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Anglesey Miscellany
Contents;
The Bishop's Palace
The Boswell Family
The Royal Charter
Llanddona Witches
Llanddona Family - Park
Abermenaai Ferry Christmas Tragedy 1785
Anglesey Pirates
Belgian Refugees
The Belgian Promenade
Oyster Keepers
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Llantysilio
Joel Cook - 1882
Penrhyn Estate Puzzle
Rhosneigr Romanticist
Farmer, Soldier and Politician (Sir Owen Thomas MP)
Owen John Williams born 1868 - Owen Cybi
Menai Bridge, 1906
Amazing Buckle Find - W L Williams | |
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The Bishop's Palace, Llandegfan |
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1901 census details record that Watkin H. Williams aged 53, Bishop of Bangor, born Worwith, Staffordshire was resident at The Bishop's Palace, Llangdegfan. His wife Alice 53, was also born at Worwith. They had no children living at home.
William Williams, 41, was their Chaplain, born Blaen Pennal, and Elizabeth M. Schick, 51, of Hombray, Germany, their housekeeper. Other domestic staff consisted of Bertha Saving 27, cook, of Woodnep, Gloucestershire, Emily Butler 32, housemaid, of Wantage, Berkshire, Mary I. Soudcock 22, kitchenmaid from Shropshire. Kate Galesman 23, was a housemaid, born Blueberry, Berkshire, Rose I. Woodash 17 a scullerymaid, born Edymond, Shropshire, Sarah Bailey 17, housemaid, born Haughton, Shropshire, Thomas A. Taylor 33, a valet, born South Kelyoy, Lincolnshire, Ernest Watts Ellock (?) 15, a footman, born Gloucester, John Bratt 28, coachman born Denbighshire and local lad Richard Williams 13, a stableboy, born Llandegfan.
Other than Watkin H. Williams, William Williams and Richard Williams, who were bilingual, the remainder of the household spoke only English.. | |
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The Boswell Family |
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A Boswell family lived at Brynteg Cottage, Llandegfan in 1901. However, the enumerator notes on the census sheet; 'Four persons refusing information'. All that is recorded reads; Head (of household), female aged 55, son 35, daughter 30, granddaughter 6. They only spoke English. They are recorded as Gipsies
But wait..........................another census sheet - another entry, also for Brynteg Cottage.......
Delia Boswell, married, 64, Pedlar by trade, Dora Cordery 24, daughter, Gipsy, married, both born Newport, Shropshire, Feenirman L. Boswell, 26, son, who was deaf and dumb, born Bridgnorth, Gipsy, Rosie Boswell 6, granddaughter, born Wellington, Shropshire.
The question is - did they refuse initially because they had already given this information?
I am very grateful to Keith C for supplying me with the following information about this family. KD
The Boswell family you found in 1901 at Llandegfan are really Locks (the 'L' in the names), who used the alias Boswell after moving into Wales permanently. This is the wife and two children (and a grandchild - Dora didn't actually marry William Cordery until more than a year later) of Noah, who was nearby at Llansadrwn on the census night, with another son Henry, christened Zachariah Lock. The great Gypsyologist Dora Yates wrote in 1953, "Zachariah 'for convenience' sake' preferred to be called Harry Boswell".
The Locks were a family of fiddle players, extensively supplying music for dancing, a topic which forms my main area of study.
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The census return Keith refers to is for a caravan at Penhisryn Road, Llansadwrn. Head of household was Henry Boswell, 45, a horse and cattle dealer, born Beddgelert, wife Maria 42, born Llanfairfech(ain) daughter Merinda 22 born Llanerchymedd and his father, Noah 78 born in Shropshire. Noah being Delia's husband.
Interestingly, another caravan there belonged to Charles Lock, 30, a horse dealer, born in St Asaph, wife Mary 28, born in Chester, and children Ida, 7, born Menai Bridge, Merinda 5, born Beaumaris, Meyrick 3 and Gwendoline 1, both born in Menai Bridge. |
A Noah Boswell and his family were living at Dyfryn Lane, Newborough. Noah 49, born in Shropshire, had 'Not Known' recorded against his occupation. His wife Elizabeth was 32, born in Llannerchymedd, and their children were, son Wasla 8, born Llandegfan, and daughters Maria 5, born in Rhydymwyn, and Ohmy, 3, born in Llanrug.
