Henry Warren the son of John and Mary Warren (nee Broughall, who also went by the name Elizabeth) was born in Oswestry on 10th January 1814.  He was baptised on 21st January of the same year, at the Old Chapel (Independent), Arthur Street, Oswestry.

 

John Warren, Bachelor, age 24 married Mary Broughall, Spinster, age 22 on 19th December 1809 at Holy Trinity Church, Chester.

 

1841 census finds Henry as a Surgeon living in the Bull Ring, Knighton.

 

The area now known as Station Road containing the Horse & Jockey, Boots and Wylcwm House was once known as The Bull Ring.  From other research I have undertaken, the residence of the local surgeon was usually in Wylcwm House.

 

In February 1843 Henry declared himself insolvent.

 

Hereford Journal - 21st June 1843

WHEREAS, a Petition of HENRY WARREN, at present and for Twelve Months past residing at Knighton, in the County of Radnor, and being a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, in Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex, an Insolvent Debtor, having been filed (in the Bristol District Court of Bankruptcy), and the Interim Order for Protection from Process having been given to the said HENRY WARREN) under the provisions of an Act of Parliament passed in the Parliament holden in the 5th and 6th years of the Reign of her present Majesty, 'intituled "An Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors," the said HENRY WARREN is hereby required to appear in Court, before Richard Stevenson, Esquire, the Commissioner acting in the matter of the said petition, on the 30th day of June instant, at 11 o'clock in the forenoon precisely, at the Bristol District Court of Bankruptcy, at the Guildhall, in the City of Bristol, for the purpose of being then and there examined touching his debts, estate, and effects, and to be further dealt with according to the provisions of the said Act.  All persons indebted to the said HENRY WARREN, or that have any of his effects, are not to pay or deliver the same but to Mr. A. J. Acraman, 19, Saint Augustine's Place, Bristol, the Official Assignee, nominated in that behalf by the Commissioner acting in the matter of the said Petition.

J. H. POLLOCK,

Deputy Registrar, Bristol District.

Messrs. Green and Peters,

Solicitors,

Knighton, in the County of Radnor.

 

In 1844 Henry Warren succeeded in securing the appointment of his younger brother John Warren as medical officer for the Llanbister district.  John Warren held no medical qualification.  All that can be said about his medical training was that he had attended a course of lectures at the Royal College of Surgeons. This raised objections by other young medical men in the area and the appointment of the Warren brothers was taken away by the Commission.  Henry Warren was later reinstated.  Although under the rules of the Commission, he did not posses the adequate qualifications (all he held was an MRCS (Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons)); Henry seems to have only been given the post due to no qualified practitioner being prepared to take the Knighton position.

 

Hereford Journal - 15th January 1845

RICHARD STEVENSON, ESQUIRE, one of Her Majesty's Commissioners authorized to act in the matter of the Petition of HENRY WARREN, of Knighton, in the County of Radnor, Surgeon, will sit on the 4th day of February next, at Twelve of the Clock at Noon, at the Court of Bankruptcy, in the City of Bristol, in order to make a Dividend of the Estate and Effects of the said Insolvent, when and where the Creditors who have not already proved their Debts are to come prepared to prove the same, or they will be excluded the benefit of the said Dividend.  All Claims not then proved will be disallowed.

 

Hereford Journal - 23rd September 1846

A well-dressed female named Rachael Williams, last week attempted suicide by swallowing laudanum, but the fact becoming known, Mr. Warren, surgeon, applied the proper remedies and a fatal result was prevented. She remains in the care of the police.

 

On Friday week Mrs. Elizabeth Meredith, of this town died, and it being reported that Mr. Goulstone, chemist, had not prescribed properly for her, an inquest was held on Monday se'nnight, when Mr. Warren, of Knighton, and Mr. 'Williams of Leintwnrdine, were both of opinion that the course of treatment was proper, and that the deceased died of apoplexy. Verdict accordingly

 

Bath Chronicle - 23rd November 1848

A short time ago, Thomas Thomas, stable-boy to Edward Rogers, Esq., of Stanage Park, near Knighton, was bitten on the hand by a young greyhound, which at that time was suffering from hydrophobia.  The coachman very properly took the boy immediately to Mr. Warren, surgeon, when the bitten parts were cut out, and the place afterwards washed over with aquafortis.  The wound healed, and all fears of the bad effects of the bite had ceased, but unfortunately the youth was four weeks afterwards also bitten by a tame fox, which was kept about the stables.  This fox, it has been ascertained, had been bitten by the dog, and died after two days' illness.  The boy did not speak of this latter circumstance until on his death-bed.  His death took place on Saturday se'nnight, adding another to the many proofs of the incurable nature of the disease, and showing that no precaution against such visitations is unnecessary, and no notice of them, however repeated, useless.

