Adolphus Brown

M, b. 1835
FatherWilliam Buswen Brown b. s 1809, d. b 6 May 1889
MotherMary Withell b. b 20 Oct 1808, d. b 4 Jan 1884
     Adolphus died . Adolphus was born in 1835. He appeared on the census of 2 April 1871 at Padstow, Cornwall, England.

Family

Children

Mary Brown

F, b. 1839
FatherWilliam Buswen Brown b. s 1809, d. b 6 May 1889
MotherMary Withell b. b 20 Oct 1808, d. b 4 Jan 1884
     Mary was born in 1839. Mary died .

Family

Child

Edmund Brown

M, b. 1840
FatherWilliam Buswen Brown b. s 1809, d. b 6 May 1889
MotherMary Withell b. b 20 Oct 1808, d. b 4 Jan 1884
     Edmund died . Edmund was born in 1840.

Jane Symons

F, b. say 1821
FatherWilliam Symons
MotherMary Key b. b 15 Nov 1794
     Jane died . Jane was born say 1821.

Mary Symons

F, b. say 1826
FatherWilliam Symons
MotherMary Key b. b 15 Nov 1794
     Mary died . Mary was born say 1826.

Melinda Butson

F, b. 8 August 1809
     Melinda died . Melinda was born on 8 August 1809 at Mevagissey, Cornwall, England.

Elizabeth Caroline Withell

F, b. 28 November 1891, d. June 1898
FatherThomas Withell b. 13 Apr 1851, d. Mar 1909
MotherSusannah Gissing b. s 1864
     Elizabeth was born on 28 November 1891 at Hackney, London, England.1 Elizabeth died at age 6 in June 1898 at Hackney, London, England.

Citations

  1. [S187] England, Birth Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, Elizabeth Caroline Withell 1891.

Sidney Anthony Withell

M, b. 11 March 1880
FatherWilliam Roger Withell b. Mar 1855, d. 7 Sep 1889
MotherMary Ann Hitchings b. 1856, d. 16 Jun 1924
     Sidney died . Sidney was born on 11 March 1880 at Penderry, Wales.1 He appeared on the census of 1901 at Alexandra Hotel, 138 Queen Street, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales; Sidney aged 21 was employed as a cellarman. He was unmarried.2

Citations

  1. [S187] England, Birth Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, Sidney Anthony Withell 1880.
  2. [S189] 1901, St John the Baptist Parish.

John Mably

M, b. say 1717
     John was born say 1717. He married Elizabeth Blake on 19 July 1737 at St Minver, Cornwall, England. John died .

Family

Elizabeth Blake b. b 22 May 1716
Children

David Davies

M, b. 1865, d. before 2 July 1904
FatherDavid Davies b. 25 Mar 1832, d. 9 Oct 1904
MotherHannah Davies b. s 1827, d. 13 Aug 1900
     David was born in 1865 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia. The birth was not registered by the father David Davies until 26 February.The midwife was Mrs. Hughes.1 David died before 2 July 1904 at Ararat, Victoria, Australia.2 He was buried on 2 July 1904 at Ararat, Victoria, Australia. Owner of the grave site was John D Withell..3

Citations

  1. [S4] Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia. Certified copy of particulars recorded in a register., David Davies No. 3579.
  2. [S15] Victoria, Australia, Indexes to Deaths, Registry of Births, Deaths, Marriages, State of Victoria, Commonwelth of Australia., Reg. No. 1904/7107 Ararat Age 38.
  3. [S358] Methodist Grave No. 2059, Grave Book.

Thomas Davies

M, b. 1861, d. before 1 August 1911
FatherDavid Davies b. 25 Mar 1832, d. 9 Oct 1904
MotherHannah Davies b. s 1827, d. 13 Aug 1900
     Thomas was born in 1861 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia. He lived at Patrick Street, Stawell, Victoria, Australia.1 Thomas died before 1 August 1911 at Stawell, Victoria, Australia.2 He was buried on 1 August 1911 at Stawell, Victoria, Australia.3

Citations

  1. [S304] Aunty Margaret,.
  2. [S15] Victoria, Australia, Indexes to Deaths, Registry of Births, Deaths, Marriages, State of Victoria, Commonwelth of Australia., Reg. No. 191/10993.
  3. [S315] Stawell Cemetery Grave Books, , Wesleyan Section No. 5975.

James Davies

M, b. 9 January 1868, d. 1911
FatherDavid Davies b. 25 Mar 1832, d. 9 Oct 1904
MotherHannah Davies b. s 1827, d. 13 Aug 1900
     James was born on 9 January 1868 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.1 James died If correct, age shoud be 43, not 52. in 1911 at Collingwood, Victoria, Australia.2

Citations

  1. [S4] Victoria, Australia, Birth Certificate, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia. Certified copy of particulars recorded in a register., James Davies No. 3579.
  2. [S15] Victoria, Australia, Indexes to Deaths, Registry of Births, Deaths, Marriages, State of Victoria, Commonwelth of Australia., Listed as Jno. Davies age 52 Reg. No. 1911/8520.

