Coachman’s Cottage – 429 on the 1841 tithe
Coachman’s Cottage was built about 1863 as a coach house for Col. Byrde and renamed at a later stage. Lewis Edmund wrote in his diary on 4th Feb 1864 “at Col. Byrde, repairing the pantile on the new coach house.”
Further to this all I have is the information given on the 1891 and 1901 census when Albert Coleman was living there.
In the 1950’s is was two flats, my best friends sister lived there after her marriage so we visited occasionally.
Black Beech – 810 on the 1841 tithe
On the tithe of 1841 Black Beech contained 29 acres 0 rood and 23 perches and an additional 7 acres 0 rood and 17 perches. The owner was Sir Joseph Bailey, he was paying £3 12s plus 5s 5d to the rector.
On the census of 1841 John Williams is the occupier, he is a 60 year old farmer, his wife Eleanor is 55, living with them are Thomas 25, Elinor 20, Abraham 20, Charlotte 15, Roger 15, Isaac 7, Elinor 4 and two year old Isaac.
By 1861 John Williams had died as Elinor says she is a 66 year old widow ( I cannot find a burial for John) farming 26 acres and came from Breconshire. Living with her are her grandchildren Isaac 17 and John 13. She also has two farm servants, John Watts, 40 and John Jenkins 25.
In 1852 Elinor is registered as holding farm and lands of 39 acres 0 rood and 23 perches her name appears on the vicar’s tithe account for1855.
An advert is placed in the Usk Observor on the 14th March 1857 by Abraham, the son of John and Elinor Williams for the sale of farming stock and household furniture as the family are quitting Black Beech.
The new tenant of Black Beech in 1859 is Thomas Roberts. On the 1861 census Thomas is a 33 years old, farming 32 acres, he was born in Llangattock. His wife Jane is 38, the children mentioned are Alice and Thomas, both aged 1..
By 1865 several things had happened to the Roberts family, Jane, Thomas’s wife had died although I cannot find a burial for her and Thomas had changed his occupation, he is now a publican at the Royal Oak, Goytre. (Thomas Roberts, widow, public house keeper, married Martha Neate, July 1867.)
The electoral register of 1866 says Sir Joseph Bailey of Glenusk Park is still holding Black Beech, a freehold house and land.
I am unable to ascertain who is living at Black Beech on the census of 1871, but it appears John Williams of Penwern is leasing the property and subletting it as he says in the Free Press of 1873 that his tenant (of Black Beech) wants to leave due to the interference from the vicar. This is the date of the notorious case of “The Vicar and the Well.” Mr Mathews, farmer of Penpellenny closed up the Black Well the same year.
On the census of 1881 William Bevan and Elizabeth his wife are living at Black Beech, William is 48, an agricultural labourer born in Trevethin, Elizabeth is 56, born in Glascoed.
The tithe map was updated in 1888, we now have William Rees the new occupier. William was born in Raglan in 1822, the son of Leonard and Ann, nee Jones. William married Mary Turner at St Peter’s Goytre on the 15th February 1847. Their children are William Leonard, Thomas, Mary Jane, Temperance and Catherine, on the census of 1891 at Black Beech are William 67 a farmer, Mary his wife 73, Mary Jane 35, Temperance 33 and Catherine 30.
Temperance married Francis Nobes, she died in 1926 in Poole.
Mary Jane remained unmarried, she died in Usk in 1908 and was laid to rest in St Peter’s Churchyard.
William Leonard Rees married Sarah Ann Howells in Goytre Church, they lived at 
Penpederhewl, according to an ancestor he emigrated to America, but no date is given.
Thomas married Sarah Ann Howells in Goytre Church, he lived and farmed the Walnut Tree in Goytre. Thomas died in 1902 aged 50, he is also buried at St Peter.
William Rees was fined in £3 10s in 1888 for non-payment of the poor rate. Mary, William’s wife died in May 1891 aged 76, William died in March 1900 aged 75, they are both buried in St Peter’s churchyard.
