27^th Jan 1877

John Probert was charged with refusing to quit the refreshment rooms at Nantyderry when ordered to do so by the proprietor.

Defendant did not appear. Proof of the service having been given.

John Williams, proprietor of the said rooms, deposed that defendant came to his house at 9.13 on the night of the 13^th inst., and called for a glass of beer, with which he was served; he was then perfectly sober and went away; in the course of about half an hour he returned much intoxicated, and complainants wife and daughter refused to draw him beer, whereupon he used very disgraceful language; complainant asked him to go out, and he refused, but subsequently with great difficulty he managed to eject him.

Fined 15s or 14 days hard labour.

Free Press Saturday July 18^th 1874

Police Court

JEALOUSY

Ann Twissell was charges with assaulting Emily Phillips, at Mamhilad.

Mrs Phillips said that the defendant’s children were breaking a hedge, and she reproved them, when defendant rushed out and struck her, threatening to rip her guts out.

Elijah Gethany deposed that Mrs Twissell struck Mrs Phillips with such violence as almost to send her down.

Defendant said she merely pushed Mrs Phillips for calling her children thieves.

Jane Roberts was called for the defence, but she said she did not go out of the house when she heard the row, and therefore did not see whether any blows were passed.

The Bench said that the woman acted in a very sensible manner by remaining indoors.

Samuel Twissell, the husband of the defendant, came forward and made a round-about statement, in which he admitted that his wife pushed Mrs Phillips. It appears that Mrs Twissell was jealous of Mrs Phillips.

Fined 15s.

Dogs without Licenses

30^th June 1877

Ezeriah Morgan, ( Azariah lived at the Wern) Goytre was charged with keeping a dog without a license on 3^rd May

Thomas Edwards, excise officer visited the house on the above named date and saw a dog in the field adjoining the house;

Morgan’s father admitted the dog belonged to the son, and said that he would take out a license when he got into work.

Fined 25s.

7^th July 1877

Aaron Rosser

Was charged with a like offence

P.c Allen proved the charge;

Fined 5s.

Found: Not Stolen – July 9^th 1870

Wm. Morgan of Goytrey was charged with stealing a reap-hook, the property of Charles Ferrers Edwards. He pleaded not guilty. Mr Alexander Edwards conducted the prosecution.

John Watkins deposed that he was a labourer at the Race Farm. He left his hook by the hedge side while he went to get some breakfast when he returned it was missing. PC Henry Gardener deposed that from information he received, he went after the charcoal wagon and overtook it about 100 yards from Mr Edward’s gate. Prisoner was driving it. Told him that a hook was missing and that he must search the wagon. Prisoner said “well if you are going to search I did pick the hook up.”

Witness found the hook concealed under the bags of charcoal at the bottom of the wagon.

Showed the hook to Mr Edwards who identified it as his property. Prisoner asked Mr Edwards to look it over, but Mr Edwards said the case was then in the hands of the police.

Defendant said that he picked the hook up on the slope of the turnpike road. He carried it some distance down the road in his hand, then seeing on one who was likely to own it, he thew it onto the bed of the cart and when he got to the wire works, told Mr John that he had picked it up. There was no concealment about it.

Richard John deposed that he had known the prisoner for years and had been in the habit of supplying him with charcoal at Mr Hill’s works. Witness saw the hook in the wagon and asked defendant where he got it from. Defendant said that he picked it up by the side of a ditch in Treherbert road and that he thought someone had been cutting grass with it; or had been sitting down and left it behind; and that he carried it in his hand some way and then, seeing no one, threw it in his wagon. Witness reached the sacks one by one and threw them in the wagon, that is how they came to be covered.

The bench considered there was not any felicitous intent and dismissed the case.

A Peculiar Accident

Friday 7^th August 1936

Schoolmaster’s Mother Injured at Goytrey

On Friday evening Mr T. Evans Jones a master at the Twmpyth school, Pontypool, was driving his saloon car from Pontymoel to his home at Abergwellan and had with him a passenger in the front seat, his mother Mrs Emma Jane Davies. As he was negotiating the dangerous S-bend near the Wern Farm, Goytrey Hall, the wide camber of the road at this spot and consequent strain on the near side of the car when taking a right hand corner resulted in the door swinging open. Mrs Davies, in an attempt to recover the door, was flung heavily into the roadway and at first appeared to be seriously injured.

Passing motorists rendered all possible assistance and Mrs Davies was carried into the Wern, where Mr & Mrs Davies gave valuable help until the doctor arrived.

P C Jermayne, Llanover, was quickly on the scene and also the Rev. T. J. Richards rector of Goytrey whose daughter first reported the accident.

The Injury’s

Dr. Parry of Abergavenny was wired for and on arrival found Mrs Davies was suffering from concussion, injuries to the head, bruises to arms and legs and shock. Fortunately no limbs were broken and after receiving medical treatment Mrs Davies was taken home in the Rector’s car. Mr Jones who was naturally very distressed rendered first aid until the doctor came.

Mrs Davies, considering her advanced age showed great courage and rallied so well that her removal to hospital was not considered necessary. This was her first ride in her son’s car since her recent illness, as she is subject to asthma attacks in the summer. Mr Jones was uninjured but has experienced accidents on other occasions.

The latest information as to the condition of Mrs Davies is that she is making slow improvement though still suffering from head bruises and shock.

Free Press 13th August 1909 – Children’s Court

Elizabeth Lindsay 14, Mamhilad was charged with stealing 2s 6d property of Thomas Price Pontypool on July 31st.

Edith Price aged 10 said that the girl Lindsay asked he if she could mind her purse in which there was 8s 2d. The defendant took two half crowns from the purse. Witness threatened to tell the policeman if she would not put it back. Defendant gave her one half crown and ran away with the other, witness then began to cry.

P.C. Weeks went up to the little girl and after hearing her story went in search of the girl Lindsay. He discovered her in a shop in Clarence Street and charged her with taking the money, she replied at first she did not have the money but on the road to the police station she gave the money up to him, saying she took the money because her mother was poor.

Mr T M Wintle, Pontymoile told the Bench that he had made enquiries and found that  the parents were in very poor circumstances and he thought the little girl would profit more by mercy rather than justice.

After cautionary defence, the Bench discharged her under the Probation of Offenders Act and her mother was bound over for her daughter’s good behaviour.

Mr Enoch Waters – Free Press 11^th November 1926

Goytrey’s oldest inhabitant has passed away. A remarkable character in many ways. He was born and bred in the village and died on Thursday last at his residence Laswern Cottage and at the advanced age of 92.

Of a careful and industrious disposition he had built his house Laswern Cottage.

Like his father he had followed the occupation of a besom maker and supplied all the residences of the gentlefolk in the district as well as some of the work and collieries with that useful though somewhat humble commodity.

To that for many years he added the business of coal merchant. Except for a break of ten years during which period he was employed at the old British Iron Works Abersychan and at the works in Glamorgan as a puddler.

He lived at Goytrey all his life. The wages paid then were much different from what they are today. His wages were 1s per turn but by dint of perseverance he eventually increased this to 30s per week. And was then considered a well paid man. It is said of him that he was a man who always loved his work.

He commenced to fend for himself at the early age of 10 o a farm. A lifelong non-smoker Mr Waters was a man of remarkable physical strength and his faculties remained unimpaired to the last. He could always hold his own. Honest and upright he was respected by all who knew him.

In politics he was a staunch Liberal and in religion a non-conformist, being a member of Saron Baptist Church.

On Sunday amid manifestations of sorrow deceased was laid to rest at Saron Baptist Church burial ground and in the grave of his wife who proceeded him some 12 years ago.

The rev. E Symonds pastor Chapel Ed officiated and delivered an impressive address bearing upon the characteristics of the deceased.

