This section is aimed at families with connections in the Dolgarrog and Llanrwst area in the Conwy Valley, who are happy to share their  family histories here. There are also features on other villages in the area.

CONTENTS

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DOLGARROG GENEALOGY GROUP


Donna Cooper's Ancestry
Roberts Caenant and Perthi
Aluminium Corporation Ltd, Dolgarrog 30 Year Club
Royal British Legion 50th Anniversary
Anwen Lokier family photos
The Newborough Arms, Dolgarrog
Y Bedol, Tal y Bont
Dolgarrog - History and People of the Past
Dolgarrog School photo c 1940. Are You Here?
Dolgarrog Dam Disaster
Dolgarrog Construction
How my Scottish family came to
Dolgarrog - and stayed - Maggie Roberts
Caerhun Church
 Roman site at Caerhun
Descendants of Edward Owen b 1760, Caerhun
Davies - Llidiart Fadog, Caerhun from 1851
Jeremiah Roberts, Waen Groes Uchaf, born 1824
Llanrhychwyn Church
Ardda
David & Ann Jane Williams, Ardda 1891
Ardda; Taylor Murder
Dolwyddelen - Serious Mine Accident 1877
Bishop William Morgan - 1545-1604
Trefriw Quay and Pier
Atgofion Trefriw Memories
(courtesy of Trefriw Historical Society)
Sue Jenkins' Tyddyn Du and Gelli Dynewid Ancestors
Dafydd Jones, Trefriw - 1708-1785
Evan Robert Jones, Ysgubor Gerrig, born 1792
Iago Bencerdd - 1831-1878
Alice Jones, Conwy - 1861 - 1931/2
Hanged for murder at Ro Wen - 1853
Robert Jones 1841 - 1918  Tan yr Ywen
The Cat Witches of Betws y Coed

DAFYDD Y GARREG WEN
Click arrow to enjoy this beautiful harp melody as you browse through the page
Clip used with harpist Cathrine Hammond's kind permission, which is an abridged version of  an original 19th century harp arrangement by John Thomas

Click here to see more of Cathrine's harp playing on YouTube

 

DONNA COOPER'S ANCESTRY

I received the following e-mail from Donna. KD


Donna Cooper

Just wanted to let you know how much I have thoroughly enjoyed looking through your fascinating website. Especially as my Grandma was born in Dolgarrog and although I have visited this village several times, your site has given me a better picture into the life my Nan had growing up there.
I have been researching my family for over 3 years now and have built up a website too.....perhaps you would like to take a look.......
Click here see Donna's remarkable Family Tree

 Donna's feature here is based around her grandmother


SARAH JANE OWENS (SALLY)

Sarah Jane {Sally} Owens was born on the 7th February 1916, in Dolgarrog, Caernarfonshire.

She was the daughter of Robert Owens and Jane Roberts.

She is pictured here with two of her brothers, Jack and Owen.

Here is a picture of my Nan's sister May Phillips, nee Owens. She was born about 1912 and is on the left of the photo.
Its actually a postcard, but there is nothing to say who the other two girls are. I wonder if the photo was taken near the Aluminium works?
Can any help by naming the other two girls please?

Her Mother, whom she loved dearly struggled to make ends meet in their little cottage called Caenant, up the mountain.
She passed away when Sally was just 16 and she had to look after the family as her other sisters had left, married or gone into service. Sally had to collect water from a well in all weathers and trapse all over the mountains, cook and clean for her brothers.

Sally married Robert Cooper, son of William Cooper and Luciana Booth, on 9th October 1946 in Conwy, Wales.

Robert Cooper was born on the 13th July 1912 in Clayton-Le-Moors, christened on 31st July 1913 in All Saints, Clayton le Moors, died on the 4th June 1985 in Queens Park Hospital and was buried on the 10th June 1985 in Dill Hall Cemetery.The cause of his death was Cerebral Infarction {Stroke}.

Donna states; Even though she moved to Clayton le Moors after marrying my Grandad, she was always a Welsh lass and very proud of it too. I can still hear the twang in her voice, it was lovely, like a song. She never lost her Welsh ways.
She once taught me to say the name of that very long railway station -Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch! 
I would show off at school, saying it over and over again!
Oh, I don't know how many times I've wished I could turn the clock back 10 years and start this hobby then. I miss her dearly


Yet, despite a difficult childhood, she had many fond memories of Dolgarrog, regularly returning after she married my Grandad.

She died 7th June 1999 in Thatcham, Surrey aged 83, widowed, living at Wareing House, Bluecoats, Thatcham and was buried on the 16th June 1999, Dill Hall Cemetery.

The Old Rugged Cross
was sung at her funeral

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suff'ring and shame;
and I loved that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross
and exchange it someday for a crown.

Cause of her death was Aneurysm.

Sally and Robert had three children, Carole, Eileen and Gwyneth.

SALLY'S PARENTS

Sarah's parents were Roberts Owens & Jane Roberts.

Robert Owens was born in 1873, at Llanwrst, Denbighshire, Wales 
On the 3rd April 1881, he lived with his parents and siblings at  Back Watling St, Llanwrst.

His father Owen Owens was head of the household, aged 37, working as an Agricultural  Labourer, born in Cerrig y Drudion.
His mother was Anne Owens, aged 34, born Eglwys Fach.
Owen and Anne's family consisted of David Owens, aged 10, a scholar born Llanelian, Robert Owens himself aged 8, a scholar, Sarah A Owens aged 5, Owen Owens aged 3 a scholar and Jane Owens, aged 1,all born in Llanwrst

On the 5th April 1891, Robert was working as a farm labourer at Glyn Ucha, Llangelynin for a William Jones.

MARRIAGE

Robert married Jane Roberts on 17th April 1897 in the Register Office, district of Caerhun.  
Robert  was aged 23, a bachelor, and general labourer living at Maery Castell, Talybont, Caerhun. His father, Owen Owens, labourer was deceased.
Jane was aged 23, a spinster and domestic servant at Talycaen Ucha, Caerhun. Her father Robert Roberts, was a farmer
Witnesses; A Owens & Thomas ?

Jane Roberts was the daughter of Robert Roberts and Ellinor Jones. Jane was born in 1874 in Llanbedyr-y-cennin, Dolgarrog, Caernarvonshire.

Janes parents were Robert Roberts born in 1838 in Caerhun, Caernarvonshire and Ellen born around 1855 also in Caerhun.

Robert was christened on the 3rd March 1838 at Llanbedr y Cennin, Caernarvonshire.

On the 6th June 1841, Robert lived with his parents and siblings at Frith y Bont, Caerhun. His father Hugh Roberts was aged 35, and farming, and his mother was Catherine Roberts, aged 30. Their family consisted of John aged 13, Mary aged 10, Catherine aged 6 and Robert himself, aged 3.

Ten years later on the 30th March 1851, the family were still at Frith y Bont. Hugh Roberts was aged 48 and a farmer of 20 acres, born Trefriw, wife Catherine was age 43, children Mary was 20, Robert was age 13.

On the 2nd April 1871, at  Frith y bont, Caerhun, were Hugh Roberts 69, farmer of 58 acres, wife Catherine, 64, Robert 32, farmer's son, Anne Williams domestic servant and Hugh Roberts a visitor and scholar. 

MARRIAGE

Robert married Ellinor Jones on 29 Oct 1871 in the Parish Church at Caerhun 
Robert Roberts, full age, was a bachelor and Labourer of Frith y bont, son of Hugh Roberts, Farmer.
Elinor Jones, full age, was a spinster, of Ardd grou. Her father Robert Jones was a Labourer
Witnesses were Evan Roberts & Elinor Thomas

Ellinor Jones was born in 1853 in Caerhun, Caernarfonshire.

On the 7th April 1861, Ellinor lived at with Garddgrou, Caerhun  with her parents, Robert Jones aged 32, a miner, born Caerhun and
Ellin, aged 28, born Llanbedr. Their children were William Thomas Jones 5, Peter 3, John 1 and Ellinor herself, 7.

Robert and Ellen had 11 children, Catherine born 1872 in Caerhun, Jane born 1876 in Llanbedyr-y-Cennin, Dolgarrog  Robert born 1873 in Dolgarrog and the following, who were all born in Caerhun, Hugh born 1876, Ellin born 1879, John born 1881, Margaret born 1883, Robert born 1886, Annie born 1888, Mary born 1889, William born 1892 and Lizzie born 1893.

On the 3rd April 1881, the family lived at Frith y bont. Robert Roberts was aged 43, and worked as a farmer. Wife Ellin was 25, and living with them were children Catherine 9, Jane 7, Hugh 5, Ellen 2, and John age 2 months.

Ten years later on the 5th April 1891, at  Frith y bont Robert Roberts was 51, a farmer, and wife Ellen was 36. Living with them were children Hugh 15, farmer's son, Ellen 12, John 9, Margaret 8,
Mary Roberts 3, Annie Roberts 3, and Robert 5.

By  the 1901 census on the 31st March, the family had moved to live at Tai, Caerhun where Robert Roberts was 62, but now a general farm labourer and his wife Ellen was 47. The family consisted of Hugh Roberts 25, a stone quarryman, John 20, also a stone quarryman, Mary Roberts, 12, at school, Anne 12, Lizzie 8, William 1, and their granddaughter Edith Roberts 1.

 


Jane is pictured here with her mother Ellen

Robert died on the 9th March 1907, at Perthi, aged 69. He is buried at St Peters, Llanbedr y Cennin   


St Peters Church
Ellinor died on 12 Sep 1937 in Caerhun aged 84 and was buried in St Peters, Llanbedr y cennin.

On the 31st March 1901, Robert aged 28 and Jane aged 27, were living at Gwiga, Llanbedr y Cennin. He was a  slate quarryman. They had two children, Owen Owens age 3, born Caerhun and Ellen Ann Owens, aged 1, born Llanbedyr who died in 1915. The couple had five other children,  Margaret born 1902 in Caerhun married a Roberts, Alice Blodwyn born 1906 in Caerhun and married Sidney Dixon, David Llewelyn born 1910, Hughie Glyn born Caerhun and died the same year 1915 and Sarah Jane Owens herself, born 1916 Caerhun, who married  Robert Cooper.

David Llewelyn Owens, Sally's brother, pictured at a slate quarry where he worked.

 Jane lived at Caenant
One day, Jane was poorly and having a nap, when her daughter Sally heard this awful rumbling.
The eigiau dam wall had burst, and water was crashing down the valley.
She ran upstairs to wake her Mum and they both went outside. They ran down the hill where a lady was shouting out of the window for them to catch her child. They were desperately trying to help her when a boulder threatened to land on them. A man shoved Sally and her Mum Jane out of the way and saved them.

Some of Sally's extended family were saved only because they had gone to the cinema that evening and their home was empty.

Caenant is on the hill very near the path where the water burst through.......A memorial plaque stands at the bottom of the hill and it is literally yards away from the narrow road leading up to the cottage.

The Dolgarrog Disaster
2nd November
1925

Jane Owens

Jane also helped mothers with the delivery of their babies. Her daughter Sally was present at one....the poor lady died and Sally never forgot it.

Jane died 13th October 1931 and was buried in St Peters, Llanbedr y Cennin. The cause of her death was Bowel Cancer.

Robert was an officer with the Dolgarrog branch of the Royal Antidiluvian Order of Buffaloes (R.A.O.B.), and is wearing his chain of office below.

 Robert died on the 26th March 1938 aged 65 and was buried at St Peters, Llanbedr y Cennin.

Cause of his death was bowel cancer.


SALLY'S HUSBAND'S FAMILY

Sally married Robert Cooper on the 9th October 1946, in Conwy.

Robert Cooper was born on the 13th July, 1912, at Clayton-Le-Moors and was baptised on the 31st July 1912, at All Saints Church, Clayton le Moors. He was the son of William & Lucianna Cooper of  12 Lower Barnes Street. His father was a spinner.

Robert and Sally lived at 3 Alexandra Close,Clayton le Moors. 
Robert served in 2nd World War and fought in Italy, at the Battle for Monte Cassino, and Africa. He had been in a hospital in Sorrento during the 2nd World War, and he fell in love with the place and always vowed to return. So began our many holidays Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano.

BATTLE FOR MONTE CASSINO


Click here to read about the Battle 

He worked as a Guillotine operator at Jas Broadleys, Clayton le Moors,until he was up for promotion. Before he could have the job though, the bosses set him a task, which was to sack one of his fellow workers - a friend. Rather than do this however, he resigned. He was an extremely loyal man.

He then worked at Rishton papermill most of his working life.and stayed there until he retired. He used to have a sing a long in the Old England pub in Church St Clayton Le Moors and was a good pianist

Granddaughter Donna Cooper used to pick strawberries in his garden when she was a young girl.

ROBERT'S PARENTS

Robert was the son of William Cooper and Luciana Booth.

His father William Cooper was born on the 20th June 1888, at Great Harwood, Accrington, Lancashire and was christened on the 25th July 1888, at St. Bartholomew, Great Harwood, Lancashire the son of James & Caroline Cooper, 6 Stopes Fold, occupation was a spinner.

William's parents and family lived at 13 Edge End, Great Harwood, in April 1891. Father James Cooper was 38 , a spinner, born in Blackburn and his mother Caroline was 29, on house duty, born Somersetshire. Their children were Mary Ann 7, Suzannah 5, scholar,William himself aged 2,  all born at Great Harwood. Also living with them were William's cousins, Ruth Knee 15, and Henry Knee age 13, both also born in Great Harwood.

Ten years later on the 31st March 1901, the family were living at 7 Mill St, Great Harwood. James Cooper was 49, and a cotton spinner, Caroline Cooper was age 42, and employed as a cardroom cotton mill hand, Mary Ann 16, was also cardroom cotton mill hand, Susan 14,a cotton reacher, William 12, a cotton reacher working part-time, James  9, Elizabeth 6 and Henry Cooper aged 2.

William was married twice. 
First marriage was to Luciana Booth on 27th January 1912 in All Saints, Clayton le Moors.
Second marriage was to Margaret Mary Scholes in 1945 at Darwen.

William lived at 71 Lower Barnes St before marrying Luciana. Booth 

MARRIAGE

William married Luciana Booth, daughter of John Booth and Mary Woods on 27th January 1912 in All Saints, Clayton le Moors.
William Cooper, 23, occupation spinner, of 71 Lower Barnes St. Father; James Cooper, Spinner, deceased.
Luciana Booth, 24, occupation winder,7 Pickup St. Father; John, Gardener
Witnesses; Joseph Taylor & Kate Taylor

Luciana Booth was born on the 10th October 1887 in 13 Grange St. Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire and christened on 2nd November 1887 in Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire.

During the 1891 census she lived at 13 Grange St. Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, with her family. Father John Booth was 40 born Blackburn and a general labourer. Mother Mary was 38. Their children consisted of Richard 17, a cotton cloth bleacher,
Ellen 14 a cotton weaver, Robert 12 a cotton finisher, Kate 10,
Mary 8, Agnes 5 and Luciana herself aged 3.

They lived at Old Sparth House, Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire when the 1901 census was enumerated.

 

John Booth was aged 50 and still a  gardener, wife Mary was 48, Robert 22 a labourer/plasterer, Mary 18 a cotton weaver, Agnes 15, Luciana 13, Joseph Taylor son in law, 23, Kate Taylor 20, and Adeliza Battersby granddaughter age3.  

Luciana used to stand outside the 'Forts Arms 'pub banging a tamborine and handing out pamphlets to encourage people to go to church. 

William joined the army in 1916. He started off in the 2nd 5th East Lancs. Had 12 weeks training then out to the front where he was wounded, and then sent back with the Suffolks Regiment.

Military Award: Medal Card. William Cooper

East Lancashire Regiment. Rank; Pte. Regiment no' 241548

 

Suffolk R Regiment no; 235290

Absent voters list.
5594 Cooper, William 23529 Pte.
2nd Suffolks 71 Pickup Street.

Luciana died 1943 in 71 Pickup Street and was buried on 14 Oct 1943 in Dill Hall Lane Cemetery, Church, Lancashire. The cause of her death was Brain Haemorrage.

William next married Margaret Mary Scholes, daughter of Ralph Scholes and Sarah, in 1945  in Darwen. Margaret Mary Scholes was born on 12 Aug 1903 in Lancs, England and was buried on 19 Feb 1988 in Dill Hall Cemetery.

William died of throat cancer in 1959, at Queen's Park, Blackburn aged 71, and was buried on the 19th November 1959, at Dill Hall Lane Cemetery, Church, Lancashire 

 Robert died on the 4th June 1985, at Queens Park Hospital aged 72 and was buried on the 10th June 1985, at Dill Hall Cemetery. Cause of his death was Cerebral Infarction {Stroke}.

Accrington Observer.
Cooper, Robert

Birthday memories of my dear husband July 13th
Two tired eyes are sleeping
Two willing hands at rest
What more can I say my loved one
Only you were one of the best
From your loving wife Sally, daughters Carole & Pete and Gwyneth
and all the Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren

My sincere thanks to Donna for sharing
her family's history with us.KD.



ROBERTS / OWEN
Family Reunion
(with Thomas / Davies / Jones
connections in the surrounding areas)

at
FAIRY FALLS
TREFRIW

Saturday 2nd June 2012

More details can be found on
Donna Cooper's Facebook
under
Dolgarrog Genealogy
http://www.facebook.com/login.php

 !

Glyn finds
Roberts Family Connection
with Donna Cooper

 !

 

 
Glyn and Donna at the first Roberts Family Reunion.
All photos courtesy of Glyn Roberts



Roberts
Caenant and Perthi

Received the following remarkable correspondence from Glyn Roberts. KD

I was doing a cycling trip in the Conwy Valley with work colleagues and I decided to do an itinerary of the villages we would be cycling through and any history they would like to know.
I looked to my fathers home village of Dolgarrog, and was directed to your wonderful site, www.penmon.org
On reading through 'Conway Valley Connections', I found Donna Cooper's family history, I was unexpectedly surprised and thrilled to realise that the picture of her great grandmother Jane and her mother Ellen was also my great grandmother.
I contacted Donna and discovered that we are related. Since then, Donna  has shared her family tree with me and helped me discover my relatives and it has opened up a huge door of family knowledge that I didn't know.
I'm sorry that I can't thank you in person for having Donna's piece on your site which has started all this research for me.
Glyn.

Glyn continues his story;

Ellen married  Robert Roberts and they had eleven children, the youngest was my grandfather, William Llewelyn Roberts,
He married Mary Davies who lived at the time at Bryn Morfa, Dolgarrog, but her parents, Edward and Margaret Davies, nee Roberts, were from Bryn y Gadu, Tyn Y Groes, Talycafn.

William and Mary had only one child,  my father Edward Charles Roberts, who moved to London to find work and met my mother, Florence McLellan. He stayed in London  in the Angel area raising two boys, Glyn Charles Roberts and David William Roberts, but he always took his family to his home in Wales every year on holidays and to see my Taid, William Roberts.
Sadly, Mary died when my father was in his early 20s


The Roberts Men
L-R; Glyn, Edward, David, Edward Jnr, Danny 



Hugh Roberts
and
Catherine Roberts
Glyn Roberts' great great grandparents

My great great grandparents were Hugh and Catherine Roberts, who lived at Frith y Bont, Caerhun.

Hugh was born on the 4th April 1802 in Trefriw, and married Catherine on the 9th March 1827. 

Census 1841, Frith y Bont, Caerhun.
Hugh Roberts 35, farmer, Catherine Roberts, 30, John Roberts 13, Mary Roberts 10, Catherine Roberts 6 and Robert Roberts, 3


Census 1851, Frith y Bont.
Hugh Roberts, 57, farmer of 24 acres, born Llanrhychwynt
Catherine Roberts, wife, age 52, son Robert Roberts 23, agricultural labourer. Jeremiah Jones, 21, agricultural labourer.


Census 1861, Frith Bont.
Hugh Roberts, age 48, farmer of 20 acres,born Trefriw
Catherine Roberts, wife, age 43, children Mary Roberts 20, Robert Roberts 31 married, all born Caerhun


Census 1871, Frith y Bont, Caerhun.
Hugh Roberts  69, farmer of 58 acres,born Llanrhochwyn, Catherine Roberts, wife, 64, born Caerhun, Robert Roberts, son, 32, born Caerhun. Anne Williams, domestic, born Caerhun, Hugh Roberts, visitor, scholar, born Llanrhochwyn

Census 1881, Frith y Bont, Caerhun.
Hugh Roberts 77, Farmer, Catherine Roberts, Wife, age 74, Jane Roberts, 14, General servant, born Llanddoget.


Hugh died on the 8th April 1887

Er serchog gof am
Catherine,
merch
Hugh a Catherine Roberts,
Ffrith y Bont,
yr hon a fu farw
Medi 30  1846 ei hoed lleg.
Hefyd
Catherine Roberts
yr uchod,
yr hon a fu farw Gorph.6ed 1886
yn 79 mlwydd oed.
Hefyd
Hugh Roberts,
ei phriod yr hwn a fu farw
Ebrill 9fed 1887
yn 85 mlwydd oed.
Hefyd
Hugh Roberts
Perthi
Medi 24,1950
yn 73 mlwydd oed,
Hefyd
Robert J Roberts
Perthi
hunodd 15,1954
yn 68 mlwydd oed.



Robert Roberts
and
Ellen Roberts
Glyn Roberts' great grandparents

My great grandfather was Robert Roberts born in Llanrhychwyn near Trefriw. His father, through Donna Cooper's searches, was Robert Owen Roberts, going back in 1700's
Robert's wife Ellen Roberts nee Thomas's, grandfather Peter Thomas is buried the old Caerhun cemetery going back to 1750. He died aged 86 and was a fisherman.

Census 1881, Frith y bont.
Robert Roberts age 43, Farmer, Ellin Roberts, wife, 25, children Catherine Roberts 9, Jane Roberts 7, Hugh Roberts 5, Ellen Roberts 2, and John Roberts 2 months, all born in Caerhun


Census 1891, Frith y bont.
Robert Roberts 51, farmer, Ellen Roberts wife 36, Hugh Roberts 15, Ellen Roberts 12, John Roberts 9, Margaret Roberts 8, Mary Roberts 3, Annie Roberts 3, and Robert Roberts 5, all born in Caerhun


Census 1901, Frith y bont is uninhabited.

Census 1901, Tai, Tal y bont, Caerhun, Caernarvonshire.
Robert Roberts, 62, farm labourer, Ellen Roberts, wife 47, children Hugh Roberts, 25, Quarryman,stone, John Roberts, 20, Mary Roberts, 12, Anne Roberts, 12, Lizzie Roberts, 8 William Ll Roberts, age 1, and granddaughter Edith Roberts,1, all born in Caerhun. 


Census April, 1911, Perthi, Tal y Bont, Talycafn.
Ellen Roberts,Widow,age 56,Charwoman, Hugh Roberts,son 35, farm labourer, Annie Roberts, 23,servant out of work, Robert Roberts, 25, farm labourer, Willie Roberts, 12, school, Doris May Roberts, granddaughter 2, all born in Caerhun "


Robert and Ellen Roberts are William Llewelyn Roberts' parents, who had eleven children.



William Llewelyn Roberts
and
Mary Roberts
Glyn Roberts' grandparents

William was born on the 6th June 1899 at Talybont.

Census 1901, Tai, Tal y bont, Caerhun, Caernarvonshire.
Robert Roberts, 62, farm labourer, Ellen Roberts, wife 47, children Hugh Roberts, 25, Quarryman,stone, John Roberts, 20, Mary Roberts, 12, Anne Roberts, 12, Lizzie Roberts, 8 William Ll Roberts, age 1, and granddaughter Edith Roberts,1, all born in Caerhun. 