Another death in January 1902 at Black Beech is Alfred Lewis, Alfred was only 31 years old, the eldest son of William and Elizabeth, late of the Lan, Goytre.
Thomas Rees, (son of William, living at Walnut Tree) held a sale at Black Beech of farming stock and implements on 17th November 1905.
By 1910 Black Beech had changed ownership, it now belonged to the Rev Charles Cook of Mamhilad it had a gross value of £8 and a rateable value of £7, for a holding of 28 acres.
The new occupier in 1911 is James Parry from Mamhilad, James is 42, his wife Emily (nee Arnold) is 38, they had been married for 17 years, had eight children, seven of which had survived. Laura 16, Bertha 14, Gus 12, Susan 11, Elizabeth 9, Emily 7, Elsie 4, all being born in Glascoed.
The Parry family did not stay long at Black Beech, by 1914 they had moved to farm at Glascoed, where James died in 1957.
The poor rate was paid by the Rev. C Cook 1914.
In March 1906 Christopher Cook of Mamhilad, a 38 year old farmer married Gertrude Davies, 29, the daughter of Aaron Davies, a gardener, at Llanvihangel Pontymoile Church, they made their home at Black Beech where they had two sons, Philip and Charles.
On the 18th December 1921 Christopher Cook, 53, of Black Beech, husband of Gertrude was laid to rest at St Peter’s church, Goytre. Christopher was the son of Christopher Cook, clergyman of Mamhilad.
Gertrude remained at Black Beech, the Electoral Register shows Philip living with her in 1938, by 1948 Gertrude, Charles and Philip were all residing there.
Gertrude died in 1957, the Cook family remained at Black Beech for many more years.
Arrow Cottage – Newtown Road
I was told by Brenda Harris, nee Merrick, who lived all her life on Newtown Road that the ground on which Arrow Cottage and many of the properties along the road were built was purchased by her Merrick family from Little Mill in the early 1900’s who then later sold plots individually for house building.
1907 is the earliest date I can find for Arrow Cottage being listed on the electoral register. The register says Arthur Jenkins is the owner, although his full name is Edward Arthur; he married Matilda Hunt at Inkberrow on the 1st January 1904 saying he was a builders foreman.
Following on to the census of 1911 Arthur Jenkins is a 31 year old carpenter who was born in Usk, his wife Matilda was born in Inkberrow, they have three children, Owen 6, Norman 2, and 5 month old Jocelyn, all born in Goytre. The census also says the property has 5 rooms and that Arthur and Matilda had been married for 7 years.
The rateable value in 1910 was £5 5s, the gross value was £7, the poor rate for Arrow Cottage in 1914 was being paid by Arthur Jenkins.
Edward Arthur died in 1927 at The Nook, Lanvair Kilgeddin, he was 55 years old, and was buried at St Peter’s Church.
An article in the Free Press dated December 21st 1934 says Norman Jenkins, of Goytrey, a garage proprietor was fined £2 10s with 10s costs for driving without due care and attention. (Full article can be read in the newspaper.)
Matilda and son Norman were still at Arrow Cottage in 1939. There were no electoral registers during years of the Second World War. In 1945 Norman is at Arrow Cottage on his own.
By 1948 the new owners were Stanley Hayes, his wife Gertrude, son Stanley and daughter Gwyneth.
I don’t know how long the Hayes family remained at Arrow Cottage.
My Morris family moved in about 1963, my parents then selling to Bob Price at a later date.
Sunnybank
Sunnybank was occupied by Arthur William Powles for so very many years, from 1915 to at least 1945.
He was born in May 1888 at Llanvihangel Crucorney to Thomas, a coal merchant, and Elizabeth his wife.
On the census of 1911 he was a wagoner on Lower Pentwyn farm, working for William Knipe.
Arthur married Eva Diana Walker of Penwern Farm at St Peter’s on the 12th July 1915.
He served in the South Wales Borderers during WW1 in the Infantry Base Department but was discharged with a disability on the 29th May 1919.
Eva died in April 1925 aged 32, she was buried in St Peter’s Churchyard. (Report in obituaries. In October 1929 Arthur remarried Gladys Rogers at Llantrissant.
