The deaths of John and Sarah
On 29 February, 1896, The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News reported John's death, "after a lingering illness". (Click here to see the report). John must have been a man of some standing in the community for this article to have been written. He died on 22 February [Wrexham 1896, 1st qt], aged sixty-seven. Sarah died in the winter of 1897-8 [Wrexham 1898, 1st qt], aged sixty-eight. I am told that John was buried at Wrexham cemetery on 26 February 1896 and Sarah was buried in the same plot on 23 March 1898.
Sarah's funeral was reported in the North Wales Guardian, Wrexham, 25th March 25th:
It is with much regret we have to record the death of Mrs Shelby, Cross-street, Rhosddu, who had been an invalid for some few years. The deceased lady was very highly esteemed and beloved in the neighbourhood, a touching allusion being made to her by the Rev. Stanley Davies in Rhosddu Church last Sunday evening. The funeral, which was private, took place at the new cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, and was attended by the undermentioned relatives and friends:—Messrs
J. P.,
T. F. , and
T. M. O. Shelby (sons),
Mrs Jones,
Mrs Owen, Misses
Maggy,
Susy, and
Lily Shelby (daughters), the
Rev. Elias Owen (brother),
Mr T. Morgan Owen (brother) and
Mrs Morgan Owen, Rhyl,
Mr E. E. Owen, Craven Arms (brother),
Mr O. Owen, Llanidloes (nephew),
Mr Jones, Trevor Schools,
Mr J. W. Owen, Ruabon Schools (sons-in-law),
Mrs W. Jones, Llanidloes (sister),
Mrs Jones, Bangor (niece),
Dr Davies, Miss Parsonage, Rhosddu Schools, Mr and Mrs G. J.Jones, Penygelli, Mr E B. Davies, Adwy, Mr W. Davies, Bwlchgwyn, Mrs Roberts, Rhosddu, Mrs H. E. Copleston, Mr B. Lloyd, Mr William Simons, Mr Thomas Williams, Mr Henry Hawken, Mr R. L. Ellis, and Mr Wm, Jones. The officiating clergy were the Revs. Stanley Davies and J. Owen, Rhosddu, and the Rev. Worthington Powell, Wrexham. Wreaths were sent by the following:— From the family,
Mr J. P. Shelby,
Mr and Mrs Morgan Owen, from
the family at Llanyblodwell Vicarage,
Sally (Llanyblodwell),
Gladys,
Gwen, and
Jack, Trevor,
Mrs Woolley and family, Mr and Mrs Hobbins, Miss Clara Powell, Mr and Mrs Holmes (Leeds), Mr and Mrs Mann, Mr and Mrs R. L. Ellis, Mrs Jones (12, Cross-street), Mr and Mrs Robshaw, Miss Parsonage, Mr and Mrs Henry Hawken, Mrs Penlington, young ladies from Luton House, Wrexham Cycling Club, Mrs and Miss Humphreys (Greenfield), Mrs Roberts, Mr T. Williams and family, Mr and Mrs Grundy, Mr and Mrs Wyke and family, Mrs Davies and family, Adwy, Mrs J. Jones and Mrs Jopleston,
Mr E. J. Owen, Mr and Mrs G. J. Jones.
Eric Wynn-Owen, recalled talk of ‘Grandma Shelby’ but could remember nothing specific. Her great granddaughter, Olwen Hedley, had a picture of Sarah: "My recollection of her is that she looked a lady of great character, with a very firm mouth, but nice".