Census April, 1911, Perthi, Tal y Bont, Talycafn.
Ellen Roberts, Widow, age 56, Charwoman, Hugh Roberts, son 35, farm labourer, Annie Roberts, 23,servant out of work, Robert Roberts, 25, farm labourer, Willie Roberts, 12, school, Doris May Roberts, granddaughter 2, all born in Caerhun "


My Taid later went blind and my father pleaded with him to move to London where he could be with the family, but he never wanted to leave his beloved Valley. He moved to live in a Llanrwst retirement home, where his cousin and best friend Alfred Roberts, known as Fred Bont, also lived.


William Llewelyn Roberts

 


Brothers William and John Roberts
with cousin Alfred

These two as youngsters where inseparable even going to war together. Taid was demobbed in 1920 having being part of a clean up party of clearling up trenches and part of this was, I believe, recovering dead bodies.


William Llewelyn Roberts
and middle row, first on the left below

He married Mary   Davies in January 1925. 

 

Mary Davies


Edward and Margaret Davies
Mary's parents
outside their Dolgarrog home

Wedding Photo.
Left - right; Doris May Roberts (1st cousin), William Llewelyn Roberts, Mary Roberts nee Davies, Alfred Roberts (brother) and Alfred Roberts (cousin)

During the time of the Dolgarrog Dam disaster in November 1925, he helped search for bodies and having found them returned them to a room in the Hotel.

This was very hard work as it was tiring moving in silt and slurry more than knee deep. His wife Mary was worried about Will's well being, as he was near exhaustion, but like so many others he carried on helping people to safety.

He also lived near Caenant, Jane's home who was his eldest sister. Caenant was in fact the neighbouring cottage to Perthi, and he made his services available with his brother John Roberts.

John's son Bob Cymru Roberts told me that the Roberts were a big family and confirmed that they had lived in two cottages which were known as either the 'Caenant side' or 'Perthi side'.

William Llewelyn Roberts died on the 2nd June 1957.

Er Serchog Gof Am
Mary
Annwyl briod
William Ll. Roberts
32 A Taylors Ave,Dolgarrog
A Hunnod Mehefin 2 1957
Yn 58 Ml oed
Ar for Tymhestlog Teithio' Rwyf
I Fyd Sydd Well I Fyw
Hefyd Yr Uchod
William Ll Roberts
A Hunodd Mai 15 1982
Yn 82 Ml Oed
Hedd Perffaith Hedd


Ellen, Alice Blodwen and Jane
Grandmother, mother and daughter



Annie Roberts
Daughter of Robert and Ellen Roberts

Annie's first child was her daughter,
Doris May Roberts.

In 1911, Doris was living with her widowed grandmother, Ellen Roberts at Perthi

Census April, 1911, Perthi, Tal y Bont, Talycafn.
Ellen Roberts, Widow, age 56, Charwoman, Hugh Roberts, son 35, farm labourer, Annie Roberts, 23,servant out of work, Robert Roberts, 25, farm labourer, Willie Roberts, 12, school, Doris May Roberts, granddaughter 2, all born in Caerhun "

Allt Wyllt
by

DORIS ROBERTS, Perthi
Her mother's family owned TY HWNT I'R BRYN
but her mother's home was ARDD GRON.
Unfortunately no names are mentioned

Copy of words that were written by
Miss Doris Roberts, Perthi, Tal-y-bont


The family of Ty Hwnt I'r Bryn, was my mother's family. They used to fish the Conway River from Tal y Cafn to the Abbey, also renting Eigia and Dulyn lakes, keeping about six men all the year round.

It was the women that used to take the fish to Conway and Llandudno to sell. All depended on the price - walking all the way with ponies. Gwyndy used to spin wool, and had about four men working all the time, but it was the women around who used to knit stockings, being paid about a penny a pair.

All the houses you have seen used to have a cow and a pig for their use.

Most of the men used to work at Cwm Eigiau. In time, the work finished, so they had to go to Blaenau Ffestiniog to work, walking all the way, and coming home on week-ends, so that's how the little houses ended.

At Gwenddugain a solicitor of the old squire of Caerhun used to live.

Pencoed was Benja's home - his father used to work at Ty Newydd. He moved to Llety, and then to Bodlondeb. Bryn Moel was May Jones, Bryn's family - she used to sew for people, and the old man and the sons used to work at Ffestiniog.

Pant Glas used to sell barm for baking bread (Siani Burum) they used to call her. One night she was robbed and the man was blamed was living at Pwllyfigin belonging to Richard Hughes, Perthi. The same week he hanged himself through the window.

Tai Newyddion used to thrash corn to make flour - the big stone is still to be seen and there is a road coming all the way through the woods above Ty Newydd from above Ty'n-y-fedw.

They used to take corn along this to Tai Newyddion. The old man who owned the place was murdered in the garden which is called Gardd Mwrdwr, above Hengae, before the old mill of Tal-y-Bont was built.

Ty Nant - same family as Tu Hwnt I'r Bryn used to make medicine for people and animals. John Williams, Cae Coch, minister was cured of what we now call liver cancer. They said he had a new liver, with Llysiau Iau (John Jones, Bwlch Gwyn, had the book). Two houses at Gwiga belonged to John Jones Plas Arfon/ Royal Oak, he lived afterwards.

Ardd Gron was my mother's home. Bodlondeb was built at the same same time as the quarry at Cwm Eigiau - it was Jews that owned the quarry.

Perthi Llwydion was owned by the family of Tyddyn Felin.
Barn Hill and Primrose Bank - it was an Irish man that used to live there with his daughter. He was the first to drive rafts along the Conwy River before Tal-y-Cafn bridge was built - The Trefriw Quay was at the Hydro then.

And that is the tale of Allt Wyllt. 

Er Serchog  Gof am
Doris May Roberts
Perthi,Tal y Bont,Conway
A hunodd Ebrill 15 1978
Yn 68 Mlwydd oed
Yr hyn a allodd hon
Hi a'i Gwnaeth
Hefyd Ei Brawd
Huwi Merddyn Robert Gorton
A Hunodd Chwefror 16 1979
Yn 55 Mlwydd oed

Annie later married an Albert Edward Gorton and had two children, Alun John Roberts-Gorton & Hughi Merddyn Roberts-Gorton both bearing this double barrel surname but not their eldest sister Doris May.



Can you help by naming this member of the family,
seen here in the traditional Welsh National Costume?

Glyn can be contacted via
www.penmon.org

ALUMINIUM CORPORATION LIMITED
DOLGARROG

Members of the Thirty Year Club


Aerial view of Dolgarrog
Staff at work

Staff from the works

Senior employees

Staff on a works outing

Staff leaving for home from Dolgarrog station

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
DOLGARROG










Photos kindly supplied by Glyn Roberts

Legion's fiftieth birthday

Press article fom 1977 kindly supplied by Glyn Roberts

More than 450 members of Dolgarrog Royal British Legion Club were at the club recently to celebrate its 150th anniversary. The club is beleived to be one of the oldest in North Wales. It began when the local branch of the Legion bought Porthlwyd Hotel, after it had been damaged in the Eigiau Dam disaster in the 1920's.

The local ex-servicemen helped to rebuild the damaged part of the club after the disaster, and in 1970 a £20,000 extension was added.

The club now has 650 members - until 1970 only men were allowed to join. In 1971 the Dolgarrog club won an award for being the best Legion club in Wales.

The president, Mr H. D. Roberts, opened the celebrations by welcoming seven of the founder members - three were unable to attend because of illness. The president said: "The existence of the club today is due to the efforts and hard work of these men in their early days, and it is to them that we owe thanks for what is now the social centre of the village."

Mr. Arthur White, club chairman, presented the founder members with special plaques in honour of the occasion.


R.B.L.C.
Dolgarrog
Founder Member
1927 - 1977










Mr Ivor Roberts, branch president, presented Mr Bernard Roberts with a certificate of merit for outstanding work as a hospital visitor. Mrs Roberts was presented with a bouquet of flowers.

Mr. J. L. Spencer, the social secretary, arranged entertainment for the evening, and was the compere. The club secretary thanked the committee for their work in preparing the occasion, the breweries for their donations, and Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Jones, steward and stewardess, as well as staff and helpers.

Anwen Lokier
shares some wonderful family photos


Above; My nain taken mid 1930's outside 17 Tayler Avenue, Dolgarrog,
She's holding my Aunt Rosie.
Then from left to right is my Mam, Edith, Uncle Gwynfor & Aunt Glenys

Above: My Nain & Taid Janet (Jennie) & Robert Stephen Roberts,
17 Tayler Avenue

Above: Mam & Dads wedding...Edith Roberts & Tony Davies, 17 Tayler Avenue, taken 1954. Best man was Ken Dixon.
Then left to right at rear, Idris Jones (Nain's second husband)
& Janet Roberts, Dad, Mam, Mrs Fretwell, Ken Dixon, Phoebe,
front left to right, ? ? & myAunt Olwen (I think).

Above; My Nain, Janet Jones...originally Roberts, in her second marriage,
of 17 Tayler Avenue, sitting on my Dad's knee
in the Pen-y-Bont Pub, Llanrwst.
Husband Idris Jones is right of picture. Left of them is my aunt

Above; Sisters Violet & Pat in the fairies.
Violet is at the rear on left and Pat is third from the left

Violet and Pat Davies

Above: Ike Spencer, playing the fool!

Above: C.E.G.B Summer Hands, early 1980s.
From left....Bob 'Rosehill', Sion Hughes (Tal-y-Bont) Gwilym Roberts,
my Dad, Tony Davies, Clarence Midgely.



NEWBOROUGH ARMS
Dolgarrog


The Newborough Arms
photo kindly supplied by Glyn Roberts 

1871 Census Newborough Arms

Elizabeth Thomas 73, widow, Beer House Keeper, born Llansantffraid, Elinor Thomas 30, daughter, waiter, John Thomas, 38, son, gamekeeper, both born Llanbedr, Elin Thomas 22, general servant, born Llanrwst.

1881 Census Newborough Arms

John Thomas 36, Inn keeper, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Thomas, 38, housekeeper, Penelope Williams 32, both born Llanbedr,  Jane Williams 15, born Llandrillo, both general servants.


1891 Census Newborough Arms

John Thomas 48, Publican and farmer, Elizabeth Thomas 50, sister, Publican, Benolophi Williams 46, general servant, all born Llanbedr,  Jane Williams 21, general servant born Llandrillo


1901 Census Newborough Arms
Elizabeth Thomas 55, spinster, Inn Keeper, born Llanbedr




Y Bedol
Tal y Bont

Photos kindly supplied by Glyn Roberts

Horse and cart outside Y Bedol

The Smithy by Y Bedol c 1910

Y Bedol

Motor car outside Y Bedol


DOLGARROG
History & People of the Past

The legend of Y Carrog

Believed to have been established around 1200 AD, Dolgarrog is said to have got its name from a flying dragon called Y Carrog. This mythical beast preyed on livestock and Dol-y-carrog was the favourite meadow on which it swooped down from the heights above to carry off sheep. So serious were the losses that the farmers went on a dragon hunt armed with bows, arrows and spears.

One farmer, Nico Ifan, refused to go, claiming a dream had forewarned him the Carrog would cause his death. His fellow farmers laid a poisoned sheep's carcass on the heights above Eglwysbach across the river. The unsuspecting Carrog seized the bait, was caught and beaten to death.

Nico Ifan then came along to gloat over the dead dragon and cursed and kicked the corpse, whereupon the poisoned barbed wing of the Carrog pierced his leg thus fulfilling the death warning in his dream.

Taken from Wikipedia by licence.

The Black Death

In the 1350s the Black Death took a heavy toll in the lower Conwy Valley, particularly among the bond tenants regulated by the King's officers from Aberconwy, Edward I's new English borough. Their visits and contacts in effect spread the disease. Some townships of villeins, or crown tenants, such as Dolgarrog, were swept away. People left their lands or hid, unable to pay the taxes on their holdings.

Taken from Wikipedia by licence.

 Proposal 2nd August 1784

1. Rt. Hon. Thomas Lord Newborough. 2. Robert Gemmell of City of London, merchant. 3. William Barkley of Middle Temple, London, gent.; and Thomas Burgh of the same place, gent.. DEMISE [Lease and Release] for the term of one life [Ld.N.] to secure an annuuity of £750, including £150 hereby granted for the first time, chargeable upon the estate in no. XD2/4502 and upon the manor or lordship of Arddr or Arthe; capital messuage or tenement and demesne lands called The Abbey, township Meynen; messuages or tenements and farm called Coedsadwrn, Perthlwyd, Penybryn, Pant-teg, Pantysiglan, Ellis, Cottiaker, Pwllu, Dollygarrog, Cawlwyd, and Garregwen, and others and parcels of land set at small annual rents, all pa.[rish] Llanbedr; capital messuage or tenement and demesne lands called Melay and Tanygraig, and messuages or tenements called Nantmawr, Havadygog, Henblas, Henllys, Maesyllwr, Fedwlefrith, Delwin, Plasbychen, Creigiallwynerwin, Tyddynuchaf, Cefn, Havotalog, Tyddynclevi, Cornwall, mill and lands, and messuages, cottages and lands set at small annual rents, all pa.[rish] Llanvairtalhayarn [Llanfair Talhaearn], co. Denbs.; messuages or tenements and farms called Tyddynycwn, Tyddynymwsogh, Brynyclochy, Llwynysaint, and Cwm, all pa.[rish] Gwetherin, co. Denbs.; two messuages or tenements and lands set at small annual rents, pa.[rish] Llansanan, co. Denbs.; messuage or tenement and farm called Llwyndie, pa.[rish] Llangerniw, co. Debs.; messuage or tenenment and farm called Henfron, pa.[rish] Llanufudd, co. Denbs.; capital messuage and tenement called Segroyt, messuages, tenements, parks and lands called Denbigh Parks, township Segroyt, pa.[rish] Llanrhaider in Kenmerch [Llanrhaeadr yng Nghinmerch], co. Denbs.; five water corn mills called Denbigh Mills and Segroyt Mill; messuages or tenements and lands called Pontastrad, and other messuages or tenements, cottages and lands set at small annual rents, all pa.[rish] and town Denbigh; messuages or tenements and farms called Cwmbowydd and Tyissaf, and other messuages or tenements, cottages and lands, all pa.[rish] Ffestiniog; and messuages or tenements and farms called Gelligreen and Galticalch, both pa.[rish] Llandechwyn Tenants and rents given. Consideration 10/-. Enclosed and also Endorsed: PROPOSALS (2 August 1784) for the purchase of £600 of the above Annuity and a proportionable share of the arrears, by John Parry, Esq., Rev. John Roberts, clerk, and Samuel Price, Esq., trustees appointed by Frances Wynn, spinster, aunt of Lord Newborough, for the sum of £7260. 

1605 The Gunpowder Plot

A man privy to Guy Fawkes' Gunpowder Plot is said to have lived in the house Ardda'r Myneich (Monks Hill), whose ruins lie in the fields above the road between Porthlwyd and Dolgarrog bridges. Dr Thomas Williams (1550-1622), rector of St Peter's Church, Llanbedr-y-Cennin, was charged with having papist sympathies. He had warned Sir John Wynn of Gwydir to stay away from the Houses of Parliament on that fateful day.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

18th Century Mill

Dolgarrog's industrialisation began in the 18th century with a flour mill on Porthlwyd river to crush corn for local farmers. There was also a woollen mill at Dolgarrog bridge and the Abbey mill.

The successful Porthlwyd mill was expanded by John Lloyd, son of founder Richard Lloyd. As well as grinding flour, he bought machines to make paper and flock for bedding. Paper from Porthlwyd supplied local printers, including John Jones, printer of Trefriw and later Llanrwst.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

1827 Cedryn Quarry

The slate quarry at Cedryn is first recorded in 1827. The output of this remote site was initially taken by horse pack to the quays on the River Conwy at Dolgarrog.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

1845 Sawmill

The Dolgarrog sawmill of John Williams also flourished. It exported hundreds of tons of wooden railway sleepers for the new railways between 1845 and 1865. When the first sod was cut for the Conway and Llanrwst Railway track on 25 August 1860, on Lord Newborough's land at Abbey, Dolgarrog, it was John Williams who supplied the sleepers.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

1827 Cwm Eigiau Quarry

Cwm Eigiau quarry was opened in 1827 and had closed by 1868.  On the hillside can be seen where the slate was quarried, split and dressed.  In the foreground are the remains of the mill where slab was produced.  The two were connected by an incline and tramway which crossed the river by a, now vanished, bridge.  The quarry was connected to Dolgarrog from the 1820's by a primitive narrow gauge railway which incorporated a further four inclines.  This tramway originated at Cwm Eigiau quarry.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

  1851 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS

Coedsadwrn ; Rowland Roberts 44, shepherd, sisters ; Anne Roberts 72, sister, Margaret Roberts 52, housekeeper, Marie 50, servant, niece Elizabeth Jones 16 general servant, all born Dolgarrog.

Coety ; Robert Davies 24, widower, farmer mountainous land, born Caerhun,  Catherine Williams 16 recorded as daughter in law 16, housekeeper, David Williams 12, brother in law, 12, Thomas Davies servant 21, all born Dolgarrog.

Coety Bach ; Henry Williams 63, shepherd, born Llanrhochwyn, Elen Williams 53, wife, born Llandegai, children ; John15, errand boy, born Llanbedr, Elias 7, born Dolgarrog. 

Pwlldy ;  William Roberts 49, farmer mountainous land, Elizabeth 55, wife, both born Dolgarrog, children ; Mary 10, born Llanrhochwyn,  Elen 7, Anne 3, father John Roberts 87, widower, all born Dolgarrog, general servants ; Grace Williams 21, servant born Llanrhochwyn, Elen Davies 18, born Caernarfonshire, William Pritchard 18 born Llanbedr.

Eilio ; William Roberts 53, shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Anne Roberts 46, wife, born Llanrhochwyn,  children ; John 14, Mary 10, Grace 8, William 4, Anne 1 all born Dolgarrog.

Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 30, widower, farmer mountainous land, Margaret 4, daughter, both born Aber, Margaret Griffiths 25, housekeeper, born Llaniolen.

Cedryn ; William Davies 31, farmer mountainous land, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Davies 36, wife, born Llaniolen,  William 6 months son, Robert Davies 15, brother, both born Dolgarrog, Catherine Owen 18 , servant born Llaniolen.

Cowlyd ; Thomas Roberts 34 farmer mountainous land, Elizabeth Roberts 37, wife, Wlliam 2, son, all born Llanllechid, Elen Roberts 5 months, born Dolgarrog, John Owens 13, general servant, born Trefriw.

Garreg Wen ; William Edwards, 42 farmer mountainous land, born Conway, Anne Roberts 40, wife, John 12, son, both born Dolgarrog, John Griffiths 86 widower, father in law, born Llandegai,  Jane Evans 15 servant, born Llanddeiniolen.

Siglan ; William Edwards 82, widower, farmer mountainous land, born Bangor, children ; Elizabeth Hughes, daughter, widow, 44, housekeeper, born Conway,  Hannah 6, born Dolgarrog, servants Griffith Williams 17, born Dolgarrog, Anne Roberts 12 born Caerhun.

Pantsiglan ; Owen Evans 60, farmer mountainous land, born Llanrhochwyn, Alice Evans 68, wife, born Dolgarrog, Jane Roberts 12, servant, born Dolgarrog.

The next entry, which has no house name, gives details of widow Catherine Williams, 70, live on a property, born Llanrhochwyn.

Pen y Bryn Gwyn ; William Hughes 55, farmer mountainous land, born Caerhun, Anne Hughes 54, born Llanllechid, sons Hugh 35, Lewis 21, daughter Jane 10, all born Dolgarrog, daughter in law Ann Thomas 16 born Trefriw.

Ardda ; Mary Thomas 52, widow, farmer mountainous land, born Llanrwst, children ; Moses 21, shepherd, Miriam 16, David 9, Margaret 8 all born Dolgarrog.

Pandy ; David Williams 26, woollen manufacturer, unmarried, born Dolgarrog, David 4, son, born Llanrhochwyn, Jane Williams 24 sister, housekeeper, Ellis Williams 19, brother, woollen manufacturer, Margared 14, sister all born Dolgarrog.

Factory ; Robert Jones 43, widow, Master wool manufacturer, born Llanaelhaearn, children ; Catherine 17, Jane 14, both born Caerhun,  John 12, Hannah 8, William 5, all born Dolgarrog, . Workman William Edwards 52, fuller, born Llanfor, Jeremiah Jones 29, wool spinner and weaver, born Betws, William Davies 15, wool garder, born Eglwysbach.

The next house, unnamed, was uninhabitted.

Factory ; Henry Lewis 36, sulphur miner, born Conway, Elizabeth 36, wife, born Trefriw, children ; Deborah 9, Jane 6, Robert 3, Mary 1, all born Dolgarrog.

Dol Hyfryd ; Michael Thomas 63, gamekeeper, born Caerhun, Elizabeth 55, wife, born Llansantffraid, Jane 24, daughter, servant, John 14 son, both born Llanbedr.

Tan y Gerddi ; Richard Williams 55, farmer, born Llanfair yng Nghornwy, Ann Williams 49, wife, born Henllan, children ; John 12, David 10, son in law, servants ; William Roberts 20, servant and daughter in law Margaret Roberts 15 all born Dolgarrog.

Pant Teg ; Moses Jones, 71, widower, farmer born Llanbedr, Thomas Jones 40, son, Jane Jones 35, daughter, housekeeper, both born Dolgarrog, David Jones 35, son in law, quarryman, born Llanbedr, grandchildren ; John 18, born Caerhun, Thomas 6, Moses 3, Ann 5 months. all born Dolgarrog, Hugh Hughes 34, general servant, born Caerhun, Hugh Jones 17, labourer, born Llanrhochwyn, Ann Williams 60, widow, visitor, born Trefriw.

Caefrotian ; Robert Roberts 64, labourer, born Dolgarrog, Mary 57, wife, born Dwygyfylchi, daughters Ann 27, Hannah 9, grandchildren Ceturah Pritchard 2, Ann Williams 5 months, all born Dolgarrog.

Beudy Mawr ; John Jones 50, widower, farmer, born Eglwysbach,  Rowland Williams, 65, brother in law, born Dolgarrog, Jeannet Jones 65, widow, cousin, Catherine Jones 23, servant,  both born Eglwysbach, visitors Ann Jones 8, Catherine Jones 1, both born Caerhun.

Tu Ucha'r Ffordd ; Richard Roberts 57, farmer, Jane Roberts 48, sister, housekeeper, Thomas Roberts 32, brother, farmer, Margaret Roberts 9, niece, Moses Roberts 3, nephew, all born Dolgarrog, William Williams 22, servant born Trefriw.

Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 36, farmer, born Cerhun,  Margaret Roberts 39, wife, children ; Elinor 8, both born Dolgarrog, William 3, born Caerhun, Robert 4 months born Dolgarrog. William Evans 20, carpenter, David Hughes 21, servant, born Penmon, Margaret Hughes 16, servant born Llanbedr.

Tyddyn Isa ; William Hughes 63, widower, farmer, born Caerhun, daughters Jane Williams 24 housekeeper, ary Jones 21, son David 14, daughter Elen 11, all born Dolgarrog, David Williams 25, son in law, labourer, Thomas Jones 30, son in law, labourer, both born Eglwysbach, grandchildren William Jones 6 months, Thomas Williams 5 months, both born Dolgarrog.

