The residents of the farmhouse in the period of the censuses were named:
Williams (1841 and 1851)
Morgan (1861 and 1871)
Jones (1881 and 1891)
and Edmunds (1901 and 1911).
Richard Williams, who had been born in approximately 1776 at Mochdre, Montgomeryshire was farming Upper Wernhir at the time of the 1841 census with his family. Mary was a Monmouthshire girl, ten years his junior. By 1851 Richard had moved to nearby Pontnewydd, where he was a “proprietor of houses”. He died in 1857.
1841 census
Upper Wernhir
Richard Williams, 65, , Farmer, N
Mary Williams, , 55, , Y
Ann Williams, , 25, , N
Thomas Williams, 25, , , N
John Williams, 20, , , N
Sarah Williams, , 15, , N
John Jenkins, 13, , M S, Y
At some point in the intervening decade, Richard’s son, John Edward Williams took over the farm. He was there at the time of the 1851 census, although soon left Upper Wernhir for Steppes farm, Gwernesney, probably by the end of 1851. John Edward’s wife, Eliza was the sister of Cornelius Evans, who came to farm at Glascoed Fach farm by 1881.
1851 census
# 35. Upper Wernhere
John, Williams, Head, M, 32, , Farmer of 260 Acres employing 3 Lab, Montgomeryshire, Mochdre
Eliza, Williams, Wife, M, , 26, Farmers Wife, Monmouthshire, Landenny
Emily, Williams, Daur, , , 2, Farmers Daur, Monmouthshire, Lanbaddock
Eliza, Williams, Daur, , , 6m, Farmers Daur, Monmouthshire, Lanbaddock
Mary, Morgan, Visitor, W, , 46, , Gloucestershire, Olveston
John, Morgan, Visitor, U, 11, , , Monmouthshire, Usk
Joseph, Morgan, Visitor, , 8, , , Monmouthshire, Usk
Ann, Morgan, Visitor, , , 5, , Monmouthshire, Lanwenarth
Emma, Morgan, Visitor, , , 2, , Monmouthshire, Lanwenarth
Howel, Williams, Servant, U, 14 (poss 15?), , Farm servant, Monmouthshire, Lanvrechva
John, Whit, Servant, , 21, , Farm servant, , N.K.
Margaret, Mitchel, Servant, , , 22, House servant, , Ireland
In 1856, Mary Morgan’s name appears in an article in the Usk Observer after one of her dogs had been accused of worrying and killing a large number of sheep. This indicates that Mary was the householder certainly by this point. Interestingly she was also a visitor to the farm in 1851 along with her family.
1861 census
#10. Lower Whernheer (Listed in Llanbaddock, so not yet transcribed on the main census page for 1861).
(Note: this was actually Upper Wernhir).
Mary, Morgan, Head, Un, , 52, Farmer of 84 acres employing one Boy, Gloucestershire, N.K.
John, Morgan, Son, Un, 20, , Farmer's son, Monmouthshire, Usk
Joseph, Morgan, Son, Un, 17, , Farmer's son, Monmouthshire, Usk
Ann, Morgan, Daur, Un, , 14, Farmer's daughter, Monmouthshire, Abergavenny
Emma, Morgan, Daur, Un, , 11, Farmer's daughter, Monmouthshire, Abergavenny
Richard, Boyce, Serv, Un, 14, , Agricul-l Lab, Monmouthshire, Llanbaddock
1871 census
#7. Wernhir Upper. (Listed in Llanbaddock, so not yet transcribed on the main census page for 1871).
John, Morgan, Head, Mar, 31, , Farmer of 86 acres of Land, Usk, Monmouthshire
Emma, Morgan, Wife, Mar, , 31, , Llandegveth, Monmouthshire
Annie, Morgan, Daur, , , 3, , