Person Page - 31

     Eleanor was born in 1703 at Thringestone, Leicestershire, England.¹ Eleanor signed a marriage contract with an unknown person in September 1725 at Ashby de la Zouche, Leicestershire, England.² She married Thomas Sperry yeoman on 23 September 1725 at Ashby de la Zouche, Leicestershire, England. Eleanor died on 19 September 1773 at Heather, Leicestershire, England. She was buried on 19 September 1773 at St John the Baptist, Heather, Leicestershire, England.Here lieth interred ye body of Eleanor wife of Thomas Sperry who departed this life 19th September 1773.³

     Thomas was born before July 1727 at Heather, Leicestershire, England. He married Elizabeth (?) say 1762.¹ Thomas Sperry gent lived at Heather, Leicestershire, England. Although a marriage has not been found for Thomas, his wife's name was recorded in baptism and probate records. However whereas his father was a yeoman, Thomas was able to assume the title of gentleman and it may well be that his marriage was advantageous financially. Certainly Thomas and Elizabeth held a jointured estate and lived at Heather Hall.

He made a will on 28 April 1790 at Heather, Leicestershire, England. In addition to her jointured estate, Thomas left his wife a Close in Heather called New Close or Broomy Close with the meadow at the bottom and the piece of ground includes called Little Hook- containing together about thirteen acres more or less. She was also to have the use of any goods and furniture she would find useful. Following her death these were to become the property of his son Thomas who was to receive all the other properties in Heather, Newton Burgland and elsewhere in the County and Kingdom of England and stock, crops of corn and grain and all monies and securities. His daughter Mary was to be given seven hundred pounds..² Thomas died on 22 October 1792. Thomas's will was probated on 11 January 1794 at Heather, Leicestershire, England. The sole executor was Thomas Sperry. “Goods Chattels and Credits did not amount in value to two thousand pounds”.³

     Elizabeth was born before 3 April 1728 at Heather, Leicestershire, England. Elizabeth died before 11 May 1728 at Heather, Leicestershire, England.¹ She was buried on 11 May 1728 at St John the Baptist, Heather, Leicestershire, England.

     John died . John was born in 1729.

     Mary was born in 1731. Her age at death was noted on the tombstone as 17 Years in 1748..¹ Mary died on 1 January 1748 at Snarestone, Leicestershire, England. She was buried on 5 January 1748 at St John the Baptist, Heather, Leicestershire, England. "Here lieth interred ye body of Mary Sperry second daughter of Thomas Sperry and Eleanor his wife who departed this life the 1st day of January 1747/8 in the seventeenth year of her life All you that have come my grave to see Ere long you all must follow me Therefore repent no time delay I in my prime was snatched away".^2,3

     Elizabeth was born in 1733.¹ She married Thomas Sperry gent say 1762.² Elizabeth died on 23 May 1802 at Heather, Leicestershire, England.³ She was buried on 25 May 1802 at St John the Baptist, Heather, Leicestershire, England.Beneath are deposited the remains of Elizabeth wife of Thomas Sperry who resigned this mutable state of existence May 1802 Aged 69 years.^4,3

     Mary was born in July 1763. Mary died at age 61 on 29 December 1824 at Heather, Leicestershire, England.
Mary died intestate without parent or other living descendant, brother or sister, and/or Aunt, Nephew or Neice. It was to be seven years before the administration of her estate was granted on 24 December 1831 to James Goode of Swepstone on behalf also of Robert Goode and Thomas Goode. James Goode was Mary's first cousin and her closest living relative and it was the Goode family who took possession of the estate including Heather Hall.
Let Administration of all the goods, Chattels and Credits of Mary Sperry late of Heather in the County of Leicester Spinster be granted and committed under seal to James Goode of Swepstone in the said County and Archdeaconry Farmer and Grazier the Cousin German and one of the next of kin of the said deceased who died a Spinster and intestate on the 20 th day of Dec 1824 without Parents or other living descendants, brother or sister, Uncle, Aunt, Nephew or Niece, He the said James Goode having been first duly sworn before the undersigned Surrogate as well to the faithful Administration of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased as that the same without deducting any debts owing by the deceased therefrom did not amount in value to the sum of One Thousand and five hundred pounds. Admin dated 21 January 1832. Further the bond was for James Goode of Swepston in County of Leicester Farmer and Grazier, Robert Goode of Shelton Lefield in County of Derby Gentleman, Thomas Goode of the same place Farmer and Grazier. Bound for Three Thousand Pounds.¹

     Harold died . Harold was born.