Glanyrafon Isa ; Robert Roberts 71, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Margaret Roberts wife 55, born Llanuwchllyn, children ; Evan 29 farmer, Margaret 16both born Dolgarrog.

Glanyrafon Ucha ; William Roberts 66 widower farmer, born Caerhun, William Roberts 30, son farmer, born Dolgarrog, Ann Roberts 27, daughter in law, born Gyffin, grandchildren ; Jane Roberts 4, Elin Roberts 8 months. both born Dolgarrog. Servant Margaret Williams 16 servant born Trefriw.

 1861 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS

Coedsadwrn ; Rowland Roberts, 55, shepherd, Margaret Rowlands, 68, wife, Elizabeth Roberts 26, house servant, all born Dolgarrog.

Coety Mawr ; Robert Williams 33 farmer, Grace Williams, 28 wife, both born Caerhun, children ; David 8, William 5, Sarah Jane 3, Owen, 10 months, all born Dolgarrog, servant Catherine Williams, born Caerhun.

Coety Bach ; Henry Williams, 72, shepherd, born Llanrhochwyn, Elen Williams 32, wife, grandchildren ; Hugh 9,  born Dolgarrog,  John 6, born Bangor. 

Pwll Dy ; Owen Jones 46, high land farmer, Grace Jones 46, wife, children ; Thomas 8, born Caerhun, Evan 7, born Llangelynin, Hugh 2, born Dolgarrog, father in law Thomas Pierce 81, shepherd, Robert Roberts 17 agricultural labourer, both born Caerhun, Elen Jones 26,  dairy maid, born Trefriw.

Eilio ; William Roberts 68 shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Ann Roberts 55, wife, born Llanrhochwyn, children ; John 25, slate quarryman, William 43, shepherd, Ann 11, grandson John Roberts 2, all born Dolgarrog.

Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 39, high land farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 36, wife, born Llanllechid, children ; Margaret 14, born Aber, Robert 6, Elizabeth 3, both born Dolgarrog.

Cedryn ; William Davies, 40, high land farmer, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Davies 36, wife, born Landwrog, Elen Griffiths 13, recorded as daughter in law, unmarried, born Llanrug,  children ; William 10, Thomas 8, David Thom. 5, Elizabeth 4, Mary Jane 2, Catherine Ann, 6 months, all born Dolgarrog. 

Cowlyd ; Thomas Williams, 50, high land farmer, born Llanllechid, Elizabeth Williams 26, wife, born Clynog, children ; William 4, John 2, Thomas 6 months, sall born Dolgarrog, shepherd Zechariah Jones 15, born Llanrwst. 

Gareg Wen ; William Edwards 53, high land farmer, born Conway, 50, wife, John Griffiths 22, recorded as son, both born Dolgarrog.

Siglan ; Edward Williams, 40, farmer, born Conway, Jane Williams 40, wife, born Aber, William Jones 15, shepherd born Llanrhochwyn.

Pant y Siglan ; Owen Evans ; 75, high land farmer, born Llanrhochwyn, Alse (Alice ?) Evans 79, wife born Dolgarrog.

Pen y Bryn ; Lewis Hughes 32, high land farmer, Jane Hughes, sister 20, housekeeper, Rowland Hughes 65, uncle, an occupation of cowman has been deleted, all born Dolgarrog, Griffith Williams 21, carter, born Trefriw, Grace Roberts, 18, dairymaid, born Dolgarrog, Willaim Roberts 22, visitor, shepherd, born Caerhun.

Ardda ; Moses Thomas 31, shepherd,  born Dolgarrog, Ann Griffiths 21, housekeeper born Trefriw.

Pandy ; David Williams 36, Manufacturing Master, born Dolgarrog,  unmarried, David Williams 14, son maunfacturer, born Llanrhochwyn, Margaret Williams 24, sister, house servant, born Dolgarrog,  Catherine Roberts 26, visitor, dressmaker, born Caerhun,  William Edwards 59, fuller, born Llanfair, John Jones , 75, widower, manufacturer,  born Gwydr, William I. Okes, 11, manufacturer, born Caerhun..

Factory ; Edward Evans, 25, Master of Woollen factory, born Betws Y Coed, Jane Evans, sister, 20, housekeeper, born Llandderfel,  Griffith Jones 52, woollen weaver, born Dolwyddelen, John Jones 16, carder, born Capel Garmon. 

Ty'n y Gerddi ; Richard Williams, 65, farmer, born Llanfair yng Nghornwy, Ann Williams 57, wife, born Henllan, David Williams 25 son, born Dolgarrog, Mary Jones 20, dairymaid born Llanbedr.

Pant Teg ; Moses Jones 82 widower, farmer, born Llanbedr, Jane Jones 44 daughter, house keeper, grandchildren ; Thomas Jones 16, Moses Jones 13, born Dogarrog, servant William Williams, 36 carter, born Llansantffraid, Owen Davies 56 cowman, born Caerhun, Jane Williams 16, dairymaid born Llandegai.

Caepolion ; Robert Roberts 75, agricultural labourer, born Dolgarrog, Mary Roberts 66, wife, born Dwygyfylchi, grandchildren ; Ann Roberts 10, Mary Roberts 4 both born Dolgarrog.

Ty Newydd ; John Jones 60, farmer, born Eglwysbach, Elen Jones 38, wife, born Llanrhochwyn.

Ty Ucha'r Ffordd ; Richard Roberts 66, farmer, Jane Roberts 56,s ister, housekeeper, Margaret Jane Hughes 19, niece, dairymaid, Moses Hughes 13, nephew, Elizabeth Hughes 8, niece, all born Dolgarrog, agricultural labourer, John Jones 20, born Trefaenan. 

Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 47, widower, farmer, born Caerhun, children ; Elinor Roberts 18, William Roberts 13, Robert Roberts 11, David Roberts 7, born Dolgarrog, carter Robert Davies 22, born Llanelian, Jane Davies 17, house servant, born Llanrwst.

Tyddyn ; David Hughes 24, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Hannah Hughes 22 wife, born Caerhun, William 2, son born Dolgarrog.

Glan yr Afon ; Marharet Roberts 66, widow, farmer, born Llanuwchllyn, Ann Williams 32, daughter, born Dolgarrog, William Williams 31, son in law, stonemason, born Llangwstenin, grandchildren ; Jane 6, Elias 4, Samuel 1, all born Dolgarrog. 

Glan yr Afon ; William Roberts 40, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Ann Roberts 37, wife, born Gyffin, children ; Jane 14, house servant, Elen 10, Hugh 8, Mary 8 months, all born Dolgarrog.

1861 Cwm Eigiau Quarry

In 1861 the North Wales Chronicle (1861) refers to "Tenders invited to construct a tram-road 5 miles (8.0 km) long from Cwm Eigia [sic] slate quarry to River Conwy". However, the tramway was initially only built as far as Cedryn, and in 1863 the Caernarvon & Denbigh Herald advertised for a contractor to extend west to Cwm Eigiau Quarry. It is entirely possible that the first reference to "Cwm Eigia slate quarry" was in fact a reference to Cedryn, for this quarry was located in Cwm Eigiau.

The mile extension was built some time before 1866, and it is likely that the name "Cwm Eigiau Tramway" became largely synonymous with that of the Cedryn Tramway. Indeed the Caedryn [sic] Slate Quarry Co. Ltd of 1863 became in 1874 the Caedryn [sic] & Cwm Eigiau Slate Co. Ltd, but was dissolved just 11 years later, the slate being of a poor quality.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

1861 Cedryn Tramway

 A 5 mile long tramway was constructed in the period 1861-1863. The gauge was approximately 2 ft (610 mm) and was built using wrought iron T section rails.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

c1866 Cwm Eigiau Tramway

Some time before 1866 this tramway was extended a further mile to Cwm Eigiau Quarry, and the name "Cwm Eigiau Tramway" largely became synonymous with that of the Cedryn Tramway. The Caedryn [sic] Slate Quarry Co. Ltd of 1863 became in 1874 the Caedryn [sic] & Cwm Eigiau Slate Co. Ltd, but was dissolved just 11 years later, the slate being of a poor quality.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

1868 Cwm Eigiau Quarry

Cwm Eigiau Quarry closed.

Photograph copyright Jonathan Wilkins, reproduced by licence


Photograph copyright Jonathan Wilkins, reproduced by licence 

   1871 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS

Glanyrafon ; William Roberts, 50 farmer, born Dolgarrog, Anne Williams 47, wife children ; Elin 20, Hugh 18, both general servants, Mary 10, Jane Winifred 4, all born Dolgarrog.

Coedsadwrn ;  Griffith Jones 40, shepherd, born Llanllyni, Grace Jones 27, wife, children ; John 7, William 5, Rowland 3, Anne 1, all born Dolgarrog. 

Coety Mawr ; Robert Williams 44, farmer, Grace Williams 40 wife, both born Caerhun,  children; David 128, William 15, Sarah Jane 13, Owen 11, John 9, Robert 5, Mary 2 all born Dolgarrog.

Coety Bach ; John Jones 25, bailiff to his father, Margaret Elin 15, sister, servant, both born Dwygyfylchi.

Pwll Dy ; Richard Roberts 46, farmer, Jane Roberts 45 wife, both born Caerhun, children ; William 22, Catherine 15, Robert 13, Jane 7, all born Caerhun, Elin 5, Anne 3, David 7 months.all born Dolgarrog.

Eilio : John Davies 54, shepherd, born Caerhun, Elizabeth Davies 37 wife, born Capel Garmon, children ; Jane 17, John 13, shepherd, both born Trefaenan, David 8, Grace 7,  both born Caerhun.

Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 49, farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 46 wife, born Llanllechid, children ; Robert 16, Elizabeth 14 both born Dolgarrog.

Cedryn ; William Davies 51, farmer, born Dolgarrog,  Elizabeth Davies 46, wife, born Llanddeiniolen, children ; William 20, David 16, Elizabeth 14, Catherine Anne 10, all born Dolgarrog,  lodging with them was Edward Davies 26, slate quarryman, born Llanllechid.

Cedryn Barracks were uninhabitted.

Cowlyd ;  Elizabeth Williams 37, widow, farmer, children ; William 14, John 12, Elis 5, Robert 3, Mary 1, all born Dolgarrog.

Garreg Wen ; Anne Edwards, 61, widow, farmer, John Edwards 29, son, John Jones 16, all born Dolgarrog,  Elin Roberts 15, both general servants, born Llanrhochwyn.  

Siglan ; Edward illiams, 52, farmer, born Conwy, Jane Williams, 52 wife, born Aber, William Willaims 14, general servant born Beddgelert.

Pant y Siglan ; William Roberts 32, farmer, born Caerhun,  Elizabeth Roberts, 20, wife, born Llanrhochan, Alice Roberts 1 daughter, Alice Roberts 18, general servant born Dolgarrog.

Penybryn ; Lewis Hughes 39, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Margaret Hughes 37, wife, born Caerhun, children ; Winifred 8,  born Llanbedr, Margaret Louisa 7, born Llanbedr,  Joseph Williams 18, born Llanllechid, Hannah Evans 22 born Dolgarrog, both general servants.

Ardda ; Moses Thomas 41, shepherd, born Dolgarrog, Anne Thomas, 35 wife, born Caerhun, William 4, son born Dolgarrog.

Pandy ; David Williams, 46, woollen manufacturer Margaret Williams, 30, sister, housekeeper, Edward I Evans 14, nephew, fuller, all born Dolgarrog, Jacob Jones 24, woollen manufacturer, born Gwytherin.

Factory ; Morris Evans, 35, woolllen manufacturer, born Betws y Coed, Jane Evans 33, wife, born Capel Curig, children ; Elinor 7, born Llanrwst, Edward M. 2, born Capel Curig,  John Owens, 17, fuller, born Penmachno, Jane Jones, 21, visitor, born Corwen.

Factory ; Elinor Evans 71, widow, living on her own means, born Ysbyty, Elinor Evans 29, daughter, servant born Betws.

Factory ; John Hughes 37, factory man, born Llanfor, Grace Hughes 32, wife, born Llanallgo, Robert Edward 3months, son, born Dolgarrog,  Grace Davies, 52, mother, visitor, born Llanallgo.

Factory ; Noah Jones 39, wheelwright, Elizabeth Jones 35, wife,  both born Llanrhochwyn, children ; Letitia Jane 11, born Llanrwst, John 8, Elias 3, both born Caerhun. 

Tan y Gerddi ; Richard Williams, 77, farmer, born LlanfairyngNghornwy, Anne Williams, 67, wife, born Henllan, David Williams 30, son, born Dolgarrog, general servant, Catherine Williams 28, daughter, housekeeper, born Ysbyty Ifan, Richard Williams 1, grandson born Dolgarrog.

Newborough Arms ; Elizabeth Thomas 73, widow, Beer House Keeper, born Llansantffraid, Elinor Thomas 30, daughter, waiter, John Thomas, 38, son, gamekeeper, both born Llanbedr, Elin Thomas 22, general servant, born Llanrwst.

Pant Teg ;  Thomas Pritchard 53, farmer, Jane Pritchard 55, wife, Moses Jones 23 recorded as son, Catherine Pritchard 20, Thomas Jones, 15, both general servants.

Ty Newydd ; Owen Jones 55, farmer, born Caerhun, Elizabeth Jones 33, wife, born Llandudno, Hugh 12, son born Dolgarrog.

Ty Uchar Ffordd ; Richard Roberts 78, farmer, Thomas Roberts 55, brother, farm servant, both born Dolgarrog, Anne Griffiths 45, housekeeper, Jane Jones 15, general servant, both born Dolwyddelen,  Richard Hughes 13, servant born Caerhun.

Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 55, farmer, born Caerhun, Winifred Roberts, 50, wife, born Nantyglyn, William Roberts 23, son, born Caerhun, Anne Griffiths 20, Thomas Lewis, both born Caerhun, both general servants.

Tyddyn ; David Hughes 34 farmer born Dolgarrog, Hannah Hughes 32, wife born Caerhun, children ; William 12, Margaret 9, Jane 6, David 3, Samuel 1 all born Dolgarrog.

Cedryn House ; Robert Foulkes Evans 29, Agent for B. Stoke Co., born Llanbedr, Margaret Anne Evans 26, wife, born Llangefni, Ebenezer Francis 4, son, born Manchester.

 1881 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS

Coedsadwrn ; Griffith Jones 50, shepherd, born Llanllyfni, Grace Jones 38, wife, Born Gyffin,  children; John 17, William 15, Rowland 13, Anne 11, Griffith 8, Robert 4, Hugh 1, all born Dolgarrog.

Coety Mawr ; Robert Williams 55, farmer, Grace Williams 49, wife, both born Caerhun,  children ; William 24, shepherd, Sarah Jane 22, Robert 15, home maker, Mary 12, Richard 9, Griffith 7 all born Llanbedr. 

Coedty Bach was uninhabitted.

Pwll Dy ; Richard Roberts 55 widower, farmer, children ; William 32, Jane 18, Ellen 16, all born Caerhun,  David 10, born Dolgarrog. 

Eilio ; William Jones 52, shepherd, born Llanarth, Jane Jones 38, wife, born Llandegai, children ; Sarah 11, Elizabeth 8, both born Llanidaw, John 5, Owen 1born Llanllechid.

Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard 59, farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 56, wife, born Llanllechid,  children ; Robert 26, Elizabeth 21, dressmaker, born Dolgarrog,  visiting them were Jane Roberts 12 born dwygyfylchi, and Mary Roberts 10 born Llanfair.

Cedryn ; William Davies 60, farmer of 300 acres, Mary Jane Davies 22, wife, both born Conway,  Duncan Stewart 35, lodger, shepherd, born Pentholm, Scotland.

Cowlyd ; John Williams 22, farmer, Robert Williams 13, brother, born Dolgarrog,  Ellen Thomas 34 general servant, born Bethesda.

Garreg Wen ; Elizabeth Williams, 46, widow farmer, born Llynwg (?) children ; William 24, Jane 17, Elis 15, Mary 11, all born Dolgarrog.

Siglan ; William Williams 55, farmer, born Llysfaen,  Ellen Williams 50, wife, born Dolgarrog, children ; William 17, Thomas 15, Ellen 13, John 10, Edward 7, all born Caerhun, Jane 2, born Dolgarrog.

Pant Siglan was uninhabitted.

Penbryn ; Lewis Hughes 50, farmer, Margaret Hughes 52, born Caerhun, children ; John 22, M. L., daughter, 17 both general servants and both born Llanbedr.

Ardda ; Moses Thomas 51, farmer of 80 acres, born Dolgarrog, Anne 46, wife, born Caerhun, children William 14, Mary Jane 8, Grace 3 all born Dolgarrog. Visiting was Anne Davies 15 born Gyffin.

Pandy ; David Williams 56, woollen manufacturer, nephews ; Edward John Evans 24, spinner,  both born Llanbedr, Elias Evans, 18 carder,  Samuel Evans 15, weaver, both born Gyffinservant John Jones 40, wool weaver, born Llangollen. 

Factory ; Daniel Jones 52, woollen manufacturer, born Llansantffriad, Margaret Jones 50, wife, Bala, children John 22, born Dolgarrog, Jane 18, Anne 14, born Talybont,  Edward 12, born Bethesda,  Maggie 6, born Dolgarrog.

Factory ; Thomas Jones 25, unmarried, labourer, Catherine Jones 53, mother, housekeeper, both born Caerhun,  Anne Jones 23, boarder, quarryman's wife, Moses Jones 21 boarder, joiner,  Anne Jane Jones, boarder, 1, all born Dolgarrog.

Ty'n Gerddi ; Catherine Williams 39, widow farmer 20 acres, born Capel Garmon.

Newborough Arms ; John Thomas 36, Inn keeper, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Thomas, 38, housekeeper, Penelope Williams 32, both born Llanbedr,  Jane Williams 15, born Llandrillo, both general servants.

Ty Newydd ; Moses Roberts 34, farmer, born Dolgarrog,  Grace Roberts 32, wife, children ; Richard 12, born Eglwysfach, Thomas 10, Hannah 9, born Caerhun, William 7, Anne 5, Margaret 4, Grace 1, all born Dolgarrog.  Jane Roberts worked as a general servant, born Trefriw.

Pant Teg ; William Roberts 60, farmer, Anne Roberts 58, wife, children ; Hugh 28, Mary 20, Jane 14, all born Dolgarrog.

Ty dan Ffordd ; Thomas Roberts, 75, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Anne Griffiths 50, housekeeper,  born Dolwyddelen, Thomas Roberts 20, born Llanbedr,  William Roberts 14, born Caerhun, Margaret Williams, born Beetws y Coed, all farm servants

Tan y Ffordd ; David Roberts 68, farmer, born Caerhun, Winifred Roberts 58, wife, born Henllan, William Roberts 33, son, Owain Jones 18 both born Caerhun,  and Margaret Jones 17, born Dolwyddelen,  both farm servants.

Tyddyn ; David Hughes 46, farmer, Hasnnah Hughes 42, wife, children ; Margaret 19, David 13, Samuel 11, Mary Ellen 6, Jonathan 3, all born Llanbedr.

Glan yr Afon was uninhabitted.

1885 School

In 1885 the villagers wanted to start a school at Porthlwyd. The old village of Dolgarrog appealed to Mr Robins, the then proprietor of the paper-mill. He let them turn a large empty room at the mill into a flourishing Sunday School, known locally as Ystafell y drws goch ("the room with the red door") to make sure the children did not wander into the mill workings.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

 1891 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS

Coedsadwrn ; William Williams, 28, farmer, Margaret Williams 27 wife, both born Talybont, children; Lewis L., 5, Ienig 3, both born Capel Curig, William 1, born Dolgarrog,  farm servant Robert P. Williams 16, born Bethesda,

Coeti Mawr ; Robert Williams 65, farmer, Grace Williams 63, wife, children; Owen 32, farmer's son, Robert 24, stone quarryman, Richard 19, Griffith 17, Mary 22, nephew Willie P. 8. All were born in Dolgarrog.

Coeti Bach ; Chris Jones 42, single, farmer, born Rhiwgyfylchi,  Jane Edwards 60, domestic servant, born Eglwysbach.

Pwll Dy ; Richard Roberts 67, farmer, born Rowen, Catherine Roberts 42, wife born Caerhun.

Elio ; Moses Roberts 40, shepherd, born Llanbedr, Elizabeth Roberts 27, wife, born Caerun, Mary E. 4, daughter born Dolgarrog.

Hafod y Rhiw ; Owen Pritchard, 69 farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 66, wife, born Llanllechid,  Robert Pritchard, 36, farmer's son, born Dolgarrog.

Cedryn ; William Williams 29, farmer, born Llanbedr,  Mary I. Williams 29, wife, children; Evan T. 6, William 4, John 1, all born Dolgarrog, farm servant Robert Thomas 18 born Penmachno.

Cowlyd ; John Williams 32, farmer, born Llanbedr, Ellen Williams 44, wife, born Betws y Coed, Thomas 4, son born Llanbedr.

Caerreg Wen ; William Thomas 34, farmer, born Llabedr,  Elizabeth Thomas 33, wife, children; Owen 9, Willie 6, Jane 4 all born Dolgarrog.

Siglan ; William Williams 65, farmer, born Llysfaen, Ellen Williams, 60 wife, children; John 19, Edward 16, Ellen 21 who was deaf, all born Llanbedr.

Pen y Bryn ; Lewis Hughes, 61, farmer, born Dolgarrog,  Margaret Hughes 60, wife, born Caerhun, children; Charlotte 28, born Llanbedr, Robert 18, farm servant, born Llanberis.

Ardda ; David Williams, 37, farmer, born Caernarfonshire, Ann Jane Williams, 30, wife, children; Elizabeth A. 8, William R. 5 all born Caerhun.

Pandy Uchaf ; Edward I Evans 30, wool manufacturer, Catherine Evans 31, wife, children; Jane 1, David John 2 months, all born Llanbedr. Also living there were John Jones 65, wool maunfacturer, born Llangollen, John Evans 50, wool manufacturer, born Valley, Anglesey, John Roberts 12, wool manufacturer, born Llanrwst, Elizabeth Grace Owens 14, domestic servant, born Caerhun.

Factory Isaf ; Daniel Jones 61, wool manufacturer, born Llansantffriad, Margaret Jones 59, wife, born Llansantffraid, children; Jane 26 working in the factory, Annie 24, working in the factory, Edward 22, wool manufacturer, Maggie, 15, Elizabeth 8, all born Dolgarrog.

Newborough Arms ; John Thomas 48, Publican and farmer, Elizabeth Thomas 50, sister, Publican, Benolophi Williams 46, general servant, all born Llanbedr,  Jane Williams 21, general servant born Llandrillo.

Tan y Gerddi ; Catherine Williams 46, widow farmer born Yspytty Ivan.

Tan y Gerddi ; Samuel Evans 25, farmer, born Llangylenin, John Jones 15, farm servant born Capel Curig.

Pan Teg ; Hugh Roberts 38, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Roberts 36, wife, born Llanbedr, children; Catherine E. 8. William 6, Jane 5, D. R. Davies Roberts 3, all born Caerhun, Anne 5 months, born Dolgarrog,  farm servant William Jones 27, born Llanfair Tal Haiarn,  Ellen A Davies 21, farm servant born Llanbedr.

Tan y Ffordd ; Hugh Hughes 52, farmer, Elinor Hughes 49, wife, both born Dolgarrog,  children; Maggie 14, David 10, both born Caerhun, Elias 9, brother in law, born Dolgarrog, William Roberts 44 working on farm, born Caerhun, Owen Jones 20, farm servant, born Llanddoget,  Ellen Roberts 31, domestic servant, born Conway.