Keith advises us that;
This is another son of the elder Noah Lock (alias Boswell). All these men were fiddle players and would have provided music for dancing and entertainment, at fairs, in pubs, and anywhere else an honest penny was to be earned. Two other of the brothers were interviewed by the great folklorist Cecil Sharp, in 1910 and 1912, and some of their tunes taken down in notation. In addition, one cylinder recording survives, showing the stylistic musical nuances the brothers would have shared. | |
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The Royal Charter |
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The Royal Charter was one of the Liverpool and Australian Navigation Company's fleet. Under the command of Captain Taylor, the ship sailed from Melbourne on the 20th of August, 1859 with 388 passengers and 112 officers and crew. She had a cargo of wool and sheepskins. Most of her passengers were gold diggers returning home after many years in the gold fields. It was estimated that almost half a million pounds worth of gold was with them.
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Llanddona Witches |
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The area around Llanddona was famous for it's alleged witches. They were believed to be descendants of survivors from a shipwreck of a Spanish ship in Red Wharf Bay, who were allowed to settle in the vicinity.
Legend has it that some of them were able to perform magical tricks and those who were superstitious locally, felt that they were in league with the devil. Many were red headed.
One famous witch was a woman called Siani Bwt, or Little Jane. She was only 3 feet 8 inches tall, when aged 40 and had two thumbs on her left hand.
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Goronwy Tudur and the
Witches of Llanddona |
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VERY few men in Anglesey in the olden days dared to cross any of the Witches of Llanddona, and those who were bold enough to do so suffered grievously for their rashness. But Goronwy Tudor, who lived not far from Llanddona, was reckless enough to defy even Bella Fawr, Big Bella, the most famous and most dreaded of all the witches of that uncanny village, and he was not a ha'porth the worse.
Perhaps you do not know the history of the Llanddona witches. Long ago a boat came ashore in Red Wharf Bay without rudder or oars, full of men and women half dead with hunger and thirst. In early days it was the custom to put evil-doers in a boat to drift oarless and rudderless on the sea, and when this boat- was swept by wind and waves on the beautiful sands of Llanddona, the good people who then lived there prepared to drive it back into the sea, thinking it was manned by criminals. But the strangers caused a spring of pure water to burst forth on the sands (the well still remains), and this decided their fate. They were allowed to stay and to build cottages. But they did not change their evil natures. The men lived by smuggling, and the women begged and practised witchcraft.
It was impossible to overcome the smugglers in a fray, for each of them carried about with him a black fly tied in a knot of his neckerchief. When their strength failed them in the fight they undid the knots of their cravats, and the flies flew at the eyes of their opponents and blinded them. The women used to visit the farmhouses, and when they asked for a pound of butter, a loaf of bread, some potatoes, eggs, a fowl, part of a pig, or what not, they were not denied, because they cursed those who refused them. If they attended a fair or market, no one ventured to bid against them for anything.
But Goronwy Tudor was not afraid of them. He had a birthmark above his breast, which is a great protection against witchcraft, and he knew how to break nearly every spell. He had the plant which is called Mary's turnip growing in front of his house: he also nailed horseshoes above every door, and put rings made of the mountain ash under the doorposts, thus making his house and all his farm buildings safe. To make them doubly sure he sprinkled earth from the churchyard in all his rooms, and in his byre, stable and pigstye. When the animals were in the fields, however, he had some difficulty in securing them from harm. One day when he went to fetch his cows from the meadow to be milked he found them sitting like cats before a fire, with their hind legs beneath them. Goronwy took the skin of an adder, burnt it and scattered the ashes over the horns of the cows. They got up at once, and walked off with their usual dignity to the byre.
Another day the milk would not turn into butter, and a very unpleasant smell arose from the churn. Goronwy took a crowbar, heated it red hot, and put it in the milk. Out jumped a large hare, and ran away through the open door of the dairy. After this the milk was churned into beautiful butter.
