The Brook-house,  Rhos

 

In 1882 the last of their 5 children was born, Margaret Ann.

 

Aaron and Mary continued to live at the Brook-house until the early 1900s. They then moved to Tile House, Rhos.

 

By this time the children had started to leave home. Mary Ann was now working as a hotel waitress at the Gaskell Arms Hotel in the High Street in Much Wenlock. This is very likely where she met her intended, Ralph Leonard Roberts, whom she married in Whitton in 1904. Ralph was a carpenter from Much Wenlock and, after their marriage they moved there.

 

On 19th April 1905 Elizabeth Ann (26) married Herbert Powell (30), a game keeper, in Whitton church. After their marriage they moved to Church Road and Herbert became a carter for the Urban District Council.

 

In 1907 Aaron James G married Jessie Ann Lloyd in Bucklow Cheshire and, after their marriage they moved to Clay Cross, Chesterfield in Derbyshire. Aaron Jr worked on the Midland railway for several years.

 

Life was moving along nicely until one fateful night on Friday 27th November 1908.

 

Death From Exposure

 

On Friday evening last Mr and Mrs, Aaron Wozencroft of Tile House, Rhos, near Knighton, who had been in Knighton on business, were returning home between nine and ten o'clock, and when passing the Upper Mill, Mrs Wozencroft went slightly off the main road, and stepped into the Cwm brook, opposite the ,Mill House—the brook at this point is dangerous, there being no fence, and a bank about 3 feet high. It appears that when falling. she had her arm linked in that of her husband's, thus causing him to fall in as well, the fright caused an epileptic fit and Wozencroft, who was afraid to leave his wife long at a time, failed to raise an alarm till about five o'clock next morning, when he had the assistance of the occupants of the Mill House, who at once sent for Dr. J. A. K. Griffiths, but on his arrival, life was found to be extinct. The body was afterwards removed. to Tile House.

 

Inquest 30th November 1908

 

On Monday afternoon, Mr Fred L. Green, Coroner for the Eastern Division of Radnorshire held an inquiry touching the death of deceased, whose name was Mary Elizabeth Wozencroft. The jury of which Mr William Williams was foreman, consisted of the following:—.Messers . A. M. Pugh, E. Hamer, G. Davies, J. Davies, Thomas Rollings, W. Stevens, John Bowen, C. Meacham, R. Davies, John Lewis. J. H, James, and T. A. Lote. The Police were represented by Inspector Thomas Jones of Knighton.

       The husband was the first witness called, and gave his name as Aaron Wozencroft; he identified the body as that of his wife, Mary Elizabeth, and whose age was 56 years.

       On Friday last he went to Knighton in company with his wife, and arrived there about a quarter to seven. His wife was not quite so well as she had been, they went to Knighton to post a parcel to their son who lived at Clay Cross, Chesterfield, it was also the anniversary of his wife's mother's death, which took place 34 years ago. His Wife who had always been in the habit of putting flowers on her mother's grave on the anniversary of her death, had remarked to him that she would "leave it till tomorrow." She bad been in the habit of placing the flowers there on the anniversary of her mother's death ever since they were married. When  they came to Knighton that evening, the first one they visited was their daughter, who was at the "Red Lion." His wife was with him there, but they were not there many minutes. They went from there to "The Fleece" and from this place they started for home. He did not particularly notice the tine, but it was not more than half-past nine, that was as near as he could tell. They went home through the "Cwm," and when opposite the Mill House, his wife, stumbled over something, and they both fell the brook, as she had hold of his arm. The fall would be about 3 feet into about nine inches of water. He had not measured either the fall or the water, but that was about it. He at once proceeded to "tush" his wife out of the water as quickly as possible, she was screaming loudly, and he failed to get her up on to the road, she afterwards went off into a fit and at times would come to herself, and call him by his name, and several time he heard her say "Oh dear" as soon as she came to herself. He went to try to awaken up Mr Lloyd at the Mill House, but he was afraid to stay from her long as she might have got worse again, and have struggled into the water. He failed to make anyone hear at the Mill till he had been there the third time, when he succeeded in wakening the people at the Mill House, who rendered him assistance. The first he saw was Miss Lloyd. There were also present Mr Lloyd (senior), Mr William Lloyd, the nephew, and his sister. The first named, John Lloyd then came with them and helped to get his wife out of the water, only her feet were in the water at the time.

       The Mill people carried her into the house and also sent for a doctor. He did not send for the police. "He. could not say whether her feet had been in the water all the time, but they had been there some time. He could not 'tush' her up on to the road, as it was 'sideland' ground. He was very wet, and so was his wife. The doctor examined her, and pronounced her dead. He had no thought of that as he had seen her many times in a fit of the same kind. It was about 5 o'clock in the morning when the doctor arrived he should think, but he was too much upset to notice anything. His wife had been insensible, for about half an hour previous to his calling the people up at the Mill. In reply to the Coroner, witness said his age was 65 last October, and he was not very strong. He should say she fell in the brook before ten o'clock. - the house belonging to the Mill was not more. than 20 yards from the place where she fell. He was afraid to leave her for long at a time because she was struggling in a fit. She was subject to fits and had one about 12 months ago. She had been baring them for years but of late they had grown stronger but not so frequent. His medical man was Dr. Griffiths. When leaving Knighton that night his wife and he were perfectly sober.