francis aylmer frost + emma louisa russell
Francis was born in Chester on 12 August 1856 and baptised at the Crooke Street Chapel on 21 March 1857. He was the youngest of four children born to Meadows Frost and his wife Matilda Berend. His father was a successful corn and cotton merchant with businesses in both Liverpool and Chester. Francis grew up in a very wealthy family and enjoyed a priviliged childhood at the family home in Hope, Flintshire. He attended a private school in Rhyl and when he completed his studies, he worked as a Cotton Merchant alongside his father.
Thurstaston
In 1881, twenty four year old Francis was still living at the family home, Meadowslea, in Hope although it is likely that he also spent some time in Liverpool and Chester on business. Two years later, his father died and left Francis one quarter of his £40 000 estate.
Francis marred Emma Louise Russell on 18 June 1885 at All Saints Margaret Street in Marylebone, London. Emma was the daughter of John Fuller Russell, an Anglican priest, and the sister of Rosalie Russell who married Francis’ older brother Meadows in 1874.
Following their marriage, Francis and Emma returned to the family home in Hope where their first child was born. Lettice May was born at Meadowslea on 20 November 1886 and baptised on 17 December 1887 but sadly, she died before her first birthday.
Francis was still working as a merchant at the time of his marriage but several years after marrying, he decided to give up business and become a priest in the Church of England. He was made a Deacon at Chester Cathedral on Trinity Sunday 1889 and was licensed to serve, first as a deacon and later a curate, at Audlem in the south of Cheshire. Their son, Francis Aylmer, was born in Audlem on 23 December 1889 and baptised on 1 January. When the census was taken one year later, they were living at Ivy House on Stafford Street in Audlem where Francis serving as a Clerk in Holy Orders.
On 14 September 1893, Francis was appointed as vicar to the parish church dedicated to St Bartholomew in Thurstaston near Birkenhead. Only four years later, forty year old Francis died while visiting Bournemouth on the south coast of England. His body was returned to Thurstaston and he was buried in the church yard at St Bartholomew’s. His will was proved one month later and despite the large inheritance from his father, Francis’ estate was valued at only £166.
Following Francis’ death, Emma moved to Heswall to be close to her sister Rose and brother-in-law Meadows Arnold Frost. In 1901, Emma and her son Francis were living just down the street from Rose and Meadows on Rocky Lane in Heswall. Her occupation was listed as ‘living on own means’ and she employed one housekeeper. It is not known whether Emma received a legacy from her father’s estate or if she was being supported by Francis’ brother.
In 1911, Emma was still living on Rocky Lane in an eight room house along with her 18 year old niece Constance Russell and one domestic servant. Her twenty one year old son Francis was listed as a visitor in the household of Norman Vosper at the Carrog Ucha farm near Glyndyfrdwy in Merionethshire. Francis’ occupation was listed as apprentice farmer so he may have been working for Norman as part of his apprenticeship.
Vosper — Frost Connection
Norman Vosper was born in Liverpool on 28 February 1880; he was the son of Thomas Vosper, a shipping merchant, and his wife Christina Fernie. In the late 19th Century, the Vosper family owned Rhaggat Hall in Corwen, Denbighshire where Norman and his family spent the spring and summer. Norman enlisted in the army in 1900 and served in the Boer War in SouthAfrica for a year before requesting a discharge from further service. He returned to Liverpool and married Jessie Brown in 1911 and they had three children all born in Llanychan - Nancy was born in 1913, Norman in 1915 and Joan in 1920. When the first world war broke out, he re-enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery and as a result of bravery in the field of battle, he was awarded the Military Cross. In 1944, his eldest daughter Nancy married Richard Meadows Frost at the parish church in Llanychan.
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When war was declared, Francis enlisted in the Cheshire Volunteer Regiment and was assigned to the 6th Batallion reserves. He was promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in 1916 and again in February 1918. In July 1918, he was awarded the Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his troop in a most gallant and dashing manner under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire. He afterwards took up a position to protect the exposed flank of another unit. The fine example set by this officer largely contributed to the consolidation of the position before nightfall.’
After the war, Francis returned to north Wales and settled on a farm, Wern Fawr, at Llangynhafal near Ruthin. A property listing from 2009 offered a description of the house:
Wern Fawr is situated in the heart of the Vale of Clwyd in an elevated position on the westerly slopes of the Clwydian Range and commanding far reaching views across the Vale towards Ruthin and beyond. Reputed to date from 1799 this versatile and adaptable Grade II listed residence affords drawing room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen / breakfast room, family room, utility room, garden room, cloakroom and cellar. First floor master bedroom with dressing room and ensuite, five further bedrooms, shower room ensuite family bathroom. Attached range of two storey outbuildings incorporating stable, tack room and garaging (with consent for conversion into two holiday cottages). Further range of traditional stone farm buildings with planning consent for residential conversion, gardens and paddock totalling 4.8 acres or thereabouts.
On 4 January 1921, Francis married Margaret Percy Fuller Russell at St John the Evangelist in Hurst Green, Sussex. Margaret was the sixth daughter of Reverend Edward Meadows Russell and his wife Helen Wilkins. A reception was held at the bride’s home, Hatton House, in Hurst Green before the couple travelled to London for their honeymoon. As a wedding gift, Francis presented his new bride with a motor car. Francis and Margaret returned to Ruthin following their marriage but it is not known if they had any children.
Ellen Russell died on 28 December 1926. At the time, she was living in the village of Rhos-y-Brwyner near the Frost family home, Meadowslea, at Hope in Flintshire. She left an estate valued at £10 386 to her son Francis.
Margaret Russell died at Fron Ganol on 5 August 1961; the farm was about 1 mile east of their previous home at Wern Fawr. Francis Aylmer Frost died in 1974.