Thomas Davies

M, b. 1781, d. 6 March 1876
ChartsAncestors Margaret Wain 12 gen.
      David Davies was the son of Thomas Davies, farmer and Lowry Lloyd and gave his birthplace variously as Port Madoc and Penryhn in Merionethshire. However it has been difficult to locate the family in Northern Wales mainly because of the geat number of persons named David Davies. David was also not consistent in stating his age, but he whould have been born about 1832. The history of the town of Porthmadog dates only from the early 19th century and a baptism has not been found for David in Portmadog. It is believed he was baptised in the nearby village of Maentwrog. The family were also found living in Trawsfynydd and Llanfihangel-y-Traethau and David may have worked in Portmadog before he emigrated to Australia.

To appreciate the conditions in which the family lived and how and why they moved around, it has been necessary to understand something of the development of settlement and communications in the area of the Vale of Ffestiniog.

Porthmadog is a port town on the banks of the lower River Glaslyn where it joins the Afon Dwyryd and flows into Traeth Mawr. This is a wide estuary which until 1813 was largely swamp land with some outcrops which would have been islands. The land was assigned as part of the enclosure act of 1803 to William Alexander Madocks and between 1808 and 1813 Madocks proceeded to build a long sea wall called the Cob, to reclaim thousands of acres of land from the sea for agricultural use. A small settlement was established to house the navvies working on the project and as the Traeth Mawr was drained this settlement was to become the town of Porthmadog. Porthmadog, meaning Madock's Port is situated on the northern end of Y Cob and it's harbour was built on the channel that flows around the end of Y Cob to link the river with the estuary and the sea. The first public wharves were built in 1825 and by 1841 there were dwellings and the main commercial street had been developed. It was a hugely expensive construction leaving Madocks bankrupted.

Although the area was very remote, there had been a number of small settlements in the surrounding hills and along the rivers and lakes in the Vale of Ffestiniog dating from very early times. There had been an ancient trade route for Bronze Age travellers to and from Ireland en route to Wiltshire - the cultural centre of Britain in those days. Many examples of cairns, megaliths, roundhouses and hut enclosures support the evidence of pre-historic settlement. A Roman road had traversed the area and there were well established trade routes crossing the river.

By the late 18th century the turnpike road connecting Welshpool to Holyhead and the sea passage to Ireland, went through the village of Trawsfynydd and crossed the river Dwygrryd at Maentwrog, a small village at the highest navigable point on the Dwygryd. This was the crossing place for several routes. For this reason, from the early 18th-century if not earlier, the immediate area became the entrepôt for the valley, with the export of timber, attested from 1739, but particularly after the development of the slate industry from the 1760s onwards.

Thomas stated that he was born in 1781 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, Wales, but a baptism was not found in the register for Trawsfynydd. However the following family was found in the BT's for Maentwrog and may well be his family.
Thomas Davies and Hannah Evans were married April 20th 1777
     1. Edward the son of Thomas Davies and Hannah his wife was baptised Jan 18th 1778
     2. Evan the son of Thomas David & Hannah his wife was baptised Jan 12th 1780
     3. Gwen the daughter of Thomas Davies and Hannah his wife was baptised March 17th 1782
     4. Thomas the son of Thomas Davies and Hannah his wife was Baptised Aug 15th 1784
     5. David the son of Thomas Davies and Hannah his wife was Baptised Aug 6th 1786
     6. the son of Thomas Davies and Hannah his wife was Baptised 1789.
When he married Lowry Lloyd on 5 February 1817 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, Wales, this was their home parish. Thomas was a singleman and Lowry was a spinster and the witnesses were David Thomas and Griffith Owen. Lowry was the daughter of Robert Lloyd and Elizabeth Edward who had also been married in the parish church. Her parents had lived on a farm called Gerigddu (Graigddu).1
We don't know where Thomas and Lowry set up home after their marriage, but by 1822 Thomas was a farmer living at Bryn Maur in Maentwrog. This was the parish where his daughter Elizabeth was baptised in 1822. Bryn Maur was part of the estate of the Brigstock family, which was inhertited by William Owen Brigstocke in 1795. Thomas may have either been working on the farm or holding a lease.2 Some ten years later in 1832 he was again recorded as living at Bryn Maur when David was baptised. There appears to have been a gap of 10 years between children, although an itinerant family with the same parent names has been found. If this proves to be the same family, it would suggest that the income from the farm was not sufficient to support the family.

Sometime before 1841, Thomas and Lowry moved from Maentwrog to the hamlet of Penybryn in Llanfihangel-y-Traethau where they were to remain for the rest of their lives.

