Moving West to Glamorgan

The attraction of jobs in the mining valleys of South Wales brought in thousands of hopefuls looking for work in the coalmines and iron foundries despite the poor living conditions. Coal and iron were required in ever increasing quantities to supply the industrial centres of Britain with these vital materials. The age of steam had arrived, and iron ships and railways were being constructed both here and abroad. It was through the ports of South Wales at Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea that these commodities were shipped, and it was on this trade that the towns grew and prospered during the 19th Century.

Among the many developing areas was Abersychan, which lies in the narrow upper section of the Afon Lwyd valley north of Pontypool. Coalmining had started in the area at the Cwmbyrgwm Colliery by 1820, which soon expanded with the development of the British Ironworks in 1827. The opening of the nearby Cwmnantddu Colliery followed shoartly after, which by 1840 was capable of turning out 20 tons of the best quality coal from the Tillery seam every day. Like many other 17th century isolated agricultural hamlets in the forested South Wales Valleys, Abersychan became a thriving industrial centre throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

It was here at Abersychan that my great great great grandparents Jonathan Jones and Ann Esau were living prior to their marriage. Their wedding took place at nearby Talywaine on 6th June 1840, in the presence of William Esau and Ruth Williams. According to their marriage certificate, Jonathan’s occupation was recorded as a Miner, while Ann was said to be a Servant. Their fathers were named as John Jones, a Farmer, and Benjamin Esau, a Currier.

Ann Esau was born at Cardigan, the county town of Cardiganshire, many miles down the coast from where Jonathan had been born. She was the daughter of Benjamin Esau and his wife Maria née Bevan, who were married on 26th December 1816 at Cardigan, the witnesses to their wedding being Benjamin Jones and T. G. Davies. Benjamin’s surname was written as Esay, and he was said to be a resident of Cenarth in Carmarthenshire, which is only about 8 miles from Cardigan. In the 1841 Census, Ann’s family are found living at Lion Lane in Cardigan (Ref: HO107 Piece 1378 Book 2 Folio 10 Page 12).

Cardigan was a sea-port and market town located close to the county boundary with Pembrokeshire. It not only had a thriving ship-building industry, but was a commercial centre and the most important port in South Wales, being larger than the ports at Cardiff and Swansea. It was used to export slate, oats, barley, and butter.

Cenarth, a pretty village on the River Teifi, is located on the borders of Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire, and Pembrokeshire. It’s famous for Cenarth Falls, a picturesque series of waterfalls and rock pools, and its striking 18th century bridge which was built in 1787 by William Edwards.

Whether Jonathan and Ann had met on the far-flung coast of Wales isn’t known, but whatever the case, they soon began raising their family, having a total of ten children:

Note: * Died during infancy or childhood.

Jonathan and Ann’s first child, a daughter Maria, evidently named after Ann’s mother, was born on 6th May 1841. Her birth certificate states she was born at “Abersychan Trevethin,” with her father being recorded as a Miner of Abersychan. Intriguingly, Ann’s maiden name was recorded as Asan.

A month to the day after Maria’s birth, the 1841 Census was taken on the night of 6th June, which was also the day of Jonathan and Ann’s first wedding anniversary. They are found living at Monmouth Row in Trevethin, possibly Maria’s more specific birthplace (Ref: Ho107 Piece 744 Book 7 Folio 20 Page 33). However, it wasn’t long before Jonathan and Ann moved northwest to Garn Vach (Nantyglo) in the Aberystruth parish, where they continued raising their family.

Nantyglo, meaning coal brook or charcoal brook, is located high in the western valleys of Monmouthshire, between the towns of Blaina and Brynmawr. It was once one of the most important iron producing centres in the world. Garn is a mutated form of Carn, meaning Cairn, hill fort, or ancient mound. Fach means small, so Garnfach or Garn Fach could possibly mean the place of the small hill fort or mound.

Their first son, named Benjamin after Maria’s father, was born on 2nd February 1843 at Garn Vach, Aberystruth. Their next child, another son named John, my great great grandfather, was also born there on 31st December 1844, and presumably named after Jonathan’s father. Two more sons were born there, David in 1846, and William in 1849.

Very sadly, it’s apparent that Jonathan and Ann’s daughter Maria and son David died while still young children. When the 1851 Census was taken on the night of 30th March, the Jones family are living at Garn Vach (Ref: HO107 Piece 2447 Folio 496 Page 14). Jonathan is said to be a thirty-six year-old Collier, while his wife Ann is thirty years-old. Their children Benjamin (aged eight), John (aged six), and William (aged two) are all said to have been born at Nantyglo. Noticeably, Maria and David are not with the family. Although it has proven very difficult to pinpoint their deaths and burials with certainty, the burial of a Maria Jones (aged 6 months) on 12th October 1841 and of a David Jones (aged 3 months) on 3rd August 1846 at Blaina, are quite likely to be the correct ones.