 

Aquafortis - Strong Water - is a corrosive solution of nitric acid made from saltpetre.  It was used in alchemy as a solvent for dissolving silver and most other metals. Aqua Fortis was prepared by mixing either sand, alum, or vitriol, or the last two together, with saltpetre then distilling it by a hot fire. The gas collected from this condenses into Aqua Fortis.

 

Hydrophobia better known as Rabies was quite prevalent in this country until as late as the early 1900's.  The UK was declared rabies free in 1902 but there were further outbreaks after 1918 when servicemen returning from war smuggled rabid dogs back to Britain.  The disease was subsequently eradicated and Britain was declared rabies-free in 1922 after the introduction of compulsory quarantine for dogs.

 

1851 census Henry is a 37 year old Surgeon living in Alms House Street.  He has an assistant living with him, Ebenezer Minshull, age 28, who is also a Surgeon.

 

Brecon County Times - 16th June 1866

CAUTION TO PERSONS CARRYING GUNS.—A serious accident occurred here, on Wednesday sen'night, to a man named John Bright, foreman of some buildings now in progress in Bridge-street.  Bright was at his work on the scaffolding when he was shot in the face from an adjoining garden.  He was at once removed from the scaffold, and carried to his lodgings, which were fortunately not far distant.  The services of Henry Warren, Esq., surgeon, were promptly secured, and he, on examination, found that one of the shots had pierced the candle of the eye, and very narrowly escaped the brain; and several other shots had lodged in different parts of the poor man's face.  Great sympathy is felt for the sufferer, as some short time ago he had the misfortune to injure his other eye; and consequently, from its weakness, there is danger now that the poor fellow may be blinded for life.  The police commenced a search in the garden, and found a gun concealed among some bushes, and subsequently traced the deed to a lad named Price, who was in the service of Mr. C. Knill.  The boy, during his master's absence, took the gun to shoot birds, and seeing a magpie on a tree fired the gun at the bird, never thinking where the shot would pass to beyond the tree.  P.C. Rogers took both boy and gun into safe-keeping, but it being so clearly proved to have been an accident, the lad was set at liberty. From latest accounts we are sorry to hear that the hope of poor Bright's sight being preserved is but very small.

 

Hereford Journal - 11th July 1860

ACCIDENT. - On Friday evening last, an accident of a serious nature occurred to Henry Warren, Esq,. surgeon, of this town.  Mr. Warren it appears was returning home from Adforton, in a dog-cart, accompanied by his servant, when near Walford the horse tripped and fell.  In the hurry to alight, Mr. Warren’s leg unfortunately became entangled in the wheel of the carnage, and the result, we regret to add, was the fracture of both bones of the leg.  He was taken to Walford cottage, the residence of Mrs. Meredith, and was promptly attended by T. Jackson, Esq., surgeon of Leintwardine, who rendered every necessary assistance in setting the leg.  From enquiry yesterday, we learn that he is progressing as favourably as can be expected under the circumstances, although not yet able to be conveyed home to his residence at Knighton.

 

In the 1861 census Henry is on the up.  Living back in the Bull Ring, he is enumerated as a General Practitioner M R C S & L A C(Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons & Licentiate of the Apothecaries' Company.), unmarried, aged 47.  In the same household are his assistant Richard O Leary, age 33; his groom servant John Phillips and a cook Mary Berry, aged 30. Henry also has a Page, Frederick Railer, aged 13.

 

Wrexham Advertiser - 8th September 1866

WARREN—On the 31st ult., at the Raven Hotel, Shrewsbury, on his way to the sea side, aged 52, Mr Henry Warren. surgeon, Knighton

 

Hereford Journal -8th September 1866

Death of Henry Warren, Esq. - It is with sincere regret that we announce the death (at the age of 52) of Henry Warren, Esq., surgeon, of Knighton, after an extensive practice of thirty years in the town and neighbourhood, where his great ability and kindness of heart will long be remembered by both rich and poor, and his loss much felt.  He had always a kind look and open pocket to the needy, often giving his attendance and medicine, with other charities, to the poor without any hope of recompense.  The deceased had been suffering from an attack of gastric fever.