Thomas Davies appeared on the census of 7 April 1861 at Llanfihangel y Traethau, Merionethshire, Wales, giving his age as 81 and his birthplace as Trawsfynydd, Merioneth. He and Lowry were living at Penybryn.
1861 Census Llanfihangel y Traethau Living Penybryn     RG9/4323
Thomas Davies      Head     Mar      80     Labourer Ag     b. Merioneth Trawsfynydd
Laura Davies          Wife     Mar     71     Wife          b. Merioneth Trawsfynydd.3

Thomas died on 6 March 1876. Information was given that Thomas was formerly a farmer and died at Penybryn, age 97 of old age and debility. The informant was his grandson Richard Jones who lived at CornHill in Port Madoc. NOTE In the 1881 census Richard Jones age 47 was living at 19 Cornhill, Ynyscynhaiarn, Carnarvon with his wife Ellen and family. His birthplace was given as Maentwrog. at Llanfihangel y Traethau, Merionethshire, Wales.4

Family

Lowry Lloyd b. b 19 Oct 1791, d. Mar 1873
Marriage*
When he married Lowry Lloyd on 5 February 1817 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, Wales, this was their home parish. Thomas was a singleman and Lowry was a spinster and the witnesses were David Thomas and Griffith Owen. Lowry was the daughter of Robert Lloyd and Elizabeth Edward who had also been married in the parish church. Her parents had lived on a farm called Gerigddu (Graigddu).1 
Children

Citations

  1. [S344] Trawsfynydd Bishop's Transcript,.
  2. [S496] FF: Carmarthenshire Archives Service, "Brigstock estate papers," (online: hp://archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw).
  3. [S9] 1861Llaqnfihangel y Traethau RG9/2512. LDS Film 543269.
  4. [S18] England, Death Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Deaths, Thomas Davies Mar Qr. 1876 Festiniog 11b/340 age 97.

Lowry Lloyd

F, b. before 19 October 1791, d. March 1873
FatherRobert Loyd1 d. b 27 Apr 1831
MotherElizabeth Edward b. s 1749, d. b 24 Nov 1832
ChartsAncestors Margaret Wain 12 gen.
     Lowry was born before 19 October 1791 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, Wales.2

[When RP:Bride] married Thomas Davies on 5 February 1817 at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, Wales, this was their home parish. Thomas was a singleman and Lowry was a spinster and the witnesses were David Thomas and Griffith Owen. Lowry was the daughter of Robert Lloyd and Elizabeth Edward who had also been married in the parish church. Her parents had lived on a farm called Gerigddu (Graigddu).2 David stated on his marriage certificate that his parents were Thomas Davies, farmer and Laura Loyd of Port Madoc which is in Caernarfonshire,North Wales. In other certificates his birthplace was noted as Penrin, Merionethshire. This is an abbreviation of Penrhyndeudeaeth, a small settlement in Merionethyshire, across the estuary from Port Madoc and near Maentwrog. Because Penryn did not have a church until 1858, earlier baptisms would have been celebrated at either Maentwrog or LLandecwyn. Assuming that the age of 27 as given by David on 17 February 1860 was correct, he was most likely baptised on 25 March 1832 at Maentwrog, son of Thomas Davies farmer and Lawry. Lowry died in March 1873 at Llanfihangel y Traethau, Merionethshire, Wales.3

Family

Thomas Davies b. 1781, d. 6 Mar 1876
Children

Citations

  1. [S344] Trawsfynydd Bishop's Transcript, , Baptisms 1791.
  2. [S344] Trawsfynydd Bishop's Transcript,.
  3. [S7] England, Indexes to Deaths, General Register Office, England, Mar Qr 1873. Festiniog 11b/339 age 83.

Benjamin Williams

M, b. say 1777
ChartsAncestors Margaret Wain 12 gen.
     He married Hannah David. Benjamin was born say 1777 at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales.1

Family

Hannah David d. 17 Jul 1858
Child

Citations

  1. [S10] 1851, Living with family of James Davies at Tirback farm.

Hannah David

F, d. 17 July 1858
ChartsAncestors Margaret Wain 12 gen.
     Hannah was born. She married Benjamin Williams. Hannah David died on 17 July 1858 at Tirbach Farm, Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales.1 She was buried after 17 July 1858 at Trewen Parish Cemetery, Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales; The surname on the inscription is Davies. It is possible that Margaret's mother had remarried and that the Davies surname was from a second marriage.2

Family

Benjamin Williams b. s 1777
Child

Citations

  1. [S309] Mary Jane Stevenson, M.J.Stephenson [e-mail address], Hannah Davies, mother of Margaret Davies age 94.
  2. [S309] Mary Jane Stevenson, M.J.Stephenson [e-mail address].

Ruth Davies

F, b. 29 December 1823
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     Ruth was born on 29 December 1823 at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales.1 Ruth has not been found in the 1841 census but she it is likely that she was employed in the local area. She married John Evans say 1844. Ruth Davies was buried on 10 October 1894 at Penbryn, Wales,Her age was given as 71 and she was buried at the Independent chapel, Glynarthen.2

Family

John Evans b. 1817
Children

Citations

  1. [S351] Trewen Independent Chapel Brongwyn, 1785-1837, LDS Film No. 0828103.
  2. [S303] National Burial Index,.

