John Spence, known as Jack, was born in Widnes in 1889, the youngest of six children of John Spence senior and his wife Elizabeth (Eliza) Patton, who married in Ireland around 1878. We can estimate the date when they came to England to be around 1881. Daughters Euphemia (Effie) and Catherine (Kate) were born in County Antrim on 12 August 1878 and 21 July 1880 respectively. The family are not in the Census of England & Wales taken on 3 April 1881 and their four younger children were all born in Widnes: Daniel on 19 October 1882, Elizabeth on 31 March 1885, Mary Jane on 7 April 1887 and finally Jack in 1889.
In the Census taken on 5 April 1891, the Spence family were recorded at 23 Wright Street, Widnes and John was described as a general labourer. The Spence family moved to 49 Cromwell Street, Widnes sometime in the mid 1890s. At the Widnes Police Court on 3 February 1898, John and Eliza were summoned by the NSPCC for neglecting their children in a manner likely to cause them unnecessary suffering. The evidence brought forward by the Society's inspector and the police was truly shocking and the Bench described the case as a very bad one. The defendants were each sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour.
Before the next Census on 31 March 1901, John and Eliza had moved to 15 Midwood Street, Widnes. Three of their older children (Kate, Daniel and Elizabeth) had moved away leaving Jack, Mary and Effie - plus Effie's three year old daughter Florence - at home. More trouble was to follow soon afterwards. On 17 June at Widnes Police Court, John was charged with leaving his wife and children, chargeable to the Prescot (Poor Law) Union. The court heard how on 17 May, whilst on a drunken spree, John disposed of his furniture and, in consequence, Eliza and the children had no home. Until they were admitted to the Workhouse on 30 May, they were forced to sleep in the houses of neighbours and sometimes in outhouses. John was in employment and his application to join his family in the Workhouse was refused. His police record was read out. There were nine previous convictions for disturbing the peace, stealing, drunkenness and cruelty to children. The Mayor said that John would be committed to gaol for a fortnight, and he hoped he would reform.
Eliza and five of her six children found their way to the Fylde. Declaring herself to be a widow, Eliza went to work as a general servant for William Richardson Wilson, a farmer, in Wharton near Kirkham. Effie married James Connolly in 1904. Their first child was born in Kirkham but their next three children were born in Thornton between 1906 and 1912. They returned to Widnes just before the war. Kate married Daniel Dalton in Thornton on 20 May 1899 and their seven children were all born here. Daniel was lodging with his sister Kate's family at 50 Gamble Road in the 1901 Census. He married Ada Lawson in Warrington in 1912. Their first child was born in Thornton the following year but they moved to Warrington around 1914 and their twelve further children were all born there. Elizabeth was in service at 16 Church Street, Fleetwood, in 1901. She was living in Thornton when she married James Borrell on 1 January 1910 at St Nicholas, Liverpool. They lived in Widnes and appear not to have had children. By 1911 Jack was lodging with his sister Kate at 32 Gamble Road, Thornton and working at United Alkali. Mary Jane appears to be the only one of the six children not to have moved at any stage to the Fylde. She married Patrick McCarthy on 14 December 1912 at the Register Office, West Derby and their ten children were all born in Widnes.
Jack's war service record has not survived. We know that he enlisted at Warrington as a Private in the 11th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers. The Blackpool Gazette and Herald reported that Jack, "a smart-looking Tommy" had been brought before Fleetwood Police Court on 26 May 1915, charged with being an absentee from his Battalion which was stationed at Hurst Camp, Winchester. Jack admitted that he had been absent without leave since the 21st and was remanded in custody awaiting an escort.
Jack was sent to France on 29 September 1915. He was reported missing in action on 27 July 1916 and was subsequently presumed to have died on or since that date. He was aged 27 and unmarried. Pte. John Spence, 5747, 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers is remembered on Pier and Face 3C and 3D, Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
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