Before the Buses

WILLIAM HOWARD JOYNSON (1899–1959)

Howard, as he was known, was the son of Henry Joynson (a Grocer and Baker) and Annie née Davies who were married on 21st January 1892 at Llangynidr in Breconshire. Their wedding took place in the presence of Margaret James and Sarah Jones, their fathers being named as John Joynson (a Collier) and John Davies (a Pattern-Maker).

John Joynson and Caroline née Nicklin had been married on 4th August 1851 at the church of St. Margaret at Wolstanton in Staffordshire. Their fathers were named as James Joynson and Thomas Nicklin. John and Caroline’s first child, a daughter named Mary, was born in 1852 in the Congleton area of Cheshire. They soon moved to Brynmawr in Breconshire where John worked as a Coal Miner, and where their second child was born in 1855, a son named William.

When the 1871 Census was taken on the night of 2nd April, the Joynson family are found living at Clydach Street in Brynmawr (Ref: RG10 Piece 5586 Folio 8 Page 10). John is still working as a Collier, and this is the first Census that their son Henry was enumerated in. By the time the next Census was taken on 3rd April 1881, the Joynson family had moved over the border into Monmouthshire to the village of Nantyglo. With this move came a new occupation for John, that of a Provision Grocer (Ref: RG11 Piece 5239 Folio 129 Page 13). In this Census, Henry is recorded as a 17 year-old Baker, a trade he would keep for the rest of his life.

When the next Census was taken on 5th April 1891, the Joynson family’s address is given as “Tifedds Houses Grocers Shop, 1, Forge Rise” in Nantyglo (Ref: RG12 Piece 4352 Folio 12 Page 17). John is recorded as a 60 year-old Grocer, while Henry is a 27 year-old Baker and Confectioner. Several months later at the time of their marriage, Henry Joynson and Annie Davies were both said to be residents of Sunny Bank in the Llangynidr parish of Breconshire.

Annie was born on 21st August 1860, the daughter of John Davies and Rachel née Davies. In the 1891 Census, Annie is found with her 60 year-old widowed father (a Pattern Maker) at 25 Limestone Road in Nantyglo (Ref: RG12 Piece 4352 Folio 19 Page 31). Henry and Annie had three children together, all of whom were born at Nantyglo: John Henry (on 25th March 1895), Minnie (on 4th June 1897), and William Howard (on 23rd October 1899).

On 31st March 1901 when the next Census of England and Wales was taken, the Joynson family are found at no. 1 Tivedd’s Houses in Nantyglo (Ref: RG13 Piece 4934 Folio 12 Page 15). Henry is a 38 year-old Grocer and Baker, and his wife Annie is 41 years-old. With them are their children John Henry aged 6, Minnie aged 4, and William Howard (aged 2).

Ten years later when the 1911 Census was taken on the night of 2nd June, the family’s address is recorded as 1 Stores Houses, Nantyglo (Ref: RG 14 Piece 31824 Schedule 205). Henry is a 50 year-old Baker Confectioner, Annie is also aged 50, John Henry is a 16 year-old Carpenter, Minnie is 13 years-old, and William Howard is 11 years-old and still at school.

In late 1920, Henry and Annie’s daughter, Minnie, married George Lewis (born 12th November 1896 at Brynmawr). Several months later when the 1921 Census was taken on 19th June, Henry and Annie are still at the “Stores” on Stores Row in Nantyglo (Ref: RG15 Piece 26081 Schedule 74). Henry is recorded as a 58 year-old Baker who is running his own business, and Annie is also recorded as being 58 years-old . John Henry is now 26 years-old and working as a Butcher, and Howard is 21 years-old and is recorded as an out of work Coal Miner’s Helper. Also with them is Alfred Price, Henry and Annie’s 23 year-old Great nephew, who is also an out of work Coal Miner’s Helper. Both Howard and Alfred were usually employed by the Lancaster Colliery Company Ltd. Living at Stores House on Store's Row are George and Minnie Lewis (Ref: RG15 Piece 26081 Schedule 173). George is a 24 year-old out of work Coal Miner Hewer with the Waen Nantyglo Colliery Company Ltd., and his wife Minnie is also 24 years-old.

Several months after this Census, John Henry Joynson passed away, he was just 26 years-old. He had been working as a Butcher for W. Weeks at Brynmawr. He was laid to rest at the St. Mary Churchyard, Brynmawr on 22nd December.

The South Wales Gazette of Friday 13th August 1937 included “Mr. Joyston’s Bus Staff” among the floral tributes received at the funeral of Mrs. Emma Elizabeth Woodward, aged 58, the wife of Mr. William Charles Woodward, of 33 Gwern Berthi Road, Cwmtillery.

The South Wales Gazette of Friday 19th August 1938 reported on an incident regarding the overloading of passengers, something that seems to have been very common around this time:

When the 1939 Register was taken at the outbreak of World War II, Henry and Annie Joynson’s address was given as The Store, Nantyglo (Ref: RG101 Piece 7454J Schedule 455). Their son Howard is also living with them, his occupation being recorded as a Bus Proprietor and Driver. George and Minnie Lewis were living at Stores House, Nantyglo (Ref: RG101 Piece 7454J Schedule 454). George’s occupation was recorded as a Coal Hewer, Mine Timber Or Repairer, and with him and his wife is their daughter Anne Lewis (born 16th June 1921), a Shorthand Typist.

William Howard Joynson passed away on 31st December 1959, he was 60 years-old.

CREDITS

The Joynson coat of arms is by houseofnames.com