I William Jacob Price of New Inn Pontypool in the County of Monmouth Engineer do solemnly and sincerely declare as follows:

That I am thirty four years of age and have for the past twenty four years been well acquainted with certain freehold heredements in the parish of Goytrey in the County of Monmouth, known or described as All That ancient Cottage and all those two newly erected messuages or cottages adjoining and belonging which said ancient cottage and which said gardens were formerly in the occupation of William Jeremiah and which said three Cottages and gardens were late in the occupation of George Lewis, Charles Thomas and William Cocker respectively, subsequently of Eliza Fisher, Henry Heaven and Evan Jones respectively afterwards of the said Eliza Fisher and David Morris respectively and now of James Sandbrook, Amos Jones and Henry Holland respectively and are situate in the parish of Goytre in the County of Monmouth adjoining the Turnpike road leading from Abergavenny to Pontypool at the point where a lane leading towards Cefn Miniog leaves the Turnpike road and which said lane divides the said ancient cottage and one of the said gardens from the said two newly erected Cottages and the other of the said gardens which hereditaments have been lately contracted to be sold to the Right Honourable Augusta Lady Llanover

That I verily believe and have no doubt that the hereditaments so contracted to be sold to the said Baroness Llanover are the hereditaments which were comprised in and conveyed to my mother the late Sarah Drinkwater [then Sarah Price, widow] by an indenture dated the 13^th day of April 1860, the description in which Indenture I have carefully read previously to making this document.

And I further say that during the said time I have known the said hereditaments so and contracted to be sold they have been the property of or been in the possession of Sarah Drinkwater during her life and since her death in the month of March 1881 of my brother, my sister and myself or of her or our mortgage or mortgagees the late William Davies deceased, or his executors and that such respective persons or some of them have during that period as I verify believe him been in the free and uninterrupted possession and enjoyment or receipt of the rents and profits of such hereditaments with the appurtenances thereof.

And I also say that since the execution of a certain Indenture of Mortgage or further charge dated the 11^th day of March 1879 and made between Richard Drinkwater and the said Sarah his wife of the one part and the said William Davies of the other part interred upon the aggregate sum of £200 thereby or by the Indentures therin erected or referred to secured has been paid to the said William Davies or to his executors.

And I make this solemn declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provision of the statutory declaration and 1835 Act made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of his late Majesty King William the fourth etc etc:

Declared at Abergavenny

In the county of Monmouth

This 1^st day of December 1884

William Jacob Price

Alleged Wood Stealing

18^th August 1877

Geo, Brown and James Morgan were charged with stealing a quantity of pit wood, the property of A D Berrington esq., at Goytrey on July 23^rd.

Mr Watkins defended.

Mathew Williams was the first witness called. He said he was appointed to look after the woods for Mr Berrington:

They had missed wood from the place:

In answer to Mr Watkins:

The wood where the pitwood was taken from was let to men named Mayberry and Arthur:

They purchased the underwood and they have to clear away both stubbs and underwood:

Mayberry informed witness about men taking the underwood away: had not seen Arthur about it:

It occurred on 23^rd July but witness did not receive any information about it until August 8^th:

The husband of the next witness to be called lived close to the wood; did not know of any bad feeling between Brown and her;

Had not seen the wood alleged to have been stolen; missed the wood on 25^th July:

Ann Williams lived in the parish of Goytrey; she could not exactly remember the day she had seen prisoners carrying sticks out of Mr Berrington’s wood;

Prisoners had each a piece of pitwood; which they were carrying to the waggon of John Bevan; she saw the sticks on the waggon;

By Mr Watkins: It was between six and seven o’clock in the evening when the prisoners took the sticks away; she could not say which month it was; but she thought it was about a fortnight previously; It was on a Monday; she generally went to meeting on a Sunday and she had been to meeting the day before;

Brown and witness had never fallen out; he had never threatened to summon her; nor had he ever cautioned her about taking sticks from the wood; she lived nearer that 50 yards from the wood; she dealt in fruit; so did Mrs Bevan;

It was Bevan’s waggon she saw the sticks on:

