CRICH PARISH
Crich, Fritchley, Whatstandwell, Bullbridge, Crich Carr, Coddington, Wheatcroft, Wakebridge
Samuel Lynam (1897–1954)
Driver
| Royal Field Artillery | 221755 |
Courtesy Valerie Jones (née Lynam) with thanks to Davina Bradley
Biography
Samuel was born at Fritchley on 15 December 1896, the son of Frederick and Elizabeth Ellen Lynam who had a butcher’s shop on the Green at Fritchley and also kept the village pub, the Red Lion. After the war in 1922 he married Myrtle Allen and ran the Fritchley butchery. Sam died at Fairfield Farm, Fritchley in 1954 aged fifty-seven.
Red Lion in Fritchley, one-time home of Samuel Lynam
Sam was a “village character” and in the Lynam family archives there is “A Little Tale of Samuel Lynam” written as Sam would have spoken:
Samuel Lynam, the butcher of Fritchley, was passing the time of day with the doctor (John Stewarts) chatting that witch-craftery was at least as effective as some of the drugs prescribed and made his patients feel so much better – with no side effects!
John Stewarts mentioned the forthcoming wedding of a well-known Fritchley character when Sam then said “Ar suppose thay’ll bay cummin ter borra me payjarmers”. Dr John looked puzzled so Sam explained “Durst say I nivvawore owt i’ bed – nubbdi in Fritchley could afford few – an when ar got wed t’missus made me buy a pair. Ar’ve nivva worn ‘em sin – but ar lend’em aert fer honeymoons wenn ar’m arsked!”
Pony and trap outside Sam Lynam’s butcher’s shop
Newspaper Report
Derbyshire Courier 23 February 1918
CRICH, LEA & HOLLOWAY
Soldiers over on leave during the week include Dispatch Rider Herbert Mercer (R.E.), who came on Sunday. He has been in France since September, nineteen fifteen, and was last on leave about ten months ago. Lance-Corporal John Curzon, of the Tors, has been over, having recently recovered from shrapnel wounds in his shoulder. Cpl Herbert Cooper, of Fritchley, another wounded soldier, came over last Friday, after spending three weeks in Southampton Hospital, suffering with trench foot. He came from the Arras front. Driver Samuel Lynam, son of Mr F.J. Lynam is another Fritchley soldier over from France. Signaller Arthur Bowmer, one of the four soldier sons of Mr and Mrs John Bowmer, of the Cross, came from France on Tuesday. Signaller Arthur Perry, Machine Gunner, Maurice Perry, and Private Charles Perry, the three fighting sons of Mr and Mrs C.Perry of the Market Place, have also been over together. The two former have been in France for about three years, never met each other. Maurice has been wounded and gassed four times.
Medal Roll Index
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
CENSUS INFORMATION
1901: Red Lion, Fritchley
| Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick | Lynam | Head | 28 | Butcher & Innkeeper | Fritchley |
| Elizth | Lynam | wife | 35 | Fritchley | |
| Minnie | Smith | niece | 8 | Fritchley | |
| H.B.W. | Hosamki | lodger | 43 | Jewelry traveller | Russia, Poland |
| Sam | Lynam | son | 3 | Fritchley |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 10 page 11
1911: Fritchley
| Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F. J. | Lynam | Head | 38 | Licenced victualler | South Wingfield |
| Sarah Bowmer | Lynam | Wife | 42 | Butcher | Tibshelf |
| Sam | Lynam | son | 13 | Crich | |
| Frederice | Lynam | daughter | 8 | Crich | |
| Dorothy | Lynam | daughter | 6 | Crich | |
| Richard Frederick | Lynam | son | 5 | Crich | |
| Edith May | Lynam | daughter | 3 | Crich | |
| Minnie | Smith | niece | 18 | Ambergate | |
| Abraham | Newbold | servant | 23 | Crich |
RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN101
1918 Crich voters
Samuel Lynam, The Poplars; absent on military service.
1939 Register: the Poplars, Fritchley
Samuel Lynam b.16 March
1897; farmer & butcher
Myrtle Lynam b.21 March 1898
Fred Lynam
b.16 June 1925; school
two closed records