John Evans

John Evans was born about 1740, possibly in Shifnal in Shropshire. Most of what we know about him comes from his will of 1784 obtained from Lichfield Record Office, where he is described as an Innkeeper. He made his will “being sick and weak in body” at the age of about 44. He died a short time later, but his signature is relatively firm. He had married Mary Owen on 28 Jun 1767 and had six children. At his death, his eldest son Richard was 15, his youngest son John was only 3.

John Evans Signature on his marriage 1767

John Evans Signature and Seal 1784

Although the Evans family were based in the Wolverhampton area from 1765 to 1890, his will (as does his wife’s will) indicates that he owned land and property in Shifnal in Shropshire  It is on this basis that we can speculate that he may have been born in Shropshire. There is record of a Richard Evans, gentleman, of Pepperhill, who could be a strong candidate for his father.

The name John Evans being so common makes any research very difficult.

The Evans or Owens must have acquired the Old Bell Inn in Chapel Ash just outside Wolverhampton in about 1767. Records show that it was owned by a William Savage in 1765. John Evans is described as the Inn Keeper by 1775 for certain. It would appear it is now the site of a public lavatory!

One artefact that has remarkably survived and has been passed down many generations  is the Chester Racecard of May 1766. This we can presume comes from John Evans and indicates the strong ancestral passion with horses. As the stage coach business was to develop from 1780 to 1830 a stable of fine horses was a prerequisite to meet the need for an efficient inter city coaching service. Significantly Shifnal is an important staging post on the coaching route between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

The buildings at the “Sign of the Old Bell” dated from before 1700 as when they are sold by Mary in 1792 they are described as over one hundred years old. There may be further possibilities in researching the early coaching business in the 1750’s and 1760’s as it might indicate the possible coaching roots of John Evans father. There was another stage Inn at Pepperhill just outside Albrighton.

John Evans is identified as ‘Richard Evans’ in family trees drawn up by Edith Ogden and Eric Benton and repeated many times later. This appears to be a mistake and confusion probably introduced by Edith Ogden herself in about 1930. She was very much aware that the name was John Evans, clearly indicated in some correspondence we have, but the key tree that she created and passed to Molly Downing and probably Eric Benton first makes the mistake.

There can be no doubt that the father of Richard Evans (b 1768) and General Thomas Evans (b 1777) was John Evans. A mistake that in the latter’s case is even repeated in the Dictionary of Canadian National Biography.

John Evans was buried on 30 Jul 1784 in St Michael Allangels in Tettenhall.