Some time after the supply of milk began to decline, and the butter made from it was so bad and evil-smelling that the very dogs would not touch it. The milk became scantier and scantier, until at last it ceased altogether, and the cows gave nothing but blood. Goronwy watched in the fields at night and saw a hare going up to a cow and sucking it. She squirted from her mouth and nostrils the milk she had sucked, and then went on to another cow. She did the same with her and with all the other cows. Goronwy knew that it was old Bella in the form of a hare, and he prepared to stop her evildoing and to punish her. The next night he took his gun, putting into it a silver coin instead of shot (shot cannot penetrate a witch's body), and placed a bit of vervain under the stock. When he saw the hare milking the cows he fired at her. The hare immediately ran off in the direction of Bella's cottage, with Goronwy after her. He was not so fleet of foot as puss, but he managed to keep her in sight, and saw her jumping over the lower half of the door of the house. Going up to the cottage he heard the sound of dreadful groans. When he reached the door he went in. There was no hare to be seen, but old Bella was sitting by the fire with blood streaming from her legs. He was never again troubled by old Bella in the shape of a hare, and by drawing blood from the bewitched kine he broke the spell.
Bella made one more attempt to injure him. She went to the Cold Well and launched at him the great curse of the Witches of Llanddona:
May he wander for ages many,
And at every step, a stile,
At every stile, a fall;
At every fall, a broken bone,
Not the largest nor the least bone,
But the chief neckbone, every time.
Goronwy felt in his bones that he had been cursed. He got some witch's butter that grows on decayed trees and stuck pins in it. When the pain inflicted by the pins penetrated her body, Bella had willy-nilly to appear before him. She was screaming with pain, and Goronwy refused to take the pins which were causing the anguish out of the butter until she said: "Rhad Duw ac ar bopeth ar a feddi--God's blessing on thee and on everything that thou possessest." After this neither Bella nor any of her tribe had any power over Goronwy or his wife, or his man-servant or his maid-servant, or his ox or his ass, or anything that was his. |
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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. | |
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Llanddona Family - Park
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Correspondence received from D.A. Pritchard; I have just found your website, also I am researching my family tree. I have had some information passed on to me regarding a house-farm called "CREMLYN" - Beaumaris. The name I'm researching is 'Park'. I was wondering if you have any information with regards to either. The era is 1900. |
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I have been unable to find a Cremlyn in Beaumaris, but a Park family lived at Cremlyn, Llanddona in 1891. Their details are as follows; KD
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Cremlyn, Llanddona; Thomas Park, 58, a retired famer was head of the household. He was born in Tilverston.
His wife Elizabeth was 60 and was born in Bootle as were their sons John Henry 29 and Richard 28, both farmers. Daughters Sarah Elizabeth 26, and Ellenor Frances 21 were born in Birmingham.
Their cook was Mary Spencer 31, born England, Grace Pritchard 18, born Llanddona, was a general servant, Fanny Smith 18, born Bootle, was a housemaid and Henry Parry 16, born Llansadwrn, a farm servant | | |
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Abermenai Ferry Christmas Tragedy |
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Twenty days before Christmas 1785, the Abemenai ferrymaster waited patiently for his passengers to return aboard his ferry. The time was approaching 4pm, Departure from Caernarvon was already late and concern was mounting. Strong winds were up and, in an hour, it would be low tide.
It had been fair day and the imposing Edwarding castle was gradually disappearing into the increasing darkness of the cold winter evening.
At last, full of pre-Christmas cheers, all the passengers were on board the Abermenai ferryboat, as it set forth on its fateful return journey to Anglesey. Entering the Menai Strait from the River Seiont, aware that he must, at all costs, avoid two sandbanks known as the Shifting Sands, the ferrymaster endeavoured to keep pretty close to the Caernarvonshire side of the Strait.
Suddenly, out of the passengers' merry chatter came a cry! The ferry was too near the bank. It hadn't kept sufficiently in the channel. Every possible effort was made with oars, there being no sails on board, to save the ferry, but to no avail. The Abermenai ferryboat grounded, the fresh wind blowing spray on the passengers and crew alike.
Men jumped into the water in an effort to thrust the ferry from its lethal bed of quicksand. But their efforts were in vain. Each time the ferry was moved, it was thrown violently back.
It was half filled with water as the tide, which could rise up to 20 feet due to the narrowness of the Strait, made its way in. The call went out to abandon ship.
Crew and passengers remained on the bank, in the hope that their cries would be heard, and rescuers would soon arrive. An alarm bell was rung as the stricken ferry became swamped with water and broken up, never to be seen in one piece again.