Benjamin Davies

M, b. 25 December 1825
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     Benjamin was born on 25 December 1825 at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales.1 He married Elizabeth (?)2 A census listed Benjamin as head of household on 2 April 1871 at Merthyr Tydvil, Wales. Benjamin and Elizabeth were living at 100 Ivor Street. There were two lodgers and a visitor. Because there were three baptisms for a Benjamin Davies in 1826 at Llandygwyth, the identification of this Benjamin requires further corroboration.3

Family

Elizabeth (?) b. s 1847

Citations

  1. [S351] Trewen Independent Chapel Brongwyn, 1785-1837.
  2. [S12] 1871.
  3. [S12] 1871, Civil parish: Dowlais
    Ecclesiastical parish: Dowlais
    Town: Dowlais
    County/Island: Glamorgan
    Country: Wales
    Source information: RG10/5398
    Registration district: Merthyr Tydfil
    Sub-registration district: Upper Merthyr Tydfil
    ED, institution, or vessel: 5
    Folio: 54
    Page: 25 (click to see others on page)
    Household schedule number: 105.

John Evans

M, b. 1817
     John was born in 1817 at Bettws Evan, Wales. He married Ruth Davies say 1844. A census listed John as head of household on 3 April 1881 at Sarnau, Wales. John was a general labourer. He was living at Tynewydd, Sarnau with his wife Ruth age 57 born in Llandygwydd and three daughters all born at Penbryn - Sarah 34 charwoman, Anne 24 and Ellen 19 who were both post messengers. Also in the household was a neice Elizabeth Davies 3 born at Penbryn.1 John died .

Family

Ruth Davies b. 29 Dec 1823
Children

Citations

  1. [S223] 1881 UK Census.

Elizabeth Davies

F, b. 27 June 1822, d. 23 August 1909
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     Elizabeth Davies was baptized on 27 June 1822 at Trewen, Cardiganshire, Wales, at the Trewen Independent chapel.1

Elizabeth appears to have been the eldest surviving daughter of James and Margaret and with each new pregnancy of her mother, she would have had to assume more responsibility for her younger siblings. However once she was old enough she would have had to find work and contribute to the family finances. In the isolated area where the family lived it would have been difficult for the daughters to find local work and sometime before 1841 Elizabeth had left home. In the early 1840's, lower middle-class, middle-class, and even upper-class women ("distressed gentlewomen") were increasingly forced into finding support for themselves. It has not yet been possible to locate Elizabeth in the 1841 census but it seems likely that she had moved to the growing industrial area in South Wales where she would have worked either in some domestic situation or as a seamstress. These were almost the only avenues of work available for women. Girls did not always have access to schools and because Elizabeth was unable to write, she could not have taken employment as a governess. Despite this disadvantage sometime around 1845, Elizabeth was to gain a position as a children's nurse with the family of a Mr Evans who lived in a large manor house named Llanciaich. Elizabeth obviously had qualities which enabled her to gain such a position of trust with a gentleman's family and working in such a grand house was far different to the small farmhouse where she was born.

Llanciach Fawr Manor is in the Rhymer Valley between Nelson and Gelligaer and today is accessed from the B 4254. The small hamlet of Llanciach was nearby. It was a semi-fortified manor house built in the early sixteenth century for a David ap Richard whose name was to be anglicized to Pritchard. It had four foot thick walls, a single entrance and a system of defendable staircases and stout wooden doors. During troubled times, these could be closed to make the inner east wing safe and secure. In the early seventeenth century an extensive refurbishment and remodelling removed much of the defensive features and added a grand staircase. When the last Pritchard died in 1655 with no male heir it became a tenanted farm for 300 years. It was purchased by the Rhymney Valley District Council in 1979 and the house and grounds have now been restored to their probable mid-seventeenth century appearance. Experiences for visitors include a candle light Ghostwalk.

Elizabeth would have met Thomas Harris during her time at Llanciach. Family letters indicate that his family came from a small farm or hamlet called Shingru in the parish of Llanfabon. Shingrug and Efail Shingrug are small hamlets about 1/4 mile form Llanciach. Thomas may have been working on a farm or employed at one of the coalpits in the district.2 She married Thomas Harris on 7 August 1848 at Merthyr Tydvil, Wales.3 On 24 June 1959 Thomas Davies wrote to her in Liverpool regarding her forthcoming journey to Australia and wishing her happiness. The search for the sailing information has not been conclusive but she was probably the Elizabeth Harris wife, age 35, who sailed from Liverpool on 21 July 1859 on board the David.G.Fleming. The shipping list states that Elizabeth Harris was accompanied by a son John age 7, an infant daughter and Hannah Harris spinster, age 18. This date of departure is just four weeks after the writing of the letter and is probably the correct family group, but the age of the children appears to have been reversed. There has been no mention of a Hannah Harris in family stories, and the 18 year old was probably the sister Hannah Davis understating her age in order to share a berth with Elizabeth. This would have been much preferable to travelling in segregated female quarters. In fact Elizabeth would have been 38 and it seems she also understated her age. The David Fleming arrived in Melbourne after a voyage of about 140 days.
When Elizabeth arrived in Australia it was to be told that her husband had been killed in a mining accident. This would have been disastrous news, compounded by the fear of being a female with two young children in a strange and unknown land. Her grandson was later to relate that the Welsh people on board took care of her and accompanied her to Maldon. She was helped by sympathetic miners to find a house.
She married David Lijohn Thomas on 18 March 1860 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia. Elizabeth died at age 87 on 23 August 1909 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.4 She was buried on 23 August 1909 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia. The burial record gives her age as 85..5