Arthur and Gladys remained at Sunnybank until at least 1945.
Sunnybank was advertised for sale in 1956, applicants to apply to Mrs Griffiths, Nantyderry.
Station House Nantyderry
The first mention of the station house I can find is John Williams being the master is on the 1861 census.
John married Hannah Mathews, a widow, on the 9th June 1859 at Lanvair Kilgeddin church.
On the census of 1861 John is 27, station master at Nantyderry, John was born in Llanthewy, Hannah his wife is 37, she was born in Llangibby, living with them are children Margaret 11, Alfred 9 and three year old Louisa.
By 1865 Thomas Pape was the station master, he was also the agent for the Usk Observer newspaper, where the newspaper could be purchased or adverts placed with him. Thomas was born in Louth, Lincolshire, the son of Mathew and Harriet, one of four children, he married Keziah Griffin from Hungerford in December 1848 in Berkshire, on the census of 1851 he was a policeman in Westminster.
The census of 1871 says Thomas is 40, Keziah is also 40, their children, Thomas 11 and Henry 10 were born in Mynyddyslwyn, where Thomas was a railway policeman before being the station master in Nantyderry.
There is an undated document in which Keziah and daughter Annie are invited to tea by Lady Llanover.
In November 1888 an assault took place at the station on an elderly woman called Mary Gregory by Henry Neate, a signalman, who accused her of eating his supper. He had left the station to go and signal a train, upon returning he noticed some of his supper was missing and accused Mary of eating it which she denied.
On meeting her the following night she admitted she had eaten his supper, he caught hold of her and said that if she wasn’t an old woman he should have shaken her. He then pushed her all the way to the end of the row to her own house where he threw a bucket of water over her. (Full article in Free Press.)
Thomas remained the station master at Nantyderry for 30 years until his death in June 1895,
Keziah then went to live with her son Henry, a mariners agent in Newport until her death in January 1908, she was laid to rest in St Peter’s Goytre, with Thomas.
The new station master was Henry Sawyer from St Barton’s Gloucester, the son of Henry George and Ellen Creed, he married Emily from Llanvihangel Crucorney in 1889 in Abergavenny. On the census of 1901 Henry is 39, Emily is 35, their children are Violet 11, Hannah 9, both girls were born in Abergavenny, their third daughter Gladys 7, was born in Goytre.
Henry Sawyer placed an advert in the Free Press on 3rd October 1902 offering a £10 reward for the return of his lost dog Spring.
By 1911 Henry Sawyer had moved to Hereford.
The new station master was John Williams, his wife Jennett and their three children, Elsie, George and Arthur, in 1911 John was 42 and Jennett 44, Elsie was 18, George Keeton was 12 and Arthur Keeton 10. John and Jennett had been married for 23 years. John and his family had left Nantyderry by 1915.
The new station master was Edward Spencer, he remained at Nantyderry until his death in 1933.
On the Electoral Register in 1935 the occupier of Station House is William Rouse, his wife Harriet and son Reginald. William was born in Hereford in 1889, the son of Charles and Mary and Preece. William died in 1980.
Ty Arrow
Ty Arrow is on Newtown Road, it was built in 1909 by the then owner Arthur Jenkins.
Arthur Jenkins placed an advert in the Free Press on October 22nd, 1909
New house to let, cheap and convenient, half a mile to the station, with garden. (I think this is Arrow Cottage)
The census of 1911 shows 80 year old Elizabeth Jenkins in occupation, Elizabeth was born in Llansoy, a retired farmer. Living with her is 12 year old scholar Richard Meyrick Taylor Jenkins.
From the Electoral Register:
Arthur Ernest Messenger was living at Ty Arrow in 1920.
Thomas James and Gertrude Ethel Morgan in 1925.
There is no entry for 1930, but by 1936 Benjamin and Gladys Bishop were in residence.