Several boats made their way to the scene in a vain attempt to rescue the 55 men, women and children stranded on the treacherous quicksands, but they dare not approach the stricken people for fear of suffering a similar fate on that tempestuous night.
Only one person survived the disaster, a Mr Hugh Williams, who risked his life at the mercy of the sea. He tied a piece of mast and oar together and plunged into the dark, cold torrent, where he struggled for survival for an hour or so before noticing the welcoming light of the Tan y Foel ferryhouse.
But the current was too strong. He couldn't reach the shore and was carried along for a couple of hours before he eventually reached safety.
He tried to crawl back towards where he had seen the light, but fatigued took over and he passed out under a hedge, before the wind and rain revived him. Continuing his struggle, he eventually reached the ferryhouse.
The following morning his boots and greatcoat were discovered under the Shifting Sands, with several of the bodies which were buried there during that night of tragedy, over two centuries ago.
It wasn't until a total of some 180 people had been drowned crossing by ferry to Anglesey that a stir was made to build a bridge which would connect the island to the mainland.
Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge was the result. It opened in 1826. | | |
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ANGLESEY PIRATES |
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Tony Woodruff asks:
Does anyone have any information about pirates around Anglesey or Wales circa 1550 -1650 please? I am particularly interested in Edward Bulkeley (brother of Sir Richard Bulkeley), or Hugh Griffith of Cefn, Amlwch.
Any information at all would be helpful or if you could point me in the right direction for more help.
Tony can be contacted via mail@penmon.org . He has also supplied fascinating information on his family who lived at Penmon Lighthouse. See the Lighthouse and Pilot Families page | | |
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BELGIAN REFUGEES |
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ST. CAWRDAF CHURCH, LLANGOED
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This simple stone cross can be found at Llangoed Church. It bears the following inscription.
R.I.P.
1916
F.T.H. MERTENS
BELGIAN
AGED 18
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I am grateful to Clive Hughes and Anne Pedley (Regimental Archivist, Royal Welch Fusiliers) for assisting me with trying to find out something of Mertens' history.
Anne writes; I believe that the stone cross in Llangoed Churchyard may belong to a Belgian refugee. Although not to hand, I vaguely remember reading in the letters of Geraint Wyn Madoc Jones that arrangments were being made for Belgian refugees to stay around Beaumaris and surrounding areas. He is unlikely to be a POW as Belgium was an ally. I think you will find some more burials on the island that can be seen in the Menai Straits when driving over the bridge.
Clive writes; As a Belgian, Mertens would have been on our side, as it were! There's no mention in the original 1931 CWGC Register for Anglesey of an Allied or enemy soldier being buried at Llangoed: something they did normally include.
My best guess is that the person concerned was a Belgian refugee, and a civilian. There were many such refugees housed all over the country, including Anglesey, and logically some of them must have died over here.
Would Mertens have been involved with building The Beligian Promenade one wonders?
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Rhodfa'r Belgiaid.
The Belgian Promenade |
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This promenade beside Afon Menai was built by Belgian refugees during The Great War. Following severe storm damage in the early 1960s, it was repaired in 1965 in time for the Anglesey National Eisteddfod and was officially reopened by Mons. Eduard Willems, the sole survivor of the original workforce. |
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A section of the Anglesey Coastal Path. Here the path from the east beneath the arches of Pont y Borth leaves the road and continues westwards along the Belgian Promenade. |
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Coed Cyrnol and the Belgian Promenade from Church Island | | |
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OYSTER KEEPERS
Jones family Brynsiencyn
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Alan Williams asks:
Does anybody haves any information on the family mentioned below?
They lived at Barras Cottage, Brynsiencyn, and on the 1911 census, the family consisted of
Head - William Jones (born Dwyran) age 40
His wife Mary Elizabeth (born Liverpool) age 37
Amelia Jones age 13 - born Liverpool
Edward Jones age 10 - born Caernarvonshire
William O Jones age 8 - born Caernarvonshire
Thomas John Jones age 5 - born Caernarvonshire
Frank Jones age 3 - born Llanidan
Harry Jones age 1 week - born Llanidan
William was an Oyster Keeper and was living at Barras Cottage, Brynsiencyn.
Ten years earlier in 1901 William (a sailor) age 30 and the family were at Llanbeblig, Caernarfon.