Family 1

Thomas Harris b. s 1828, d. 8 May 1859
Marriage*She married Thomas Harris on 7 August 1848 at Merthyr Tydvil, Wales.3 
Children

Family 2

David Lijohn Thomas b. s 1833, d. 20 Jul 1904
Marriage*
She married David Lijohn Thomas on 18 March 1860 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia
Child

Citations

  1. [S351] Trewen Independent Chapel Brongwyn, 1785-1837.
  2. [S346] Margaret Ellen Knight, Letter to Llanchiah llanfabon.
  3. [S3] England, Marriage Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Marriages, June Qr. 1848, Folio 26 p.510.
  4. [S101] Letter from Jenny Little, 69 Gordon Street.,
    Balwyn.
  5. [S313] Section H/873/20 or 200, Register of Burials.

Mary Davies

F, b. say 1828
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     Mary was born say 1828.1 Mary was unmarried in 1864.

Citations

  1. [S5] 1841.

John Davies

M, b. 4 November 1831, d. 4 August 1859
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     John was born on 4 November 1831 at Trewen, Cardiganshire, Wales.1 John died at age 27 on 4 August 1859 at Brongwyn, Cardiganshire, Wales.2

Family

Child

Citations

  1. [S351] Trewen Independent Chapel Brongwyn, 1785-1837, Information from Ceredigion Record Office.
  2. [S309] Mary Jane Stevenson, M.J.Stephenson [e-mail address], Trewen Cemetery Plot 84.

David Davies

M, b. 27 December 1833
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     David was born on 27 December 1833 at Llandygwydd, Cardiganshire, Wales.1

Citations

  1. [S351] Trewen Independent Chapel Brongwyn, 1785-1837.

Thomas Davies

M, b. before June 1838, d. 6 August 1884
FatherJames Davies b. 1800, d. 12 May 1864
MotherMargaret Williams b. b 27 Sep 1800, d. 23 Dec 1872
     Thomas Davies was born before June 1838.1 He married Mary (?) Thomas Davies appeared on the census of 2 April 1871 at Dowlais, Wales, This Thomas was the correct age and born in Cardigan. He was living at 8 Ivor street, the same street as Benjamin. He is also a railwayman. To be certain that this was the correct Thomas, it would be neccesary to find the marriage details and ascertain the name of his father.2 He died on 6 August 1884 His death is recorded on the family tombstone in the Trewen churchyard. However there is no record of a burial service in the chapel and he may have died out of the parish.
DAVIES Thomas 45     Newcastle E 11b/15
DAVIES Thomas 43 Merthyr T     11a/301.3

Family

Mary (?) b. 1836
Child

Citations

  1. [S5] 1841.
  2. [S12] 1871, Source information: RG10/5398
    Registration district: Merthyr Tydfil
    Sub-registration district: Upper Merthyr Tydfil
    ED, institution, or vessel: 5
    Folio: 42
    Page: 1 (click to see others on page)
    Household schedule number: 2

    Civil parish: Dowlais
    Ecclesiastical parish: Dowlais
    Town: Dowlais
    County/Island: Glamorgan
    Country: Wales.
  3. [S309] Mary Jane Stevenson, M.J.Stephenson [e-mail address], Plot 84.

Thomas Harris

M, b. say 1828, d. 8 May 1859
FatherDavid Harries1 b. 1793, d. b 28 Mar 1864
MotherJane Davies b. 1803
     Thomas was born say 1828 at Llanfabon, Wales, son of David Harris a farmer.. This year of birth is calculated from age of 23 as given on the census 30 March 1851..2

A baptism for a Thomas Harris has not been found in the BT's for Llanfabon. However information from his marriage certifcate and letters kept by his descendants gave his father as David Harris of Shinrug, Llanfabon. It is not known if the Harris family belonged to “church” or “chapel”. The parish church of St Mabyn was about 2 miles from Shingrug, but Samuel Lewis noted in 1833 that there were also two chapels of worship for Welsh Calvinistic Methodists and one for Wesleyan Methodists. The parish registers for one of these churches may record a baptism for Thomas. It is noted that the surname was HARRIES as written by the clerk who registered the births of children born to Thomas and this was also the spelling written in the census files.

Until the early 19th century Llanfabon was a rural area and Thomas's father David Harris would have been employed on the land, either on his own lease or as a farm helper. Sketches of the Cynon Valley done in the 1830's by the granddaughters of one of the first ironmasters, give an insight into the beauty of the Aberdare area before the encroachment of the mines and associated destruction of the rural countryside.
INSERT SKETCH
Check location of the Rhondda river for placement

Arthur Morris described the industrial landscape in 1908.
An industrial landscape
'The River Rhondda is a dark, turgid, and contaminated gutter, into which is poured the refuse of the host of collieries which skirt the thirteen miles of its course. The hills - have been stripped of their woodland beauty, and there they stand, rugged and bare, with immense rubbish heaps covering their surface......The whole length of the valley has become transformed....the din of steam engines, the whirr of machinery, the grating sound of coal screens, and the hammering of the smithies proceed increasingly night and day, year in and year out. An unheard of wealth of industry and a great population have simultaneously sprung up together during the past sixty years........The industrial townships of this valley appear to be inseparably connected in one continuous series of streets of workmens cottages to Pontypridd'.
Arthur Morris. Glamorgan. 1908

