Ivy Cottage – Y Ty Bach
– 436 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
On the 2nd February 1701, William Pritchard, Goytrey victualler, held lease no. 1079 of a cottage and 4 acres of land near the blacksmiths shop in Pellenny. The lease was granted on his life and that of his son Richard and daughter Mary, who later married Thomas Rosser Jenkin. The cost of the lease was £5 and the yearly rent being 2s. This lease expired in 1740.
The next mention is in 1749 when lease no. 1051 previously held by William Pritchard was granted to Francis Morgan on the lives of his children, William aged about 5, Mary, aged about 11 and Francis aged about 2. Francis is paying 2s 6d yearly rent and 2 fat hens at Christmas yearly.
Francis Morgan is next mentioned in the overseer of the poor records for Pelenigg in 1783.
Francis Morgan the elder died in 1800, his will states he leaves the messuage where he lives to son Francis Morgan and his wife Ann, then to granddaughter Ann.
Ann Morgan, daughter of Francis and Ann married John Prosser, it is they who remained at Y Tee Bach, John Prosser being mentioned in the parish records as an overseer of the poor. I can only find one child of John and Ann Prosser being baptised, Ann born in 1816.
Francis Morgan the younger died in 1836 in Goytrey workhouse aged 90. In his will he left, to his grandchildren, Mary Harris, £7; to Margaret Morgan £7 plus his dresser and shelves; to Ann the wife of John Prosser a writing desk; all remainder of his belongings shared between John and Ann Prosser, he was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.
Ann Prosser died in 1835 aged 46, she is buried in St Peter’s churchyard.
In 1838 John Prosser is holding the lease for Y Tee Bach. On the census of 1841 John is a 45 year old carpenter. The tithe of 1841 says there is a garden, a house and garden, a lower orchard, another house and garden (the Carpenters Arms) and an upper orchard.
John is paying 6s 7d tithe to the rector. Living with John on the census is his 34-year-old niece, Margaret Morgan.
By 1851 John is still at Y Tee Bach, he is now a 64 year old widower and still a carpenter. His niece Margaret is still his housekeeper, she is now 44 years old.
I am unable to find John Prosser on the census of 1861, most of the census for that year is missing. I do know John died in n the 23rdJune 1873. He left a will bequeathing everything (under £100) to his grandson and sole heir William Williams.
The census of 1871 shows 67 year old Margaret Morgan is in occupation, she is an annuitant.
Margaret died in 1881 aged 81 and is buried in St Peter’s churchyard.
On the census of 1881 living with Margaret Morgan is her nephew William Williams and his family. William is a 34 year old engine driver in the iron works, he was born in Goytre in 1846, the son of Walter and Ann Williams. His wife Clara is 32, their children are John 11; Henry 9; Margaret Ann 7; David 5; William 3 and Charlotte who is 6 months old.
In July 1882 William Williams was summoned for not sending his children to school, Henry had not attended for 3 months. The following year the same happened, on this occasion William said that Henry was in service at Pentwyn Farm, Mamhilad.
The death of Margaret Morgan occurred in 1885, she was buried in St Peter’s Churchyard.
By the time of the 1891 census William has become an engine fitter, he is 45 years of age, Clara is 45 and born in Trevethin. Living with them are their children, Harry now 19 and David 15, both labourers, attending school is William 10, Charlotte 10, Clara 8 and 6 year old Elizabeth, there are two younger children, George 4 and 2 year old Lilly. (Photo of William Walter Williams, kindly provided by Sophie Sharland)
The census of 1901 says William is now a farmer, he is 57 years old and working on his own account, Clara is 56. Living with them is 29 year old Henry who is a carter on the farm and 15 year old George who is a cowman and daughter Lilly who is 12.
William’s wife Clara died in 1903 and was laid to rest at Chapel Ed.
The census of 1911 says William is a 66 year old market gardener, he is living on his own at Ivy Cottage.
Several of Wiliam and Clara’s children were married after her death, Charlotte married William Jay and lived in Abertillery. Henry married Laura Kate Jenkins in 1906. Clara married John Humphries and lived in Caerleon, Elizabeth married married Arthur Henry Brandes and later Reginald Sutton, she lived in London then moved to Australia.
William had re-married by the time of his death in December 1914 to Elizabeth.
William died on the 8th December 1914 aged 70.
Probate of his will dated 25th January 1915 left all his personal and household belongings to his wife Elizabeth, then to be shared equally between his five daughters, Margaret, Elizabeth, Clara, Charlotte and Lilly.
In the gallery are photographs of the Williams family.
Unfortunately I am unable to follow the history of Ive Cottage any further than this date.