Percy Gleave Pennington

Percy Gleave Pennington was born on 16th January 1880 at Preston-on-the Hill and baptised there on 14th March that year.  He was the son of Edward Pennington (born Newton-by-Daresbury) and his wife Esther (nee Webb) who was born in Preston Brook.  

The census of 1881 recorded the family as living in a cottage in Preston-on-the-Hill and that the father was a wheelwright.  Percy had an older brother Harrold (Harold Edward) and an older sister Lillian (Ann), who were aged seven years and five years, respectively.

Ten years later they were living on Chester Road in the village.  Harold had left home, and Percy was at school.  There were also two younger children, John Peter Webb aged eight years and Amy Mary aged six years.

By 1901 Percy was working as a labourer on the roads and the family lived on Aston Lane, near the Wesleyan Chapel House. The father still worked as a journeyman wheelwright and John as a clerk in a chemical works.  Lillian Ann was no longer living at home, but Amy Mary continued to live with her family.

Sadly, both parents died within the next decade.  Esther passed away in 1906 at the age of 63 years and Edward passed away in 1910 at the age of 68 years.  They were both buried at Daresbury.

By 1911 the two brothers and Amy Mary were living in Stockton Heath at 22, Farrell Road.  Percy was working as a hawker and John as an insurance clerk.  Amy looked after the house and family.

Percy enlisted as a Private in the Royal Army Medical Corps, WO 329 Company, with the service number 83289. It is known that he was serving in Salonika in early 1918 and that he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in the Great War. Sadly, his brother John Peter Webb Pennington died on war service in 1917.

In the summer of 1921 at Warrington, Percy married Hannah Winniefred Vaughan Williams who was born at Festiniog in Merionethshire.    

The 1939 Register recorded Percy and Hannah and one child living at 128, Liverpool Road in Great Sankey, near Warrington.  Percy was employed as a process chemical worker.

Percy Gleave Pennington died on 27th October 1950 in Great Sankey and was buried four days later at St Mary’s in Great Sankey.  He was 70 years of age.  Hannah passed away ten years later in her home county of Merionethshire.