     Thomas was born in 1768 at Heather, Leicestershire, England. He was unmarried. Thomas died on 28 April 1823 at Heather, Leicestershire, England.
Thomas died intestate and administration of his estate was granted to his spinster sister Mary Sperry. Application for probate was made on 21 November 1823 and granted 16 December 1823. Goods etc without deduction did not amount to value of 800 pounds. Thomas Sperry late of Heather gentleman. Adm. to Mary Sperry of Heather aforesaid spinster the natural and lawful sister and only next of kin. Bond by James Goode of parish of Swepstone Gent Edward Quail of Heather yeoman .¹

     Eliza was born. She married Robert Goode on 21 January 1762 at St John the Baptist, Heather, Leicestershire, England.¹ Eliza died .

     Mary was born before 27 September 1764 at Normanton, Leicestershire, England. Mary died .

     Robert was born say 1766. Note: There was a Robert Goode, son of Robert Goode and Mary bap at Normanton le Heath but a baptism for son of Robert Goode and Eliza has not been found. However he was noted in the will of Thomas Sperry 1774 as a grandson and the brother of Mary..¹ Robert died .

     Thomas died . Thomas was born. He married Alice (?) on 15 May 1665 at St John the Baptist, Heather, Leicestershire, England.

     Richard died . Richard was born. He married Joyse Sperry on 29 September 1655 at Ashby de la Zouche, Leicestershire, England.

     David was baptised in the parish church on 25 March 1832 at Maentwrog, Wales. He was the son of Thomas Davies, a farmer living at Bryn Mawr, a farm west of the village of Maentwrog.¹

David left home sometime before 1851. Employment opportunities in the area were limited and apart from working on the land, the many slate mines in the Festiniog area provided the other main avenue for work. David was to become a miner.

The Slate industry was important to the local economy, culture and history of North Wales and the area around Port Madoc was famous for its Slate mines. There is ample evidence of its history with the open cuts and stacks of slate near Port Maddoc , as well as the slate used as a building material. There were three basic types of slate quarries, the method of extraction depending on the angle of dipping of the vein - open, pit and undreground. Open quarries followed the vein on the slope of the mountain and often used a system of galleries up to 70ft high. When the vein dipped almost vertically, it was necessary to use the pit method, whereas tunnels or adits were excavated to access the leads to any underground workings. The slate was exported around the world from small ports such as Portmadog and purpose built harbours like Port Dinorwig or Port Penrhyn where it was transported by a system of narrow gauge railways such as the one from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Port Madog, in the valley where David Davies was born. Initially the tramways were horse drawn but there were other methods such as an extensive system of inclined planes which had a steeply sloped double tracked arrangement with two ropes around a drum. By this means the loaded wagons going down hauled up the empty wagons. When the slate was extracted and dressed there was a great deal of waste rock which was usually dumped over the nearest slope, the waste heaps remaining a feature of the landscape.

The life of a quarryman was very harsh. Working in the underground was much more hazardous than in coal mining and similarly accidents such as those caused by unguarded machinery and roof falls were frequent. The workers were forced to take whatever work was available and because many of the mines were in remote areas the workers were housed in Barracks from Monday morning until lunchtime on Saturday. The effects of dust inhalation and cold on the lungs led to early death for many miners. The barracks were also often damp, cold and very miserable places to live. The life and working conditions of the Victorian slate miner are today displayed and dramatised within some of the enormous underground caverns nearby enabling visitors to take a Miner's Tramway along an original miner's route of 1846.