Goytre Lodge – now Nantyderry House
No 680 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
The estate comprised of 45 acres:
Cae’r eglwys (the church field)
Cae’r thin
Cae-pen-carreg (the field at the top of the stone)
Cae’r –defaid (the sheep field)
Cae’r-pen-yr-heol (the field at the end of the road)
Cae’r glwyd (the gate field)
Cae pump cover (the 5 acre field)
Cae’r wern-isaf (the field of the lower alders)
Cae’r-felin (the mill field)
Worlod-isaf-dan-y-ty (the lower meadow below the house)
Venhallog-dan-yr-ardd (possibly the sunny spot under the garden)
Cae’r-garth-haidd (the field of barley enclosure)
Cae-bach (the little field)
Cwm-cae-glwyd (the dingle of the gate field)
Goytre Lodge was owned in 1746 by the Bazley family of Bristol. James Bazely married Margaret Griffiths at St Iltyd’s, Mamhilad on April 15th 1746.
In his will James Bazley said he was a glover and an undertaker, he left his freehold estates to his son John Griffiths Bazley and Benjamin King.
An indenture of 18/19th September 1778 from John Griffiths Bazely and Jeremiah Osborne, transferred Goytre Lodge to Joshua Davies, the then curate of Goytre.
During the years 1821-3 the property was let to James Lewis of the Wern, Goytre.
The following three years it was rented by George Averill who was paying £20 per year, at the end of the lease in 1825 the Averill family moved to Abergavenny.
The same year Robert Farquhar of Pontypool, purchased the Lodge from the nieces and co-heirs of Joshua Davies.
Robert Farquhar was born in Ayrshire in 1764 and came to Pontypool in 1801, he then acquired the Blaendare Ironworks near Pontypool, living close by at Trosnant House.
In January 1803 he married Sarah Hill in Shoreditch, London, they had eight children:
Ann born in 1806, she married John Evans, a clerk from Trelleck Grange when she was still a minor. Ann died in 1845.
John, born in 1808 married by license Mary Winnifred Upham in September 1844 in Taunton, the census of 1851 says he is a 43 year old gentleman his occupation is a merchant and he is living in the square at Bridgewater. His wife Mary is 22, they have 5 children.
Their third child, James Henry born in 1812, became a Reverend, he married by license on the 26th June 1840 Georgiana Louisa Vaux. The census of 1851 says he is the perpetual curate of Llangoven and Penyclwdd, he and Georgiana have 4 children.
James Henry died in 1879 at Llanddewi Skirrid. The entry in the church register reads: Died suddenly when preparing to take a baptism in the new church, not yet open for service. W. P.
(W. Price, the rector of LLanvetherine.)
Daughter Sarah was born in 1814, she died aged seven in 1821 and was buried at Trevethin Church, the register entry says she is a daughter of Robert, coal merchant, Trosnant.
Elizabeth, born in 1816, married John Lloyd, a gentleman of Brynderry, Llantilio Crossenny in June 1844 at Llangoven, the service was conducted by her brother James. The census of 1851 says John Lloyd is a farmer of 67 acres and that they have 3 children. Elizabeth died aged 54 in 1870.
Jane, born in 1819 remained a spinster, she died in 1874 and was buried at Trevethin Church.
Their last child is another Sarah born in 1823, she married Andrew Hair in Raglan in 1846, they moved to Scotland then returned to the Pontypool area. Andrew Hair was manager of the water works and gas company, also a Major in the Army. 
Sarah died in March 1883, her obituary reads: On February 26th at Trosnant House aged 69, Sarah the beloved wife of Major Andrew Hair. Sarah is the youngest daughter and last surviving child of the late Robert Farquhar Esq of Trosnant house and Blaendare.
It was Robert Farquhar who enlarged Goytre Lodge into a substantial home. He died in December 1832 aged 69 and was buried at Trevethin Church. His wife Sarah died in December 1844 whilst staying at Cefn Coch, Raglan.
Following Robert Farquhar’s death his eldest son John inherited Goytre Lodge, the electoral register for the years 1835/9 name him as the owner.
John Farquhar sold Goytre Lodge and 45 acres in 1839 to the Rev. Allen Morgan the new rector of Goytrey for £1600. Allen Morgan paid a deposit of £160, a further £440 to be paid on the execution of the conveyance and that the remainder £1000 of the purchase money at interest of £4 10s 0d per annum.