Ty Uchaf y Ffordd ; Moses Roberts 44, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace 42, wife, children; Richard 22, both born Eglwysbach, Hannah 19, born Llanbedr, William, 17, Annie 15, Margaret 13, Moses 8, Catherine 6, Robert J. 4, David 2 all born Dolgarrog.

Bankfield House ; John Taylor, 44, Landscappe painter, born Manchester, broke 2 blood vessels and congestion of the lungs, Ellen Taylor, 53 wife also a landscape painter, born Llanbedr,  Mary Roberts 54, domestic servant, born Dolgarrog, suffering with Rheumatism. (NB these ailments are not normally recorded on census forms)

Tyddyn Uchaf ;  David Hughes 53, farmer, Hannah Hughes 52, wife, children; David Hughes 23, Samuel Hughes 21, Jonathan Hughes 15, and cousin Ellen Jones 56, married, living on her means. All were born in Llanbedr.

 1901 DOLGARROG
CENSUS DETAILS

Coedsadwrn; Robert Williams 77, farmer born Caerhun, Grace Williams 74, wife, born Caerhun, Robert 30, farmer's son,  Richard 27 carter on farm, Griffith 24, shepherd, William Price 18, all born Dolgarrog, grandson, cowhand born Caerhun.

Coeti Bach and Pwll Dy, both uninhabitted.


Eilio.
Photo copyright Eric Jones, reproduced by licence
Eilio; Robert Prichard 43, farmer, born Llanbedr, Ellen Pritchard, 23 wife born Caerhun

Hafod y Rhiw; Owen Pritchard 79, farmer born Aber, Jane Pritchard 75, wife born Llanllechid, William Thomas, 16, grandson, farm servant born Dolgarrog.

Cedryn; William Williams 39, farmer, born Llanbedr, Mary Jane Williams 42, wife, born Dolgarrog, children, Evan Thomas 15, born Llanbedr, William 13, John 11, Llewelyn 9, Olwen 7, Blodwen 4, Myfanwy 2 all born Dolgarrog.

Cowlyd; uninhabitted.

Carreg Wen; William Thomas 44, farmer, Elizabeth Thomas 43, wife, children; Owen 19, shepherd, Jane 14, Elizabeth Anne 9, Thomas William 7, Catherine 5 all born Dolgarrog.

Siglan; William Williams 77, farmer, born Llysfaen, Ellen Williams 72, wife, born Dolgarrog, children; Ellen 31, housemaid, Edward 27, carter on farm, both born Caerhun,  William 14, grandson, shepherd born Llanrhos.

Penbryn Brwynog; John Williams 32, farmer, born Llanfairfechain, Leah Williams 33, wife, children; Elizabeth 5, Grace 3, Margaret 2, all born Caerhun,  Jane 2months born Dolgarrog.

Ardda; David Williams 47, farmer, born Caernarfonshire, Anne Jane Williams 40, children; Elizabeth Anne 18, William Richard 15, all born Caerhun, Thomas 6 born Dolgarrog.

Factory Ucha; Edward Evans 40, widower, woolspinner, children; Jane 11, David John 10, all born Dolgarrog, Servants; Cadwaladr Roberts 42, wool spinner, born Capel Garmon, Catherine Roberts, widow 50 housemaid, born Caerhun.

Factory Isa; Daniel Jones 73 wool spinner, born Glan Conwy, Margaret Jones 71, wife, born Rhuthyn, children; Edward 30 watermaw gauger, born Bethesda,  Margaret 25, grand daughter Lizzie A. 17 both born Llanbedr.

Newborough Arms; Elizabeth Thomas 55, spinster, Inn Keeper, born Llanbedr.

Pant Teg; Hugh Roberts 48, Land Agent - Auctioneer,  born Dolgarrog, Elizabeth Roberts, 46 wife, born Llanbedr, children; Catherine Ellen 18, Pupil teacher, William 16, David R. Davies 13, all born Caerhun, Anne 10, Richard Lloyd 8, Thomas Pritchard 5, all born Dolgarrog.

My Uncle, John Eric Roberts recalls 'Dick, Pant Teg'. who is probably Richard Lloyd Roberts mentioned above, aged 8 in 1901.
 
As a small boy in the early 1940's my father would give me a 6d..(sixpence - 2.5p in today's money) to take and give to 'Dick Pant Teg' who lived in a small old house above Bibby Road.
The 6d was in payment for 'Dick' having sharpened my father's hand saw, blade by blade. I was always a bit scared of 'Dick Pant Teg' because he had a beard and a humped-back. However, there was no need to be frightened of him as he was a kindly man who always gave me a sweet.
He seemed to me to be 'old' but when one is very young, anyone over the age of 25 is OLD!!!
He was always careful to have the sharp blades covered in a thick fold of newspaper tied to the saw with string as protection.

Ty Newydd; Samuel Evans, 34 widower 34, factory labourer, children; William D. 7, John R. 6, Grace 2, all born Dolgarrog.

Ty Ucha Ffordd; Moses Roberts 54, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace Roberts, 52, wife, born Eglwysbach, children; William 27farmer's son, Moses 18, shepherd, Robert John 14, cowherd - ag cattle, David 12, Anne 25, Domestic cook, Maggie 23 housemaid, Kate 15, nurse,, grandson Moses R. Evans 1month, all born Dolgarrog, nephew Robert Thomas Davies 22, carter, born Llanddoget.

Tan Ffordd; David Hughes 64, farmer. Hannah Hughes, 63, wife, children; Samuel 30, farmer's son, Jonathan 23, shepherd, all born Llanbedr.

My Uncle, John Eric Roberts recalls Tan Y Ffordd.
 
Tan y Ffordd was located opposite and below 26 Gwydyr Road, where I lived, adjacent to 'The Old Road.' It was a smallholding farm run by Mr.and Mrs. Evans. They had three children, all girls, named Rhiannon, Dwynwen, and Morfydd. Morfydd was about two years younger than I. Both Rhiannon and Morfydd have passed away now. 
 
Mr. Evans employed a 'Gwas' named Bob who had very thick lenses on his glasses, like milk bottle bottoms!
Hence he was known by all as 'Bob-Specs'.
 
Bob Specs lived roughly in one of the farm outhouses, but was a very hard working man. As kids during the school holidays it was always a 'treat' to help with the hay.
The farm had the usual horse and cart and the collected hay would be stacked high on to the cart, pulled by 'Trew' the farm cart horse.
 
We kids would be allowed to ride at the top of the hay on the cart.
Bankfield House; Ellen Taylor, 60, widow, grocer, born Llanbedr, Mary Roberts 56, spinster general servant born Dolgarrog.

Tyddyn; John Jones 29, carter, born Melin y Coed, Winifred Jones 38, wife, born Llanbedr, Willie John 5, son born Caerhun.

1907 Eigiau Reservoir Tramway

The Eigiau Reservoir Tramway was a narrow gauge industrial railway, built from about 1907 to aid the construction of the dam at Eigiau Reservoir. After the reservoir was completed the tramway continued in use to aid in maintenance of the reservoir and its associated feedpipes.


Eigiau tramway bridge 2007 - taken by Hogyn Lleol

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

The tramway started at the foot of the quarry exit incline and passed over the Afon Eigiau on a wooden trestle. It crossed the Eigiau again at Bont-y-Cedryn and then skirted the site of what is now the Eigiau Reservoir. Passing the col at Hafod-y-Rhiw the line ran along a series of low stone embankments to the top of a short incline above Coedty.

Below Coedty, and just before the top of the Dolgarrog inclines, the line passed the point where the Cowlyd Tramway was later to branch off. The line continued to the top of the Dolgarrog escarpment which it descended via three steep inclines. These were later used as locomotive access by the Eigiau and Cowlyd Tramways, and are today utilized by the two large pipes which carry water to the aluminum works. The lowest incline passed through a short tunnel under the main road at Tyddyn Isaf, and this former incline and tunnel can be seen today adjacent to the former (wooden) community centre. From here the tramway continued across the marshland to the edge of the River Conwy at Porth Llwyd wharf.

The lowest incline was later abandoned in favour of a new incline built slightly to the north, and today the pipelines take this newer route.

Coedty Reservoir is a reservoir in Snowdonia, North Wales. It is fed by the waters of Afon Porth-llwyd which flows from Llyn Eigiau. The reservoir lies at a height of 900 feet (274 m), and measures some 12 acres (49,000 m2) in size. It contains brown trout.

1916 Cowlyd Tramway

In 1916, when the narrow gauge Cowlyd Tramway was begun, this branching off the Eigiau Tramway at the head of the Dolgarrog inclines, the Eigiau Tramway (including the Dolgarrog inclines) was relaid to narrow gauge.

Taken from Wikipedia by license.

 1924 Coedty Dam

Coedty Reservoir is a reservoir in Snowdonia, North Wales. It is fed by the waters of Afon Porth-llwyd which flows from Llyn Eigiau. The reservoir lies at a height of 900 feet (274 m), and measures some 12 acres (49,000 m2) in size. It contains brown trout.

The original dam was built in 1924 to provide hydro-electric power to the aluminium smelting works in Dolgarrog. In 1925, the Eigiau dam broke, and the flood of water from that also burst Coedty dam. The resultant flood caused the loss of 17 lives in Dolgarrog.

The dam was rebuilt in 1926, and altered again in 1956.


Photo by Terry Hughes
Water from the reservoir is carried via a large metal pipe down to the hydro-electric power-station in Dolgarrog.  

Coedty dam is a balance tip dam; water flows from it automatically when it reaches high levels. This excess water flows into a spectacular gorge used by outdoor pursuit groups. Gorge walking here, however, can be dangerous because of the sudden releases of water from the reservoir which can occur.

The eastern side of the lake is skirted by the trackbed of the former Eigiau Tramway, created to aid the construction and maintenance of Llyn Eigiau dam. Nearby the Cowlyd Tramway branched off, built to aid the construction of the dam at Llyn Cowlyd.

Taken from Wikipedia by licence.


Leat taking Afon Porthllwyd
Photograph copyright Hugh Venables, reproduced by licence

ARE YOU HERE?
Are you featured here? Or perhaps a relative of yours is?
We'd like to hear from you, and perhaps share some memories.
Please note that any correspondence addresses etc.
will not be displayed and will be kept confidential.
They will not be disclosed to anyone,
without permission to do so.
Ken Davies

  DOLGARROG CENTRAL SCHOOL
c 1940

Dolgarrog Central School

Top L-R;  Rhiannon Evans, Josephine Watson, Olive Roberts, Gwyn Davies, Drina Scott, Jean Roberts, Bessie Bell, Jinnie Griffiths, Nora Spencer.
Middle L-R; Annie Williams, Betty Davies, Joan Williams, Mary Coates, Betty Evans, Mildred Griffiths, Sally Shields, Audrey Baddley, Margaret Roberts.
Botton L-R; Glyn Roberts, Norman Evans, Gordon Jones, Ken Griffiths, Huwie Williams, Ken Carpenter, John Roberts, Jacky Bohanna.


Jean Roberts (Davies)

Jean Davies with granddaughters
Jean, my mother, is pictured here with her granddaughters,
Bethany, Rhian, Kim and Rebecca at her 80th birthday party in 2008.

Mam is featured on this website and has a page dedicated to her.
You can access this page by clicking here. KD 


 Josephine Watson (Dunn)

I was delighted to receive the following e-mail and photos from Mick John, whose mother in law appears in the school photo. Mick married Josephine's daughter Veronica. KD.


Josie with great grandchildren baby Sam, Evie,
and grandson Nick, who is Mick and Veronica's son.

Mick writes; Just thought I'd drop you a line as I came across your site through a "Lady Newborough "search!
Our family have copies of several of the photos used as my wife's uncles from Dolgarrog sent them to us last year. I'm talking about the Watson family (Emily, -Josephine - my mother in law is shown in the school photograph !!!) She lives in Wolverhampton now and is aged 81. We've visted Dolgarrog several times having stayed with Josephine's brother, the late William (Bill) Watson. We were shown around the area by Bill and brother George and have pleasant memories of visits to the homes of brothers Tommy and Harold, and sisters Mair and June . All the family once lived with Veronica's Nain and Taid in Graham Road and some went on to live in Adjacent Tayler Avenue. The surviving brothers and sisters live locally apart from Josie who moved to Wolverhampton following her marriage.

George is a great outdoors man with his love of fishing and walking. His brother Tommy lost his wife a few years ago and eldest brother Bill Watson died last year.

Harold is the youngest of the Watson men. Robin sadly died several years ago. Mair, the eldest daughter, lived in Llandudno and died approx 5 years ago. June the youngest of all the Watsons, is currently living locally.

When I refered to Emily, I should have said Josie (Josephine) as she's known, Emily being her first name so yes that's her in the school photo and thanks to you and your website, all the family mentioned above have seen & read it with interest. They've taken copies of photos and circulated them to relatives like my mother in law who doesn't have or use computers. My wife has paper copies of those photos to keep and already we've shared them with our daughter & our son who, both married with children and both living 5 minutes away from us, will have them for family history.

Josie's daughters Mary, Veronica and June taken in Wolverhampton in 1961

She's NEVER forgotten her roots and her Dolgarrog family, often replying to Tommy (he's the comedian in the family.) as a result of him sending Josie some cuttings from the local newspapers. Josie's radio is permanently tuned to Radio Wales so I guess you've got the picture there now.

If you ever wanted a true tale of war time and the Watson family, ask Tommy to tell you of his adventures down by the river and of the object that he and a friend found !!!!!!!! Yes, a German unexploded bomb was found by the boys so Tommy CARRIED THE THING on his back and took it to school ! Can you imagine the  head teachers face when he asked Tommy "What have you got there Watson ? " The reply came back.... "Oh, a bomb sir....!!!! " He was directed immediately to the Police Station ! Veronica informs me that he had a row from his father that night.

These are the little tales that get lost over time and hence the reason I tell you about it now. 


I'm very grateful to David Evans for enquiring about his uncle and aunt who were at Dolgarrog School the same time as my mother. KD

Just read your mother's amazing story. My family were from Dolgarrog. I recognised my uncle Norman and Betty Evans my aunt from the school photo.
My father was Albert Evans. I'm surprised he was not in the photo. Does anyone remember you remember  him?

As a result of David's enquiry, I contacted my uncle Eric, who replied;

I do remember Norman Evans very well. He was a little older than me, and he married a Jean Goodreid who lived in Maenan.
They went to live in Canada, (Banff/)....... this is where my sister Betty emigrated after the Second World War.
Norman was a painter and decorator and I do remember Betty saying once that as she was walking past the post office in Banff, a voice from a ladder above said casually "Hello Betty"...(as if it was a casual meeting in Dolgarrog.) It was Norman Evans painting the front of the post office.
I believe that he died some time ago.
I also remember 'Albert Evans' although I have no 'stories' to recall, he was Norman's older brother.
Eric.


DOLGARROG DAM DISASTER
Rowena Evans www.melin-y-coed.co.uk
additional information Ken Davies

THE DOLGARROG DISASTER - a hamlet and a village swept away by floodwaters from a breach in the Eigiau dam.

On Monday 2 November 1925, after two weeks of heavy rain, a breach in a small gravity dam occurred at the Aluminium Corporation's Llyn Eigiau reservoir, up in the hills near 735 m high Craig Eigiau. This was claimed at the time to have been caused by inadequate foundations and lack of maintenance.

This breach released thousands of gallons of water which flowed down along the course of the Porth Llwyd river to another small reservoir, the Coedty. This reservoir could not contain the extra water and breached also, releasing an even greater quantity of water, possibly some 350 million cubic meters, which carried huge boulders and pieces of pipeline down the mountain through Porth Llwyd hamlet and the village of Dolgarrog a mile below, sweeping houses and villagers away as it went.

The small gravity dam was not built across the end of a narrow river valley as one might expect, but stretched over a kilometre along the side of the reservoir. The water leaked under this wall, likely causing an outfall there, scouring soil and stones away from the dam bottom at the site, weakening the base of the dam wall until a whole section gave way, thus releasing the water along the natural course of the Porth Llwyd river. Inadequate foundations were blamed for the leakage. It has been speculated that the water level of the reservoir when in use would have been only three or four metres higher than the lake left behind, and did not itself hold a great quantity of water as reservoirs go. However, when the water leaked out and joined the smaller Coedty reservoir, the excess water caused that dam wall to breach, thus releasing water from both the Llyn Eigiau dam and the Coedty dam itself. A photograph of the Eigiau breach taken at the time shows the massive break in the dam wall. Modern photographs show that the resulting freed rocks have been arranged in a dome-shaped mound near the breach. A second breach may have been created later to ensure the dam does not fill up again. Photographs of the area maybe found on www. geograph.org.uk/

The dam was comparatively new when it failed in 1925. The plant and hydro station started operations in 1907 and 1908 to serve the aluminium reduction works in Dolgarrog. This process requires a great deal of electricity, and would need to be sited near an abundant source of water to turn the generators. The reduction process continued only until 1943, but the factory continued drawing power from the renovated Coedty reservoir to serve the specialist rolling mill which operated thenceforth.

The water poured like a river down the streets and among the great boulders until the reservoirs were emptied. The church was swept away, its bell tolling as it went. Villagers were swept away, one family clinging to debris and singing hymns as they battled for their lives.

Fortunately many of the villagers were on higher ground at the Assembly Hall for the weekly picture show, and were away from path of the torrent.

A seventeen year old survivor told of the church bell tolling as the church was swept away, and of a family clinging to debris, and singing hymns as they were swept along.

Furniture and other artefacts were swept down the river to the sea. Much of it was recovered by fishermen, but a great deal was carried out to sea by the strong tide. The font of the church was also salvaged from the water, and a couple of bells were retrieved in due course.

Onlookers arrived, and police had to erect a road block to stop them obstructing relief operations. It was reported that on the following Sunday twenty thousand sightseers converged on the area, some from as far away as the Midlands, travelling by car, bicycles and motor cycles, buses and charabancs, causing extensive delays due to congestion caused initially by charabancs trying to turn on the narrow road.

Photographers recorded the scenes of devastation and these were published as postcards at the time. They can now be found on the Internet at www. oldphotos.co.uk/dolgarrog.htm.

The scar that was caused by the disaster can be seen today down the side of the mountain together with the huge boulders it carried with it.

The river has been diverted since then, and flows over the old town.  

HENRY JOSEPH JACK
OF MAENAN MANOR

A Henry Joseph Jack, born Swansea 1869, moved to Maenan Manor, Llanrwst, some time after 1912 and became a councillor, later Chairman of the Caernarvonshire County Council. In 1918 he was Managing Director of the Aluminium Corporation and on the board of the Porthmadog, Beddgelert and South Snowdon Railway in which it had a controlling interest. He foresaw a good future for the railway in slate transport and tourism, and in 1922 became director of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. In April 1924 he was blamed for its lack of success, and resigned his position. After the Dolgarrog disaster he was blamed for even more, and left for Tunbridge Wells, where he died in 1936 after having changed his name to Henry Jack McInnes.

 Sixteen people died.

 

 TRAGIC LOSSES

 

BROWN Mrs Elizabeth, 46, No 1 Bungalow. Married, a mother of 8 children. Body found by P C Smith and some other men half a mile below the works on Tuesday at 3.30 pm.

BROWN, Betty, daughter of Elizabeth.

In loving memory of
ELIZABETH
the dearly beloved wife of
GILBERT BROWN
aged 46 years.
Also
BETTY
their beloved daughter,
aged 4.
Both of whom died at Dolgarrog
on the night of November 2 1925.
"Asi. Padre, pues que asi Agrado, en Tusojos"
Also the said
GILBERT BROWN
who died December 10, 1930
aged 55 years.
"At rest".

EVANS, Mrs Susan, wife of Mr William Evans 3 Machno Terrace

 EVANS, Gwen, 4 months. Daughter of William and Susan Evans.

EVANS, Ceridwen, 5 - found Tuesday morning 3 November near the ferry in Conway Estuary by John Ellis, fisherman, yacht skipper, of Conway.

EVANS, Bessie, 3 - found Tuesday 2.30 pm just below Conway Bridge by Mr John Craven, yacht skipper.

HIGGINS, Mr Henry Victor, 30, childless widower of Sarn Bryn Caled, Welshpool, Linesman, son of Edwin Higgins. Lodging at 2 Machno Terrace.

McKENZIE, Mrs Catherine, of 2 Dolgarrog Cottages, daughter of Mrs Sinnot, and wife of Mr Donald McKenzie, former employee at the works, who was working away from home. They had not seen each other since March. Her body was found by Mr John Roberts of Hendy, Roewen, between 9 and 10 am on Tuesday near the Carbon Factory.

McKENZIE, Mona, 5, daughter of Mrs McKenzie. Found on day of enquiry.

In loving memory of
CATHERINE
the dearly beloved wife of
DONALD MACKENZIE,
2 Dolgarrog Cottages,
aged 36 years.
Also
MONA,
their beloved daughter
aged 5 1/2 year them died at Dolgarrog
on the night of November 2, 1925.
"They cometh forth like a flower and is cut down"

SINNOT, Mrs Margaret, Porthlwyd Cottage. Her dog was found safe lying on the bed upstairs; her house was damaged but standing, but she was swept away.

In loving memory of our dear parents
JOHN SINNOTT
who passed away Nov. 10, 1918,
aged 56.
Also
MARGARET
the beloved wife of the above,
who departed this life
Nov. 2, 1925
aged 63 years.

TAYLOR, Stanley John, 1 Machno Terrace

TAYLOR, Mrs Dorothy Buddug, Wife of Stanley, Daughter of A R Hughes, Llandudno Advertiser

TAYLOR Sylvia Doris, 18 months, daughter of Dorothy and Stanley. 

Dorothy Buddug Taylor (formerly Hughes from Llandudno) and her husband Stanley John Taylor were victims, along with their daughter Sylvia Doris Taylor, eighteen months old. Dorothy's father was a journalist with the North Wales Weekly News and the Llandudno Advertiser, and had the unenviable task of reporting on a disaster which had claimed his daughter and her family.

TWYNHAM, William, Tai'r Felin. Washed into Conway River.

TWYNHAM, Jennie, wife of William Twynham

Er serchog gof am
WILLIAM TWYMAN
Tai'r Felin,
a hunodd Tachwedd 2, 1925
yn 52 mlwydd oed.
Hefyd
JANE
anwyl briod yr uchod,
a hunodd Tachwedd 2, 1925
yn 52 mlwydd oed.

WILLIAMS, Mrs Mary, 66 yrs, 2 Machno Terrace. Body found near Carbon Factory between 9 and 10 a.m. Tuesday by Owen Jones, Bryn Hyfryd.

In loving memory of
CHARLOTTE
the beloved daughter of
ROBERT ELLIS and ANN WILLIAMS
2 Machno Terrace, Dolgarrog
who died Sept 28, 1924,
aged 23 years.
Also
MARY
the beloved wife of the above,
who died
November 2 1925
aged 70 years.

 

THE SURVIVORS

Nellie BROWN, (inset) who was swept away from her father but survived, along with her brother Fred, aged 17. They climbed over coke wagons to escape, and found shelter in the ruins of the village school - according to the newspaper Nellie clung to the roof of the wooden building, which had been swept a mile away, and in the morning was too exhausted to speak.
Her father and the other children escaped by running up the hill. Little Betty (centre) was torn from his arms by the water, but he was able to climb an electricity pole. Douglas is picture left, and Glyn, right.

