Penny Carreg Vaur or Pen-y-Carreg Vawr – 026 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Containing 4a 3r 16p.

The first mention of this property I can find is a lease and settlement in 1776 on the marriage of Morgan Evan.

By 1817 the  owner is Job Herbert, he is paying land tax in 1821, the occupier at this time is John Davies

The 1841 tithe and census say John Davies is the occupier and Walter Herbert the owner. John Davies is 75 and a gardener, Margaret his wife is 65 (neither were born in Monmouthshire) and living with them is 6 years old Mary Jeremiah.

On the 1852 electoral register Walter Herbert is still the owner and he lives at Pontymoile.

In 1859 Thomas and Ann Davies (nee Cobner) have a child Thomas baptised, and on the 1861 census Thomas Davies was 29 a labourer and Ann was 26.

The following article was printed in the Free Press in February 1863

LARCENY BY A FEMALE SERVANT.- Adelaide Powell, a girl about sixteen years of age, was charged with having stolen £1, and one pair of boots, the money and property of her mistress, Mrs Ann Davies, of Goytrey ……. Prosecutor said that in September last the prisoner was in her employ, and on the 6^th of that month had been sent to a shop in the neighbourhood for some goods, to pay for which she took a sovereign, and for the purpose of carrying them home had taken a bag.  The prisoner had not been to the shop where directed to go by her mistress, and never returned to her employment.   On the morning of the day in question, witness leant prisoner a pair of boots, with which she also absconded ……. Prisoner said she had accidentally lost the sovereign, which was entrusted to her by husband of witness, and that prosecutrix had given the boots to her ……. The Bench considered that there was no proof that the prisoner stole the sovereign, and for stealing the boots and the bag they should sentence her to one month’s hard labour.

In 1871 Thomas Davies was aged 39 and a farmer of 5a, Ann his wife was 36, both were born in Goytre, their children were Thomas 12, Elizabeth 7, Margaret 5, John 3, and  also living with them was Ann’s mother, Charlotte Cobner a pauper aged 75.

In 1876 another child was born, Sarah Ann, and two years later Ann, the wife of Thomas Davies a lime burner aged 44 was sent to the Abergavenny Asylum on the authorisation of Thomas Evans JP,  suffering from acute mania. The asylum record says she was feeble. She was discharged on the 13^th July 1881 with the statement that her condition had not improved.

Shortly after the 1881 census Thomas Davies and his family move to nearby Ivy Cottage, (Ann his wife died in Abergavenny Asylum in 1903.)

There is a conveyance in 1885 from Elizabeth Fisher of Pontnewynydd and David Williams of Manachty Farm, Llanvihangel Pontymoile to Mary Grant of 4 Albert Avenue Maindee, for £132 10s for “all that messuage, cottage, tenement and 1a of arable meadow and pasture commonly called Penny Vaur or Pen-y-Carreg Vawr situated in the parish of Goytre,

In 1889 Albert Williams is registered on the electoral register as the occupier, he was born in Llanishen and lived there with his wife Hannah who was born in Llanover, their children were Mary, Sarah, Edith, and Annie.

On the 1901 census  Albert was aged 52, an iron worker, Hannah  54, Sarah 22 and a visitor called John Challenger aged 6 were registered at Cerrig Maurion.

On the 17^th September 1909 an advert was placed in the Free Press for the sale of “Berigmaurion”

Containing about 5a in the occupation of Mr Alfred Williams at the yearly rental of £10. The house contains a sitting room, kitchen-dairy, two bedrooms, out buildings and stables with lofts over, a beast house and pigs cot and about 2 miles from Blaenavon.

The property was sold to William Williams of Far Worthen, Llanover. The gross value was £4 10s; the rateable value was £4 3s.

Alfred Williams died in August 1913 aged 74 and was buried in Llanover Church.

On the 1914 poor rate the owner of Cerrig Maurion is Mrs Williams and the occupier was John Lewis.

In August 1927 Annie, the daughter of John Lewis married Francis Jones, he was the 4^th son of Amos Jones of Clytha.

Park-y-brain – 421 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Owner Capel Hanbury Leigh.

In 1754 William Jeremiah was overseer of the poor and in 1756 Walter Griffiths was the occupier and overseer of the poor, his daughter Ann married Morgan Jenkins in St Peter’s the same year.

