Jane Williams was born in Maesbury in 1847. She married Thomas Hayward from Wem in April 1866. Thomas worked as a farm labourer. The family moved around, presumably for their father’s work, living at Whittington, Brogyntyn, Grinshall, Wellington and Selattyn, where they remain for the rest of their lives. Their first child Martha was born in 1868 followed by Laura Jane, Mary, Ada, Thomas, Ernest Herbert and Eva. They had 9 children in total of which four had died by 1911.
By 1891 they wer living at Yew Tree Cottage, Selattyn. Thomas was working as a general labourer. They move to Gyrn Cottage by 1901 and have a boarder living with them – a 3 year old boy John Richard Wilson, son of Bertha Wilson.
In 1910 Jane was widowed when her husband Thomas died. She adopted John Richard Wilson and they lived at Gyrn in 1911 with Jane managing a small holding.