 

Wellington Journal - 15th September 1866

The late Mr. Henry Warren -The Lancet of Saturday contains the following notice of Mr. Henry Warren, whose lamented death we announced in our last :—" It is with sincere regret that we have to announce the death of Henry Warren. Esq , in the fifty-second year of his age, after an illness of six weeks.  Mr. Warren was a student at University College Hospital, London, under Mr. Samuel Cooper and Mr. Liatos, with both of whom he was particularly intimate and a great favourite.  In 1836 he took the diploma of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and went to spend a month or two with his fellow student, Dr. Slyman of Newton, Montgomaryshire.  During this time a practice at Knighton became vacant, upon which he entered, and since then has continued, till within five weeks of his death, when he went to Llandrindod for a holiday, and was attacked with gastric fever.  He returned home, and after five weeks suffering, but apparently improving in health, was on his way to Borth for change of air; stopped at Shrewsbury for the night where he was seized with a relapse, and expired on the 31st of August.  His extensive practice in Knighton and the neighbourhood fully attests the ability, and attention he displayed.  He had the appointment of medical officer to the union workhouse at Knighton from the commencement of the new Poor law Act.  He was also medical referee to the Yorkshire, Lancashire, &c, Insurance offices, and held various other public appointments.  In Mr Warren, the upper class has lost a true and warm friend, as well as an able kind-hearted, and attentive medical adviser; the poor have lost a kind and generous friend and medical helper, he being always ready with his advice, and often with an open pocket, where he saw need, and no hope of remuneration. His medical brethren have lost a warm hearted brother and valuable counsellor.  The respect in which he was held was testified in Knighton, on the day of his funeral, by the shops being partially closed, and a muffled peal being rung from the bells throughout the day.  His friends have commenced a subscription to raise a memorial tablet over his pew in the parish church.

 

Hereford Journal - 22nd December 1866

THE WARREN MEMORIAL. - From an announcement in another part of the Journal it will be seen that an account has been opened with the North and South Wales Bank in this town, for the purpose of receiving subscriptions to the fund for raising the memorial to the late Henry Warren, Esq.  At a meeting of the committee on Friday last, it was decided to place a tablet in the parish church, and erect a pillar on granite, surmounted with three lamps, in a conspicuous part of Broad-street.

 

Wellington Journal - 30th November 1867

HENRY WARREN (DECEASED).

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION of all and singular the personal Estate and Effects of HENRY WARREN, late of KNIGHTON, in the county of Radnor, Surgeon, deceased, who died on the 31st day of August, 1866, a bachelor, without a parent, and intestate, were granted by her Majesty's Principal Court of Probate, on the 11th day of May, 1867, to BETSEY CROXON, widow, the natural and lawful sister, and one of the next of kin to, of the said intestate.  And all persons Indebted to the said Henry Warren at the time of his death are hereby requested to pay their respective debts to the said Betsey Croxon, at the house of Mrs. Edwards, situate in Church street, Knighton, aforesaid, widow, between the 18th day of December, 1867, and the 1st day of January next.  And all persons to whom the said Henry Warren stood indebted at the time of his death are requested forthwith to send in a particular in writing of their respective demands to the said Betsey Croxon, with a view to their being examined and discharged. Dated this 25th day of November, 1867.

 

Probate

Henry WARREN. 11th May 1867

Letters of Administration of the Personal estate and effects of Henry Warren late of Knighton in the County of Radnor Surgeon a Bachelor deceased who died 31st August 1866 at Shrewsbury in the County of Salop were granted at the Principal Registry to Betsey Croxon of Knighton aforesaid Widow the Sister and one of the Next of Kin of the said Deceased she having been first sworn.

Effects under £2,000

Resworn at the Principal Registry, Under £3,000.

 

Betsey Croxon was born Betsey Warren in 1812. She married  Thoman Garnett Jenkins on 2nd May 1837 in Oswestry. Thomas died on the Wirral later that same year.

 

Betsey married for a second time on 23rd July 1846 to John Croxon, a farmer of 205 acres. They lived in Trefarclawdd House, Pottery Street, Tref Ar Clawdd, nr Oswestry.

 

John Croxon died on 14th February 1865 at 338 Strand, London.

 

Bessie Croxon died in Park Street, Oswestry, aged 91 in 1903.

 

Probate

Bessie Croxon of Park Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, Widow, died 24th December 1903. Probate, London 29th January 1904 to Philip Henry Minshall, Solicitor and William Henry Bickerton, Estate Agent.

Effects  £958 1s 1d

 

Philip Henry Minshall, Solicitor, was a brother to Ebenezer Minshull , Surgeon, who was living with Henry Warren in 1851.

 

Hereford Journal - 28th December 1867

TABLET.—On the south wall, and over the pew of the late Henry Warren, Esq., has recently been placed a very handsome memorial tablet, bearing the following inscription :—" Sacred to the memory of Henry Warren, Esq., surgeon, who died August 31st, 1866, aged 51 years, after a residence of 30 years in this town. This tablet is erected in affectionate remembrance by his numerous friends.

 

The tablet to Henry is now situated on the west wall.  This probably took place during the improvements to the church during the 1870's.