Park-y-brain was sublet several times over the years. A document in 1768 says Richard Davies of Court-y-Gollen is the leaseholder “of all that messuage or tenement or farm commonly called TUY or Tyr Park-y-brain situated in several parishes of Goytrey and Mamhilad in the occupation of Edmund Gibbon or his undertenants”.

Walter Griffith remains at Park-y-brain and is mentioned several times in the parish records as being overseer of the poor.

In 1794 his wife Mary died and was buried in St Peter’s churchyard, the final mention of Walter Griffiths is in 1802 as an overseer of the poor prior to his death in 1804.

In 1802 Richard Jones pays the poor rate for the first time for Capel Leigh’s Park-y-brain. Again in 1802, Capel Leigh has been threatened with a court order if he does not let the canal deviate through his land, he then agrees.

In 1815 Richard Jones becomes one of the trustees for the lease of Chapel Ed ( I have read that his initials are carved into the pulpit chair at Chapel Ed.) Over the coming years Richard Jones was a stalwart of Chapel Ed during the early decades, surveyor of the highways for the parish, paid his land tax, and was also an overseer of the poor.

In 1841 he was 85 and a farmer of 59a 3r 18p, paying £6 9s to the rector for his 1841 tithe, Mary, his wife was 70, and son Walter was 30.

In 1845 the lease for Chapel Ed was transferred from Richard Jones (I don’t know who to).

Richard died in 1849, in his will his son William, a woodward living in Pontymoile, and David Thomas of the same parish were his executors. He instructs them to sell his live and dead stock, also all his household goods and chattels unless Mary his wife wishes to keep some items, providing his executors agree to her request, she is also to receive 5s per week, all further monies to be in security.

After Mary’s death to be shared between his children William, Thomas (of Trevethin), Walter (Goytre), Ann (now Jenkins), Mary (now Jenkins), and Sarah.

Also to William he leaves his freehold messuage in Llanhilleth, now in the occupation of widow Morgan.

Mary, Richard’s wife, moved to Chapel Ed cottages after his death.

By 1850 William Jeremiah had taken the lease of Park-y-brain. He was the collector of taxes for Park-y-brain and an elder of Chapel Ed.

On the 1851 census for Park-y-brain, William Jeremiah is aged 73, born in Mamhilad, a retired farmer and Martha his wife is aged 68. By 1861 William and Martha had moved to Goytre Yard (Wharf).

In 1854 William Lewis was paying the tithe for Park-y-brain to the rector, the Rev Thomas Evans. This had changed by 1856 as William Williams of the Wharf was the new occupier. He was also a signatory to the 1859 petition against the paying of taxes to widen Newport bridge.

The entry for Park-y-brain is missing on the 1861 census, but by 1862 Edward Charles is the new occupier. He is also overseer of the poor and paying land tax, it says on the 1871 census he is aged 66, a farmer of 100a, and Mary his wife is 47, from Hereford.

Edward Charles died somewhere between 1871 and 1881 and Mary Charles was listed as a 56 year old widow on the 1881 census, farming 100a, employing 2 men along with her son Joseph, 22. There is a notice in the Free Press dated the 21^st October 1881 for a farm sale by the executors of the late Edward Charles.

Edward’s son William is now in control of the farm and he was aged 37 in 1891, and  born in Llanfrechfa Lower. He is married to Elizabeth and their children are Mary 10, born Glascoed, Henry 8, William 7, and Isaac 2, all born in Goytre. Their servants are 19 year old Margaret Meredith, Aaron Jayne 40 is a farm servant along with Sidney Meredith 17 who is a general servant.

Ten years later in the census of 1901 William is aged 48, a widower, farming Park-y-brain, his children are Laura 20, Edward 18, William 16 and Isaac 12. Margaret Meredith is still the domestic servant, now aged 30 and born in Mitchel Troy.

In 1909 David Thomas of Goytre was fined 10s for setting snares on Park-y-brain land in the occupation of William Charles.

Also in 1909 is the story (In the Free Press) of the badger caught on the road by Park-y-brain.

Hanbury Park is listed as the owner of Park-y-brain in 1910, containing 72a, gross value is £13 15s and the rateable value is £12.

On the electoral register of 1920 are mentioned William Charles, Henry William Charles, and Henry Edward Charles.

