William Hatfield
1859 - 1947
William Hatfield was born on 7th February 1859 in the Cwm, Knighton.
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He was the son of John and Martha Hatfield nee Thomas who were married in St. John's church, Wolverhampton on 1st October 1854.
John had several occupations over his working life ranging from Agricultural Labourer, Painter and Decorator and finally a Plumber & Glazier.
The known children of John and Martha were:-
Ann - 1856
William - 1859
Amy - 1861
John - 1863
Phoebe - 1865
James - 1868 - 1868
Elizabeth Ellen - 1869
Martha Jane - 1871
Mary - 1873 - 1873
Rose Ellen - 1873 - 1873
George Thomas - 1874
Jessie - 1877
Emily - 1879
William received his first teaching post at the age of 19.
In 1879 at the age of just 21 William was given a Schoolmaster's appointment, living in Llanfair-Waterdine School House with his younger sister Amy.
William Married Mary Jane Davies in March 1888 in Llanfair-Waterdine. Mary Jane was a School Mistress born in Huntington, Herefordshire.
In 1891 William and Mary Jane were still both teaching at Llanfair-Waterdine.
Leominster News - 14th November 1890 - Page 8
KNIGHTON
Plans of two new houses to be erected in Church Street by Mr. William Hatfield were examined and passed.
Montgomeryshire Express - 19th May 1891 - Page 5
EXTENSION OF WATER MAINS.-An application Was made by Mr. William Hatfield to extend the main to the houses he is building in Church-street, North.- Mr. Bache said that as the Board some time ago refused a public supply to the almhouses adjacent, but to which there was now a private supply, he should oppose the extension unless a similar service were granted to those houses.- Mr. Hamar asked the Surveyor whose fault it was that the sewerage had been recently stopped up in that street, and the Surveyor replied that it was owing to the neglect of the inhabitants of the almhouses to flush the drain. The proposed extension would be about 50 yards, and the estimated cost £10, and this would enable the Board to flush the mains in future.-On the motion of Mr. Bache, seconded by Mr. Baldwin, it was decided to extend the main the whole length.
On 12th April 1892 Williams father John Hatfield died. He was buried in Knighton Old Cemetery on 14th April in Row R, Plot 3. John left the sum of £378 16s. 7d. to Martha.
Wellington Journal - 16th April 1892 - Page 8
Birmingham Daily Post - 16th June 1892 - Page 2
Shrewsbury Chronicle - 29th May 1896 - Page 9
LLANFAIRWATERDINE.
PRESENTATION AND CONCERT.-On Friday evening last Mr and Mrs W. Hatfield, who are leaving the neighbourhood, were presented with a valuable symphonium inscribed as follows, "Presented to Mr and Mrs W. Hatfield as a token of respect by their friends at Llanfair-waterdine on the occasion of their leaving the neighbourhood." The presentation was made by the Rev C. H. Bowman during the interval in a concert which was given in the schoolroom. Mr Bowman said that all present would agree with him that few required in Llanfair-waterdine to speak in praise of Mr Hatfield. (Hear, hear.) It would really be like gilding gold. It gave them sorrow to think that the connection which had so long and so pleasantly existed between them and Mr Hatfield was shortly to be broken, but all would agree with him in saying that it gave them very great pleasure to show some slight token of the very great respect and regard they entertained for him. He had conducted the school for 17 years in a most admirable and excellent manner, and more than that, Mr Hatfield had by his high standard of morality set an example not only to the children but to everyone in the parish. They hoped that their loss would be his gain, and on behalf of all present he asked Mr Hatfield to accept the testimonial in recognition of the great respect they entertained for him. Mr Hatfield, upon rising to return thanks, was received with an ovation. He remarked that he had endeavoured to do his duty. He had spent many happy years at Llanfair-waterdine, and it was a regret to him to think that he should probably never see some again with whom he had been upon terms of intimate friendship. During the time he had been the Schoolmaster the attendance had increased from a very small number to upwards of 110 and the Parliamentary grant had increased from £16 to upwards of £73. He thanked all most heartily for the valuable present and the kind reception which had been accorded him. The concert was most successful throughout, and encores were frequent and well deserving. Great praise is due to Mr Jack Edwards, who took upon himself the trouble and pains or arranging the concert and assisted in getting up the testimonial.