Daniel Crompton was next called and said he was standing at Abraham Williams’s door when he saw Bevan’s waggon with some sticks upon it; couldn’t say whether the sticks were pit wood or not; they were about 6ft long; it was between six and seven o’clock in the evening:

In answer to Mr Watkins: Should not have noticed the affair at all but for Mrs Williams having pointed it out to him; she said “you see they are putting sticks on the waggon and if anything is missed we shall be blamed for it”

Abraham Williams, labourer and basket maker said he met prisoners one night; they were with Bevan’s waggon; there was some browse on it; saw two sticks on top of the browse; but he would not swear what they were; it was about 6.30 in the evening when he met them;

In answer to Mr Watkins: Did not know of any ill-feeling between his wife and Bevan; never heard that his wife was about to be summoned by Brown;

The case was adjourned till next Saturday:

25^th August 1877

The Goytrey Wood Stealing Case

George Brown and James Morgan were charged [on remand] with stealing pitwood, the property of A D Berrington esq.,

Mr Watkins appeared for prisoners;

Mathew Williams was re-called and being cross-examined by Mr Watkins, said he was in the habit of visiting the wood three times per week;

Some weeks he would visit the place only once; it was 11 or 12 acres in extent; in the place where the witness Ann Williams had pointed out to him was ‘corded’,men were cutting the wood a few months ago;

Witness had missed some sticks from a heap; there were three hedges between Mrs Williams’s house and the place where she alleged she saw the sticks taken from;the place where the pitwood was taken from was about 50 yards into the wood; it was altogether about 110 yards from this place to the witness’s Williams house;

In answer to Mr Phillips;

Witness missed three pieces that he knew; but he had not seen those sticks afterwards;

He had missed one large piece and two middle sized pieces;

Daniel Compton was re-called; and said he was standing in Mrs Williams’s garden; there were three fences between them, the garden and the waggon; there was a wide gap in the hedge so that the tail of the waggon could be seen;

Witness did not suggest to Morgan’s mother, on the previous Saturday, that he[Morgan]should confess that he had stolen sticks, and so get Brown convicted;

Witness himself had been convicted of felony;

John Bevan jnr., said he lived at the Yew Tree Cottage; the prisoners had borrowed his fathers waggon to take away some browse from the wood;

The agreement was, that they [the Bevan’s] were to have a load of browse for hauling a load; he went to the wood in company with the prisoners; there was a high hedge between where they placed the waggon and the road;

The hedge consisted of horles and sallies; after they loaded the browsw a short rough stick was put onto the waggon, this stick was not trimmed;

Brown’s stick was a little longer; a tree by falling had broken and splintered it at one end and there was a knot in it;

In answer to Mr Edwards; those sticks were not taken from a heap;

Examination continued: witness went with Pardoe and pointed out the place where the waggon stood; he measured in a straight line from there to Mrs Williams’s gate;

James Arthur deposed that he and a man named Mayberry had bought the coppice wood;

They had cordwood and pitwood out of the coppice;

The timber was to belong to Mr Berrington; they had to clear the wood of all browse and underwood;

He had let the wood to prisoners to clear it; but cautioned them not to touch either cordwood or pitwood;

They take many pitwood pieces to act as levers in grubbing the wood; and as a rule these are of no use afterwards;

From the description the boy gave of the sticks he would not infer they were pitwood;

Wm. Pardoe has measured the ground at the request of the prisoners;

From where the waggon stood to Mrs Williams’s house was 135 yards; the waggon could not be seen from the house in question;

The case was dismissed

1st July – A Young Hopeful

Thomas Brown, a juvenile was charged with stealing a quantity of bread and cheese the property of Mr. T. Jenkins, Goytre on the 22^nd inst.

Elizabeth Lewis deposed that the prisoner took the bread and cheese from the dairy.

Supt. M’Intosh said defendants father did not take care of him; he lay about in pigscots and out houses and was fed by anyone who would give him food.

The prisoner in answer to the Bench said his father had turned him out of doors.

Sentenced to 14 days hard labour.