William Charles is aged 59 in 1922, and living with him is his son Edward who is 27. Working on the farm, William is 25 and it says dairy and dealer, and Margaret Meredith is still their housekeeper.

Edward Charles was fined in January 1929 for allowing his pigs to stray on the highway. Again in 1932 is the “Tale of a Horse,” court case (see Free Press, September 1932 article).

James Williams, a labourer of Park-y-brain was found drowned in the canal in 1934.

Then in January 1940 is this wonderful photograph of Henry William Charles aged 90.

Bridge – 480 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

According to the 1841 tithe and census, Bridge was owned and occupied by William Jenkins, a farmer aged 45, Mary his wife also aged 45, and children Mary 12, Thomas 6, and Daniel Oates aged 8.

In 1850 William Jenkins is a collector of land tax and in 1851 he was overseer of the poor saying he lived by canal bridge number 83.

He was farming 19 acres in 1851 and 61 years of age.

The 1861 census is missing for the part of the parish that included Bridge. By 1871 Ann Watkins 58, a widow, was now at Bridge along with Sarah Jenkins 64, also a widow, and two lodgers William Waters 40, a labourer, and William Harris 50, a woolshaver.

At some time between 1871 and 1881 the Hewlett family moved into Bridge, Richard is aged 26 and a farmer of 26 acres and born in Glamorgan, Sarah his wife is 25, born llangwm, and their children Alice 2 and Arthur 6 months are born in Goytre, also living with them is Alice Jenkins 60, his mother- in-law, Adelaide Jenkins 23, his sister-in-law, and Sidney Jenkins 12, his brother-in-law.

By 1901 Edward Owen, a shoemaker had moved into Bridge, he was aged 58 and came from Blaenavon, his wife Harriet was 55, born in Pontypool.

In 1921, 8 years old Reggie Williams, son of David, died and was buried at St Peter’s.

The last entry is for Oswald Court aged 61, with his wife Ruth (nee Rosser) living at Bridge.

Castle Bach – 411 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The owner of Castle Bach was the Earl of Abergavenny, it’s position was in a field of Old Castle Cottage.

The first lease I can locate seems to be that of John Valentine. On the 3^rd April 1756 twin daughters of John, Elizabeth and Ann were baptised at St Peter’s, and on the 3^rd October 1759 a son, John, was baptised.

(A right of settlement in the parish of Goytre was granted to Francis Valentine, this I believe to be John’s brother, he earned his right by serving for 1 year to Walter Williams Pentoyn: he married Francis Charles of Goytre and had 8 children.)

A lease in 1778 says for the lives of John Valentine 60, Elizabeth 26, and Ann 20.

In 1785 Ann Valentine married Richard Williams, a widower, and in 1799 John Valentine sold his lease to Thomas Lewis for £5 – a cottage and garden.

John Valentine was buried at St Peter’s on 13^th April 1801, his son-in-law Richard Williams was buried at St Peter’s on 11^th June 1815 aged 95.

Castle Bach appears to be missing on the 1841 census but in 1851 John Owen the attorney (living Oak Cottage) took the lease and the tenant was John Watkins, a widower, who died in 1856 and was buried at Mamhilad.

In 1852 a William Owen of Castle Bach signed a lease against paying taxes for the widening of Newport Bridge.

By 1920 Castle Bach no longer appeared on a map but it’s position was where number 11 is on the map.

Parc Bach – 339 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Owner: the Earl of Abergavenny.

In 1780 Morgan Evan was the overseer of the poor for Parc Bach, he married Ann Bevan in 1763.

The will of John Hughes in 1807 leaves his leasehold property in Goytre comprising of a messuage, tenement, barn, six closes or parcels of land situate in the parish of Goytre called Park Bach, also that parcel of land called Caer Bushes, (now in the occupation of Thomas Jenkins,) to his wife Mary Hughes.

The 1841 census says William Lewis aged 60, William Morgan 35, Elizabeth Morgan 35 and Eliza Morgan 5 are living at Parc Bach and the owner on the tithe is the Earl of Abergavenny.

By the 1851 census Luke Griffiths aged 40, a farmer born in Langview, and his 80 year old mother born in Llandenny are living at Parc Bach.