BROWN, Gilbert, husband of Elizabeth, No. 1 Bungalow. Water dragged him away from his daughter and carried him down the valley for 500 yards. He was reported to have clung on to an electric pole. This daughter also survived and got to safety in the ruins of the village school; his then 14 year old son Fred when in his nineties said that they both climbed over coke wagons to escape. Fred opened the Memorial to the Disaster in 2004.

Mr Richard Roberts saved the lives of his family at great risk to himself.

Mrs Walton writes; I am tracing my family tree and have found a link to Richard Roberts whom saved his families lives at the Dolgarrog disaster 1925.  I cannot find any further information about this particular act of heroism.  If anyone can throw any light on this I would be most grateful.
Mrs Walton can be contacted via  mail@penmon.org

In response to Mrs Walton's request, Wendy Leatherbarrow, has been in touch;
I have just started looking into my family tree with the help of my mother, Barbara Leatherbarrow (nee Roberts) and found your item on the internet. Mr Richard Roberts was my mother's grandfather and the young boy in the picture on the left is my taid, Mr William Roberts.
Wendy can be contacted via mail@penmon.org

 Margaret Sinnott, her daughter Catherine McKenzie and a granddaughter were all lost, though Mr McKenzie and their two sons were at the picture house when it happened. Margaret Sinnott's body was the last to be recovered. According to a newspaper report, Mrs Sinnott's daughter, a nurse in Bangor, had intended to move her mother and sister, Mrs McKenzie, from Dolgarrog to a new home.

Albert and Nellie Hatfield from Yorkshire were living in Dolgarrog at the time of the disaster. Albert was working on the dam as an electric linesman. The morning after the disaster Nellie went out to look for Albert, but couldn't find him. She must have feared the worst. However, she met the district nurse, who told Nellie that Albert was all right, but was still helping to search for people.

Gillian Dansby of Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, Albert and Nellie's grand-daughter says: 'My Grandma was pregnant with my mother at the time the dam broke. Grandad helped with a lot of the rescue work as he was one of the few men who could swim.'

Albert and Nellie Hatfield were married 9 June 1923 in Batley, West Yorkshire, and not long afterwards they went to live in Dolgarrog. At the time of the disaster Nellie was pregnant, and her daughter Margaret June Hatfield was born in Dolgarrog on 23 April, 1926. They lived at 22 Taylor Avenue, Dolgarrog, for another four or five years.

Jane Owens lived at Caenant
One day, Jane was poorly and having a nap, when her daughter Sally heard this awful rumbling.
The Eigiau dam wall had burst, and water was crashing down the valley.
She ran upstairs to wake her Mum and they both went outside. They ran down the hill where a lady was shouting out of the window for them to catch her child. They were desperately trying to help her when a boulder threatened to land on them. A man shoved Sally and her Mum Jane out of the way and saved them.

Some of Sally's extended family were saved only because they had gone to the cinema that evening and their home was empty.

Caenant is on the hill very near the path where the water burst through.......A memorial plaque stands at the bottom of the hill and it is literally yards away from the narrow road leading up to the cottage.

The Dolgarrog Disaster


2nd November
1925



Jane Owens

 




HOW MY SCOTTISH FAMILY
CAME TO DOLGARROG
- AND STAYED
by
Maggie Roberts.

I am very grateful to Maggie for sharing this moving piece about her family history. KD 

My great grandfather, John Sinnott was a foreman in the aluminium works in Foyers in the highlands of Scotland.

Foyers Aluminium Works
click here to read about the Worksks


CopyrightAnne Burgessand licensed
forreuseunder this
Creative Commons Licence.

Foyers Aluminuim SmelterAluminium was smelted here at Foyers from 1895 until 1967. This was one of several smelters built in the Highlands at various times, the idea being that they would run on cheap and plentiful hydro-electric power, but none has survived. After the closure of the aluminium smelting, the plant was adapted to generate more hydro=electric power for the National Grid from water piped down from Loch Mhor when demand was high, and pumped back up again when demand was low. 


Together with other employees, he came to Dolgarrog in 1909 to work in the new factory. He brought with him Margaret, his wife, and Ann Lydia, his youngest daughter and together they settled at Porthlwyd Cottage.

In 1915, when my grandfather, Donald Mackenzie, enlisted in the Army, my grandmother, Catherine, made the journey from Scotland to Dolgarrog with their two sons - Alan, aged 6, and John, my father, aged 2 - and settled with her parents and her sister, Ann, for the duration of the war.

My father had very happy memories of those early days with his grandparents and especially remembered his grandfather's pride in his garden and the many hours he spent 'helping' him! Sadly, John Sinnott fell victim to the Spanish flu and passed away prematurely in 1918 but his influence lived on because gardening became one of my father's passions in life.

I'm not absolutely certain of the exact turn of events after this and the end of the war, but by 1920 my father's sister, Mona, was born and I think Annie had returned to Scotland. Granny Sinnott was now settled in Dolgarrog along with her daughter and three grandchildren.

Family photos
courtesy of Maggie Roberts

Granny Sinnot in her garden in Dolgarrog

Her three grandchilden, Jack, Mona and Allan.
Probably their last photograph together


On the evening of 2nd November, 1925, when my father and his brother went to the picture show in the village hall they had a family to go home to but, just hours later, that all changed. They lost everyone that night when the Eigiau reservoir dam burst and flooded the lower part of the village - their little sister, their mother and their grandmother. Life was never the same again.


CopyrightJeremy Bolwelland licensed forreuse
under thisCreative Commons Licence.

Llyn Eigiau reservoir dismantled dam wall
In November 1925 this dam wall collapsed at a point near here. The reservoir waters surged out, gouging a culvert and joined the course of the Afon Porth-llwyd, swamping and breaching Coedty Reservoir below and then raging down the steep valley side onto the small village of Dolgarrog, taking 16 lives in the process. This section of wall was dismantled to prevent any reoccurence.

Alan, being 16 years old by now, stayed in Dolgarrog and found work but my father, at 12 years, was too young for this and still needed schooling. As his father was unable to look after him in Scotland, some kind relatives in London offered to take care of both him and his schooling until he was old enough to return home and start work. This was an enormous change in lifestyle - from the highlands of Scotland and a small Welsh village to the centre of London and a new school and family - and, despite the kindness of his new family, he found the whole experience very difficult following on from such a tragedy.

When he reached the age of 14, my father returned to Scotland, staying with relatives in Foyers and working at the Manse cleaning shoes. Within a year, however, he was back in Dolgarrog - where he had spent most of his childhood, where his memories were and where his brother was. He worked in the aluminium factory with Alan and they both led very active, sporty lives - walking in the hills, swimming and diving in the outdoor pool built by the aluminium corporation, competing at boxing and playing football, another of my father's passion in life! It was also at the aluminium factory that my dad discovered yet another passion - my mum!

So life took a turn for the better and the future looked bright again.

A little post script in case someone out there might recognise my family and have some extra information for me:
• My uncle, Alan Mackenzie, was known to family and friends as Peary.
• My dad, John Mackenzie, was known as Jack, Jacky or Mack
• Aunty Annie married a local photographer, Theo Jones, and lived in 7, Taylor Avenue, Dolgarrog.
• Both Peary and Jacky played football for Llanrwst Town FC in the late 1920's and early 1930's and my dad went on to play for Colwyn Bay and Bangor City [ I think from 1936-1939].
• Any information about the London family who helped my father finish his schooling would be most welcome as this is a bit of a misty area..

If you can help Maggie
she contacted via  mail@penmon.org

 

THE FUNERALS


The curate-in-charge at Dolgarrog, William Evans at left of picture, along with James Hunter, was reported as having been involved in the rescue, working up to his neck in water. He was also reported as having organised a rescue party to get workmen out of the furnace house. He is pictured here going to the funeral of members of his flock

 
The funeral procession of four of the victims.


 A Frank Kenyon of Rochdale had a share in the family business at The Princess Theatre in Colwyn Bay, and he shot about six minutes worth of film of the disaster, showing the empty dam and the water rushing through the streets.

 

To see a recording of the disaster, please click here.

MEMORIAL

In April 2004 a memorial project to the victims of the disaster was dedicated at Dolgarrog. A £60,000 memorial trail up to the mountains was constructed along the river and among the boulders, a pathway to explain the tragedy to walkers. Fred Brown, a 93 year old Dolgarrog man, was present to open the project, and was said to be the last of the survivors still living. Fred was 14 when he lost his mother Elizabeth and four year old sister Betty in the flood. He reported that his father and elder sister rescued themselves from the flood waters by crawling over coke wagons.


 Dolgarrog Construction
Photos reproduced here
by kind permission of Glyn Roberts
Some photos feature his father Eddie Roberts
who worked on the site.
 
 
 

Eddie Roberts, far right, having a cuppa and a sarnie on a break.
 

Eddie Roberts, right.
Glyn recalls, I remember dad saying to me, "Look at the man looking at his wages and pulling his face with his bottom lip.
He wasn't happy with the outcome."
 
 

Eddie Roberts very dirty on top of a Wagon.
 
 

Eddie Roberts, second from the right.
Great photo of the machine in the background.
The workers were really proud of these huge wagons.
 Eddie always said he enjoyed driving them.
 
 

The Contractor "LAING" my father worked for.
 I've noticed the vehicle also being a Euclid and based in London.
Dad moved down here working with only £17 pounds in his pockets
 

A photo of a very young Eddie on left.
 

Eddie's cousin, Alun Gorton Roberts is seen in the top row,
second from right.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The crane which recovered the damaged Euclid 
 
 
 
 
 

The crane recovering the damaged Euclid 
 
 

The crane which recovering the damaged Euclid 
 
 
 
 
 


CAERHUN

The river meanders pleasantly amid its meads. In the background rise the verdant slopes of tree clad hills and behind them the blue summits of mountains break the skyline. The meadowland beside the river climbs gently upwards. Cresting the slope the red sandstone ramparts of a great square fort lift their menacing bulk - strangely incongruous in such a sylvan setting.
A gateway in the centre of each side affords entrance for the chariots or the marching legionaries. Sunlight glitters on spearhead, helmet and breastplate. Such was the fort of Kanovium where Romans guarded the crossing of the Conway.
Unless it can be an excuse for a country outing there is little use visiting Caerhun to examine the fort. One can find the small but venerable church of Caerhun, which occupies one corner of the site (for Peace, symbolically, has triumphed over War), but it takes a discerning eye to detect in the surrounding fields, even so much as an undulation to indicate the line of the outer earthwork.
(THEY FOUGHT IN NORTH WALES by Norman Tucker  -'500 Roman soldiers in Conway Valley' 1943)

Today, only a solitary tree stands guard over Kanovium

CAERHUN CHURCH

St Mary's Church, Caerhun is situated on the grounds of the old Roman fort Canovium. Its age is unclear, but probably built by Cistercian Monks. Some of its walls are from the thirteenth century. 

The bell, visible to the right of the bell-cote, is inscribed;  w18  1647 

 

 

 

The Church was once thatched, and then slated. Old slates were recorded as being sold in 1785, and  5/6d was paid for thatching the roof in 1810.

On one side of the altar, a statue of the Virgin Mary would have stood before the Reformation. 

The bronze plaque to the right of the altar bears the inscription; 

To the glory of God
and in proud memory of
Major General Hugh Sutlej Gough
C.B., C.M.G.
eldest son of
General Sir John Bloomfield Gough, G.C.B.
Born 4th February, 1848.
Midshipman, Royal Navy, 1862-1865
Served in the 10th Royal Hussars
1869-89,
Raised and commanded
3rd Mounted Rifles (Gough's Horse) 
in Bechuanaland, 1885.
Commanded 18th Hussars, 1889-93
Lieut. Governor of Jersey 1904-10
Honry. Colonel Royal Jersey Militia.
Appointed Colonel 20th Hussars 1912.
J.P. and Deputy Lieut for the county
of Caernarvon.
Died at Caer Rhun, March 30th, 1920  

Other inscriptions inside the Church;

To the glory of God and in memory of
JOHN NICKSON
of Cefn Isaf.
Erected by those, who owe him more than they can express, his children.
"I read in the lesson of death, the moral of life returning.
Everywhere hope; in the brown fields,
in the dry leaves scattered beneath my feet.
Light in darkness, day hid in night,
strength in weakness"
"Grow old along with me
the best is yet to be"
+ + + +
+ + +
Beneath this window is the entrance to the family vault of
DAVIES-GRIFFITH
of Caer Rhun

A large arch, which is now filled in, is by the altar, which may have led into a chantry before the Reformation, where the priest would say Mass at a funeral of an important person in the community. 

Another inscription inside the Church:

Here lyes KATHERINE,
daughter of John Roberts and Jane his wife, whose most dutifull behaviour innocence of life and uncommon sweetness of temper caus'd this to be dedicated to her memory by her grandmother KATHERINE ROBERTS,
relict of THOMAS ROBERTS
of Brynyneauadd Esqr.
She dyed March 11, 1739, aged 18.

 
This is the view looking towards the village of Dolgarrog, from the churchyard

This lych gate at one time bore a stone with the inscription,  R.T.P.  1728  T.R.

This is where coffins were rested before going into the Church and the stone steps on either side of the wall, were used by mourners  

 

1914 - 18
To the glory of God and in proud memory of the men of this Parish who at the call  of their King and Country laid down their lives in the Great War

Capt Gordon Barber, Cam'n Highrs
S. D. Deacon R.N.
Edgar A. Hughes, R.N. Aux
L. Cpl David Knowles , Manch. R.
Privates;
Tom F. Evans,  Suff. R.
Samuel R. Jones, Q.V.R.
John Roberts, Som. L.I.
Edward Thomas, L'pool R.
J. Elias Williams, S.W.B.
Owen Williams, R.F.A.
John Jones, R.W.F.
Llew R. Jones, R.W.F.
Lewis Owen, R.W.F.
C. Roberts, R.W.F.
Willie Roberts, R.W.F.
William Roberts, R.W.F.
Evan Thomas, R.W.F.
"They died that we may live."
"Hedd perffaith hedd." 
 
1939 - 1945
Sergt. Albert Williams, R.A.F.
A/C Edward Roberts, R.A.F.
Pte. Robert W. Davies, R. Wk. Regt.


Kanovium through the lych gate


View of what was Kanovium

 The following War Casualties,
are named on graves at Caerhun Churchyard

Owen Griffiths
was the son of William Griffiths, formerly of Roe Wen, who died on the French battlefield
on 25th February 1917

John Elias Williams
was the son of John and Ellen Williams,
Manchester House, Roe Wen
who died in Mesopotamia
on the 29th March 1917.

Willie Roberts
was the son of William and Laura Roberts,
Ty Gwyn, Talybont,
who was killed during the 1914 - 1918 Great War,
aged 28, and was buried in Etaples, France
on the 15th May, 1918. 
Click here to visit the
ETAPLES MILITARY CEMETERY
 
Samuel Richard Jones, Q.V.R.
was the son of Hugh and Margaret Jones,
formerly of the Post Office, Talybont,
who died in Rouen Hospital, France
on the 9th October 1918, aged 20.

E. Roberts,
922944 Aircraftman 1st Class, R.A.F.
died on the 9th March 1941, aged 21.

Albert Williams
was the son of Robert Thomas and Mary Williams, 'Refail, Tynygroes,
who died in Egypt
on the 10th May 1943

THE GREAT WAR 1914/18
IN MEMORIAM

Would you like to record details of a relative
who served King and Country in The Great War?
If so, please click here.

   CAERHUN

Caerhun is steeped in Roman history
To read about Caerhun's fascinating Roman past, please visit the following website;


The Kanovium website contains;
stunning aerial photos
groundplan and buildings
Caerhun fort bath-house
Roman relics found at Caerhun
Geophysics survey of Caerhun  Settlement
and more..........click here for access.


Drawing by David Swarbrick


St Mary's Church and site of Roman Fort at Caerhun
Photo copyright Eric Jones - licensed for re-use.

St Mary's Church, Caerhun
Photo copyright Eirian Evans - licensed for re-use.

Site of Roman Bath house at Caerhun
Photo copyright Eirian Davies - licensed for re-use

Roman Road between Carnovium and Segontium
(Caerhun and Caernarfon)
Photo copyright Jonathan Wilkins - licensed for re-use


Descendants of
EDWARD OWEN born 1760 Caerhûn
& ANN EVANS born 1760 Caerhûn

Judith Mair kindly shares her family history with us.
She is keen to trace the Owen family back from Richard Owen, born 1780.
Judith can be contacted at   jpmair@tiscali.co.uk

  'Richard, the son of Edward Owen by Anne Evans his wife of Llwydfaen Isa, was baptized the 17th day of September 1780': I was thrilled to see this, the actual entry in the Parish Register when I visited the Caernarfon Record office last year. (I believe that Anne Evans was the daughter of Rowland and Katherine Evans, who were living at Llwydfaen Isaf, Caerhûn from 1772-1779.)

Edward Owen (b 1822 Caerhûn) was the son of the above Richard Owen (b 1780 Caerhûn) and Ellin Thomas (b 1791 Eglwysbach), who were married by licence 20th November 1811 at Eglwysbach, with witnesses Henry Owens and  Jane Thomas.
Edward b 1822 had 3 sisters: Anne b c1821, Jane b 1824 and Ellin b 1831 and one brother, Thomas b 1826. The children were all born at Caerhûn. On the 1851 census they were living at Llwydfaen Uchaf Farm, Tal y Cafn and Edward was unmarried.
Edward married sometime between July and September 1852 to Anne Jones, but by October 1854 Anne had died, aged just 28, and her gravestone is to be seen at Caerhûn Churchyard.

The inscription reads: 


Sacred to the memory of
     Anne
      wife of Edward Owen
        of Llwydfaen Uchaf
    in the parish of Llanbedr
    who departed this life on
   the XXVI th day of October
   MDCCCLIV
in the XXVIII th year of her age.

   

Edward remarried in 1856 to Elizabeth Thomas b 1832 Llangernyw, (2nd child of John and Catherine Thomas of Maes Adda, Eglwysbach), and on 31st August 1857 their first child Catherine Ellen Owen was baptized at Llanbedr y Cennin. Named after her maternal grandmother Catherine Thomas and paternal grandmother Ellin Owen, she sadly died the following year. On 23rd May 1859 their second daughter, also named Catherine Ellen Owen was born and on the 29th May was baptized at Caerhûn. By the 1861 census the family were living at Llanbedr, with another daughter Esther, who was baptized at Caerhûn on the 22nd April 1861.
By the 1871 census Edward had 'disappeared' from Llwydfaen and Elizabeth was recorded as living back at her family home of Maes Adda, Eglwysbach, as housekeeper for her brother Edward Thomas. The two children are living with her, but it took quite a lot of detective work to find Edward.  Eventually I found his death recorded in January - Mar 1877, St Asaph Registration. He had been an inmate at the Denbigh Lunatic Asylum where records show him as a labourer and classed as 'lunatic'. He was there on the 1871 census aged 47. His body was taken to Caerhûn where he was buried with his first wife Anne. (When searching for his grave at Caerhûn I was very puzzled to find him with his wife Anne as I hadn't realized he had been married before!)

Catherine Ellen was my great grandmother and she married Edwin Jones b 1859 of Ty Isa'r Gell, Betws yn Rhos, in May 1885.
    I have tried to trace the Owen family (Richard and Ellin) with little success but have found them on the 1861 census 'across the river' at Plas Uchaf, Llansantffraid Glan Conwy. (I presume they had moved out of Llwydfaen when Edward had first married.) Ellin was by then a widow and was living with daughter Jane, son Thomas and grandaughter Ellin Owen.
By the 1871 census Ellin was still alive and living with son Thomas and a grandaughter Ellin Anne Williams. I am not sure if this is the same grandchild with the surnames recorded wrongly; (the ages would indicate it is the same child).
    By 1881 Ellin had died and Thomas (now aged 55), a farmer of 200 acres, had married a Jane ____ b Llanrhos, Caernarvon (aged 48). Ellin A. Williams was still living with them, and her occupation is given as draper's daughter. 
      Interestingly, living next door at Plas Isa Farm, was Jane, wife of John Davies. Her birthplace is recorded as Caerhûn and from her age I worked out that she was the Jane Owen b 1824. So brother and sister ended up living very close to each other! 
      By the 1901 census Thomas Owen was a widower but still at Plas Ucha, but now there was a niece living with him as a housekeeper - Esther Owen b Caerhûn, my great grandmother's sister b c1861!
    Jane Davies and her husband seem to have died and their son David Richard Davies was living at Plas Isa with another Caerhûn 'native', M. E. Williams aged 27 and recorded as 'cousin' and being his housekeeper. (I think she could be Mary Williams, daughter of Griffith and Gwladus Williams of Rowlyn Uchaf, Caerhûn, but am not sure how the 'cousin' relationship has come about.)

    Judith adds; I would love to hear from anyone who might know of the Owen family.


DAVIES
Llidiart Fadog, Caerhun / Talybont


I received the following message from Gwyn Davies;
I am working on my family tree and found that one branch, the Davies family lived at Llidiart Fadog, Caerhun, from 1851 to 1911.  It  is on the hill above Dolgarrog, on the road to Cwm Eigiau.  I have all the family census returns and places of burial. Most are buried at Capel Salem Cemetery, Llanbedrycennin, which I didn't know existed until the caretaker of the church told me.

In 1851, John Davies is recorded as aged 38, a quarryman born in Llanllechid, Anne is 38 and children Alice 16, a dressmaker, Robart 12, John 6 and Thomas 1, all born in Caerhun

In 1861, John Davies is 48, a slate quarryman, Anne is 48, son  Robart 21, a slate quarryman, Alice 26, a house servatnt, Griffith 19, John 16 both slate quarrymen, Thomas 12, William 8 and Mary 3.


Photo Copyright Jonathan Wilkins and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Remains of the slate quarry at Cwm Eigiau.
Was this where John Davies and his sons worked?

John Davies was not at home on the night of the 1871 census for Llidiart Fadog. Anne is 58, recorded as quarryman's wife, daughter Jane 33, is their domestic servant, Mary 13 and granddaughter Anne, 3.
A John Davies aged 60, born Llanllechid is recorded as living at the Barracks, Cwm with another lodger, William Davies, aged 17, born Caerhun. This ties in with Anne's John and William Davies. Both are slate makers. Another two Davies are in the same address, both from Caerhun; Thomas Davies 50, and John Davies 13. The Barracks are between Pantymriog and Cwmorthin Farm.  

Anne had died by the 1881 census. John Davies 68 is widowed, works as a miner. Son Griffith is 37 and a slate quarryman, Jane 43, is their housekeeper and Mary 23, a domestic servant.

In 1891, son Griffith, 47, a slate quarryman, is head of household, his father John having died. His sisters Jane 53, and Mary 33 are housekeeper and domestic servant respectively. Griffith's niece Ann aged 23 lives tere and is an Elementary School teacher. All are Caerhun born. Hugh Jones 42 of Anglesey, a sulphur miner, boards at the home.


In the 1901 census, John and Anne's daughter, Mary Jones, nee Davies, resided at Ysgubor Fadog with her husband, Ellis Jones, born in 1865  at Trawsfynydd. They had no children.

1901, sees Ellis Jones 36 of Trawsfynydd, a lead miner as head of household, with Mary Jones, nee Davies, (John and Anne Davies's daughter) 42, as his wife. Rhys Roberts 16, of Beddgelert lives with them as a feeder on a farm.

The 1911 census shows Mary and Ellis Jones still at Llidiart Fadog and have Cromwell Davies age 14 residing with them.  He is described as nephews son.

