Genealogy Chat

Martyn Many thanks for interesting post.

Had to google Ferryside, as not heard of it. But it seems to be Dylan Thomas country and the ferry across the Tywi was used as early as 1188 by Giraldus Cambrensis to get to Llansteffan on other side. Just a sleepy fishing village till railway came in 1852. Famous for cockles.

Presumably it was that railway that opened up new vistas for John Bowen. Do you think his dislike of electricity was just "grumpy old man syndrome" or a religious conviction that it was "the work of the devil?" There are still Christian sects today who hold that belief and manage without it. Could they email me please to confirm I am correct? :-D :-D

I would say that today Aberdare is still the most Welsh speaking area in the county of Rhondda Cynon Taff. Don't hear much in restaurants or supermarkets, but a lot of children and older people speak Welsh and it is quite common in homes still. I sometimes attend a Welsh Independent chapel in Robertstown (Tresalem) and all there use Welsh regularly at home.

Thanks for the extra info John. My Dad was the first member of his family to move on to further education (my Grandad was down the mines at the age of 14) and so he set a precedent. He trained to be a teacher either side of WW2, got married (to a Caerleon girl who died in 2008) and then moved to Birmingham where he was a primary teacher all his life. I have lived in Spain off and on for work reasons but most of my adult life in London, meaning I never lived in Wales, so your comments on Welsh speaking in Aberdare are interesting - went there a couple of months ago with my Dad who showed me four different addresses where he used to live. That's what really started me off on this. Now I can't leave it alone.
Martyn

No one emailed me yet from Amish community to say they still don't use electricity :-S ;-)

Your dad did well. Many were very determined to keep out of the mines and education was best way to escape. I think Enoch Powell's great grandfather was a Welsh coal miner and his son (Powell's grandfather) moved to Birmingham and became a teacher, so Birmingham was a well trod path.

Heard Enoch Powell once do a radio interview in Welsh. He could speak a huge number of languages, and was able to read quite a few more.

Can you remember any of addresses in Aberdare. Quite a large and spread out town. The view as you descend from Maerdy mountain is splendid on a sunny day. :-D

Born in 1918 at 49 Tudor Terrace (his great grandad's house); finished up at 24 Tan-y-Bryn Street and in between lived at no 12 Wayne Street (round the corner from Tudor Terrace) and also in 79 Cemetery Road out in Trecynon. Some of the numbers may not be quite right.

Martyn Sounds like you know those addresses well.

Don't live in Aberdare, but know it quite well and am familiar with all those addresses. Tanybryn St is one of terraces high above town off the Maerdy mountain road (Monk St). Think that area is called Foundry Town.

Other 3 are close together - all in same area, Think first two are in Gadlys, and last in Trecynon. Wayne St is closest to town and No 12 in next to Gospel Hall Terrace. Tudor Terrace used to lead to Robertstown across the Cynon river. Nice houses with high ceilings and bay windows. At end there is still a footpathh to Robertstpwn.

Both Wayne and Tudor off Gadlys Road that leads north to Hirwaun. And Cemetery is name of main road past the c.... No 79 is on the right not that far from the Glan Road traffic lights.

I shall think of you next time I promenade or drive in Aberdare. I plan to be there next Sunday morning, and have a couple of meetings in Abernant nearby tomorrow :-D

Have just found an old book given to me by my father in law 20 or more years ago. It is called "Pedigrees of Anglesey and Carnarvonshire Families" complied by John Edwards Griffith (published 1914).

If anyone wants a look-up, please ask.

Most of families tend to have remained of fairly high status by 19th century. Usually solicitors, Vicars etc. And very often in England and beyond by then. But deep historical connections to Gwynedd.

Please give me surname and location (if possible) if you want a look-up.

Have just looked at OWEN in Index, and::

Owen Glyndwr
Owen Gwynedd
Owen Tudor
Sir Arthur Owen
Brisco Owen
Goronwy Owen
Baron Lewis Owen
Sir Hugh Owen
Sir J Fletcher Owen
R R Owen of Birkenhead
Owen of Bodeon and Orielton
Owen of Bodior
Owen of Bodsilin
Owen of Cae'rherllan
Owen of Cerrig- gwyddel
Owen of Conway
Owen of Hendrefeinws
Owen of Llaniestyn
Owen of Parciau
Owen of Peniarth
Owen of Penmynydd
Owen of Pencraig
Owen of Penrhos
Owen of Plas Du
Owen of Plas Llandegfan
Owen of Plas ucha, Llanfaethlu
Owen of Presaddfed
Owen of Rhiwlas
Owen of Rhuddgaer
Owen of Treddafydd
Owen of Trefeilir
Owen of Ty Gwyn, Dolgelley
Owen of Ucheldre ucha
Owen of Ymwlch
(spellings as in Index)

There is a Face Book group for genealogy in the Wrexham area. Please pm me if you would like to know more.

Martyn, Im researching the Roberts gypsy family whose stomping ground was Caerleon around 1910 :-)