MENAI LIGHTHOUSE                  

To read a fascinating Description of the Menai Lighthouse  by D.P. Hewett, Grad. Inst. C. E. from April 5 1842, please click on the link below;

http://books.google.com/books?id=N1UEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA395&lpg=PA395&dq=%22menai+lighthouse%22&source=web&ots=f56cGB2pL1&sig=_D7xTzdyNJJI7G8UspKmrMFtai4

Highlights of Trwyn Du Lighthouse:

• Established in 1838
• Automated in 1922
• It has a height of 29 m
• A light character of a white flash every 5 seconds
• The lamp has an intensity of 15,000 Candela
• The light has a range of 12 miles (19 km)

Every thirty seconds the bell rings out just to remind us of the stolid duty it performs around these treacherous tidal waters. With the erratic sounds of gulls and the odd motor boat in the distance we have a unique Penmon Point Sea Symphony!

Meet the heads of the households recorded from Census information

1841 Thomas Wallace   George Christopher            1851 John Williams           John Strong 1861 John Strong 1871 Henry Bowen           James Parsons 1881 Joseph Steer 1891 Not recorded 1901 Recorded as; "Rendered to The Trinity House, London"

Lighthouse keeper Thomas Wallace 41 lived at Black Point with Ann 41, Ann 10, Jane 8, Margaret 5 and house servant Margaret Roberts 25. There were painters in residence too, they were William Tabb 25, William Sweet 30, William Beer 20 and Richard Evans 40.

Lighthouse keeper George Christopher 30 lived at Black Point with Sarah 30, Georgina 7, Susanna 4, John 3, Sarah 15 months and Mary Lens 14.

Two families are recoded as living at "Menai Light Dwelling". 

John Williams aged 45 was head of one household, and his occupation is described as 'Light Keeper'. His wife Ann was 42 and daughter Ann 5 years old. They were all born in Beaumaris.

John Strong aged 45 was head of the other household. His occupation is also described as 'Light Keeper'. He and his wife Elizabeth 47 were born in St Lawrence, Kent, and son Stephen 9 born on The Isle of Wight. 

John Strong 55 was still Light Keeper at 'Menai Light' with his wife Elizabeth 57. Their birthplace is now recorded as Ramsgate. Son Stephen is no longer resident.

Also occupying there was John Odgers(?) 39 of Bognor, wife Ann E. 34 of Stonehouse and young John 1 of St Ives.

Some of Henry and Sarah Bowen's children stayed in the Penmon area, or had closer connections. 

Notably daughter Elizabeth, who married William Williams, a son of Rowland Williams from Tan y Fron. Rowland had meanwhile left Tan y Fron and had his own property, Minffordd, in Llangoed. 

William Williams and Elizabeth lived in the China House shop in Llangoed in 1870's. It is now the Spar Convenience Shop! William died in 1883, leaving Elizabeth with five young children, two of whom died very young, and the business to run.

By 1891, Henry Roberts, Llangoed Postmaster, was also living at China House. He was a first cousin of the late William Williams, as he was the son of Owen and Elizabeth Roberts, who was a Williams from Tan y Fron and sister of Rowland. They were my great great aunt and great great uncle. 
Owen was a mariner and became a Pilot at Black Point, at the same time that the Bowens were at the Lighthouse.
A young Henry Roberts, left and older, right.  

By 1901, Elizabeth Williams had married Henry Roberts, who was 14 years her junior. Elizabeth died in 1925 aged 78, and Henry Roberts died in 1937 aged 74. He was a great friend of my Taid.

William and Elizabeth Williams' eldest daughter was Mary, who was known as Minnie, married an Owen Davies and had four children. 

Owen Davies with wife Minnie (Mary).Eirwen in chair, became Postmistress at Bodlondeb, Idris standing who later had the garage in Llangoed; Lilian, with father, who died of diptheria aged 6, and Nan with mother

Another of Henry and Sarah Bowen's children, Esther, also married a son of Rowland Williams, Tan y Fron/Minffordd, called Henry who was a schoolteacher, and they moved to Llanerchaeron and later to somewhere in Denbighshire. From the census records they had several children, but I have no idea where they all ended up.