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about Llidiart Fadog or the family? I'd like to hear from anyone who is related to, or who has information about John and Ann Davies. 
Gwyn can be contacted via mail@penmon.org if you can help.KD.


I have received the following message from John Davies,
son of Cromwell Davies. KD

I found your Penmon site on the internet, and have been to Penmon many times. 
I am also the son of the Cromwell Davies, living in Llidiart Fadog in 1911 as shown above. My family came from next door to Llidiart -  Cae Fadog and I was born in Bodgwynedd across the fields.

My father's father, Robert William Davies, was born in Rhiw Goch, a little homestead in Castell, just outside Tal y Bont in the Conway Valley - unfortunately, it is no more! The council widened the road and it had to go in the early 1950s. I have listed that family fairly well going back to the great grandfather and his wife from Liverpool, there were quite a few of them.

In 1901, Cromwell and his family lived at Chapel House, Talybont. His parents  Robert William 35 a slatequarryman and Anne 34. Their family consisted of Ceridwen 8, Cromwell himself aged 4, and Penry 2. Penry was Dolgarrog, the rest were born in Llanbedr.

As John Davies mentions, his grandfather Robert William Davies was born in Rhiw Goch and lived there in 1891. 

John Davies 46 and Elizabeth Davies 45 were his parents, and at Rhiw Goch in 1891, their family consited of Robert William Davies 25, a slatequarry man like his father, John P. 25, Edward 21, Ann 19, Caradog 16, Elizabeth 9, Mary I. 8 and Nellie 4 months old.  

John 36 and his wife Elizabeth 35 were also at Rhiw Goch in 1881, Robert W 15, John G. 13, Edward 11, Ann 8, Caradog 6 and Llewelyn 3 months old.


In 1871, John 26 and his wife Elizabeth 25 were residing at 12 Castell, Caerhun. Robert W. was 5, John Griffith. 3, and Edward 1.


Siân Jones asks for assistance - happy to oblige KD

I have just come across your Penmon.org website and found it fascinating, particularly the Conway Valley Connections section. I think my father was born at Cae Fadog above Dolgarrog in 1927. His name was Aneurin Howell Jones and I think his parents' names were William (or Gwilym) and Elinor. I am just starting to look into the family history and noticed that a contributor to the Conway Valley section, John Davies, said his family came from Cae Fadog. Would it be possible to put me in touch with him? Keep up the good work!
Best wishes
Siân Jones



           

Jeremiah Roberts
Waen Groes Uchaf, Caerhun
born 1824


Mae Mrs Esther Williams wedi anfon e-bost i mi;
Newydd fod yn edrych ar eich safle we gwych. Mae'n amlwg fod gwaith caled wedi mynd iddi. Tybed fel hen law ydi bosib cael cyngor  ganddoch,
R'wyf yn chwilio am  hen, hen, hen daid i mi ers oes, ers blynyddoedd i fod yn fanwlgywir!!!
Jeremiah Roberts Geni 1824 Llangernyw
Mae ar bob census tan 1881, ond yn  sydyn d'oes ddim son am dano, mae ei wraig yn gorwedd yn mynwent Llanbedr y Cennin Conwy ond ydyw o ddim.
Fy meddyliau i ydi fod Jeremiah wedi marw yn y tlot-dy, ac er ein bod yn gwybod ei fod yn fyw yn 1881, nad  ydyw wedi ei gyfrestru, oherwydd d'oedd y bobol draun yma yn neb.

Mrs Esther Williams is asking for help to trace her great, great, great grandfather, Jeremiah Roberts, who last appears on the 1881 census. Neither his date nor place of death are known.

 

 

  Mrs Williams has in her possession the following newspaper report
from a Court case heard in Caernarfon, in 1880.

CHARGE OF STEALING AND RECEIVING A HEIFER
Newspaper report January 1880

Mary Roberts, 19 and Jeremiah Roberts, 57 were jointly charged with having, in the parish of Caerhun, stolen a heifer, the property of Rowland Hughes. The elder prisoner was further charged with having received the heifer, well knowing it to have been stolen.

Jeremiah Roberts lived at Waen Groes Uchaf as a general labourer. He was born in Llangerniew in 1824. His wife Mary 57, born in Caerhun, as were their daughters living with them Mary 19 and Jane 16. 


Mr William Jones, Conway, prosecuted and Mr Allanson defended.

The younger prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing, and Jeremiah Roberts, her father, pleaded not guilty to either charge.

Rowland Hughes, farmer, residing at Tai Ucha', Caerhun, stated that on the 6th October he had some cattle grazing on a field.

Rowland Hughes, a farmer was aged 40, unmarried, and living with his widowed father John Hughes, 79, a farmer of 45 acres, at Tai Uchaf, Caerhun. John was the head of the household.


A day or two afterwards, he discovered that one heifer was missing. He met a neighbouring farmer, and in consequence of what he said, he went along the road and found the heifer about a quarter of a mile from the prisoner's house.

The heifer had a white spot, on the 6th October, over the loins, but when he found her again he discovered that the white hair had been clipped, and a black stuff placed over the spot. The horns of the animal had also the letters "J.R." cut upon them.

Witness examined the fences, to see if the animal could have got over  anywhere, but there were no marks of any trespass. He lived about a quarter of a mile from the house of Jeremiah Roberts.

Griffith Roberts remembered going by Jeremiah Roberts' house on the 7th October, about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. He then noticed a strange heifer among Jeremiah Roberts' cattle. He gave notice of the fact to Rowland Hughes.

By Mr Allanson; Prisoner had lived at the same place many years, and had always been considered a respectable man.

John Roberts, the next wirtness, stated that he remembered being on the 7th October at Jeremiah Roberts' place. He bought two calves on that occasion, and noticing a strange heifer on the farm, he asked the prisoner and his wife about it, and was informed that it was a heifer they had takren instead of receiving money for a debt. The offered it to him for 5l.  The calves he bought had earmarks upon them. He examined a heifer at the Erskine Arms on the day the magistrates were sitting at Conway, and it was similarly marked.

By Mr Allanson; He did tell the magistrates that he thought the heifer he saw at the Erskine Arms was rather larger than the one he saw in the field at the prisoner's house, but then it was rather dark when he examined it.

Police-constable Pritchard stated that on apprehending the prisoner Jeremiah Roberts, he charged him with receiving a heifer which had been stolen by Mary his daughter. Prisoner said he had the heifer for one night and a day in his field. He also said that his daughter had told him she had the heifer as a present from John Elias, of Gorswen, and he took it to be her lawful property.

John Hughes Elias was 28, and worked on his father's farm, Edward Elias Esq, 57, at Gorswen.
Edward employed 5 labourers, 5 shepherds and 2 boys on the 400 acre farm. 

John Hugh Elias said there was no truth in the statement that he had ever given a heifer to prisoner's daughter.

Police-constable John Williams (28) stated that he had seen the heifer when at the Erskine Arms, and compared the ear marks on the calves sold to John Roberts. They corresponded.

Mr Allanson in addressing the jury on behalf of Jeremiah Roberts referred to the excellent character which the prisoner had always borne, and the painful circumstance that he came into court with a daughter who had pleaded guilty to having stolen the heifer. He alluded to the fact that the moment Jeremiah Roberts discovered that the heifer had been stolen. he it off his premises, and on to the high-road, because he was not in a position to take it back to the owner, not mkowing who he was. If it were clear to the minds of the jury that the prisoner did not know or suspect that his daughter had stolen the animal they must acquit him.

 

Caernarfon Court,
where the hearing was held.

The chairman in summing up said that there could be no doubt that the heifer had been stolen from the prosecutor, and the question the jury had to decide was whether it had been stolen by the prisoner Jeremiah Roberts. Who was it that cut out the white spot on the animal, and painted it over? He thought the jury could come to the conclusion that the prisoner Jeremy Roberts was guilty of receiving the animal if he did not actually steal it.

The jury retired, and were absent some time in consultation. On their return they announced a verdict of acquittal with respect to Jeremiah Roberts.

The court then sentenced Mary Roberts to a twelve month imprisonment for stealing the heifer.   

Jeremiah Roberts can be traced in all censuses upto and including 1881. 

1841. Jeremiah is 15 years old and working as an agricultural labourer for William and Jane Roberts at Maes y Castell farm. Both are aged 35. Ages were rounded to the nearest 5 years..

Jeremiah Roberts married Mary, born in Caerhun, around 1842, when he would have been some 18 years old.

1851. Jeremiah 28 and Mary 28 are farming at Glanrafon, Caerhun. They have four children, David 8, Elizabeth 5, Moses 3 and John, only 8 months old.

Jeremiah and his family had moved to Bronygaden by the time of the next census.

1861. Jeremiah, 35 was a labourer, Mary was also 35. Their family living at home with them consisted of Elizabeth 16, John 10, Dorothy 8, Jane 7 and Owen 2.

Another move saw the family living at Waen Groes Uchaf.
 

1871. Jeremiah 48 was a general labourer, Mary was 48. Son Owen was now 18, and the couple had two daughters at home, Mary 10 and Jane 6.

1880 saw the Court case involving the theft of an heifer from Rowland Hughes. Jeremiah's daughter Mary was imprisoned for 12 months.
His wife Mary had died by the time of the 1881 census - Jeremiah is recorded as a widower. Mary is buried at Llanbedr y Cennin.

St Peters Church
Llanbedr y Cennin

 1881. Widowed Jeremiah Roberts, 57 is boarding with Jeremiah Griffith 30, a joiner and builderand his wife Jane Griffith at Penbryn Llech, Caerhun. Jeremiah is recorded as having no employment.

Was Jeremiah turned out of his home or possibly lost his tenancy because his daughter Mary had stolen the heifer?
Esther has searched through Conwy's Workhouse records, but very little detail remains.

It is believed that Mary is working at Llwyn Onn, Caerhun in 1901, about 40 years old. 

David Roberts
born c 1843
Son of Jeremiah and Mary Roberts



David and Margaret Roberts
with Cae Coch below.


Unfortunately, I do not know the names of the young women in the photo of Cae Coch. It just by luck that I have the photo. When I was a young girl, my mother used to show me the old family photos, and I was told things like 'this is your great grandfather'. 

I could see Cae Coch from my home in Eglwysbach - it was pointed out to us children as the small house on the mountainside.

When the time came to break up my parents' house, I decided to keep the photo. This was before my family history research

I'm very grateful to John Bentley for sharing these memories of Cae Coch with us. KD

I was interested to see your photograph of the unidentified young woman at Cae Coch as I have seen this photo many times before.
 
We used to holiday at Cae Coch (many times between maybe 1975 and 1990 approx) when it was owned by Gwen Whyte and her husband Roger.
They had a lovely collection of memorabilia about the cottage - collected over the decades that they owned and used the cottage (Including the photo of the lady and the cottage and a story I recall of a member of the family who had to walk daily to work over the mountain on Anglesey I think!
 
I know that Gwen passed away a number of years ago and Roger moved into a home (or sheltered housing maybe) but we have often wondered what happened to the cottage and the records etc and if the family still go up there and use it - hopefully as much as their parents for whom it was more a home than their house near Manchester.
 
I have spent many lovely holidays up there as a teenager and later with our own young children...
I well recall climbing up a little wooden ladder to go to bed in the crog loft (fine as long as you didn't need the wc in the middle of the night as this required a climb down the ladder and a trip outside to the bathroom at the end of the building - and in the early years there was no electricity so the task was quite a challenge in the pitch black dark of this Welsh hillside!)

Sorry I can't help you with the womans name - If only the Whytes records were still around, they might include such detail. 


David and Margaret Pritchard were married on the 15th September, 1868 at Gaderlan, Bangor. Mary was living with his widowed father in 1851 on the Dolgarrog census. Her father had remarried by 1861. 

1851 - Hafod y Rhiw; Owen Pritchard 30, widower, farmer mountainous land, Margaret 4, daughter, both born Aber, Margaret Griffiths 25, housekeeper, born Llaniolen.

1861 - Hafod y Rhiw; Owen Pritchard 39, high land farmer, born Aber, Jane Pritchard 36, wife, born Llanllechid, children ; Margaret 14, born Aber, Robert 6, Elizabeth 3, both born Dolgarrog.


David was recorded as a a batchelor aged 25 and Margaret a widow on their marriage certificate. Mary had previously married Moses Pritchard on the 25th July, 1866. Moses died the following February.
David and Margaret lived in Dwygyfylchi before moving to Llanfair Fechain.

1871; 21 Tanyffordd, Llanfair Fechain; David Roberts 28, agricultural labourer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 28, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Jane 2, born Dwygyfylchi and Mary, 8 months old, born in Llanfair Fechain.

1881; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 39, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 35, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter 9, recorded as born in Llanfairfechain, Richard Owen 7, Grace 5.

1891; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 47, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 44, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 19, born in Llanfairfechain, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons  Richard O. 17 was a shepherd, William 9, and grandson Llewelyn was 3.
Interestingly, Llewelyn is recorded as their son in the next census of 1901.

1901; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 57, stone quarryman and farmer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 53, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 28, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons William 21, a shepherd and Llewelyn 13 a scholar, were all born in Caerhun.


Llewelyn aged 13 above, was David and Margarets' grandson. His mother was Jane, Cae Coch, who married once or twice. Llewelyn is Esther's grandfather, who died before she was born.

Margaret Roberts died in 1906.


ER SERCHOG GOF AM
Margaret

ANWYL BRIOD DAVID ROBERTS, CAE COCH, ROE WEN
Yr hon a fu farw Chwefror 5ed, 1906
YN 59 MLWYDD OED

Ac a gladdwyd yn Mynwent Salem Llanbedr
Chwefror 9fed 


"Gwerthfawr y'ngolwg yr Arglwydd yw marwolaeth ei saint ef." - Psalm cxvi, 15.

Os rhaid gwahannu'n awr am dro,
Mare'n felus iawn cael dwyn i go
Gyfarfod pur y nef ;
Lle cawn gwdwledda'n ddiwahan
Yng nghwni'r Oen a'r englyn glan,
A chanu "Iddo Ef."


LLINELLAU COFFADWRIAETHOL
AM
Margaret Roberts,
Cae Coch, Roe Wen
Yr hon a fu farw Chwefror 5ed, 1906,
yn 59 mlwydd oed.

Angau sydd o hyd yn dyfod
Ac yndryllio yma a thraw,
Tori lawr rai anwyl gennym,
Trist yw gweled ol ei law;
I Cae Coch, ar draws hapusrwydd,
Angau eto roddodd lam,
A'i law oer cymerodd ymaith
Un a lanwai enw "mam".

MARGARET ROBERTS, gwraig garedig.
Mam a phriod dyner iawn,
Wedi misoedd maith o gystudd
A fu farw un prydnawn;
Cofio'r dydd, a gwel'd y golled,
Sydd yn loes i'n c'lonau ni,
Ond ffarwelio a'r hen ddaear
Droes yn elw iddi hi.

Bu yn dawel trwy ei chystudd,
O awr i awr am fisoedd maith,
Son am Iesu a'i Efengyl -
Dyna oedd ei difyr waith;
Ffyddlon fu yn Ebenezer,
Er yn teimlo'n llesg a gwan,
Hyd y gallodd gwnaeth yn gyson
Am flynyddau yno'i rhan.

Cwrddodd stormydd enbyd yma,
Ond yn dawel ynddynt bu,
Gwel'd yr oedd trwy'r ddrycin arw
Ochr wen pob cwmwl du;
O. mor ddedwydd ydyw heddyw,
Wedi bod o don i don i don,
Hyd nes cyrhaedd yn ddiangol
Wlad mae ynddi bawb yn llon.

Plant a phriod sy'n galaru,
A chym'dogion 'n drist eu gwedd,
Wedi hebrwng un oedd anwyl
Heddyw i orwedd yn ei bedd;
O, na chofiem ei chynghorion,
Ag sydd megis blodau gwiw
Yn addurno bywyd plentyn,
Yny byd pa fodd yn byw.

Yn y brofedigaeth chwerw
Rhaid bodloni oll ynghyd,
Dedwydd yw yr hon a hunodd
Yn yr Iesu, "Gwyn ei byd";
Blant a phriod sy'n hiraethu,
A chyfeillion yma a thraw,
Sychwch ddagrau, gan hyderu
Cawn ei chwrdd ryw ddydd a ddaw.

Tan 'Rallt

JOHN ROBERTS


David Roberts died on the 31st December 1907.


ER SERCHOG GOFFADWRIAETH
AM

DAVID ROBERTS
CAE COCH, ROE WEN,

YR . HWN . FU . FARW . RHAGFYR . 23AIN, . 1907.

Yn 65 Mlwydd Oed

Ac a Gladdwyd yn Mynwent Salem, Llanbedr, Rhag. 26, 1907



"Dyddiau dyn sydd fel glaswelltyn : megis blodeuyn y maes,
felly y blodeua efe : canys y gwynt a a drosto, ac ni bydd mwy
o hono ; a'i le nid edwyn ddim o hono ef mwy."


The following bill represents the opening of Margaret's grave for the internment of David.

 

  


Jane Roberts,  Cae Coch
1869 - 1925
Daughter of David and Margaret Roberts
Mother of Llewelyn Roberts

Jane was born around 1869, and only appears in the 1871 for Tanyffordd, living with her parents. Cannot be certain where she lived in following years.

1871; 21 Tanyffordd, Llanfair Fechain; David Roberts 28, agricultural labourer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 28, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Jane 2, born Dwygyfylchi and Mary, 8 months old, born in Llanfair Fechain.


Er Serchog Goffadwriaeth
am fy  anwyl briod

Jane Williams
TUHWNT-I'R-GORS,
TREFRIW,

Yr hon a hunodd yn yr Iesu
Mawrth 8fed, 1925,

Yn 56 Mlwydd Oed.

Ac a gladdwyd yn Mynwent
Trefriw, Mawrth 12fed.
________

EI HADNOD:
"Cred yn yr Arglwydd Iesu
Grist a chadwedig fyddi."
_________

EI PHENNILL:
Ar for tymhesglog teithio 'rwyf
I fyd sydd well i fyw,
Gan wenu ar ei stormydd oll -
Fy Nhad sydd wrth y llyw.

Llewelyn Roberts
born c 1888
Son of Jane Roberts, Cae Coch
Grandson of David and Margaret Roberts


Llewelyn was the son of unmarried Jane Roberts.
He lived with grandparents as shown in the 1891 and 1901 censuses.

1891; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 47, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 44, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 19, born in Llanfairfechain, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons  Richard O. 17 was a shepherd, William 9, and grandson Llewelyn was 3.
Interestingly, Llewelyn is recorded as their son in the next census of 1901.

1901; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 57, stone quarryman and farmer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 53, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 28, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons William 21, a shepherd and Llewelyn 13 a scholar, were all born in Caerhun.




ER SERCHOG GOFFADWRIAETH
am
LLEWELYN ROBERTS
CYFFYLOG, EGLWYS BACH
Annwyl briod Mary Lloyd Roberts
gynt o Tai Ycha, Llanrhychwyn

A hunodd yn yr Iesu Chwefror 1, 1947
yn 59 mlwydd oed
ac a roddwyd i orffwys ym Mynwent
Eglwys St Martin, Eglwys Bach, Chwefror 6, 1947

"Aethum yn fud ac nid agorais fy ngenau
canys Ti a wnaethost hyn." - Psalmau

Ei hoff emyn;
Pan fo'r plant yn chwarae
Dan y llwyni man,
Melys yw eu seiniau,
Ar wefysau glan,
Pan ddaw'r dydd i lanio
Draw yng Nghanaan dir,
Hyfryd cyrraed yno
Gyda gwefus bur.


MR LLEWELYN ROBERTS

Mr. Llewelyn Roberts, Cyffylog Farm, who died suddenly on February 1, at the age of 58, formerly resided at Tai Ucha, Llanrhychwyn.
He had been in failing health for many years. Of a quiet disposition, he was highly esteemed by his friends an neighbours. He was a member of Ebenezer Chapel, Trefriw. A widow and three daughters survive him.
The funeral took place on Thursday at St. Martin's, when the Revs. Edryd Edwards and Albert Lewis officiated at Cyffylog, Bethania Chapel and the cemetery.
The chief mourners were Mrs M. Lloyd Davies, widow; Mr and Mrs Hugh Davies, Misses Pamela and Eirlys Roberts son in law and daughters; Eirwen and Elsie, grandchildren; Mr and Mrs  D. Williams, Mr Iorwerth Williams, brother and sister in law; Mr Edward Williams, step father; Mr T. R. Bibby, Mr R.W. Davies, Mr H. Lloyd Davies, brothers in law: Mrs Richard Williams, sister in law; Miss E. Bibby, Miss Hilda P. Williams, Mr Richie Jones, Mr D. Tegwyn Williams, nieces and nephews; Mr and Mrs Griffith Lloyd Jones, Messers John and Griffith Ll. Davies.
Wreaths were received from; His sorrowing wife and daughters; Hugh Lloyd, Myfi, Hugh, Eirian and Elsi bach; Dai, Gwladys and children; all at Cartref, Trefriw; all at Ty'nyffynnon. 
 


 Ysgol Trefriw,
Esther's mother, Myfanwy Roberts, later Davies, is the third girl from the left, with long hair, in the row standing, which includes the teacher.


Esther's mother Myfanwy with Catherine, Cae Coch
in Llandudno before 1938


Mary Roberts
born c 1871 - 1925
Daughter of David and Margaret Roberts


Mary was born around 1870 and was living with her family during the 1871 census.

1871; 21 Tanyffordd, Llanfair Fechain; David Roberts 28, agricultural labourer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 28, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Jane 2, born Dwygyfylchi and Mary, 8 months old, born in Llanfair Fechain.


Mary married a John Roberts and lived at Caerhun 1891.

1891; Gilfach, Caerhun; John Roberts 40, farmer, born Merioneth, wife Mary, 20, born Llanfairfechain. The couple and no children.


1901; Is y Coed, Dwygyfylchi; John Roberts  50, labourer in stone quarry, born Merioneth, wife Mary, 30, born Llanfairfechain, David M.  9, born Caerhun, Maggie 5 months, born Penmaenmawr.Visiting them at the time were William Payne, 36 a stone quarry labourer born in Sussex and his wife Annie Payne, 36, born in Penmaenmawr.


They later lived at Tyddyn Grasol, Llechwedd. She was 20 years his junior and they died within a day of each other, on the 21st and 22nd of January 1925, respectively. These Welsh Memorial verses mention that she died in a river, suggesting that he tried to save her.


Llechwedd Obituary
The family of Tyddyn Grasol Llechwedd, experience a double bereavement, last week, when the Father and Mother of MR ans Mrs John Roberts, departed this life within a few hours of each other.
Mrs Roberts died Thursday afternoon and Mr Roberts died Friday morning. Both were interred at Tabernacle  Chapel, Llechwedd Conwy, on Satarday.
Ionawr 12fed 2011 Archifdy Conwy



 Llinellau Coffadwriaeth
AM
MARY ROBERTS
TYDDYN GRASOL, LLECHWEDD
Yr hon a fu farw Ionawr 21, 1925,
Yn 54 Mlwydd Oed;
HEFYD EI PRIOD-
JOHN ROBERTS,
A fu farw Ionawr 22, 1925,
Yn 74 Mlwydd Oed
_______________
_______________

Ofer iawn yw ceisio olrhain
Trefn rhagluniaeth yma ' thraw
Cael ein dychryn 'r ydym beunydd
Gan ryw anrhefn brenin braw.
Tad a mam gymerwyd ymaith
Law-yn-llaw, o'r bron, i ffwrdd,-
Chwith yw meddwl na chawn yma,
Fel o'r blaen, eu hapus gwrdd.