David decided to emigrate to Australia, information given on his death certificate indicating that he may have arrived in Victoria about 1856. The Victorian immigration files record several arrivals of a David Davies at this time, but there is not sufficient information to identify them further. On 15 October 1857 the "James Browne" sailed from England arriving in Melbourne in January 1858, with 349 passengers, two being named David Davies. David Davies miner age 28 appears to have been traveling with Thomas Jones 25 and Thos. Davies 21 who were also miners. David Davies aged 27 was a quarryman. These men were English and had paid their own fares as steerage passengers. On 8 June 1859 the "Morning Light" sailed from England, arriving in Melbourne 8 June 1859. David Davies aged 27 was a laborer.²

Although David had been a miner in Northern Wales, he would have found the methods of mining gold somewhat different. Gold had been found to the west of Castlemaine in Long Gully at the base of Mount Tarrangower at the end of 1853. In the rush which followed the population increased to an estimated 20,000. When further strikes were made at Eaglehawk and Porcupine Flat, the population rose to an estimated 40,000. The biggest difficulty was lack of water and the washing of the gold had to wait until it rained. Alternatively the dirt was transported to the Loddon River or the Muckleford Creek. Some two years later the initial finds of alluvial gold petered out and many miners had moved away.

David had missed the initial impetus of the Victorian gold rush and it may be that his familiarity with underground mines influenced him towards the quartz mining rather than looking for the alluvial gold of earlier strikes. He made his way to the goldfields at Tarrangower but although he had been a miner in Northern Wales, he would have found the methods of mining gold somewhat different to slate.

Quartz reefs hade been found as early as 1854 but the available methods of crushing the hard rock to extract gold were very difficult. It wasn’t until the alluvial gold petered out that serious attempts were made to find better ways of crushing the quartz. The earliest crushing was done by “dollying” but soon large rock stamping batteries were set up. Once the more easily accessible reefs were worked out, the tunnels became longer, the shafts became deeper, making the cost of mining and processing the quartz much greater. The inability of men with small capital to finance this kind of mining led to companies being formed.

By 1860 quartz mining was well established. Small shafts had been replaced with shafts having large poppet heads, chimney stacks and kilns, steam generators and batteries of the Company mines. The small heaps of dirt had become large mullock heaps. Mines worked non-stop except Sundays amid the noise of heavy machinery and fumes from the cyanide vats. Some of the reef mining went to great depths – Nuggety was only at a depth of 75 metres when the reef ended whereas the South German mine went to nearly 700 metres.

Whereas Tarrengower had been a tent and shanty town, in 1858 about the time David arrived, it was renamed Maldon and declared a municipality. More permanent buildings were being constructed including a court house, a hospital, a market building bank buildings and two churches. David made his way to the goldfields in Maldon and would have soon become part of the close-knit Welsh community. He may have well have known Thomas Harris and would have been very aware of the distress for Elizabeth Harris and her sister Hannah Davies when they learnt of the accident which killed Thomas. It would certainly have been within this community that he met Hannah Davies following her arrival in Maldon in November 1859 and some two months later they had decided to get married. There was an imbalance of gender in the goldfields and not only were men very anxious to find themselves a wife, but women needed to have the protection and support able to be given by a suitable man. In 1861 there were three times as many bachelors of marrying age as spinsters. David and Hannah were married in the Wesleyan parsonage on 17 Feb 1860

Their marriage ceremony was conducted by Henry Chester according to the rites and ceremonies of the Wesleyan Church. Their friend Francis Hughes and Elizabeth Chester, probably the wife of the officiating minister, were the witnesses to sign the certificate. David gave his age as 27 and parents as Thomas Davies, farmer and Laura Loyd. Hannah stated that she was 27 but from the evidence of the 1841 census, it seems likely that she understated her age, perhaps because of marrying a younger man. This was a common deception and in fact she was probably 32.³

David and Hannah began their married life in Lisle’s Gully Maldon. Initially they would have joined the many families living in tents but when land became available for selection David began the process of acquiring a more secure home for his family. He had a license as a miner and looked for a suitable piece of land to clear. By 1864, David and Hannah were paying rates as the occupiers of a weatherboard cottage valued at £5 although this may not have been the property David was to eventually buy.

Initially they may have joined the many families still living in tents but when land became available for selection David began the process of acquiring a more secure home for his family. He had a license as a miner and looked for a suitable piece of land to clear. By 1864, David and Hannah were paying rates as the occupiers of a weatherboard cottage valued at £5 although this may not have been the property David was to eventually buy. A number of miner’s cottages survive in Maldon and give a picture of life for a family in the 1860’s.