Are there any records relating to the Oyster business in Anglesey as this is the second family member I have come across whose occupation was Oyster Keeper and I would like to know more.
The other was possibly William's father - Edward Jones and his wife Margaret who in 1901 (aged 61 and 60 respectively) was an Oyster Keeper at Ty Bach y Foel on the banks of the Menai Straits.
Any help that can be offered would be much appreciated.
Alan can be contacted via mail@penmon.org |
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Wesleyan Methodist Chapel,
Chapel Street, Llantysilio |
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Trevor Dunkerely enquires:
I have been attempting to obtain details of the above chapel, which I believe is now a shop, but have drawn a complete blank on search engines.
What I am trying to ascertain is where the burials for this chapel took place in the 1850's - can you or any of your readers assist?
Hi Trevor - thank you for your enquiry. Please see the following link http://chtg.gwis.co.uk/ (Gwynedd Family History Society)
Click on Publications and you will come across books which include Memorial Inscriptions M077 - Llandysilio, which can be purchased from them. If you ask a general question relating to your enquiry, should you choose to purchase the book, you may well get a successful reply! You may also wish to consider leaving a message on the site's guestbook.
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ENGLAND, PICTURESQUE AND DESCRIPTIVE.
A REMINISCENCE OF FOREIGN TRAVEL.
By JOEL COOK, 1882
(click title to see the whole book) |
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THE MENAI STRAIT
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Still journeying westward, we come to Caernarvonshire, and reach the remarkable estuary dividing the mainland from the island of Anglesea, and known as the Menai Strait. This narrow stream, with its steeply-sloping banks and winding shores, looks more like a river than a strait, and it everywhere discloses evidence of the residence of an almost pre-historic people in relics of nations that inhabited its banks before the invasion of the Romans.
There are hill-forts, sepulchral mounds, pillars of stone, rude pottery, weapons of stone and bronze; and in that early day Mona itself, as Anglesea was called, was a sacred island.
Here were fierce struggles between Roman and Briton, and Tacitus tells of the invasion of Mona by the Romans and the desperate conflicts that ensued as early as A.D. 60.
The history of the strait is a story of almost unending war for centuries, and renowned castles bearing the scars of these conflicts keep watch and ward to this day. Beaumaris, Bangor, Caernarvon, and Conway castles still remain in partial ruin to remind us of the Welsh wars of centuries ago.
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Beaumaris Castle
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On the Anglesea shore, at the northern entrance to the strait, is the picturesque ruin of Beaumaris Castle, built by Edward I. at a point where vessels could conveniently land. It stands on the lowlands, and a canal connects its ditch with the sea. It consists of a hexagonal line of outer defences surrounding an inner square. Round towers flanked the outer walls, and the chapel within is quite well preserved. It has not had much place in history, and the neighboring town is now a peaceful watering-place. |
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PENRHYN ESTATE PUZZLE.
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I was fascinated by this enquiry received from Clive Williams. KD |
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I was very interested in the history of Penmon families and in particular Pwll Crwn and Tan y Fron. My grandmother Eliza was either the daughter of Jane and or granddaughter of John Williams, the Penmon pilot.
I am doing some family history and discovered that John Williams and his family pursued a case at the Chancery Law courts making claim to part if not all the Penrhyn estates. .
I should point out that most of the information I have had been handed down over many generations but through differing branches of the family which in a way supports its authenticity.
My quest started after meeting Rhys Williams, born and bred in Holyhead, and who had been the Principal Archeologist for Cheshire County Council. He is well into his eighties.
His mother was also a direct descendant of John Williams, the original Penmon Pilot and who we believe lived at Pwll Crwn Fach.
The story that she told him was that either in the late 1700s or early 1800s John Williams and his family raised enough money to initiate a claim for part or whole of the Penrhyn estates, a crucial part of their evidence being the parish registers at Llanfaes church which was destroyed at the time of the case and with it, critical evidence (this must therefore relate to either a wedding or birth). This fits in with the building and completion of the present church, St. Catherine, Llanfaes which started in around 1811 and completed in the 1840s.
Am trying to establish the date on which the old church was destroyed so that we can get a fix as to the time the case was heard in Chancery.