Dau o gymeriadau campus,
Dau'n cyd-rodio a chyd-fyw;
Dau yn dweyd a gwneud eu goreu
Yn y byd wrth reol Duw;
Dau fu yma yn cyd-ddioddef,
A chyd-farw buont hwy;
Ond maent heddyw yn cyd-ganu
Yn y wlad heb boen na chlwy.

Dyn rhagorol oedd John Roberts,
'N fanwl iawn yng ngair ei Duw;
Yng ngoleuni'r llusern yma
Treuliodd oes yn onest fyw;
Athraw Ysgol Sul rhagorol,
Gyda'i lyfrau hoffai fod;
Tad gofalus, priod hawddgar,
Byw yn Gristion eodd ei nod.

Mary Roberts, gwraig ofalus,
Mam garedig, drefnus, lan;
Meddwl mawr o'i phlant a'i phriod,
Carai hwy a bron o dan;
Dysgu'r plant i fod yn onest
Ac yn ufudd ddyddiau'u hoes;
D'wedai am yr Iesu'n marw
Dros blant bach ar fryn y groes.

Awr noswylio ddaeth yn sydyn
Ac i'w phriod gyda hi;
Pan oedd Mary yn yr afon
Ei priod oedd yn swn ei lli;
Dedwydd ydynt erbyn heddyw
Wedi cyrraedd uwch bob ton,
Wedi cefnu ar drafferthion
Sydd i bawb o'r ddaear hon.

Anhawdd ydyw peidio wylo
A hiraethu yma 'nghyd,
Gweld eu lle a theimlo'r golled
Ydym heddyw yn y byd;
Chwi berth'nasau, sychwch ddagrau,
Ofer aros wrth eu bedd;
Blant amddifad, mae eich rhiaint
Erbyn hyn yng ngwlad yr hedd.

EU CEFNDER

Catherine Elizabeth Roberts
born c 1872 - 1938
Daughter of David and Margaret Roberts


Catherine was born around 1872 and was living with her family during the 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses.

1881; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 39, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 35, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter 9, recorded as born in Llanfairfechain, Richard Owen 7, Grace 5.

1891; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 47, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 44, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 19, born in Llanfairfechain, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons  Richard O. 17 was a shepherd, William 9, and grandson Llewelyn was 3.
Interestingly, Llewelyn is recorded as their son in the next census of 1901.

1901; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 57, stone quarryman and farmer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 53, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 28, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons William 21, a shepherd and Llewelyn 13 a scholar, were all born in Caerhun.


Catherine died on the 7th of July 1938, aged 66.


ER COF

-- AM --

Catherine Elizabeth Roberts
Preswylfa, Roewen

Yr hon a hunodd yn yr Iesu
Gorffennaf 7, 1938

yn 66 mlwydd oed

Ac a gladdwyd ym Mynwent Salem (A)
Llanbedr, Gorffennaf 11eg
_________

"Yn llawen mewn gobaith; yn ddioddefgar mewn
cystudd; yn dyfal-barhau mewn gweddi."
RHUFEINIAID, XII., 12.

 Pwyso'r boreu ar fy nheulu,
Colli 'rheiny y prydnawn!
Pwyso eilwaith ar gyfeillion,
Hwythau'n colli'n fuan iawn:
Pwyso ar hawddfyd - hwnnw'n siglo,
Profi'n fuan newid byd;
Pwyso ar Iesu! - dyma gryfder
Sydd yn dal y pwysau i gyd.

 

Richard Owen Roberts
born c 1874 - 1897
Son of David and Margaret Roberts


Richard was born around 1874 and was living with his family during the 1881 and 1891 censuses.

1881; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 39, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 35, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter 9, recorded as born in Llanfairfechain, Richard Owen 7, Grace 5.

1891; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 47, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 44, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 19, born in Llanfairfechain, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons  Richard O. 17 was a shepherd, William 9, and grandson Llewelyn was 3.


Richard died on the 1st of November, 1897 aged 23, having got lost in mountain fog.

ER SERCHOG GOFFADWRIAETH AM

Richard Owen,

ANWYL FAB DAVID A MARGARET ROBERTS, CAE COCH,
ROE WEN

Yr hwn a fu farw Tachwedd 1af, 1897.

YN 23 MLWYDD OED

Ac a Gladdwyd yn Mynwent Salem, Llanbedr, Tachwedd 4ydd



"Er colli ein cyfeillion hoff
Yn yr Iorddonen Gref;
Mae'n felys meddwl, - eto'n nghyd
Cawn gwrddyd yn y nef."
_________

"Y rhai a hunasant yn yr Iesu a ddwg Duw hefyd gydag ef." -
1 THES. iv.  14.


LLINELLAU COFFADWRIAETHOL
AM
RICHARD OWEN, Cae Coch, Roe Wen
Yr hwn a fu farw Dydd Llun, Tachwedd 1af, 1897
YN 23 MLWYDD OED

Wele fi yn nyffryn galar
Pawb o'm cylch edrychau'n syn
Am ein cyfaill Richard Owen,
Aeth ar goll yn niwl y glyn;
Nid oes bwlch i'w gael er colli
Bywyd segur - bywyd ffol,
Ond mae heddyw wedi tewi
Ddyn a gwagle ar ei ol.

Cafodd gystudd byr, ond caled,
Ac yn dawel trwyddo bu;
Ar ei ol nid oes tawelwch,
Cwyno a galaru sy'.
Colled gafodd Ebenezer,
Ac mae colled yn y plwy';
On i'w dad, a'r fam, a'r teulu
Iddynt hwy yn golled fwy.

Mwy ni chaf ei gwmni yma
Ar lechweddau yr Roe wen,
Ond mae'n cerdded heddiw ddinas
Gyda choron ar ei ben; -
Bu'n ofalus a defnyddiol
Yn y Capel - gyda'i waith,
Ac mae heddyw gyda'i wobr,
Wedi cyrraedd pen ei daith.

Daeth ei ymadawiad olaf,
Ni ddaw marw iddo mwy;
Curodd arno'r 'storm ddiweddaf,
Nid yw'r storm i fod yn hwy.
Hoff berth'nasau, nac edrychwch
Mwyach tua'r fynwent ddu,
Nid oes yno ond ei enw
Y mae e'n ddihangol fry.

Tan 'Rallt

JOHN ROBERTS

Argraphwyd gan W. E. OWEN, Mona Buildings, Llanfairfechan


Grace Roberts
born c 1876
Daughter of David and Margaret Roberts

Grace was born around 1876 and was living with her family during the 1881 census.

1881; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 39, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 35, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Elizabeth, daughter 9, recorded as born in Llanfairfechain, Richard Owen 7, Grace 5.

 

William Roberts
born c 1882 - 1965
Son of David and Margaret Roberts


William  was born around 18 and was living with her family during the 1881 census.

1891; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 47, quarryman, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 44, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 19, born in Llanfairfechain, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons  Richard O. 17 was a shepherd, William 9, and grandson Llewelyn was 3.
Interestingly, Llewelyn is recorded as their son in the next census of 1901.

1901; Cae Coch, Caerhun; David Roberts 57, stone quarryman and farmer, born Caerhun, wife Margaret, 53, born Aber, Caernarfonshire, Catherine Ellen, daughter 28, was a domestic servant and unmarried, sons William 21, a shepherd and Llewelyn 13 a scholar, were all born in Caerhun.


William died on the 25th April 1965, aged 83, leaving his widow Letitia.


Er Gogoniant i Dduw

ac er

Serchog Gof

am

William Roberts

Annwyl briod Letitia Roberts, Tan-yr-Allt, Rowen,

yr hwn a hunodd yn dawel dydd Sul, Ebrill 25ain, 1965,

yn 83 mlwydd oed.

Rhoddwyd i orffwys ym mynwent Ty'n-y-Groes,
dydd Iau, Ebrill 29ain

__________

"Duw sydd Noddfa i ni
Cymorth hawdd ei gael mewn cyfyngder."

 

Moses Roberts
born c 1848
Son of Jeremiah and Mary Roberts

Jeremiah and Mary's son Moses was living in the following places during subsequent censuses.

1881; Ty Newydd; Moses Roberts 34, farmer, born Dolgarrog,  Grace Roberts 32, wife, children ; Richard 12, born Eglwysfach, Thomas 10, Hannah 9, born Caerhun, William 7, Anne 5, Margaret 4, Grace 1, all born Dolgarrog.  Jane Roberts worked as a general servant, born Trefriw.

1891; Ty Uchaf y Ffordd; Moses Roberts 44, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace 42, wife, children; Richard 22, both born Eglwysbach, Hannah 19, born Llanbedr, William, 17, Annie 15, Margaret 13, Moses 8, Catherine 6, Robert J. 4, David 2 all born Dolgarrog.

1901; Ty Ucha Ffordd; Moses Roberts 54, farmer, born Dolgarrog, Grace Roberts, 52, wife, born Eglwysbach, children; William 27 farmer's son, Moses 18, shepherd, Robert John 14, cowherd - ag cattle, David 12, Anne 25, Domestic cook, Maggie 23 housemaid, Kate 15, nurse, grandson Moses R. Evans 1 month, all born Dolgarrog, nephew Robert Thomas Davies 22, carter, born Llanddoget.

Er Serchog Goffadwriaeth Am GRACE
anwyl blentyn MOSES a GRACE ROBERTS
Ty Ucha'r Ffordd. Dolgarrog
yr hon a fu farw Tachwedd 1 1887,
yn 8 mlwydd oed.
Hefyd MOSES ROBERTS
yr hwn a fu farw Medi 18, 1926
yn 82 mlwydd oed.

Wrth deithio'r glyn a'r stormydd chwerw
Rhybyddio 'roedd mai mawr yw marw

Hefyd GRACE ROBERTS,
anwyl briod yr uchod,
yr hon a fu farw Chwefror 6, 1933
yn 84 mlwydd oed


Er Serchog Goffadwriaeth Am ELLEN
anwyl briod MOSES ROBERTS
Ty Ucha'r Ffordd
yr hon a hunodd yn yr Iesu, Hydref 31 1908,
yn 25 mlwydd oed.
Hefyd GRACIE
anwyl blentyn yr uchod yr hon a hunodd yn yr Iesu 
Chwefror 21, 1915 yn 7 mlwydd oed.

Hefyd yr uchod
MOSES ROBERTS
a hunodd yn yr Iesu, Mawrth 30, 1966,
yn 83 mlwydd oed.

  


ELIZABETH EVANS
Penffynon, Caerhun
(1858  - )

Claddwyd fy hen-daid a'm hen-nain ar Ynys Tysilio, Porth Aethwy, Mon. Un o Lanllechid uwchben Bethesda oedd William Williams yn wreiddiol a'i wraig, Elizabeth nee Evans yn hannu o Gaerhun, Conwy.

Teulu Elizabeth Evans

Un o blant William Evans a Elin Roberts oedd Elizabeth.

Ganwyd ei thad William o Gaerhun, ar 24 Ebrill rhwng 1833/6.
Priododd Elinor Roberts o Ddolmarchog, Llanrhos.

1854. Marriage solemnized at Church
in the Parish of Caerhun in the County of Carnarvon,
No. 105. When married; May 6th

William Evans, age 20, Condition; Batchelor, Residence; Caepydew, Father; William Evans, Profession; Labourer

Elinor Roberts, 20, Condition; Spinster, Profession; None, Residence; Dolmarchog, Father; Owen Roberts, Profession; Labourer

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by licence by me, Erasmus Parry, Curate

This marriage was solemnized between us

In the Presence of us, Hugh Jones, Mary Jones

Plant William ac Elin Evans.  

Elinor, ganwyd 1850/3
Ann ganwyd 1854, bu farw 11/12/1877
Ellen, ganwyd 1857, bu farw 2/8/1894
Elizabeth, bedyddwyd 15/8/1858
Margaret, ganwyd 1861
William, ganwyd 1862, bu farw 23,5.1896
   Emma, ganwyd 1864, bu farw 25/9/1845
Owen, ganwyd 1866
Evan, ganwyd 1868
Sarah ganwyd 1871, priododd Owen Thomas,
bu Sarah farw  1/2/1872
Hannah, ganwyd 1872/3 bu farw 15/6/1886
Robert, ganwyd 1876  

1861 Caepydew, Caerhun
William Evans, 28, farmer, Ellin 28, wife, Anne, 6, Ellin 4, Elizabeth 2 Margaret, 1.


1871 Wern, Caerhun
William Evans, 37, schoolmaster and post messenger, Ellin 37, wife, Elizabeth 12, Margaret, 10, William, 9, Emma, 7, Owen, 5, Evan, 3, Sarah 7 months.


Bu farw Anne yn 23 mlwydd oed ar 11/12/1877

'Roedd William yn Parish Clerk yn 1879

1881 Penffynon, Caerhun
William Evans, 48, farmer, Ellin 48, wife, Ellin 14, William 19, labourer, Emma 17, general servant, Sarah, 10, Hannah, 8, Robert 5.


Bu farw Hannah yn 14 mlwydd oed ar 15/6/1886

Bu farw William Evans ar yr 15fed Tachwedd, 1909.

Bu farw Ellen ar yr 14 Mehefin, 1910.

Carreg Fedd ym mynwent Eglwys St. Mair, Caerhun.
William ac Ellen Evans,
rhieni Elizabeth a briododd William Williams,

Er Serchog Gof Am
HANNAH
merch William ac Ellen Evans
Pen Ffynon
Hunodd Meh; 15, 1886
Yn 14 ml. oed
Hefyd
WILLIAM EVANS
yr uchod
Hunodd Tach; 15, 1909
Yn 78 ml Oed
Hefyd
ELLEN, Anwyl briod yr uchod
Hunodd Meh; 14, 1910
Yn 80 ml oed
COFFADWRIAETH Y GYFIAWN FYDD FENDIGEDIG

Y cwestiwn a ofynwn i mi fy hun yn aml oedd "Sut wnaethant gyfarfod?" Gyda llawer iawn o help deallais mewn amser i William golli ei rieni yn ifanc iawn a chymerodd Ann Hughes, chwaer ei fam, Grace, ef i'w fagu gyda hi a'i gwr yn y Castle Inn, yn Llanfairfechan.

Gofyn yr un un cwestiwn eto a chael eglurhad y tro hwn - 'roedd yna lwybr Rhufeinig cyfleus dros y mynydd yn cysylltu'r ddwy ardal!

1879. Marriage solemnized at Church
in the Parish of Caerhun in the County of Carnarvon, 
When married; September 14th

William Williams, age 24, Condition; Batchelor, Profession; Station Master, Residence; Llanwnda, Father; David Williams, Profession; Quarryman

Elizabeth Evans, 21, Condition; Spinster, Profession; None, Residence; Caerhun, Father; William Evans, Profession; Parish Clerk

Married in the Parish Church according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by licence by me, O. W. Jones

This marriage was solemnized between us

In the Presence of us, David Williams, Ellen Evans

Bu William ac Elizabeth yn cadw'r 'Liverpool Arms' ym Mhorth Aethwy ar ddiwedd eu hoes. Bu hyn yn dipyn o ddirgelwch i mi, a ninnau fel teulu bron iawn yn bod yn lwyr ymorthodwyr. Rwan 'rwyn deall y cysylltiad a'i fagwraeth.


Porth Aethwy

Cliciwch yma i ddarllen hanes
Y Liverpool Arms



Bu farw William  yn 1890. Nid oedd ar gyfrifiad Porth Aethwy 1881 na felly un 1891, ond fe 'roedd Elizabeth yno yn 1891 - i lawr fel 'gweddw' a'i man geni yn Caerhun. Yno hefyd y ganwyd eu mab cyntaf. 

Cofiwn i'm modryb ddweud wrthyf flynyddoed yn ol fod perthynas i ni yn arfer ysgrifennu's pregethau i ficer Eglwys y Santes Fair, Caerhun.

Felly, un p'nawn braf yr ha' diwethaf, dyma aalw yno'n dawel yn ceisio dychmygu priodas William ac Elizabeth, daeth Cymro i mewn - "Wedi dod i gadw llygaid ar y llygod", meddai.

Cyd-ddigwddiad a'i peidio, diwedd y stori fu iddo fynd i nol llyfrau'r eglwys i  mi gael edrych trwyddynt - cofnodion priodasau a chladdedigaethau. Os cofiaf yn iawn llyfrau a baratowyd gan "Cymdeithas Hanes Teuluoedd Gwynedd" oeddynt. 'Rwyf wedi elwa llawer iawn o fod yn perthyn i'r gymdeithas hon.

Fel canlyniad, cefais 'bnawn "difyr" yn archwilio'r 'sgrifen ar y cerrig beddi - mae'n lecyn hyfryd.

Fy nghamau nesaf fydd ceisio canfod paa le mae "Caepydew", "Wern" a "Penffynnon" (sylwer un 'n' yn yr hen oes) Cofnodir William Evans, tad Elizabeth, fel; i) ysgol feistr, ii) postman iii) clerc y plwyf. 

Tybed a fyddaf mewn amser yn ddigon ffodus i ganfod rhai gyda'r un D.N. A. a mi fy hun yn dal yn yr ardal? 



LLANRHYCHWYN CHURCH

Llanrhychwyn Church stands on the site of an earlier Church which stood here from as early as the sixth century, when St Rhychwyn set up his enclosure here.

It is situated on the slopes of Gallt yr Ysfa, above Trefriw. The current church was built in the late 11th century.

Llywelyn the Great and his wife Joanna (Siwan) walked this area to attend Llanrhychwyn Church.


Click here to read about
Llywelyn ap Iorwerth
(Princes of Wales website)

ROYAL FAMILY CONNECTION

Click here to see where Prince Llywelyn can be found on my family tree



Click here to read about
Joanna, Llywelyn's wife


Access to the Church is through a field


The Church is also known as Llywelyn's Church

 
This lych gate was added in 1762

THE CHURCH IN WALES
CHURCH OF SAINT RHYCHWYN
LLANRHYCHWYN
11TH CENTURY
PARISH OF
LLANBEDR Y CENNIN
SERVICES
FOURTH SUNDAY OF
JUNE        AUGUST
AND SEPTEMBER
AT 2PM 

 

 
Entrance to the Church is at the south side

 
The Church consists of two aisles.


North Aisle built by Meredydd ap Ieuan
in the 16th Century

The South Aisle

The stone font, right,  is believed to be the oldest in Wales and is probably from the eleventh or twelfth century.

The pulpit, below, also consists of a reading desk dating from 1691. Sermons in those days were known to last up to 2 hours and some were read by the clergyman's clerk

 

 

 

  ARDDA



On the way to medieval Ardda, Trefriw, courtesy of Postcard Nostalgia
Click here to visit the Postcard Nostalgia site
   
Ardda ruins
Photo copyright Terry Hughes, reproduced by license

Ruins on Ardda Road, Trefriw 
Photo copyright Terry Hughes reproduced by license

Recorded as living as Ardda in 1861 are Moses Thomas, 31, unmarried, shepherd born in Dolygarrog, and his housekeeper, Ann Griffiths, 21 born in Trefriw.



DAVID & ANN JANE WILLIAMS
ARDDA 1891

David L. Williams writes; 
I have been tracing my family history with a lot of help and although I know my immediate family lived in Llanrwst and Ty'n y Groes, I also had family in Dolgarrog / Caerhun.
They lived on the farm called 'Ardda" and they were recorded there in the 1891 census. The names were David and Ann Jane Williams. They had 3 children, Elizabeth, Thomas and William ( my grandfather).

The family name is Williams in both Llanrwst and Ty'n Y Groes. William Williams and my father Elfed, went to school in Llanrwst and William had a farm in Ty'n Y Groes called  "Cae Pydew". He was the sub post master in "Y Groes" and died in 1956. His brother Thomas moved to Talybont to farm "Tanrallt".

His first wife Hannah, passed away and he married again. His son, Elfed came to Australia after the war and stayed, marrying Aileen. His daughter, Eirian, was married to RE Jones the teacher, politician and poet.
If there are any relations around this family still living in Wales, I would love to hear from you.

David can be contacted via mail@penmon.org

 

ARDDA; TAYLOR MURDER?

I am tracing my ancestor Robert Taylor born Salford 14 Nov 1898 whose mother and sister were born in the Beaumaris, Penmon, Llangoed area.  The 1891 census for Birkenhead shows-
Margaret A Taylor wife aged 24 born Beaumaris,Penmon (born about 1866/67 as Margaret Ann Williams)
Maggie Taylor daughter aged 5 born Beaumaris, Penmon (now I have to assume she may be born Maggie Williams born about 1886)

1901 census for Salford shows -
Margaret Taylor wife aged 34 born Wales, Llangoed, U.K.  

The husband in each case is Albert Taylor of Salford who married Margaret Ann Williams in Sept quarter 1888 Bangor district which would have incoporated Beaumaris then.  He was a railway porter in 1891 and a dockyard worker in 1901.

Robert (Bob) Taylor is alleged to have become orphaned and grew up in Llandudno Junction and the family story is that his mother was said to have been possibly murdered (maybe somewhere near Ardda?).

It presents a big gap in the family history. I do have a press cutting when Robert Taylor went back to see some lady who was said to have raised him in the Anglesey area which I shall have to dig out.

Perhaps you would be kind enough to place this on your website in the hope that the mystery can be solved.
Thanking you kindly.
regards Gareth Griffiths

 Gareth can be contacted via mail@penmon.org



Dolwyddelen

SERIOUS MINE ACCIDENT
Montgomeryshire Express and Radnorshire Times, February 1877


The ruined building belongs to the former Cwm Fynhadog slate mine on the lower slopes of Moel Lledr. It has its own bridge over the Afon Lledr.

Photo and text opyright Rudi Winter and licensed for reuse
under this Creative Commons Licence.

The correspondent to a contemporary writes as follows:-
At 9.20 on Friday, January 26, a very serious explosion took place at shatf No 1 at Cwm Nhadog, Dolwyddelen, and resulted in one man being killed and two others seriously injured.

It stated that the bore was drilled to its required depth and wiped for the purpose of loadingit with the patent cotton powder manufactured by a company from Faversham This cotton powder as is well known to many of your readers, is manufactured in oblong pieces three inches or so long, and about an inch or inch and a half in diameter.

The foreman on duty undertook to charge the bore with these cartridges. The cartridge proved too thick for the bore, and to push it to the bottom was more than he could do without converting the drill into a ramrod and hammering it down. Entirely out of patience, he ordered Hugh Hughes, Amlwch, to push it down with a cast steel drill, and at the same time he took hold of the hammer, using it with as much energy  as if he were drilling a granite rock, wich resulted in a fearful explosion, carrying destruction far and near, and trowing the workmen fromtheir standing point like gravel, crushing them in a most heart-rendering manner, and injuring Hugh Hughes so fearfully that he was pcked up insensible and survived only in great pain until seven p.m. the same day.

The two others  who were hurt are still alive with hope that they will recover. The third is Richard Edwards from Cwmystwyth, Cardiganshire. It seems that this patent cotton powder has been used ever since the tunnel was commenced some three years ago, and the foreman has been in the habit of charging bores with it for the last three years. It was stated that no explosion would take place from this powder if the cap or detonator were not attached to it.

It is further stated that there was only three inches of powder in the bore at the time of the explosion, and that all the detonators were up on top, under the care of Mr Richard Lloyd, one of the head foremen of Shaft No. 1, when the explosion took place. He always during his shift attaches the detonators to the powder, stamps the bore up, and fires the fuse.

