James Abrams was born on 14th October 1893 at Frodsham Bridge. He was the son of Robert Abrams (born Frodsham Bridge) and his wife Mary (nee Clare) who was born at Padgate near Warrington. The father was a labourer in the boneworks nearby, which was owned by Joseph Ashworth.
The census of 1901 recorded the family living at Boneworks Cottages. James had an older brother Peter aged 12 years and three younger brothers, Walter aged six years, Alfred aged three years and Robert aged one year. A sister named Edna had died in 1896 at the age of five years.
By 1911 James had left home and was living at Sutton Hall in Sutton Weaver, where he was employed by William Lowe as a farm labourer. Peter had also left home and was married. The rest of the family were living in Cholmondeley Road in Clifton and now also had nine-year old Ethel and seven year old Elsie.
James enlisted as a private in the 11th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment with the service number 17950. This battalion was part of Kitchener’s Third Army and was raised in 1914. Sadly, James was killed in action on 29th/30th July 1916 on the Somme in Flanders. He is commemorated on the War Memorial at Aston-by-Sutton and on the Thiepval Memorial at the Somme. His name is also inscribed on the gravestone for his parents in the churchyard at St Peter’s in Aston-by-Sutton where his parents are buried.
James’ brothers Alfred and Walter also served in the Great War and sadly died in the May and the October of 1918. His older brother Peter had served in the Cheshire Regiment for four years prior to the war.
James Abrams was 22 years old at the time of his death.