Another of Henry and Sarah Bowen's children, David, seems to have had a shop in Llaneugrad in 1891 and was living in Llanddona in 1903, when his wife Anne died in 1903, and a child of theirs who died in 1905. David died aged 81 in 1938, and is buried with his wife and child in Penmon.

MY THANKS TO JOHN FOR SHARING THIS PIECE OF FAMILY HISTORY WITH US.

Sarah Roberts of Penmon writes; interested to read your news re "Bowens&Williams families in Penmon.My grt.grt.grandfather was Henry Bowen, lighthouse keeper.My maternal grandfather was George Fingland who was a lodger at TanyFron- 1901 census.I now live in Penmon.

The second family living at the lighthouse was;

James Parsons 35, an Assistant Lighthouse Keeper also lived here with his family. He was born in Buckinghamshire, and his wife Mary 35, born in Willsdon. Their family consisted of Mary A. 12, born in Kilburn, James W 10, born in Bayswater, Annie M. 5, in Penmon, George E. 3 in Kilburn and Helena S. 2 in Penmon.  

Abbey Road The old Baptist Chapel in Bovey where Joseph Steer was baptised. The white house was Mike Steer's grandfather Edwin Steer's	John & Julia Steer,  headstone in the Chapel burial ground
The Steer family owned Indeo Pottery (sample above) at Bovey Tracey from about 1780 until 1836.	Grace Steer, memorial in the Baptist Chapel

James Woodruff 23 was also a lighthouse keeper at Menai Lighthouse where he lived with his wife Maria E. 23.

Ladies enjoying some time near the lighthouse. Do you know who they are?
If so, please let me know.
The Menai Light house is not recorded on this census.

Above, Lighthouse Cottages. Photo courtesy of Eric Jones.

1901

The Menai Lighthouse is recorded as ‘Rendered to the Trinity House, London’.

I have collated information from the censuses  of 1841 to 1901 inclusive relating to families involved in the piloting of shipping around the Penmon area.

Many of these brave men were involved in lifeboat rescues and received honours fror their bravery. Please read about them in the PENMON LIFEBOAT RESCUES link on the left hand side of the webpage. 

Pilot William Jones 30 and Ann 30 lived at BlackPoint. 

William Jones 40 was a Trinity Pilot born in Llandegfan. His wife Ellen 26, children William 7 and John 3 were born in Penmon. Ann Bulkeley 16 was born in Llangoed. They all lived at Black Point.

John Williams 27 was also a Trinity Pilot living at Black Point. He was Penmon born. His wife Ellen 26 was from Llangoed.

 A third Trinity Pilot was Owen Roberts 65. He and his wife Jane 57 were from Llangoed. Granddaughter Jane 12 was from Penmon. All lived at Black Point.

Retired Trinity Pilot John Williams 68, wife Jane 57, Richard 24, a mason, Thomas 22 a labourer and Ellen 19 a dressmaker, all of Penmon also lived at Pwll Crwn.

 

MENAI PILOTS 1861

Pilot Owen Roberts 35 lived at Black Point with his wife Elizabeth 31 and children John 9, Owen 7 and William 1. All were Penmon born.

Another Pilot, John Williams 37 of Penmon also lived at Black Point with his wife Ellen 37 of Llangoed.

Pilot William Jones 53 of Llandegfan and his family also lived at Black Point.
Wife Ellen was 35, William 19 was a sailor, John was 13, Richard 10, Ellen 7, Anne 5, Thomas 2 and Owen 10 months, all of Penmon.

Owen Roberts 77, described as a late Pilot lived at Beudy'r Rychain with his wife Jane 71, both of Llangoed. Son Robert 29 was a pilot and the couple had granddaughter Jane 22 as a housemaid. Both from Penmon.

 

In memory of JANE wife of OWEN ROBERTS Pilot, Penmon died March 23rd 1864 aged 73 years. Also of the above OWEN ROBERTS, Pilot died Jan 6th 1866 aged 81 years.

