James Withers

Born 1825, Dublin, Ireland
Died 1908, Wednesbury, England

Son of Joseph and Margareta Withers
Married 9 November 1856 to Mary Ann Harper

5 Children:

• James Arthur Withers b.1866
• Thomas James Withers b.1862
• Joseph Thomas Withers b.1868
• Nicholas Augustine Withers b.10 October 1873
• Rose Hannah Mary Withers b.1863

James Withers believed to be a Stock Keeper with a local Steel Company was also prominent in the Catholic Church in Wednesbury, James is mention in a church notice which quotes:

“Already in 1849 land had been purchased on Church Hill through the direction of Father Michael Crewe of Bilston.  Father Crewe had been persuaded into this somewhat reluctantly by six prominent men of the Wednesbury side of Bilston Mission who have been styled ‘Pioneers’.

Among these there stand out the names of William Davies and James Withers to whose memory Brass Tablets have been erected in the present church. Judging from the tributed expressed on those tablets they seem to have been a fine type of Catholic men."