Describe life for the family. Where would Hannah have done the washing. Making of clothes. Cooking. Confinement and a midwife.Sundays Recreation dusty roads, concerts, and sing-songs sporting events, agricultural fairs(perhaps later)Children swam in the water-holes and creeks and hunted possums.It may be that most selectors never expected to “make good” and were con tented with independence scarcely above subsistence level (The Rush to be Rich.)⁴

Although David had cleared his land, built a cottage and farmed his small acreage, this would have been done in what little spare time he had. His listing as a miner at Lisle's Reef in the directory of 1872 indicates that mining continued to be his source of income.⁵ David was finally able to purchase the land and the title deed was signed on 9 August 1875 for three acres. two roods and twenty four perches or thereabouts of land in Lisle's Gully, Maldon, the purchase price being four pounds.⁶ David Davies signed a Contract on 23 May 1876 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia, for the sale of the land at Lisle's Gully for four pounds to William Hughes.⁷

Following the sale of the land in Lisle's Gully,David Davies and his family moved in 1876 at Stawell, Victoria, Australia.

David died at age 72. He had been staying in Moore Street Ararat with his daughter Margaret and had been ill for 4 weeks, the cause of death being Chronic Bronchitis and Exhaustion. His son-in-law John Davis Withell gave the information for the Death Certificate. It was noted that David sen. had been in the colony 48 years. His sons Thomas and James were both alive at this time, but the middle son David had died previously. However his parents were incorrectly given as Thomas Davies farmer and Laura Davies formerly Wiliams. The information given by David himself on his marriege certificate that his mother was formerly Laura Lloyd would be more reliable.

David did not leave a will.⁸ He was buried on 11 October 1904 at Stawell, Victoria, Australia. A funeral notice inserted in "The Stawell News" on that day, respectfully invited his friends to follow his remains from the Stawell railway station to the cemetery. The funeral was appointed to leave the Stawell railway station on arrival of the 2.50 p.m. train from Ararat.⁹

     Hannah was born say 1827 at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales.¹

It has been difficult to confirm Hannah's age and place in the family of James and Margaret because a record of her baptism has not been located and there are discrepancies both in her stated age and the spelling of her name on Australian documents. She appeared on the census of 1851 at Cenarth, Cardiganshire, Wales, She was working as a housemaid at Gellidywyll, the home of the Rev. Augustus Brigstocke, vicar of Cenarth.

It was part of the story as understood by the family, that Hannah sailed from Liverpool with her sister Elizabeth. Certainly the letter from James to his daughters makes special mention that this was her intention. However a corresponding immigration record for a Hannah Davies has not been found and it seems possible that she was the Hannah Harris age 18, accompanying Eliza Harris and the two children from Liverpool on the "David Fleming" on 24 July 1859. If this is the correct family, Hannah also understated her age by 12 years. This seems a big discrepancy but the deception would have enabled her to travel in the family section of the ship rather than with other single women. There was a record of Hannah Harris married shortly after this in Victoria which should be followed up. The David Fleming arrived in Melbourne in November 1859 after a journey of 140 days.

Hannah was only a short time in Maldon before she met David Davies. There was an inbalance of gender in the goldfields and not only were men very anxious to find themselves a wife, but women needed to have the protection and support able to be given by a suitable man.

David and Hannah were married in the Wesleyan parsonage on 17 Feb 1860.

Their marriage ceremony was conducted by Henry Chester according to the rites and ceremonies of the Wesleyan Church. Their friend Francis Hughes and Elizabeth Chester, probably the wife of the officiating minister, were the witnesses to sign the certificate. David gave his age as 27 and parents as Thomas Davies, farmer and Laura Loyd. Hannah stated that she was 27 but from the evidence of the 1841 census, it seems likely that she understated her age, perhaps because of marrying a younger man. This was a common deception and in fact she was probably 32.²

Hannah died on 13 August 1900 at her home in Fisher Street at Stawell, Victoria, Australia. She had suffered from pleurisy and a rodent ulcer.³ A tribute to Hannah was published on 14 August 1900 in the Stawell News and Pleasant Creek Chronicle. It was noted that a very old resident of the town in the person of Mrs Davies, wife of Mr. D Davies of Fisher-street, died the previous evening. The deceased, who was over 70 years of age had been suffering from pleurisy for the previous two months, the disease as stated proving fatal. She left a grown-up family of three sons and one daughter. She was buried on 15 August 1900 at Stawell, Victoria, Australia.