Almost nine months after the 1851 Census on 21st December 1851, their second daughter was born at Garn Vach. Like their first daughter, they chose to name her Maria. It was the DNA test of an ancestor of this Maria that finally confirmed my Jones family history, extending our knowledge of our family’s story.

The following year, Ann’s brother, William Esau, married Mary Walters at the Neath Register Office in Glamorgan on 24th December 1852. William was a 26 year-old Pudler of Cwmavon, and 25 year-old Mary was from Margam. Their marriage took place in the presence of Joseph Powell and Benjamin Howell, their fathers being named as Benjamin Esau, a Currier, and John Walters, a Labourer. William and Mary had four children: their only daughter, Theodocia, was born in 1856; Benjamin was born in 1860; followed by twins, Esau and Jacob, who were born in 1864.

Over the next seven years, four more children were born to Jonathan and Ann Jones. Their next son David joined the family in 1853, followed by Sarah in 1856, Lewis in 1857, and finally Thomas in 1858.

Once more, it’s apparent that two of Jonathan and Ann’s children, Sarah and Lewis, died at a young age. When the 1861 Census was taken on the night of 7th April, the family are found living at 13 Back Row, Aberystruth (Ref: RG09 Piece 3997 Folio 69 Page 44). Jonathan is recorded as a 50 year-old Iron Miner, his wife Ann is said to be 42 years-old, and with them are John (a 17 year-old Iron Miner), William (a 12 year-old Haulier), Maria (aged 9), David (aged 7), and Thomas (aged 2).

Less than four months after this Census was taken, Ann Jones née Esau passed away at Garnfach on 30th July, she was just 40 years-old. It’s evident she had been ill since her youngest child Thomas was born, as her death certificate gave the cause of death as “Phthisis, 3 years.” So far, I’ve been unable to find the location of her burial.

With some of his children still young, it’s not surprising to find that Jonathan remarried, although this was nearly 3½ years after Ann’s death. His second wife was a widow named Elizabeth Hares née Francis, who he married on 31st December 1864 at Nantyglo, in the presence of John HARES and Jane CHARLES. Both were said to be of full age and residents of Nantyglo, Jonathan’s occupation being recorded as a Collier. Their fathers were named as John JONES, Farmer, and Charles FRANCIS, Labourer.

After researching “Elizabeth” and her birth family, I discovered she was baptised as Alvertina Francis on 14th May 1826 at Wincanton in Somerset. She was the first child of Charles Francis and Mary née Hann who were married on 2nd March 1824 at West Stour in Dorset, the witnesses to their marriage being Thomas Cave and Eliza Lambard.

Wincanton, a pretty village on the river Cale in Somerset, was once an important market town located on the stagecoach route between London and Exeter. The primary industry was making woollen cloth, but makers of clocks, pottery, and bricks were also to be found there.

The village of West Stour is located in the Blackmore Vale area of north Dorset, a few miles southwest of Gillingham. It’s situated on the River Stour, and is surrounded by picturesque countryside, rolling hills and fields of crops.

In the 1841 Census, the Francis family are found in the neighbouring Ebbw Fawr valley (Ref: HO107 Piece 742 Book 3 Folio 10 Page 12), while Alvertina is found living with a nearby family (Ref: HO107 Piece 742 Book 3 Folio 9 Page 11).

Alvertina married her first husband, Jesse Hares, on 8th April 1844 at Blaina. Her husband died at the age of 42, and was buried on 4th December 1863.

Jonathan Jones and Alvertina (or Elizabeth) had just one child together, a son named James, who was born at Blaina in 1865.

When Jonathan and Ann’s son William was 20 years-old, he married 23 year-old Sarah Ann Ablett on 17th July 1869 in the Bedwellty parish. They were married in the presence of Thomas Ablet and Joan Daniel, their fathers being named as Jonathan Jones, Collier, and Thomas Ablett, Refiner. Sarah Ann was the daughter of Thomas and Ann née Pierce who had been married on 28th September 1844 in the parish of Bedwellty.

William and Sarah Ann raised their family at Tredegar, and had several children: John (in 1870), Thomas William (in 1871), Ann (in 1873), Elizabeth (in 1875), David (in 1876), Joseph (in 1878), Sarah Ann (in 1882), and Jonathan (in 1884).

Just two months after William and Sarah were married, my great great grandparents John Jones and Eliza Veal were married on 20th September. Details of their marriage and family are found in the next chapter.

The following year, Jonathan and Ann’s daughter Maria married George Curtis on 21st November, several years later emigrating to Colorado in the United States of America. Her brother Thomas also emigrated, and is found with them in the Colorado State Census of 1885, and in the United States Federal Censuses of 1900, 1910, and 1920 at Poncha Springs, Chaffee County, Colorado. Following George’s death on 20th June 1922 at Salida, Chaffee County, Maria and Thomas are found together in the 1930 United States Federal Census at Missouri Park, Chaffee County. It appears that Thomas never married.