The opening up of mines and the exploitation of the rich mineral wealth was to bring a proliferation of mines of iron-stone and coal and the massive expansion of the new coal communities. There was no longer much choice for employment apart from the mining industry. He married Elizabeth Davies on 7 August 1848 at Merthyr Tydvil, Wales.3

Following their marriage, the couple set up home in one of the coal mining communities near Mountain Ash in the Aberdare valley on the Cynon, a west bank tributary of the Taff. The census taken on 30 March 1851 found them living in Nelson.

     1851 Census
Parish of Llanfabon
     Nelson          RG107/2457
Thomas Harries Head M 23 Coal miner b Gellygau Glam (b. 1828)
Elizabeth Harries     Wife M 28 b. Llandygwyth (b.1822)
David Harries Lodger U 18 Coal miner b. Glam (not clear)
Richard Phillips Lodger U 22 Coal miner b. Glam
George (Thomas) Lodger U 22 Coal miner b, ?4

In the next nine years Elizabeth and Thomas had three children, one of whom did not survive infancy. Margaret Ellen was born 28 July 1852 whilst Thomas and Elizabeth lived in Nelson, but sometime before 1856 when William John was born, the family had moved to Mountain Ash.

About 1850 a new coalfield had been opened up in Mountain Ash in the parish of Llanwonno in the Aberdare valley on the Cynon river, an area which until then had been a beautiful pastoral and forest area largely untouched by the industrial revolution. The 6 ¾ mile long Aberdare Canal had been opened in 1812 but fell into disuse once the Taff Vale Railway was opened in 1846. Following the sinking of the Deep Duffryn Colliery in 1850 and the Lower Duffryn in 1854 there was a rapid increase in population and huge demand for housing and public amenities. Thomas and Elizabeth with baby Margaret Ellen moved to Mountain Ash where Thomas would have found work in one of the new mines. It was in Mountain Ash that William John Harries was born on 27 July 1856.5,6

The low wages paid to miners gave them no easy escape from the poverty and danger and the future prospects for their children gave little hope that their lives would be any better. Mining disasters were very frequent and miners and their familes lived in constant fear of the death of the breadwinner. Just two weeks before the birth of William there was a huge explosion at the Cymmer Colliery in the valley where they were living and this may well have been the catalyst which made Thomas decide to try his luck in Australia.
.

THE CYMMER COLLIERY EXPLOSION 1856


On the morning of Tuesday 15th July 1856 at the 'Old Pit' in Cymmer, there occurred as stated in the Mines Inspector's report, 'The most fearful and destructive explosion, resulting in a sacrifice of human life unparalleled in the history of Britain at that time'. At 6.00 a.m. one hundred and sixty men and boys descended the shaft to begin their shift and were on their way to their working places when the explosion took place. The ferocity of the explosion led rescuers to believe that all lives below ground would be lost. However some miners had only descended a short way into the pit and were able to make their way back to the shaft and safety. Rescuers took measures to clear the mine of afterdamp, and descended into the mine some three hours after the initial explosion took place. By that Tuesday evening some 112 bodies had been brought to the surface of the mine, another was recovered on the Wednesday and one severe burns victim died on the Thursday.
At the pithead relatives and friends searched to identify victims, few of whom were not badly burnt, dying instead of suffocation caused by the afterdamp. Temporary mortuaries were set up in the Colliery's carpenters shop and also Cymmer Independent Chapel.
The scale of the disaster devastated the small communities of Cymmer and surrounding areas, with no household left untouched and virtually all working age men and boys having perished. One household alone saw a father and his three sons aged 10, 13, and 16 all perish. Thirty graves were opened at Cymmer Independent Chapel's graveyard, and a mass internment of victims took place on Thursday 17th July.
The first inquest into the disaster was held at the Ty Newydd Hotel, Porth on the 16th July, which was subsequently adjourned until Monday 27th July at the Butchers Arms in Pontypridd. The inquest lasted 13 days and twenty-nine witnesses were called. At the inquest it became clear that safety precautions at the colliery were woefully inadequate, and mines safety regulations were ignored. It was seen that the mine was poorly ventilated, and that pockets of gas were an everyday feature of life below ground, additionally the carrying of naked flames in the mine was commonplace. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter on the colliery manager, Jabez Thomas, and four senior officials at the mine. This verdict was overturned at the Glamorgan assizes at Swansea, the following March, leading to a great deal of resentment among colliery workers.


About 1857 Thomas made plans to follow the gold rush and emigrate to Australia. At present it is not possible to be certain on which ship Thomas sailed but his passage does not appear to have been assisted and he probably paid his own fare. Margaret Ellen Knight' letter suugests he was two years in Australia before Elizabeth was to join him but there were actually 5 men named Thomas Harris who were of the correct age group who emigrated in late 1857 and early 1858.