On the 1861 census, Charles Watkins aged 43 and his wife Elizabeth 47, and children Elizabeth and Margaret twins aged 9, Charles 5, John 3, and Thomas 2 are now at Parc Bach and they continue to live there until after the 1881 census.

In 1901 Louis Morgan aged 35, farmer, Hannah his wife 34 and born in Bristol, and children Benjamin 9, Millicent, Gladys and Clifford, all born Goytre were living at Parc Bach.

By 1906 William Jones had become the tenant and placed an advert in the Free Press:

Lost – 2 ewe lambs each with 2 punch crop ears -Jones Park Bach.

A 1908 sale catalogue says William Jones is the tenant of Parc Bach paying £22 per year rent and farming 13 acres 3 rood and 3 perches. Three years later in the 1911 census, William Jones is a dairyman aged 39, Annie his wife is 39, their children are Maud 13, Harry 11, Ellin 8, Gertrude 5, Arthur 3 and William 1, all born in Goytre.

In 1920 the Earl of Abergavenny finally sold Parc Bach, it was purchased by Henry Morgan for £90, the estimate being £45. A piece of pasture land known as Parc Bach containing 3a 18p in occupation of H Gwatkin was purchased by Rufus Evans for £115.

On the electoral register for Park Bach in 1923 are Herbert Gwatkin, Annie and Elsie.

Hawthorn Cottage

7 rood 5 perches

In 1889, William Wilks made an arrangement with the Earl of Abergavenny to build a house on lease for 63 years at a cost of £160 and to pay £1 rent yearly.

On the 1891 census William is 54 years old, and a blacksmith. Lucy his wife was 40 and born in Penalt.

In St Peter’s Church records there is a burial on 8^th August 1896 of Frances Louise Kirby aged 35 of Hawthorn Cottage.

The gross value of Hawthorn Cottage in 1910 was £15 and the rateable value was £12.

Both William and Lucy are still at Hawthorn on the 1911 census but in 1917 William died aged 70, he was buried at St Peter’s on the 30^th April. (Read his obituary)

In November 1920 the Earl of Abergavenny sold many Goytre properties, Hawthorn Cottage being one of them, the lease was sold to Mrs Wilkes for £75, and the property purchased at the same time for £395 by Lucy Weeks.

Lucy Weeks died in 1926 and was buried at St Peter’s on the 15^th January, there is also an article in the Free Press.

I checked the electoral registers and found Gilbert Savours Crook and his wife Eva lived at Hawthorn Cottage for a couple of years from 1927 but had left by 1929 as nobody was registered living there, but from 1931 to 1938, and maybe even longer, John and Eva Williams lived at there.

Glan-y-nant was owned by the Earl of Abergavenny.

On the 6^th of March 1756 there is a letter to the Rev.^d Mr Williams, curate of Goettre asking for the banns of matrimony to be published between Mathew Leonard of the parish of Llanwenarth, living at the house called Ty William Leonard and Margaret Jenkins of Glan-nant. The marriage took place on the 10^th day of May in ye presence of Elen Morley and Anne Griffiths.

In September 1800, Abraham Evans of London takes the lease of the Earl of Abergavenny, previously in tenure of William Valentine. In 1809 Abraham Evans sold the lease to James Jones.

In December 1814, William Griffiths of Glan-y-nant was buried at St Peter’s aged 85, in his will dated April 1814 he leaves all to his son William, including land called Cae Ton Glas.

On the Barony of Abergavenny’s survey of 1821 William Griffiths of Glananant – encroachment of garden, and on the 1832 electoral register is William Griffiths.

The 1841 census lists Sarah Griffiths aged 70, Walter 25, Margaret Prosser 45, and William Prosser 20.

In 1851 census living at Leenunnant is Joseph Griffiths 44, labourer born Goytre, along with his wife Martha 37 born in Mamhilad.

A lease is granted on the 2^nd February 1859 from the Earl of Abergavenny to Joseph Griffiths for the lives of lessee 49, and Mary and Martha his daughters, then aged 5 and 2 years.

On the electoral register from 1861 – 1881 is Joseph Griffiths for his leasehold house and land.

Onto the census of 1861 is Joseph Griffiths 54, farm labourer, Martha now 48, Mary 9, Martha 6, and John 4.