 

MENAI PILOTS 1871

 

Owen Roberts 45, Pilot lived at Black Point with his wife Elizabeth 41, son Owen 17, a Pilot boy . William 11, Henry 8, Mary 6, Robert 3 and 1 month old Elizabeth. All were born in Penmon.

Sacred to the memory of JOHN ROBERTS the beloved son of OWEN ROBERTS Pilot of Penmon by ELIZABETH his wife who died February  9th 1879 aged 27 years. Also of MARY JANE ROBERTS sister to the above who died August 24th 1859 aged two years and 5 months, and WILLIAM ROBERTS who died August 12th 1877 aged 17 years and 8 months. "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord". This stone is erected by the friends ofJOHN ROBERTS. MARY B. MITCHELL of Lleiniog Castle.

Pilot John Williams 48 of Penmon and his wife Ellen 48 of Llangoed, were also housed at Black Point.

A third Pilot's family at Black Point was that of William Jones 62 of Llandegfan and his wife Ellen 45 and children Anne 15, Thomas 12 and Owen, all Penmon born.

Beudy' Rychain housed another Pilot and his family. Robert Roberts 39 above, his wife Ann 26 children Grace 4, John 1 and general servant Jane Thomas 14 were all from Penmon.

Retired Pilot John Williams 88 lived at Pwll Crwn Bach with his wife Jane 77, both of Penmon. Son in law Robert Roberts 61 of Llangoed worked as an  agricultural labourer Their daughter Jane Roberts 52 and her children Owen 11 and Margaret 9 were both from Penmon. 

Working as a Pilot was John Williams 58 of Penmon. Wife Ellen also 58 was from Llangoed.

In loving memory of
OWEN JONES
Beudy'r Ychain Penmon,
who died August 21st 1892 aged 31.
Also of ELLEN JONES wife of
WILLIAM JONES, Pilot Penmon
who died Dec 19th 1899 aged 76 years.
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord". 

Robert Roberts 59 a Trinity Pilot lived at Black Point with wife Ann 46, children John 21, a draper's assistant, Williams 16 a sailor, Jane 14 a dressmaker, Margaret 12, Mary 9, Henry 7 and Grace 4. All were Penmon born.

Pilot William Pritchard 36 also lived at Black Point with his family. He and his wife Elizabeth 35 were from Llangoed. John 11 and Margaret A 8 were born when they lived at Holyhead, but Mary 5 and Henry 1 were both Penmon born.

Retired Pilot John Williams,68 a widower of Penmon lived at Pwll Crwn Bach. Nephew John Roberts 36, a gamekeeper of Llangoed and niece Jane Edwards 19, of Penmon who kept house, lived with him.

William Pritchard 46 left worked as a pilot at Black Point and came from Llangoed, as did his wife Elizabeth 43. The children were all Penmon born; Henry 11, William 4, and Elizabeth 3. All were bilingual.

John Williams writes about his family connection with the Pilots.

The John Williams who was a pilot in 1841, and later retired to Pwll Crwn Fach was my great great grandfather. The John Williams who was a pilot in 1851, and was still a pilot in 1881, before also retiring to Pwll Crwn Fach, was the son of the aforementioned John Williams, and my great great uncle. Incidentally I am pretty sure he is the John Williams in the photo on the RNLI Beaumaris website, with Robert and Owen Roberts and William Preston. He has a definite Williams family likeness, and I can imagine he would have been on the lifeboat crew like the other pilots. 

The Owen Roberts who was a pilot in 1841 and 1851 was surely the first coxswain of the Penmon lifeboat? 

The other Owen Roberts, who was a pilot in 1861 and 1871, was I am sure also the son the aforementioned Owen Roberts. as he died in 1864 aged 74. This second Owen Roberts married my great great aunt Elizabeth from Tan y Fron, and they had a number of children, including Henry Roberts, China House, the Llangoed Postmaster, and another son, also called Owen, who became the Senior Warder at Caernarvon Jail. 

Owen Roberts was almost certainly the Second Coxswain of the lifeboat, under his younger brother Robert Roberts, the famous Cowswain, and they are both in the photograph I mentioned earlier.