     James was born in 1800 at Bettws Evan, Cardiganshire, Wales.¹ He married Margaret Williams following the calling of banns on 9 November 1820 in the parish church at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales. Llandygwyth was Margaret's home parish and James came from the nearby parish of Bettys Evan. Because Margaret was under 21 years of age, the consent of the parents to the marriage was noted and Margaret's father appears to have been one of the witnesses. The other witnesses were Miles Harris and Tho.Thomas..²
Following their marriage James and Margaret set up home at Penwernfawr farm in the parish of Llandygwydd. Throughout their lives they were ardent in their Christian beliefs and would have been regular churchgoers. It is surprising with this background that baptisms have not been found for all of their ten children.

The 19th century saw great expansion of nonconformism in Wales. Some families who became 'chapel' sometimes celebrated baptisms, marriages and burials in the old 'church' which they still used for these important rites of passage. Although marriages had to be celebrated in the established church, many families with allegiance to a non-conformist tradition, celebrated baptisms and deaths in a nonconformist chapel. However in Wales at this time, churches and denominations kept more apart than they do now and people would travel miles on a Sunday to travel to their particular church or chapel. When people married or moved they would often keep their allegiance to their old place of worship and keep their membership there. People were also not always buried where one would expect, and at times coffins were carried for miles back to the place people came from originally.

James and his family belonged to the Trewen Welsh Congregationalist chapel (Annibynwyr) which was the only nonconformist chapel in the parish of Brongwyn and was part of a circuit embracing several parishes in the Brongwyn area. Ministers in nonconformist chapels frequently had pastoral care at more than one, so their records would cover several chapels in many different parishes as was the case with Trewen, Glynarthen and Hawen. Trewen is located above the river Teifi next to Cwmcou, a couple of miles north-west of Newcastle Emlyn. It is just a small collection of houses that gave its name to the chapel. The chapel is off the main road and it was in the records of this nonconformist chapel that baptisms for some of their children have been found.