The miners as a rule do not powder the bores drilled by them, and why the case was different in this case I cannot say. I am certain that it is stringently requested that no iron or cast steel drill should be used in stamping the bores after the cap is attached to the powder, but whether this rule is also applicable at the time when they are powdering the bore, is more than I can tell. As is the case with great works of this nature, the work at this tunnel has worked at a great expense of life and limb.

Youthful saplings and cow-boys from among the farmers, and street-skulkers, make their way among the miners into the tunnel, men who hardly ever swareither drill or miner's hammer before, and these inefficient workmen assume the character of miners. It is very often the case in striking the drill that the strike misses, smashing either the hand or the knee of the person holding that holds the drill. Young men often call on me with a sore hand, occasioned by a strike from an uncouth and inefficient workman.

Taking everything into consideration, what is strange is that men are hurried so seldom into the other world by fearful accidents and explosions at the different stages of the tunnel. 
Mr. R. Thomas, deputy coroner from Carnarvon, went through the neighbourhood (Dolwyddelen) on Monday, January 29, to hold an inquest on the body of the deceased, bt as the accident took place under the "Explosives Act", he had no other business to attend to than to swear aand ampannel the jury, binding each juror to appear on Monday next at Dolwyddelen Schoolroom, under a penalty of ten pounds, to complete the inquest.

The facts were communicated to the Secretary of State. I refrain from all comments till the inquest is over.


BISHOP WILLIAM MORGAN
TY MAWR, WYBRNANT
(PENMACHNO)

Yma y ganed yn 1545
Wm Morgan DD Esgob Llanelwy
cyfieithydd cyntaf
y Beibl cyfan i'r Gymraeg
Bu farw Medi 10fed 1604
Adforwyd y ty 1988

William Morgan was born in 1545 at Ty Mawr Wybrnant, in the parish of Penmachno, near Betws-y-Coed, North Wales. As his father was a tenant of the Gwydir estate, he was probably educated at Gwydir Castle, near Llanrwst, along with the children of the Wynn family. Morgan then attended St John's College, Cambridge where he studied a range of subjects including philosophy, mathematics and Greek. He graduated BA in 1568 and MA in 1571, before seven years of Biblical studies, including a study of the Bible in Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic and the works of the Church Fathers and contemporary Protestant theologians. He graduated BD in 1578 and DD in 1583.

In addition to his scholarly pursuits, Morgan was a clergyman of the Church of England, having been ordained in 1568 by the Bishop of Ely. His first clerical benefice was the parish of Llanbadarn Fawr, which he gained in 1572; in 1575 he moved to Welshpool, near the English border, and then to Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in 1578, which he took on as a full-time care of souls.William Morgan was appointed Bishop of Llandaff in 1595 and moved to the bishopric of St Asaph in 1601. He died in 1604.

His achievement is now looked on as a major monument in the history of the Welsh language; it meant that the Welsh people could read the Bible in their first language at roughly the same time as their English neighbours had the priviledge.
(Reproduced from Wikipedia by licence)

Morgan was still at Cambridge when William Salesbury published his Welsh New Testament in 1567. While he was pleased that this work was available, Morgan firmly believed in the importance of having the Old Testament translated into Welsh as well. He began work on his own translation of the Old Testament in the early 1580s and published this, together with a revision of Salesbury's New Testament, in 1588.

Following the publication of his Bible, Morgan worked on a revision of the Prayer Book (which had also been translated by Salesbury), published in 1599. He also began work on a revision of the 1588 Bible, which contained a number of printing errors. This work was continued after Morgan's death by Bishop Richard Parry and Dr John Davies, and a revised version of the Bible was published in 1620. This edition is still known as William Morgan's translation, and it is this rather than the previous edition which became the standard Welsh Bible until the 20th century and continues to be used to this day.


Click here to read
Chapter II; Who was William Morgan?
(National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth website)


 TREFRIW

TREFRIW QUAY AND PIER


Click here to visit the Postcard Nostalgia website
for further photos of Trefriw quay


ATGOFION TREFRIW MEMORIES 

 Trefriw Historical Society
have published a wonderful book of memories, which was funded by the National Lottery.

I am very grateful to Mr Aneurin Hughes, secretary of the Society, for granting me permission to reproduce some of the book's contents.

I had the honour of meeting Mr Hughes in Llanrwst on the 7th April, 2010.

Pictured on the cover is Thomas Owen's Taid, taken in 1960 at Cornel, in the Grafnant Valley



Trefriw Schoolroom in the 1920s

Captain Hughes and engineer Williams at Trefriw 1930s

Ysgol Trefriw School 1942
Back l-r; John Jones (Maes y Pandy), Iorwerth Jones (Llys Gain)
Gwilym Roberts (Penrhos), David and Oswald Williams (Barracks)
Gareth Roberts (Colwyn Terrace). Arwyn Hughes (Llys Ifor)
Ian Frogart (Hillcrest), Heulwen Jones (Tai Isa),
Beatie Thomas (Clawdd Gwyn), Marjorie Lawton (Crafnant House Cottage)
Front Row l-r; Aneurin Hughes (Gelli Newydd), Albert Roberts (Ty'r Felin
Gordon Hodgson (Crafnant), Bryn Owen (Wigfa) Meurig Williams (Victoria Terrace)
Arthur Williams (Ty Newydd), Raymaond Lashmar (Tan y Celyn)
Lala Owen (Peniel House), Olwen Slater (Hydro)
Blodwen Owen, Ann Bagley, Marjorie Hodgson (Crafnant)


Trefriw in the 1940s


Joe Owen led the carnival parade through the village


The first carnival after the war was held in 1949.
Margaret Parry was the lovely Rose Queen


Father Donnelly and Trefriw children about 1950


Sunday School Trip 1950s. Mr Griffith head teacher Trefriw school in back row.


Ebenezer Chapel Sunday School trip to Crafnant about 1950

Trefriw in the 1950s

Pictures above and below taken at Cornel in the Crafnant Valley

All copyright and courtesy of the Trefriw Historical Society.


 TYDDYN  DU & GELLI  DYNEWID
FAMILIES

I am very grateful to Sue Jenkins who has supplied details of her family
who lived in the area.

Sue's great great grandfather, John Jones was born in 1910 in Llanrhychwyn.
He married Mary Davies, born 1815, also of Llanrhychwyn. She was a farmer's daughter. Census details show them living intitally at Tyddyn Du with their family.
They had six children, Anne born 1838, Jane born 1840, Hugh born 20th January1843, Sue's great grandfather, all born in Caerhun, Evan born 1849 and Catherine born 1854, both born in Llanrhychwyn.

1851 Tyddyn Du, Llanrhychwyn, John Jones, 30, farmer 180 acres, Mary 33, Ann, 12, Hugh 8, Jane 5, Evan 2, all born Caernarfonshire


1861 Tyddyn Du, Llanrhychwyn, John Jones 51, farmer of 80 acres, born Trefriw, Mary 49, wife, born Llanrhychwyn, Ann 22, born Llanbedr, Evan 12, Catherine 7, both born Llanrhychwyn. Hugh not at home 

Hugh married Elizabeth Jones, born 23rd October 1844 at Nant Isa, Llanrhychwyn. He was a sulphur miner before becoming a farmer.

1871 Tyddyn Du, Llanrhychwyn, John Jones 62, farmer 130 acres, Mary 50, wife, Evan 22, Anne 30, Moses T. 5, grandson. All are recorded as born in Llanrhychwyn.

Hugh and Elizabeth had ten children.John W, born 1866, Richard born 1868, Margaret born 1870, Thomas, born 1871, Sue's grandfather, William born 1873, Catherine born 1875, Hugh born 1876, Elizabeth born 1877, Robert born 1879 and David born 1883.
The family lived at Gelli Dynewid, Trefriw.

1881 Gelli Dynewid, Trefriw, Hugh Jones 37, farmer 100 acres, Elizabeth 36, John W. 15, working on farm, Richard 13, Margaret 11, Thomas 9, William 8, Catherine I. 6. Hugh 5.....

Thomas married Alice Evans, whose family lived in Blaenau Ffestiniog. Click here to see her family details.

In 1901, Thomas worked at a slate quarry in Blaenau, until he lost his arm in an accident there. He became an insurance agent for Britannic in Blaenau. He died at Tan y Fron, Tanygrisiau in 1937.

1901 census; Tan y Fron, Tanygrisiau, Thomas Jones, 30, born Caernarfonshire (Trefriw) slate miner, Alice 34, wife , born Merionethshire. Also living with them was Margaret A. Evans, 23, living on her own account, also born in Merionethshire. 


Alice with son Thomas

1891 Gelli Dynewid, Trefriw, Hugh Jones, 48, farmer, Elizabeth 46, wife, Richard 23, William 17, Catherine 15, Elizabeth 13, Robert 11, David 9, all born Trefriw.


Elizabeth Jones died on the 19th November 1895.

1901 Gelli Newydd, Trefriw, Hugh Jones 57, widower, farmer, David E. 18, son, Catherine J, 26, Lizzie 24, all born Trefriw. 


 Dafydd Jones, Trefriw
1708 - 1785


Printed books are very common these days and one can easily forget that it was not always like this. The first books to be printed in North Wales were allegedly printed by Dafydd Jones of Trefriw.

Dafydd was a bell ringer at Trefriw Church and collected manuscripts. On his travels searching for manuscripts he purchased a printing works on Anglesey from Lewis Morris, of Pentreiriannell. 

His first printed work was 'Historia yr Iesu Sanctaidd', translated from an English book by William Smith. He also printed over thirty other books, and the most important of these was probably 'Dechreuad, Cynnydd, a Chyflwr presennol y Ddadl rhwng pobl America a'r Llywodreath', by M.D. Gwedi, a translation into Welsh. It was quite an important book, as it taught the Welsh about the troubles between England and America in the eighteenth century. 

Dafydd printed most of his works at Tan yr Yw, where there is a plaque on the side of the house.

TAN YR YW

Cartref Dafydd Jones (Dewi Fardd)

Bardd              Hynafiaethydd

Casglydd a Chopiydd LLawysgrifau
Perchennog yr Argraffwasg gyntaf

Yng Ngogledd Cymru pa un osodwyd i fyny
yn y ty hwn

Ganwyd 1708          Bu Farw 1785

He later moved to Bryn Pwll, at the northern end of Trefriw. Here he printed 'Almanac Caergybi', which reached many areas of Wales.


EVAN ROBERT JONES
YSGUBOR GERRIG


Photo courtesy of Richard Griffith

Emily  Jones, daughter of Owen and  Mary Emily Jones, both from North Wales. Emily was born  April 19, 1895 and one of 11 children. She appears in several Jones family photos with the bow in her hair. She married Henry Sperling, sometime before 1926.

Richard Griffith of Maryland U.S.A. has been in touch about his Trefriw ancestors. KD

Evan Robert Jones was born in Trefriw, Carnarvonshire, in 1792. He was the son of John Roberts, who was born before the US Declaration of Independence. This shows the pattern of North Welsh naming patterns. The son did not have the same name as the father, because Jones referred to 'son of John' , and Roberts signified 'son of Robert'.
Patronymics were not used in the mountains of North Wales even down to the mid and late 19th centuries. Robert Hughes could be the son of Hugh Roberts, for instance. Families were identified by their homestead, sometimes going back into the middle ages when they were peasants or free men living on a manor, and in some cases in the distant past, slaves. The Ancestral home of this branch of the Jones family is  YSGUBOR GERRIG, Welsh for the Stone Barn or Granary, and consists of a few buildings just south of Trefriw.
It is  included in the old Parish of Llanrhychwyn, where the oldest church in Wales reputedly stands, and which was the church of Llewelyn the Great. St. Mary's Church in Trefriw was reputedly built by Llewellyn because his wife had difficulty walking the steep path up to Llanrhychwyn.

SMILING THROUGH THE YEARS
(click here to visit Richard Griffith's wonderful family history website)

Griffiths and Jones Family History
From Wales to the USA and Africa


Four Griffiths Children Left to Right About 1910:
Ethel, died of whooping cough at Five;
Margaret, who became a Teacher;
George, a future executive at Goodyear;
Wayne, who became a doctor
(photo courtesy of Richard Griffith)

This website is intended to look back through the longing years of hardship to the Griffith family, miners who emigrated from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales at the end of the last century, and have emerged still smiling through this vale of tears, enduring the tests of this world and the next.
It also contrasts the Jones family of Mount Vernon New York , England, and Africa. In particular, these are pictures and stories of Welsh immigrants to America, to Poultney, Vermont, where the Founder of the New York Times was born and raised, and Mount Vernon, New York, which saw the successful rise of  a middle class.


IAGO BENCERDD
(James Bilsland Hughes)

James Bilsland Hughes was born at Ysgubor Gerrig, Trefriw, christened on the 23rd February, 1831. He was the son of Robert and Ann Hughes.  

Ysgubor Gerrig in 1841 shows Robert Hughes, 50 an Accomplant as head of household. Wife Ann is also 50 and living there were the following Hugheses; Anna 30, Thomas 20, a general domestic, Richard 15, a joiner and James (Bilsland) Hughes, 9. Also living there was Ann Long aged 3. The 1841 census did not record any family relationships.

1851 sees a James Hughes 20, joiner of Trefriw, living at Stencliffe Street, West Derby, Lancashire. Head of household is Evan Jones, 34, a joiner, born Caernarfonshire, wife Maria 38, born Llanfair, Flintshire, Robert Hughes 35, a joiner, born Liverpool, Jane Hughes 35, presumably his wife, 35, their daughter Julianne 10, both born Trefriw. James is then recorded as 'brother' to Robert.  

By 1856, James had married Ellin of Llanrwst and was living in Bethesda, and some two years later had moved to Llanrwst to live.

1861 sees James B. Hughes 20, joiner of Trefriw, living at Little Bridge Street, Llanrwst, with wife Ellin, 29 of Llanrwst, and children Henry, 5 born Bethesda, Ellen 3 and Eilia (?) A. 11 months, both born in Llanrwst.  

James is mentioned in the Dictionary of Welsh Biography, noted as a famous Harpist and muscian in his day, having acquired the bardic name of  'Iago Bencerdd'. He played the Violin and the Flute as well as the harp, and led choirs and composed music.

A newspaper noted in March, 1872, that "the Conway band were renewing their life under Mr. J. Blisland Hughes and that "the ancient town of Conway will ere long be able to boast of having a band to enliven its general monotonous dullness."

He showed a talent for music when quite young and learned to play the flute, violin, and harp, both the triple harp and the pedal harp . He constructed a harp for himself and played on it at an Eisteddfod held at Llanrwst in 1874 . He taught quite a number of harpists, many of whom became quite well-known. One such harpist was John Elias Davies, Telynor y Gogledd (The North's Harpist) who many harp playing events at National Eisteddfodau.
He lived at various houses at Bethesda, Llanrwst, Conway, and Manchester, where he died in 1878. He was buried in Trefriw churchyard.
 
It is possible that he was related to the Jones family (see Evan Robert Jones above) since Anne Hughes appears as a Grandmother, 82 years of age, in the 1871 census at Ysgubor Gerrig living with the Jones family. 
However it is not clear what the relationship is at this time, only that it is known that one of the relatives in Trefriw had a Scottish background, and it appears that this would have been reflected in 'Bilsland', a throughly Scottish name. Proof of this relationship requires more research.



ALICE JONES
(1861 - 1931/2)
Jones family Conwy

Gary Saunders from Australia has been in touch;
Hi, I'm trying to find out some details about my great great grandmother.
All I know is the following:
 Her name was Alice JONES, she was born in Caernarvon in 1861 and died on either the 6th of January 1931 or  the 2nd of January 1932.
She married upholsterer Edward ROBERTS and lived at 8 Machno Terrace, Conwy, North Wales.
Edward ROBERTS was born in 1861 and died in 1937. He was son of William ROBERTS born on the 31st August 1831 and Barbara WILLIAMS born on the 9th August 1825, who appear to be from Abergele and Mold.
Alice and Edward Roberts had nine children who were born between 1885 and 1906. One of their children, Richard Henry Evans ROBERTS moved to Utah in the USA and was believed to be involved in nursing.    
I have been trying to track down my family for a while now but it's proving difficult without any family I know to question about the past.  My mother, who was born in Colwyn Bay, had told me they were all from the Conway / Llandudno area. I only met my grandmother a few times and she didn't like to talk about past families much.
Gary can be contacted via mail@penmon.org .  KD 


HANGED FOR MURDER at RO WEN- 1853

John Roberts, known as Jack Swan was hanged at Caernarfon on the 10th August 1853 for the murder of a young school teacher, Jesse Roberts, in a wood near Ro Wen on the 2nd May 1853. John Roberts was buried in the grounds of Caernarfon jail.



ROBERT JONES
Tan yr Ywen,  EGLWYSBACH

Received this delightful request from Lynne Whitworth (nee Jones)
Hello
I was fascinated to see your site which includes the history of Llanrwst, while searching and an email address I could contact!
I am trying to discover more about my great granddad Robert Jones who is proving difficult to trace! I know a bit about him...BUT I can't find him previous to 1891 and with a name like Robert Jones..that is a bit tricky!
I hope you don't mind me contacting you. Best wishes.


Lynne writes;

I know Robert Jones was a publican on the 1891 census, at the Boar's Head Inn, Little Bridge Street, Llanrwst.

1891 - Boar's Head Inn, Little Bridge Street,  Llanrwst.
Robert Jones 50, publican, recorded as born in Llanrwst was head of household. His wife Jane 33, is recorded as being born in Caernarfon. Their children were Elizabeth 6, William H. 4, and Idwal 1, all born in Llanrwst. Elizabeth Edwards 15, was a domestic servant, born Caernarfon


I've found a Robert Jones listed at the Tal y Cafn Hotel in Slater's Directory 1895 and I am pretty sure that is him and was told by a cousin that his wife Jane Roberts was a barmaid there. She was born 1858 at Rowen, Tyn y Groes. As she was 17 years his junior...he could well have fallen for the barmaid!

On the 1901 census they have moved to Eglwysbach where Robert is now a farmer.
 

1901 - Tan yr Ywen, Eglwysbach.
Robert Jones 60, farmer is now recorded as born in Capel Garmon. His wife Jane 43, is now recorded as being born in Ro Wen. Their children were Bessie 16, William H. 14, a worker, Idwal W. 11 and Robert Ivor 5, all born in Llanrwst.

Eglwysbach Church

Copyright Dot Potter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.



I also know they lived at
Tan yr Ywen and their gravestone in Eglwysbach churchyard states that he died 5th May 1918, Jane died 18/8/1925.

Robert and Jane farmed at Tan yr Ywen just above Eglwysbach
and lived there with their children

Robert Jones
the publican/farmer

Jane Jones (nee Roberts)
Robert's wife

Elizabeth (Bessie)  born 1885 
married Owen Williams,
who had a shoemakers shop in Eglwysbach.

They had a daughter Ceinwen who erected a plaque to her father above the shop as was plus the house next door where they lived.
They were built in 1894

Home of
OWEN WILLIAMS
Shoemaker
Composer, Christian, Musician
1877 - 1956

Both photos copyright Dot Potter and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Idwal Wyn Jones
who later lived at Rhoslan, Eglwysbach

Robert Ifor Jones
 a piano tuner who moved to live in Coventry

Jane Jones
married Edward Anwyl Jones
and lived at Tyddyn Bach

William Henry Jones
was a piano tuner and moved to Coventry and opened a music shop.
He was my granddad, but he died just a month after I was born (knocked off his bicycle),
so I never knew him.

Lynne adds;
I am keen to discover Robert and his family's history before 1891 and after 1901. Did he ever run another pub?

If you can help Lynne, she can be contacted via mail@penmon.org
 

The Cat Witches
of Betws Y Coed

HUW LLWYD of Cynfael was the seventh son of a family of sons, and therefore he was a conjuror by nature. He increased his knowledge of the black art by the study of magical books, and he ate eagle's flesh, so that his descendants could for nine generations charm for the shingles. (All they had to do was to spit on the rash and say: "Male eagle, female eagle, I send you over nine seas, and over nine mountains, and over nine acres of waste land, where no dog shall bark and no cow shall low, and no eagle shall higher rise "--which is quite simple.)

One night he was supping at an inn in Pentre Voelas. Four men came in and joined him at supper. Now, by his magical skill, Huw Llwyd knew that they were bandits from Yspytty Ifan, and meant to kill him during the night for his money. He made a horn grow out of the centre of the table, and obliged the robbers to gaze at it. He went to bed, and in the morning when he came down the four men were still staring at the horn, as he knew they would be. He departed, leaving them still looking steadily and earnestly at the horn: they were arrested in this position and cast into prison.

Many robberies used to take place at an inn near Bettws-y-Coed. Travellers who put up there for the night were continually relieved of their money, and they could not tell how. They were certain that no one had entered their rooms, because they were found locked in the morning just as they were the night before. Huw Llwyd was consulted, and he promised to unravel the mystery.

He presented himself at the inn one night, and asked for a night's lodging, saying that he was an officer on his way to Ireland. The inn was kept by two sisters: they were both very comely, and made themselves very agreeable to Huw Llwyd at supper. Not to be outdone, he did his best to entertain them with tales of travel in foreign parts which he had never visited. On retiring for the night he said that it was a habit with him to have lights burning in his room all night, and he was supplied with a sufficient quantity of candles to last until the morning. Huw Llwyd made his arrangements for a night of vigil. He placed his clothes on the floor within easy reach of his bed, and his sword, unsheathed, on the bed close to his hand. He secured the door, got into bed, and feigned to sleep. Before long two cats came stealthily down the chimney. They frisked here and there in the room, but the sleeper lay motionless; they chased each other around the bed, and gambolled and romped, but still the sleeper showed no signs of awaking. At last they approached his clothes and played with them, turning them over and over. Ere long the sleeper (who had been very wide awake the whole time) saw one of the cats putting her paw into the pocket which contained his purse. He struck at the thievish paw like lightning, with his sword. With a hideous howl both cats disappeared up the chimney, and nothing further was seen of them the whole night.

Next morning only one of the sisters appeared at the breakfast table. Huw Llwyd asked where the other was. Receiving the reply that she was ill and could not come down, he expressed his regret, and proceeded to break his fast. The meal over, "I am now going to resume my journey," he said," but I must say good-bye to your sister, for I greatly enjoyed her company last night." Many excuses were attempted, but he would not be refused, and at last he was admitted to her presence. After sympathising with her and asking whether he could be of any service, he held out his hand to bid good-bye. The sick lady held out her left hand. No," said Huw Llwyd laughingly, "I am not going to take your left hand: I have never taken a left hand in my life, and I am not going to begin with yours, white and shapely as it is." Very unwillingly and with evident pain, she put out her right hand. It was swathed in bandages. The mystery was now revealed. The two sisters were witches, and in the form of cats robbed travellers who lodged under their roof: "I have drawn blood from you," said Huw Llwyd, addressing the wounded sister, "and henceforth you will be unable to do any mischief. I will make you equally harmless," he said to the other sister. Seizing her hand, he cut it slightly with a knife, so that the blood came. For the rest of their lives the two sisters were like other women, and no more robberies took place at their inn. 

The Welsh Fairy Book by W. Jenkyn Thomas
Illustrations by Willy Pogány, New York, F. A. Stokes [1908]
Scanned and redacted by Phillip Brown. Additional formatting and proofing at sacred-texts.com by John B. Hare. This text is in the public domain.
This file may be used for any non-commercial purpose, provided this notice of attribution is left intact.