Roberts , sons; Mrs. E. Evans, sister; and Mr. Ll. Williams, Colwyn Bay, brother; Mr. and Mrs. O. J.Williams, Conway, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Mr. H Thomas, grandson, Mr. T Foulkes, brother-in-law, Colwyn Bay; Messrs. R. H. Jones, J. D. Jones an dR. Jones cousins; Mr. L Parry, nephew."
There are sixteen entries in Ancestry Family Trees for William Francis Roberts.
William Francis Roberts was the father of Owen Francis Roberts, husband of Dorothy Theresa Stubbs, Felicity's first cousin once removed.
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