James registered to pay land tax under the Tithe Apportionment Act at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales. The family had moved after the census was taken in 1841 and James was listed by the Tithe Commissioners as occupying Tir- Bach farm, one of a number of properties owned by Ruth Davies. Although his holding at this time was apparently a leasehold, he was free to sell the lease or to leave it as part of his bequest in a will. Tir-Bach was close to the border of the parishes of Llandygwydd and Brongwyn and consisted of thirteen separate fields totalling 21 acres 1 rood 36 perches. Two small fields of just over 1 rood each were occupied by the house and garden and a third allowed for the road. The remaining fields were between 1 and 2 acres each. Two tithes were payable- to the vicar 17s.5d., and to the commissioners 18s.1d...³
The census taken on 30 March 1851 listed James as head of household. At Tirbach Farm, Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales. His birthplace was Bettys Evan. He was a farmer living at Tirbach Farm, a property of 28 acres and he employed one labourer. Also living with him were his wife Margaret aged 50, their son Thomas aged 12 and daughter Ann aged 10, a granddaughter Elizabeth aged 7 and a mother-in-law Hannah Davies aged 74.⁴
The chidren who had left home kept in touch with their parents by mail. James knew that two of his daughters were about to emigrate to Australia and the letter he wrote to them on 24 June 1859 has been handed down to later generations. He commented first on the very poor health of his granddaughter who was the daughter of Ben. Although he declined to give his opinion of their intentions to go to Australia, he wished them a pleasant passage and that Elizabeth would meet her husband safe and comfortable. He also wrote that he did not object to Hannah going with Elizabeth but wanted her to know she would be received with great joy if she went home. As a parting present he had bought and posted them stockings. He sent his kindest love and wished them happiness in this world and desired that they would make preparation against the next.⁵
He made a will on 4 December 1863 at Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales.
     Will of James Davies
I James Davies of Tirbach in the Parish if Brongwyn inthe Coumty of Cardiganshire, Freeholder,declare this writing to be and contain my last will and testament, and hereby revoking all former wills.I devise and bequeath unto my wife Margaret Davies all my real and personal estate and property whatever and wheresoever during the natural life of the said Margaret Daves except the field called Cefenmawr which I order to be sold as soon as convenient after my death and that Forty Pounds of the money that will come from the sale of the said field to be used to pay my debts and Fifteen pounds from the selling of the field to be given to my eldest son Benjamin Davies and Ten pounds to be given to Elizabeth Davies an illegitimate daughter of the said Benjamin Davies and Twenty pounds from the same field to be given to my son David of Dowlais and Fifteen pounds to be given from the same field to my daughter Ruth Evans of Sarnau and the remainder over the forementioned shares from the selling of the said field that is whatever money will remain after the Forty pounds, Fifteen, Ten, twenty and Fifteen pounds mentioned above to be given to my daughter Mary Davies. I devise and bequeath unto my son Thomas Davies the farm called Tirbach and the whole of the stock crop and instruments of husbandry after the death of my wife the said Margaret Davies. Also the said Thomasmust pay One hundred Pounds to my daughter Ann Davies and the said Thomas Davies must pay Ten pounds to my granddaughter Anne Davies , the daughter of my son John Davies who is dead and thisTen pounds to be given to my granddaughter Anne Davies as soon as she will reach her twenty one years of age. Also the household furniture to be divided equally between my son Thomas Davies and my daughter Mary Davies and my daughter Anne Davies. I appoint my wife Margaret Davies and myson Thomas Davies to be Executors of this my Will, In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixth-three Signed James Davies Witnesses David Jones, Independant minister of Trewen in the parish of Brongwyn Mark of John Davies Milestone Llandigwydd.⁶ [M.]
James died on 12 May 1864 at Tirbach Farm, Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales; James had apparently been ill for some time and he and Margaret had hoped to hear from the two daughters in Australia. Sadly their letter arrived a week after his death.⁷ He was buried on 14 May 1864 at Trewen Independant, Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales.⁸

     Margaret was born before 27 September 1800 at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales. She married James Davies on 9 November 1820 in the parish church at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales, following the calling of banns. Llandygwyth was Margaret's home parish and James came from the nearby parish of Bettys Evan. Because Margaret was under 21 years of age, the consent of the parents to the marriage was noted and Margaret's father appears to have been one of the witnesses. The other witnesses were Miles Harris and Tho.Thomas..¹ Margaret died on 23 December 1872 at Trewen Parish Cemetery, Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales.²

     Julia was born in 1823 at Ireland.¹ She married William Martin Withell in 1851 at Ireland.² Julia Shiels died in March 1862 at Alverstoke, England.³

     John died . John was born say 1827 at Padstow, Cornwall, England.

     Florence was born in 1867.¹ She married John Thomas Withell in December 1921 at Steyning, Sussex, England.² Florence died on 8 December 1926 at 37 Hapstead Rd. Brighton at Brighton West, Sussex, England.³ Florence's will was probated on 3 December 1927 at Lewes, Sussex, England. Probate was granted to JohnThomas Withell, widower..³

     Frances died . Frances was born before 6 August 1718 at St Eval, Cornwall, England. She married George Grimes in 1741.

     Mary died . Mary was born before 3 October 1719 at St Eval, Cornwall, England.

     William died . William was born say 1760.

     William Roger was born in 1st quarter 1855. He was living with his parents in Swansea in 1861. Following his marriage to Mary Ann Hitchings in Swansea in 1877, two children were born, also in Swansea. The family apparently moved to Cardiff because a third child Beatrice Virginia was born there. William died in Cardiff on 7 September 1889. Mary Ann was left with young children and in 1894 married John Moran.¹ William was born in March 1855 at Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales.^2,3 He married Mary Ann Hitchings on 10 June 1877 at Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales.^4,5 William was employed as a housepainter journeyman. William died at age 34 of Phthisis Pulmonalis on 7 September 1889 at 4 Cobourn St., St John at Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales.⁶ He was buried on 11 September 1889 at Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. Cathays Cemetery. Also buried in this grave - Ethel Muriel Green age 4 mths and Mary Ann Moran (his widow)aged 70.⁷