In the 1871 census Joseph is now aged 60, Martha 59 and daughter Martha 16, with the occupation given as farm labourer, labourers wife and labourers daughter.

In 1881 Joseph and Martha his wife are still occupying Glan y nant.

On the 28^th June 1882 Glan y nant was sold by the trustees of the Marquis of Abergavenny to Thomas Eborall Cooke “All that messyage, dwelling house and 2 perches of land in parish Mamhilad, containing altogether 1a 11 perches.”

On the 1891 census George Roberts aged 47, a general labourer born in Gwelog, Maria his wife 43, born Trostrey, William his son 14, born Monkswood, Arthur 12, born Panteg, Ada 9, Florence 7, both born in Monkswood and Edith 4, born in Goytre.

In 1901 the occupier is William Morgan 27, labourer born Mamhilad and Florence his wife aged 21, born in Pontypool.

By 1904, my Morris family had moved to Glan-y-Nant, my great-great-grandfather John Jones died when visiting his son Edwin in Cardiff, his will gave Glan-y-Nant as his address, so it seems he was living there with his daughter Jane.

On the 1911 census at Glan-y-Nant is Evan Morris aged 49, a railway plate layer, Jane his wife was 55, Valentine (my grandfather) was 20 and a house painter, Edwin John 20, a blacksmith, Albert Henry 19, a railway goods porter, and Florence May 14.

On the 28th November 1919, in the Abergavennny Chronicle, the following article regarding the sale of Glan-y-Nant appeared.

PROPERTY SALE. – Glanynant, a freehold property with three acres of land, has been disposed of privately by Messrs. Davis & Sons, Usk, to Mr. B. Morgan. Mr. T. J. Thomas, Bargoed, was the vendor’s solicitor.

In 1928 The Millwards purchased the property for £400. An article in the Free Press in May 1929 said they had money difficulties due to their drapers business in Pontypool failing.

Lapstone Cottage – 291 on the 1841 Tithe Map. 27 perches.

Lapstone Cottage is now in the parish of Llanover.

The 1661 Land Tax says that John Morgan and William Howell hold 1 messuage, 1 barn and certain lands, and before them Valentine Pritchard.

A letter to the Rev. Mr Williams, curate of Goytrey asking him to publish the banns of William Howell labourer and Mary Saunders who lives with her father at his dwelling house between Croshoped and Cefnmynog. William and Mary were married on the 19^th July 1755 at St Peter’s.

Another letter to the Rev. Williams in 1762 asking for the banns to be published for the marriage between William Long and Barbara Saunders, both living at the house of her father, William Saunders, they were married on the 16^th October at St Peter’s.

There was another marriage in 1819 between William Griffiths and Mary Morgan, they had two daughters whilst living at Lapstone, Margaret who was baptised at 6 months of age on the 31^st January 1822 and Mary on the 23^rd July 1824.

There is an indenture dated 1831 between Edward Hoskins, Alexander Waddington and Henry Frederick. Edward Hoskins died on the 24^th March 1832, this ties in with the 1841 tithe that says Mary Hoskins is the owner and William Griffiths the occupier. (Mary Hoskins died on the 6^th October 1855 and sometime after this date their daughter Eliza sold Lapstone to Lord Llanover for £85.)

Lewis Edmund the local builder wrote in his diary on 20^th November 1855 “At John Jones Lapstone Bridge repairing the house.” (John Jones is my great-great-grandfather.) He married Jane James at Bettws Newydd and their children, Jane (my great-grandmother) Emily, Edwin and John were born there before she died in 1865 aged 30. John was also the clerk at St Peter’s for nearly 40 years.

In 1875 William Williams was renting Lapstone at a cost of £4 10s. Lady Llanover’s agent, Turner, wrote her a letter asking if he, William Williams, could swap houses with Prosser who lives at Pencaffyl. Lady Llanover agrees to the arrangement as long as he works for her.

James Parry was next to sign up for Lapstone, this he did on the 6^th March 1879, again paying a rent of £4 10s. He was there in 1881 with his wife Harriet and children James, Ann, William and Alfred. Later that year he also sends a letter to Lady Llanover saying he to cannot pay the rent and has gone to live in one of Pruett’s old cottages (Woodlands). James Parry died, and was buried on the 28^th September 1881. His wife Harriet later married James Jenkins and lived at Ty Llwyd.