The accident was reported in the Tarrengower Times on 29 April as follows:-
ACCIDENT at EAGLE HAWK
A serious accident took place in the Metropolitan pump shaft on Tuesday morning, by which Thomas Harris, a Welshman, almost lost his life. He was standing in the shaft below, when by some mischance or other a large iron bound wooden bucket became detached from the hook and fell with fearful violence on the head and shoulders of the unfortunate man, inflicting a dreadful gash on the back of the head, neck and left shoulder. It was most fortunate that the bucket striking the sides as it fell, in some measure broke the rapidity of its descent, or instantaneous death to the poor fellow must have been the consequence. As it is he is lying in a most precarious state. These accidents are fortunately rare on Tarrengower, but this perhaps causes a greater amount of carelessness than would otherwise be the case. We hope this melancholy case will act as a warning to our readers.7

Thomas died on 8 May 1859 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia. .8 He was buried on 8 May 1859 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.

An inquest was held into the death of Thomas Harris by the Coroner on 10 May 1859(!) At Maldon, Victoria, Australia.8 A report on the death was published on 12 May 1859

FATAL TERMINATION OF THE ACCIDENT IN THE METROPOLITAN SHAFT

Our readers will remember the unfortunate accident which took place in the Metropolitan Pump Shaft a fortnight back. From the injuries received the poor fellow expired on Friday night last, at the tent of Mr. Thomas, where he had been carried, and up to the last received the most unremitting care and attention from Mr. and Mrs. Harris who, like Good Samaritans, as they are, gave up their own bed to the sufferer. The deceased was attended by Dr. Thomas, who, however, never had the slightest hope of his patient’s recovery. A most melancholy feature in this distressing case is the fact of the poor fellow having bt the last mail sent to England for his wife and family. Mr. Richmond, of Tiverton reef, will immediately communicate to them the sad tidings, which he hopes will arrive in time to prevent the bereaved family leaving their friends and home,
Dr. Preshaw held an inquest on the body on Sunday morning- the following was the evidence adduced:-
Robert Nankinville depose- I am a miner at Maldon; having known deceased about 7 months; was working with him on the morning of the accident at the bottom of the shaft, which is 150 ft deep:; was within 6 feet of him when a bucket fell down the shaft, striking him on the back of the head and shoulders; in about half a minute he was enabled to speak, the bucket was attached to the rope by a spring hook, and was wound up by horse gear; examined the hook after accident; found the spring broken; had not examined it previously, it being a new one of course, thought it was all right.
John Plummer, sworn- I am a miner at Maldon; on the morning of the accident was working on the top of the Metropolitan Pump Shaft. I had just emptied the bucket, and had delivered it into the shaft again; when about 6 feet down it became detached from the hook and fell; the hook was a new one that had been procured by deceased a few days previous; I examined the hook that morning, and it was apparently sound; after the accident I saw the spring was broken. It was not the practice to unhook the bucket.
Samuel J Thomas, surgeon, deposed that he was called in after the accident; found the deceased suffering from a long incised wound at the back of the head; the skull was fractured, and he complained of great pain on the right blade bone a few days afterwards; he also complained of an acute pain about the region of the liver; shortly after jaundice came on; had an unfavourable opinion of the case from the first; four days prior to death informed the friends of the deceased that the patient could not recover; the cause of death was the general injury sustained by the internal organs of the body.
After a brief consultation the jury returned the following verdict;
That Thomas Harris, aged 33, died at Eaglehawk, Maldon, on the 7th May, from injuries received by the accidental falling of a bucket, he being at work 150 feet from the surface.


It is said by some, with what foundation we know not, that evidence could have been brought forward showing a great amount of carelessness in the working of this particular shaft, and that the accident is more to be contributed to this than any other cause, whether this be the case or no, we feel satisfied that as a rule sufficient care is not taken by the miners generally, and trust that this sad affair will render them more particular,
In conclusion, we are grieved to be obliged to notice the general apathy of that portion of our community whom ought to be the most Zealous, we allude to the ministers of the gospel; many are the case that have come under our special notice of sick men being for weeks previous to their death without that solace and comfort that should have been afforded to them by those who profess to hae the “care of souls”.
One honorable exception to this we have observed in our Roman Catholic friends.9

Family

Elizabeth Davies b. 27 Jun 1822, d. 23 Aug 1909
Marriage*He married Elizabeth Davies on 7 August 1848 at Merthyr Tydvil, Wales.3 
Children

Citations

  1. [S9] 1861Llanfabon RG9/4047.
  2. [S6] Victoria, Australia, Marriage Certificate, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia. Certified copy of particulars recorded in a register.
  3. [S3] England, Marriage Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Marriages, June Qr. 1848, Folio 26 p.510.
  4. [S10] 1851, Llanfabon LDS Film No.0104199.
  5. [S187] England, Birth Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, Margaret Ellen Harris 1852.
  6. [S187] England, Birth Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, William John Harris 1856.
  7. [S353] Tarrangower Times, 29 April 1859.
  8. [S23] Victoria, Australia, Inquest Deposition Files, Register-General & Office of Titles, Public Record Office of Victoria, Australia, VPRS/24/P0000, Unit 538, 1888/1557.
  9. [S353] Tarrangower Times, 12 May 1859.