     Ellen died . Ellen was born. She married John Withell on 18 February 1849 at St James Catholic Church, Dublin, Ireland.¹

     Beatrice was born on 19 April 1907 at Paisley, Scotland.¹ Beatrice died on 20 April 1907 6 Newton Terrace at Paisley, Scotland.¹

     Francis was born say 1630 at St Ervan, Cornwall, England. A birth record has not been found for Francis Brewer. However members of the Brewer family are recorded as having property in St Ervan from the middle of the 16th centiury. During the second half of the 17th century there were two men named Francis Brewer living in St Ervan. One leased properties named Chapple Park and West Park and the other occupatied New Park. Although they would not have been brothers they would have been related..¹
     Francis Brewer of St Ervan, yeoman signed a 99 year lease with Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, knight on 5 October 1675. The term was on the lives of Mary, Thomasine and Stephen, his daughters and son. The property was two closes called New Park or Beiffe leaze in the manor of Trembleath.²
     Francis Brewer St Ervan, yeoman made a will on 22 August 1680 at St Ervan, Cornwall, England, Francis's will was lost at Exeter in WW2 but some details of his bequests were noted in a petition made on 30 August 1721 by his son Stephen Brewer to the Hon. Richard Arundell of Lanherne. Francis Brewer, by his will dated 22 August 1680, had given to Stephen Brewer the west field of the New Parks and the part of the moor adjoining it, and to Mary Brewer the east field with the dwelling house, courtlage land, and the part of the moor adjoining. Previously these properties had been in the name of his three children, Thomasin, Mary and Stephen but Thomasine had died.³ It is not clear when Francis Brewer St Ervan, yeoman died. However Martin and Mary Withell took possession of the part of New Park which Francis had left to Mary in his will. Following the untimely death of Mary, it seems that Martin continued to occupy this property until his own death in 1721, leaving it to his son Martin by his third wife Jane Leigh. One of the clause in the original lease concerns reletting the property and this seems to have been the catalyst for the petition regarding same made by Stephen Brewer on 30 August 1721. at St Ervan, Cornwall, England.²

Francis Brewer St Ervan, yeoman died at St Ervan, Cornwall, England. A burial for a Francis Brewer gent. at St Ervan on 6 February 1716 was found but this may have been a different Francis.⁴

     Walter was born in February 1855 at England.¹ He married Mary Jane Withell say 1878 at Edinburgh, West Lothian, Scotland. Walter J King immigrated in 1880 to United States America.¹ He appeared on the census of 1900 at Detroit, Michigan, United States.² Walter died before 1928.

     Emily was born in 1833.¹ She married John Thomas Withell by Licence on 8 May 1886 Register Office at Mile End Old Town, London, England. John Thomas Withell son of William Martin Withell (deceased) was married by licence to Emily Rowles at the Registry Office in Mile End Old Town on 8 May 1886. John, a Clerk in the Civil Service had been living at 14 Huddart Street Mile End and at the time of marriage Emily was living at 9 Prospect Place Gravesend. She described herself as a widow and claimed her age to be 45 years. Her father was Charles Myers a Master mariner (deceased). On 1 May 1908 the couple visited the Registrar's Office again and the details of her age were corrected to read age 53 at the time of marriage. John was therefore apparently 19 years younger than his bride..¹ Emily Myers appeared on the census of 1891 at 24 Sumner Road, Camberwell, St Leonards, Sussex, England; She gave her age as 35.² She made a will on 6 June 1918 at Brighton West, Sussex, England, leaving her estate entirely to her husband John Thomas Withell.³ Emily died on 30 August 1918 at Brighton West, Sussex, England.^4,5,6 An inquest was conducted into the death of Emily Withell at Brighton on 2 September 1918. Emily of 67 Loder Road, Brighton, wife of John Thomas Withell, retired Customs & Excise officer; 85; at the Royal Sussex County Hospital; shock and haemorrhage caused by severe wounds in the throat self-inflicted at [home], killed herself whilst temporarily of unsound mind. Verdict suicide.⁷ Emily's will was probated on 27 September 1918 at Lewes, Sussex, England. Effects were valued at 296 pounds 19 s 10d.⁴