Trinity College Dublin
Allen Morgan was born in Tullow, Ireland in 1789, the son of the Rev. James and Mary (nee Ashenhurst) he attended Trinity College Dublin in 1806 when he was 17.
His father James is understood to be one of the Morgan family from Tredegar House, Newport, although I am unable to confirm this.
Allen Morgan married Margaret Dyne (also known as Bradley) at St Mary’s, South Stoneham, Hampshire on the 6th March 1827.
The census of 1841 says he is 45, from Ireland, his wife Margaret is 30, their six children are, Eusebius 10, Allen 8, Edward 7, Cosby 5, Thomas 3, and two year old Emily.
Their servants are Elizabeth Higgins 20, Joseph Hotham 15, Judith Conolly 35, Catherine Pritchard 30, Elizabeth Phillips 15, and Ann Evans also 15.
Their first son Eusebuis Hamilton born in 1829 in Kildavin, Ireland, went to Rugby school aged 15 after the death of his father, his address is given as Nantyderry Lodge.
In 1851 he went to Ceylon as a coffee planter (I assume this will be from his connection with Col. Henry Bird who also had coffee plantations in Ceylon.)
Eusebius died aged 21 in March 1851, at sea, whilst on his return journey from Ceylon. His will says he has under £800, which he leaves to his brother Dr Thomas Morgan.
Cosby William Morgan
Dr Allen Bradley Morgan
Cosby William Morgan was born in 1834 and died in 1909 in Petersham, New South Wales.
On the census of 1851 he is a medical pupil in Carmarthen, he then went to New Zealand in 1851 aboard the “Joseph Fletcher,” from there in May 1854 he went to Australia aboard the “Mary Parker.”
He married Janet Patterson in July 1860.
I would like to say a sincere thank you to Lesley Morgan in Australia, for all the Morgan family history, her late husband Allen is a direct descendant of Cosby Morgan. (photo above).
Allen Bradley Morgan, another son, trained as a doctor. He was living in Abersychan as an assistance to Dr Andrew Davies in 1851. He emigrated to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales in 1856 where he was the surgeon and gaol vaccinator. He made several trip back to the UK during his lifetime.
Thomas Cecil Morgan, born in 1837 was educated in Edinburgh, he also went to Australia in 1859 to 1861 when he returned to Salisbury. In 1870 he is an assistant surgeon in HM Army, he died on November 24th 1885 at his brothers residence.
On the 26th July 1844 the Rev. Allen Morgan died, his will states he is of Nantyderi, he leaves all his estate to his wife Margaret to dispose of at her discretion. The witnesses of his will are Mary Eliza Dickinson, Elizabeth Philips, Owen T Philips and Emma Donkin.
Margaret and Emily Morgan
The census of 1851 shows Margaret Morgan, Allen’s widow, living in Newcastle Emlyn where she says she is a fund holder, Cosby and Emily are with her, along with Emma Donkin, their governess.
After the death of Rev. Allen Morgan, his wife Margaret, sold Nantyderry Lodge to the Rev. Thomas Evans, who had been living with the Bird family at Goytre House.
The census of 1851 says he is 32 years of age, unmarried and was born in Carmarthen, staying with him on the census night is Thomas Cochrane a 24 year old Lieutenant in the English Con Rifles, born in Ireland, also John Lewis a 31 year old Clergyman born in Carmarthen, his servants are Elizabeth Page and Elizabeth Saunders.
Rev. Thomas Evans is not on the 1861 census, due I suspect to the fact that many parts of the census for that year are missing.
On the 6th March 1862 he married Ann Corfe at St Andrews Church, Clifton, Bristol, Thomas’s brother John Evans, the rector of Crickhowell taking the service.
Ann is the only child of James and Charlotte Corfe, nee Fidlin. Ann was born in Marylebone, London in 1827.
His bride, Ann was the beneficiary to her uncle John Fidlin’s fortune of £12,000 in 1860, this money was held by trustees who were most reluctant to release it to her.