Salisbury and Winchester Journal - 11th July 1896 - Page 8
After their move to Great Wishford, Wiltshire, William remained School Master and Mary Jane was his assistant.
Radnor Express - 11th February 1904 - Page 5
In 1904 William gave up the post of schoolmaster at Wishford and took up the roll at Pencerrig, Radnorshire.
Radnor Express - 18th August 1904 - Page 2
BUILTH ROAD.
The New Headmaster at Cwmbach School. -The new headmaster appointed to Cwmbach school is Mr Hatfield, from Wishford (Wilts.), brother-in-law of Mr David Powell, Brynhyfryd, Builth Wells. On his leaving Wishford, he and Mrs Hatfield have received some nice gifts from well-wishers and from the children. The presentations were made at a valedictory tea given to the scholars of the day and evening schools. Mr G. M. Young, in presenting a marble timepiece from the parishioners, said Mr Hatfield had been with them over eight years and had brought the school to a high standard of efficiency. He had carried on an excellent evening school and summer gardening classes for seven years, and received excellent reports. He had filled his post with conspicuous success and earned the liking and respect of the children and their parents. As a leading member of the choir he had also been of great service, and as assistant overseer he seemed to come for the money in such a manner as to almost make one glad to pay the rate. He was also clerk to the parish council, and his advice I could be relied on at all times. As Mr and Mrs Hatfield had decided upon leaving and taking up another appointment nearer their native country, Wishfordians desired to present them with a small token of regard and esteem, something which would remind them when far away of the many friends they had made.-Mr Scott presented a beautiful elec tro-plated inkstand to Mr and Mrs Hatfield from the teachers and children, the latter, he said, being greatly attached to them both. Mr Hatfield, in returning thanks, remarked that from the people of Wishford he had always received great kindness, and whatever he or Mrs Hatfield did in school had never been taken exception to. It had always been a pleasure to him to do all he could for the place, and it was with great reluctance that he had decided to give up all his work there after eight years of successful effort.
Radnor Express - 7th June 1906
In December 1906 William left Pencerrig school to take up the post of headmaster at Langrish, Hampshire.
Mary Jane became unwell on the 9th of April 1909 and was admitted to St James Hospital, Portsmouth on 15th suffering from pneumonia, sadly she passed away just 5 days later on 20th April.
Radnorshire Standard - 8th May 1909 - Page 5
FUNERAL OF MRS. WM. HATFIELD
The funeral of Mrs. Mary Jane Hatfield, wife of Mr. Wm. Hatfield, for 18 years head- master at the schools, Llanfair-Waterdine, and who afterwards occupied a similar position at Salisbury and Builth Road, and latterly at Langrish, near Petersfield, in Hampshire, took place late on Saturday evening in the pretty churchyard of Llanfair, amid every token of sincere sorrow, and deep sympathy for the bereaved husband in his great trouble. The deceased, who was a niece of the late Mrs. Price, of Runnis, was well known in the neighbourhood from her childhood, and during the several years she assisted her husband at the Village School had endeared herself to the children, and was held in much esteem. She died, after only eleven days' illness, of pneumonia, at Langrish on 26th April. The body was brought from Hampshire on Saturday, via London, by the 6.5 train accompanied by the husband and his intimate friend, Mr. Lever, of Salisbury, and Mr. and Mrs. Cooke (brother-in-law and sister of the deceased). Knighton station they were met by another sister (Mrs. Powell) and a brother from Brynmawr, and Miss L. Hatfield (Knighton), Miss A. Hatfield (Tenbury), and Mr. and Mrs. Chester (Merthyr Vale), who accompanied the body to Llanfair. On entering the village the cortege was joined by a number of old friends, who had assembled to pay a last token of respect These included Mr. W .A .Collins, Mr. J. J. Abley, Mr. Gwilt (Llanfair), Mr. Clee (New House), Mr. A. Davies (Goitree), Mr. J. Beavan, J.P. (Graig), and his sons, Mr. P. James (Upper Hall), Mr. Clee (Tregodier), Mr. Gwilt (Knucklas), and Messrs. Evans (Lloiney Mill), Evans (Lloiney Mill), Griffiths (Lloiney), Griffiths (Bwlchyplain), and several others. The church was crowded. The service was most impressively conducted by the Rev. H. E. Mason, Vicar, and the Rev. E. Lewis Jones, Rector of Heyope. The grave had been lined with moss and flowers, and the coffin was of polished oak with brass mountings. The local arrangements were admirably carried out by Messrs. Clee and Sons, of Knighton. Amongst the thirty wreaths that came from Langrish was a lovely one from the school children there, and another from Mr. Ponsonby Vane, Squire of that village. Numbers of other floral tributes were added at Llanfair. On Sunday the Vicar paid a high tribute to the life of the deceased, and specially alluded to her work during the eleven years she had resided in that parish.