David Lijohn Thomas

M, b. say 1833, d. 20 July 1904
     David was born say 1833.
He married Elizabeth Davies on 18 March 1860 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.

Elizabeth was again to understate her age when given the prospect of marrying a younger man. David was 27 years old and Elizabeth again gave her own age as 35, when in fact she would have been 38.
This was a deception she continued throughout her marriage, as evidence by the age given in the Family Bible and on her death.. David Lijohn Thomas was buried on 20 July 1904 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.1 David died on 20 July 1904 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.2

Family

Elizabeth Davies b. 27 Jun 1822, d. 23 Aug 1909
Child

Citations

  1. [S313] Section H No. 873/20 0r 200, Register of Burials.
  2. [S22] Victoria, Australia, Indexes to Births, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, Reg. No. 1904/9394.

Margaret Ellen Harris

F, b. 28 July 1852, d. 26 October 1942
FatherThomas Harris b. s 1828, d. 8 May 1859
MotherElizabeth Davies b. 27 Jun 1822, d. 23 Aug 1909
     Margaret was born on 28 July 1852 at Nelson, Llanfabon, Glamorganshire, Wales. Her mother had registered the birth on the 4th August 1852 but the surname had been spelt as Harries.1 She married Henry Joseph Knight in 1876 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.2 Margaret Ellen Harris lived in 1877 at Echuca, Victoria, Australia.3 Margaret Ellen wrote to Wales, probably to the occupier of Llanciah, seeking information about her mother and father. She stated that her mother had been a children's nurse at Llanciah for three years before her marriage. She had worked for a Mr. Evans.4 Margaret died at age 90 at the home of her daughter Mrs Wes James in 19 Allison Avenue Glen Iris on 26 October 1942 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.5 Margaret Ellen was buried on 28 October 1942 in the Maldon Cemetery, following a funeral service which was held at the Maldon Baptist Church. Margaret Ellen appears to have been buried with a Joseph Knight who was buried on 1 March 1869 age 37..5

Family

Henry Joseph Knight b. 1850, d. 1898
Children

Citations

  1. [S187] England, Birth Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births, held by Margaret Whitaker.
  2. [S101] Letter from Jenny Little, 69 Gordon Street.,
    Balwyn.
  3. [S312] Katherine Linke,.
  4. [S314] Karen Linke Letter,.
  5. [S319] Death Notice, Margaret Ellen Knight, Knight, Margaret Ellen Funeral Notice.

William John Harris

M, b. 27 July 1856, d. 26 July 1924
FatherThomas Harris b. s 1828, d. 8 May 1859
MotherElizabeth Davies b. 27 Jun 1822, d. 23 Aug 1909
     William was born on 27 July 1856 at Mountain Ash, Glamorganshire, Wales. Thomas was a Haulier.1 He married Margaret Joseph David in 1883 at Porcupine Flat, Victoria, Australia.2 William died at age 67 on 26 July 1924 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.3 He was buried on 28 July 1924 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.4

Family

Margaret Joseph David b. 1864, d. 1 Apr 1950
Children

Citations

  1. [S187] England, Birth Certificate, Certified copy of an entry in a Register of Births.
  2. [S28] Victoria, Australia, Indexes to Marriages, Registry of Births, Deaths, Marriages, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia., Reg. No. 1883/1173.
  3. [S363] Harris Family Grave, Monumental Inscription.
  4. [S313] Register of Burials.
  5. [S304] Aunty Margaret,.

Thomas Thomas

M, b. 1862, d. 20 August 1946
FatherDavid Lijohn Thomas b. s 1833, d. 20 Jul 1904
MotherElizabeth Davies b. 27 Jun 1822, d. 23 Aug 1909
     Thomas was born in 1862 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.1 He married Maude Amelia Malleskot (Malleshott) in 1912; Recheck also a marriage to Ellen Jane Harris 1906/8583. Thomas Thomas was buried on 20 August 1946 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.2 Thomas died on 20 August 1946 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.1,3

Citations

  1. [S101] Letter from Jenny Little, 69 Gordon Street.,
    Balwyn.
  2. [S313] Section H/873/20 or 200, Register of Burials.
  3. [S15] Victoria, Australia, Indexes to Deaths, Registry of Births, Deaths, Marriages, State of Victoria, Commonwelth of Australia., Reg.No 1946/ 21257.

Henry Joseph Knight

M, b. 1850, d. 1898
     Henry was born in 1850. He married Margaret Ellen Harris in 1876 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.1 Henry Joseph Knight was buried in 1898 at Maldon, Victoria, Australia.2 Henry died in 1898 at Echuca, Victoria, Australia.

Family

Margaret Ellen Harris b. 28 Jul 1852, d. 26 Oct 1942
Children

Citations

  1. [S101] Letter from Jenny Little, 69 Gordon Street.,
    Balwyn.
  2. [S313] Section 7/23 No. 294?, Register of Burials.