On return from their bridal tour the Rev Thomas Evans and his lady arrived at Nantyderri Station to be greeted by loud cheers, they then walked to their home through a flower laden floor and archways of evergreens.
Rev Thomas and Ann’s first child, a son, Reginald was born on the 6th December 1862, he sadly died in September 1863 and was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.
There was a major fall out between Col. Henry Byrde (who just changed the family name from Bird by deed poll) in 1864 and the Rev Thomas Evans.
Col. Byrde was made High Sheriff of Monmouthshire, on choosing a Chaplain, it was custom apparently to use the Rector of your home parish, on this occasion Col. Byrde chose a friend. This caused great anguish to Rev. Thomas Evans who wrote several letters to Col. Byrde, culminating in a loss of friendship and great animosity.
Following this Col. Henry Byrde wrote a booklet for his friends perusal in 1865 with all the letters that had passed between the two parties.
Lewis Edmunds, the local builder who lived in Llanover, wrote in on March 4th 1864 that he was at home drawing a plan of a house for Thomas Evans Nantyderry and on the 9th November he said he was slating the house.
The building could have possibly been the new school and school house.
Thomas and Ann’s second child, a daughter Charlotte, was baptised on the 10th July 1864.
This was followed by the birth of their second daughter Catherine in April 1867, in July 1868 their third daughter Mabel was born.
About now Thomas Evans built the Cottages at Nantyderry.
In March 1867 Col. Byrde applied to Pontypool and Usk Highways Board have the Penystair road closed. This caused a very long and protracted disagreement with Rev. Evans, letters being written to the Free Press, sides being taken in favour of both parties and acts of vandalism by Rev. Evans or his workers destroying the new gates erected on Penystair road.
On the 13th July 1868, 29 children attended the opening of the Rev Thomas Evans school at Nantyderry, each paying 1d per week.
The census of 1871 says Thomas Evans is 51, a rector and JP, he was born in Carmarthenshire, his wife Ann is 44, their daughters Charlotte 7, Catherine 4 and Mabel 2 were all born in St. James, London.
Walnut Tree Farm was purchased by Thomas Evans in January 1871.
The following year his schoolmaster, George Thomas Bright resigned his post at Nantyderry School. The new schoolmaster is Richard Darlington, Richard’s post was not held for long, he was caught with a house-maid by Mr Evans’ gardener, who threw water over them. Richard left and went to Stafford, the census of 1871 says he is 28 and unmarried.
Arthur Fabian took charge of the school in April 1873.
A tea party for the entire neighbourhood was held in August 1872, the children of Nantyderry School all attended, the Rev. Evans paying for them.
In June 1873 is the start of the very well known “Vicar and the Well” saga. This is very well documented in various publications. About this time Thomas Evans was purchasing many properties in the parish, including Goytre Hall and Pentwyn Farm in addition to building cottages.
The census of 1881 says Thomas Evans is 59, a rector and JP, Annie his wife is 54, their three daughter are Charlotte 17, Catherine 14 and 12 years old Mabel. They have four indoor female servants, one groom and a gardener.
Five years later Thomas Evans died, on the 16th April 1886 in Cheltenham, he left the sum of £24,000, plus real estate to his wife, then to their daughters. Ann Evans died on the 12th February 1896 in Cannes, probate amounting to £93,3313-11s-1d was left to Charlotte Mary Evans, spinster of Nantyderry.
Clara Denny was staying at Nantyderry House with three servants on the census of 1901, I am unable to find Charlotte Evans.
Again in 1901, Charlotte had Nantyderry House enlarged, the plans being drawn up by Thomas Wyatt of London.
The electoral register of 1905 gives Catherine Annie Evans and Charlotte Evans as joint owners of Nantyderry House.
The census of 1911 gives that Charlotte is not at home, but Clara Denny is still there with two of Mabel’s children, (Mabel married Charles Williams and lived at Goytre Hall) Catherine Loyd 6 and Margaret Lesley Williams 4.
