John's Story.
John Hancock died of typhoid on 6th January 1902 in Klerksdorp, South Africa. He was 23 years old. He left a widow, Annie, and a one-year-old daughter Elsie.
(Manchester Courier 13th Jan 1902)
(Manchester Courier 13th Jan 1902)
What do we know about John?
John Hancock was born on 3rd October 1878, the only son of Joseph and Elizabeth Ann nee Hickson. He was baptised at Wharton Road Methodist Church. He grew up in Wharton, near Winsford, with his sisters Lydia, Ellen, Harriett and Ethel. In 1881, their address was 1 Chapel Road, Wharton, but by 1891 the family home was 12 East Dudley Street.
On 15th December 1996, John married Annie Dean in Northwich. They were both 18 years old. They went on to have one daughter, Elsie, born on 20th April 1900, and they lived at 176 Weaver Road, Winsford.
Two months earlier, on 20th February 1900, John had enlisted with the 2nd Battallion Cheshire Regiment at Chester. From his attestation records, we know that he was 5' 5" tall, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. Seven men from Winsford went out to the Boer War together in the same contingent as John, making the total number of local volunteers from the town about 80 men. They sailed from England to South Africa in the early part of 1901.
At the end of the year, John wrote to Annie, and his letter, which arrived just before Christmas 1901, appeared to confirm that he was in good health at that time. Sadly, like so many other casualties, John succombed to enteric fever (typhoid). He died on 6th January 1902. He was the fourth soldier from Winsford to die in South Africa. A local fund, run by the Winsford War Committee, had been set up to provide insurance in the event of death, and his widow Annie received benefits of £100.
John's name appears on the Boer War Memorial in Winsford, erected in 1905.
Could you be related to John Hancock?
In 1909, Annie married Samuel Baker, a widower with one daughter, Doris. Annie died in 1938. In 1921, John's daughter Elsie (1900 - 1963) married Josiah Bowers (1895–1972) and had four children, Joyce (1921 - 2000), Alec (1923 - 1924), Elsie (1925 - 1929) and Roy (1931 - 2010). Annie's stepdaughter Doris Baker married John Graham.
Researched by S. Lewington 2025
On 15th December 1996, John married Annie Dean in Northwich. They were both 18 years old. They went on to have one daughter, Elsie, born on 20th April 1900, and they lived at 176 Weaver Road, Winsford.
Two months earlier, on 20th February 1900, John had enlisted with the 2nd Battallion Cheshire Regiment at Chester. From his attestation records, we know that he was 5' 5" tall, with grey eyes and dark brown hair. Seven men from Winsford went out to the Boer War together in the same contingent as John, making the total number of local volunteers from the town about 80 men. They sailed from England to South Africa in the early part of 1901.
At the end of the year, John wrote to Annie, and his letter, which arrived just before Christmas 1901, appeared to confirm that he was in good health at that time. Sadly, like so many other casualties, John succombed to enteric fever (typhoid). He died on 6th January 1902. He was the fourth soldier from Winsford to die in South Africa. A local fund, run by the Winsford War Committee, had been set up to provide insurance in the event of death, and his widow Annie received benefits of £100.
John's name appears on the Boer War Memorial in Winsford, erected in 1905.
Could you be related to John Hancock?
In 1909, Annie married Samuel Baker, a widower with one daughter, Doris. Annie died in 1938. In 1921, John's daughter Elsie (1900 - 1963) married Josiah Bowers (1895–1972) and had four children, Joyce (1921 - 2000), Alec (1923 - 1924), Elsie (1925 - 1929) and Roy (1931 - 2010). Annie's stepdaughter Doris Baker married John Graham.
Researched by S. Lewington 2025