In 1909 William's sister, Elizabeth Ellen gave up the post of infants teacher in Knighton and moved to Langrish to assist her widowed brother.
Hants and Sussex News - 23rd March 1910 - Page 5
In 1921 William can be found at Stroud school, Petersfield, Hampshire, with his sister, Elizabeth Ellen.
William's mother Martha died in Knighton on 8th June 1921. She was buried with her husband John on 11th June.
Portsmouth Evening News - 8th March 1923 - Page 5
Petersfield.
PRESENTATION TO MR. AND MISS HATFIELD.-After 50 years of school teaching, 17 of which have been spent as headmaster of Langrish School, near Petersfield, Mr. W. Hatfield retired on the last day of February, and leaves Langrish next week to settle down near his old home at Knighton, Radnorshire. His sister, Miss Hatfield, who has been his assistant at Langrish School resigned her post at the same time. Both have rendered excellent service to the parish in a variety of ways, and Mr. Hatfield has taken a very prominent part in its affairs. The esteem in which they are held has been evidenced by a number of presentations during the past week. The school children have presented Mr. Hatfield with a cut glass fruit bowl on a silver-plated pedestal, and Miss Hatfield with a silver-plated tea infuser, while the Cricket Club made the gift of a Swan fountain pen to Mr. Hatfield. Last night in the presence of a crowded gathering at the old schoolroom, Mr. C. W.. Talbot-Ponsonby, chairman of the school managers, on behalf of the people of the parish, presented Mr. Hatfield with an armchair and a cheque for nearly £30, and Miss Hatfield with an amethyst and pearl brooch with gold chain attached. A handsomely bound volume containing the names of the subscribers to both testimonials was also handed to Mr. Hatfield, who suitably responded on behalf of himself and his sister.
After William retired he returned to Knighton to take up residence in a house he had previously had built at 9 Church Street.
Hampshire Telegraph - 9th April 1923 - Page 16
Elizabeth Ellen Hatfield died on 3rd July 1926.
In 1933 William marred Nellie May Plowman in Wilton, Wiltshire. William was 74 and Nellie was 42.
Kington Times - 14th October 1933 - Page 8
1939 we find William and his wife Nellie living at 11 Bouverie Avenue, Salisbury where William is described as a Schoolmaster, retired.
William had done extensive research on his home town of Knighton which resulted in a book "Knighton and District" being published on 1st January 1947
William died at 11 Bouverie Avenue on 4th March 1947, cause of death given as senility and Myocardial degeneration. His wife Nellie registered his death the next day.
Western Mail - 15th July 1947
Mr. William Hatfield, of 11, Bouverie-avenue, Salisbury, retired schoolmaster, left £4,211 gross (net £4,052) Probate has been granted to his brother George T. Hatfield, of Radnor House, Cwmcarn. Monmouthshire. and Herbert Thomas, of Westray. Knighton, Radnorshire. On the death of his wife he bequeathed £100 for the upkeep of Llanfair-Waterdine (Shropshire) Churchyard and certain graves; £50 towards the erection of a Masonic-hall at Knighton (Radnor); £25 to Gwyneth Hatfield "as some token of her kindness when we were ill," and his residuary estate to Knighton Urban District Council for such one or more of the following purposes:-As the nucleus of a fund for a Cottage Hospital or the nucleus of a Town Free Library, or to help to purchase Bryn-y-castle, or some other portion of land as a public recreation ground.
Gwyneth Hatfield was Gwyneth May Hatfield, born 1910. She was William's niece, daughter of his brother and sister-in-law George Thomas and Mary Jane Hatfield nee Davies.
Nellie, William's second wife died in Salisbury in 1971.
Over his lifetime William Hatfield had been headmaster at:-
Llanfair-Waterdine - 17 years (1879 -1896)
Washford - 8 years (1896 - 1904)
Pencerrig - 2 ½ years (1904 - 1906)
Langrish - 17 years (1906 - 1923)