The Abergavenny Chronicle advertised an objects sale to be held at Nantyderry House on the 18th July 1919.
The electoral register of 1918 is the last time I find Charlotte Evans listed as the owner. Zulekia Carsley is the name given on the electoral register of 1920.
Nantyderry House in 1920 became a home for unmarried mothers, the maximum allowed at any one time was 15. The founder of this scheme was Lady Mather-Jackson and a few like-minded ladies. She saw the dilemma of young girls who had no support whilst in this predicament and decided to do something about it.
To qualify to enter the home ladies had to fit a certain criteria, they had to be working class and aged under 30.
(My husband was born in Nantyderry and aged about 4 he walked to the home and asked could he have a ‘coloured’ baby. The staff walked him back to his mother.)
The home closed in 1948 after helping approximately 500 girls. It then became a home for elderly gentlemen in about 1950. I’m not sure when it closed as a home for elderly gentlemen but then it once again became a private home.
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.
Haven, Nantyderry
The first mention I can find of the Haven, Nantyderry is a newspaper advert placed by Miss Byrde for the sale of the property, this was on the 5th November 1920.
Miss Byrde was selling the property to relocate to Weston-Super-Mare.
In 1921 the owner of the property was Mr John Williams, he again placed a for sale advert in the Free Press in November 1921:
“The House stands in its Own Grounds of One acre or thereabouts with Lawns and Kitchen Garden and is surrounded by a large collection of very fine Shrub and Fruit Trees. The House consists of Hall, Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, Pantry, China Pantry, Scullery, a Convenient Office with Greenhouse attached, Four Bedrooms, Bathroom and upstairs W.C. There are several Outhouses.
The Property is Freehold and is situated within three minutes walk of Nantyderry Station abutting onto the main road from Penpellenny to Nantyderry. It commands a beautiful view of the best parts of Monmouthshire. The House was built quite recently and is fitted out with all modern conveniences. There is a splendid supply of water.”
Further particulars from: A DENSLEY
On the 1926 electoral register Evan and Ann Jones are living at the Haven
In June 1930 Mrs Annie Jones of the Haven had a rug stolen from her motor car whilst parked outside the house.
The 1939 register gives the residents as Evan Jones, a master mariner born in 1878 and his wife Annie who was born in 1884.
Myrtle Cottage – 427 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
In October 1879 Ann Jenkins, the widow of William (who was killed in an accident whilst working for Col. Byrde) was mentioned at this address in the school log book.
Ann was in residence on the census of 1881 she was a 52 year old annuitant, living with her is her 16 year old nephew Thomas Turner who is still a scholar, Ann and Thomas were born in Pontypool.
Ann and Thomas remained at Myrtle Cottage, the census of 1891 says head of the household is now Thomas Turner, he is a 26 year old grocer’s assistant. Ann is now 62 and living on her own means.
On the 1901 census Ann Jenkins is residing at Myrtle Cottage on her own, she is now 73.
Lot 29 of the Goytre Estate in 1910 gives a lease to Miss Mathews for 99 years from
March 25th. The freehold ground rent is £2 6s 8d. The property on that record is called Myrtle House.
By 1911 the resident of Myrtle Cottage is Sarah Mathews, she is an 86 year old retired farmer (late of White House Farm, Mamhilad.) Sarah was born in Llanbaddoc, living with her is Lily, 40 and 16 year old apprentice carpenter Henry Guest.
Henry Guest joined the military and went to France in 1914, very sadly he was killed on the 11th December 1914, he was the son of Richard and Clara.
In 1915 Matilda Mathews is listed as the resident of Myrtle Cottage.
The electoral register in 1920 says Edward Morris was living at the property along with Miss Mathews, in 1925 Charles Ernest Cox is living here, this had changed by 1930 to Victor Albert Jones, it appears Miss Mathews was taking in a lodger.
By the 1939 register this had changed back to Matilda Mathews. The information given on this register says she was born on the 11th September 1862 and that she is incapacitated, she has a live-in domestic called Ellen Thomas.
Matilda remained at Myrtle cottage until her death in 1955.