Finding Alice Edwards.

In affectionate memory of 

Alice,

The dearly beloved daughter of Charles & Martha Edwards, of The Bush, 

Died October 19th, 

Aged 13.

Interred at Evancoed Church, October 22nd, 1881.

A while ago I purchased a bundle of mourning cards from Nolton Antiques in Bridgend. While looking through my bundle of mourning cards I found the mourning card for a young girl called Alice. I decided that I wanted to 'find' Alice.

What is a mourning card? 

Mourning cards were often given out to friends and relatives as keepsakes at funerals. The predecessor of what we now know as an 'order of service', these cards were usually decorated with a black bordering, a verse, and illustration. On occasion, a photograph of the deceased would be included on the card. 

In this blogpost, I write about Alice's short life. The following information has been drawn together from various certificates, newspaper articles, and archive material. 

The mourning card in memory of Alice Edwards.

Martha (later known as Alice) Edwards was born in October 1868. She was one of ten children born to Charles and Martha Jane Edwards of Beggar's Bush in Old Radnor.

Alice's parents, Charles and Martha hailed from different sides of the border. Charles was born in Almeley in 1831 and Martha was born in Llanfihangel Nant-Melan in 1828. Charles and Martha married at St Mary Magdalene Church in Eardisley on the 22nd of October 1852. 

Charles and Martha were not strangers to death. They sadly lost three of their children prior to Alice's death. 

• In 1865 their daughter Elizabeth died aged 1 year. 
• In 1871 their daughter Catherine died aged 7 months. 
• In 1872 their son Thomas died aged 10 years. 

The three above children were buried at St Michael's Churchyard in Cascob. 

A view of Evenjobb Village.

The 1871 Census tells us that Martha (later known as Alice) was living with her parents and six of her siblings at the 'Old Turnpike' in the hamlet of Beggar's Bush in Evenjobb. 

At some point during the time between the 1871 and 1881 census, like many people at that time, Martha became known by her middle name Alice.

The 1881 Census tells us that Alice and her family were living at the 'Bush.' It's interesting to note that the 'Bush' was the farm next door to their previous home. By that time, the 'Old Turnpike' had changed its name to 'Northgate Cottage.' 

On the 19th of October 1881, Alice died at The Bush, aged 13. An inquest into her death concluded that Alice died of “Natural Causes viz Diphtheria.” 

The death certificate of Alice Edwards. 

Alice was buried at St Peter's Churchyard, Evancoed on the 22nd of October 1881. Alice's parents were later buried at the same churchyard. Her mother Martha in 1893 and her father Charles in 1895. 

Alice's gravestone at St Peter's Churchyard, Evancoed.