Also tied into the story is the Cochwillan manor house and estate which was the forerunner of the Penrhyn estate and one time was owned by Bishop John Williams (Archbishop of York in the 16th Century).
Nothing has come up by googling the name of John Williams with an action but then I do not know whether his claim was against the owners of Cochwillan and/or Pennants. Cochwillan and Penrhyn were also historically entwined through the marriage of Anne Warburton to the first of the Pennants.
I am trying to find out what was the basis of John Williams' claim as it may throw some new light on some other possible relationship ties I might have. As mentioned earlier my great grandmother Eliza was a daughter of John Williams, Penmon Pilot and brought up in Pwll Crwn fach before marrying my great grandfather Henry Williams (what's in a name) and living in Bangor where I too was born and raised.
All contributions gratefully received.
Clive can be contacted via mail@penmon.org |
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Response from Tan y Fron historian, John Williams;
Now to the fascinating story of the court case in Chancery. I have to say that this is completely new to me. However I know very little about John Williams, and his family, before 1841. His father was William, and his mother was Mary. William was the Baron Hill gamekeeper on the Penmon deer park, and that is about all I have found out. Unfortunately the Penmon parish records were not very detailed in the 1700s, and the vicar was quite lazy when it came to recording the register.
What is interesting is the similarity with the story in the Tan y Fron Williams family about their ancestor who had a legal dispute in the 1700s about property in the Gorddinog/Abergwyngregyn area, which is of course very close to Penrhyn. Could there be a connection? The only evidence of the Tan y Fron family dispute is in the history of John Williams written by his grandson Robert Williams in 1918.
Now, of course this is not the pilot John Williams, but the ex-mariner who took over Tan y Fron, and whose family stayed there until the 1970s. Both these John Williams were my great great grandfathers as the pilot's son Robert married the farmer's daughter Martha, and I am descended from their son William, my grandfather. I have often wondered if the pilot and the farmer (both John Williams) were related in some way. If so, the family story of the legal dispute could come from the same origins. Just a thought.
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Edward Gordon Douglas-Pennant, 1st Baron Penrhyn (20 June 1800 - 31 March 1886) was a Welsh landowner and politician. He played a major part in the development of the Welsh slate industry.
Born Edward Gordon Douglas, he was the younger son of the Hon. John Douglas and his wife Lady Frances (née Lascelles). James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton, was his paternal grandfather and George Sholto Douglas, 17th Earl of Morton, his elder brother.
He inherited the Penrhyn estate near Bangor in north-west Wales through his wife's relative, Richard Pennant, and changed his name to Douglas-Pennant by Royal license in 1841. Penrhyn was the owner of the Penrhyn Quarry near Bethesda, Wales, which under his ownership developed into one of the two largest slate quarries in the world. He was also involved in politics and sat as Member of Parliament for Caernarvonshire between 1841 and 1866. He also held the honorary post of Lord Lieutenant of Caernarvonshire. In 1866 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Penrhyn, of Llandegai in the County of Carnarvon.
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Lord Penrhyn meets workers |
Lord Penrhyn married, firstly, Juliana Isabella Mary, daughter of George Hay Dawkins Pennant, in 1833. They had two sons and three daughters. After her death in 1842 he married, secondly, Maria Louisa, daughter of Henry FitzRoy, 5th Duke of Grafton, in 1846. They had eight daughters. He died in 1886, aged 85, and was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son, George.
Source Wikipedia, reproduced by license. | |
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ISBN 9780956296207
75,000 words, 184 pages, printed full colour, 114 illustrations.
SRP £16.99
Reduced to £14.99 for Christmas
• First ever published detailed biography of this respected Welsh author (1874-1925).
• First ever English translation (abridged) of his classic 'Madam Wen' novel about the legendary Anglesey Highway-Woman & Smuggler.
• Contemporary (1925) and Modern (1983 & 2009) critiques of the story and of the controversial 1982 S4C film - most never before published in English.
• First ever English translation (abridged) of his earlier romantic novel 'Elin Cadwaladr' principally set in Anglesey, London and Oxford.
• Exploration of Owen's family connections, including links to Florence Nightingale. (Owen's sister worked as her Housekeeper and Cook for six years, and through the letters Florence wrote to her, and about her, the domestic workload and religious aspect of working for such a particular lady, and her relatives - the Verneys, can clearly be seen. This is detailed in an 11-page section of the book).