When the 1871 Census was taken on the night of 2nd April, Jonathan is found even further to the west at Llwynypia, about 6 miles northwest of Pontypridd in Glamorgan (Ref: RG10 Piece 5385 Folio 81 Page 34). He is recorded as a 55 year-old Collier, his wife “Elizabeth” is said to be 48, and also with them are his sons Thomas (aged 13) and James (aged 6), his step-daughter Caroline Hares (aged 8 and indexed as Hers), his 21 year-old step-son William Hares (also indexed as Hers), and William’s wife of a little over 4 months, Sarah Ann née Arthurs, who had been married in the Bedwellty parish on 28th November 1870.

Also in the 1871 Census, William Jones and Sarah Ann née Ablett are found living at Jenkins Row in Tredegar (Ref: RG10 Piece 5321 Folio 88 Page 52). William is said to be a 22 year-old Collier, his wife Sarah Ann is aged 24, and their first child John is 1 year-old. George Curtiss and Maria née Jones are found nearby at Vale Terrace in Tredegar, where George worked as a Coal Miner (Ref: RG10 Piece 5315/5322 Folio 25 Page 43).

Intriguingly, so far Jonathan Jones, his wife Elizabeth (or Alvertina) and their son James have not been found in further UK Censuses, and no possible death or burial records have been found for them either. I’ve looked at the possibility that they may also have emigrated, but so far without success.

When the next Census was taken on 3rd April 1881, William and Sarah Ann née Ablett are again found living at Tredegar, this time at 10 North Side (Ref: RG11 Piece 5243 Folio 66 Page 9). William is said to be a 30 year-old Coal Miner, his wife Sarah Ann is 34, and their children John (aged 11), Thomas (aged 9), Ann (aged 7), and David (aged 4) are all Scholars, while their youngest child Joseph is 2 years-old.

At the time of the 1891 Census on the night of 9th April, William and Sarah Ann née Ablett are found living at Pond Row in Tredegar (Ref: RG12 Piece 4356 Folio 5 Page 7). William is a 42 year-old Coal Miner, his wife Sarah Ann is 44, and with them are their children David (a 15 year-old Coal Miner), Joseph (a 13 year-old Coal Miner), and Sarah Ann (an 8 year-old Scholar). Also with them in this Census are Sarah Ann’s 63 year-old widowed mother Ann, her unmarried sister Elizabeth (aged 32), and her nephew, David Ablett.

Over the next several years, things appear to have changed quite considerably for William Jones. It appears that his wife Sarah Ann née Ablett passed away at the age of 49 in late 1894. In the 1901 Census, he is found with his “wife” Mary Ann at 16 Picton Street in Tredegar (Ref: RG13 Piece 4937 Folio 68 Page 18). He is a 52 year-old Coal Miner Hewer, his “wife” Mary Ann is aged 39, and also with him are his 18 year-old daughter Sarah Ann Jones, Mary Ann’s children Steven Anthony (a 14 year-old Coal Miner Fitter), Elvira Anthony (aged 13), Llewellyn Anthony (aged 10), and their 1 month-old daughter Gladys May Jones. I have been unable to find a marriage for William and Mary Ann Anthony née Edwards, not least because her husband was still alive! Llewellyn and Mary Ann Anthony had evidently been having some serious issues as can be seen from the Merthyr Times & Dowlais Times & Aberdare Echo, in its issue dated Thursday 19th April 1894:

In the 1901 Census, Llewellyn Anthony is a 36 year-old “married” man, living with his sister and brother-in-law, Thomas Robinson and Mary Ann née Anthony at 12 Jenkins Row in Tredegar (Ref: RG13 Piece 4938 Folio 35 Page 62).

When the 1921 Census was taken on 19th June, William Jones is found living at 12 Carpenters Yard, Tredegar (Ref: RG15 Piece 26135 Schedule 165). He is now a 72 year-old widower, and he has a much more leisurely job as the Caretaker of the games room at the impressive Workmen’s Hall, Tredegar. Also with him in this Census are his 37 year-old step-son William James Owens (an out of work Coal Miner), his 33 year-old step-daughter Elvira Owens née Anthony, and William and Elvira’s children Mary Ann (aged 14), William John(aged 12), Emily May (aged 10), and Stephen (aged 6).

Also in this Census, Llewellyn Anthony is aged 56 and is an out-of-work General Labourer at the Newtown Furnaces of the Ebbw Vale Company. He is boarding at 2 Prospect Place in Ebbw Vale, and is said to be a widower (Ref: RG15 Piece 26123 Schedule 320).

Electoral Registers show that William Jones lived at 12 Carpenters Yard in Tredegar until at least 1923.