• Includes sections on Owen's time spent in Derbyshire (Clay Cross & Pilsley), Gloucestershire (Joy's Green), and London (Muswell Hill), as well as Anglesey & Bangor.
Available through normal retail channels, including Local bookshops, W.H.Smith & Waterstones.
Online sales from Amazon.co.uk or order from our website.
In case of difficulty contact the publishers. Normal trade terms available. |
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Rhosneigr Publishing, 2 Roman Ridge Road, Sheffield S9 1XG
booksales@rhosneigrpublishing.co.uk |
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Cover reproduced here
by kind permission of
Bridge Books, Wrexham
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FARMER,
SOLDIER and
POLITICIAN
The Life of
Brigadier-General
Sir Owen Thomas, MP
Father of the
"Welsh Army Corps"
David A. Pretty
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Owen John Williams
born 1868
"Owen Cybi"
Y Crudd Coch - The Red Cobbler |
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I received the following enquiry from Bronwen Rees-Hughes;
I wonder if anyone has any information or knowledge of the following.
I am trying to find out about Owen John Williams born 1868 in Holyhead, but who was established in business as a Boot Dealer/Boot Shop Keeper in Glan Hwfa Road Llangefni in 1901 and 1911 and I have located him and his family on the Census. It may have been a place of residence rather trhan a place of business.
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1901 Census
Address Llys Arthur , Glan Hwfa , Llangefni
Owen John Williams Head, age 32 married, Boot Shop Keeper
b. Holyhead
Grace Williams Wife, age 33, b Rhostryfan Cae
John Williams Son age 7, b Rhostryfan
Ann Willaims Dau age 6, b Llangefni
Olwen Williams Dau age 5 b Llangefni
Helena Williams Dau, age 3 Llangefni
Jane Lewis Williams Dau age 2 b Llangefni
Arthur Owen Williams Son age 4 months, b Llangefni
Catherine Owen, 15 , single was a general domestic,
b Llanerchymedd |
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photo courtesy of Gemma McManus
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Owen John Williams, seated bottom right, with his family, around 1911;
Back row; Ann, William, John (Johnnie) and Olwen
Middle row; Jane (Jenny), Mother Grace, Helena (Lella) and Arthur
Front row; Dewi, Goronwy and Owen John himself.
Daughter Grace had not been born. |
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1911 Census
Address Llys Arthur , Glan Hwfa , Llangefni
Owen John Williams Head, age 43 married, Boot Dealer,
Employer, b. Holyhead
Grace Williams Wife, age 44, (1867) b Rhostryfan Cae
Helena Williams Dau, age 13 Llangefni
Jane Lewis Williams Dau age 12 b Llangefni
Arthur Owen Williams Son age 10, b Llangefni
William Richard Williams Son age 7 b Llangefni
Dewi Williams age 6 Son b Llangefni
Goronwy Wyn Williams Son age 3 b Llangefni |
There is a possibility he was the person known by the Bardic name "Owen Cybi", Y Crydd Coch (The Red Cobbler), however I cannot find a single further piece of information, regarding this.
If anyone can help with any shred of information, I would be most grateful.
Lovely website, most enthralling.
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Confirmation kindly received from Gemma McManus;
Hi
The 1901 and 1911 census family and the older children you have are the family of Owen John Williams that I have been researching- Family stories tell us that Owen John was a bard- Owen Cybi- known as the Red cobbler - I have a lot of information on the family - I would be happy to help in anyway I can.
Bronwen and Gemma have been put in touch with each other. KD |
Bronwen can be contacted via mail@penmon.org
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Menai Bridge - 1906 |
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AMAZING BUCKLE FIND |
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Inscription;
M J Williams
size approx 70mm x 50mm
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| Received this remarkable request from Sean Hersey. KD |
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Dear Mr Davies
I have been metal detecting in Penmon recently and have uncovered what looks to be some sort of buckle. It is inscribed M J Williams.
I am contacting you, wondering if you would like to have, or perhaps know someone related to M J Williams, who would like to have this buckle.
If not it will only stay in my finds box and eventually get buried with other items and most likely be forgotten.
Please let me know.
Regards Sean
Sept 2011 |
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If you know who this buckle belonged to,
Sean can be contacted viamail@penmon.org | | |
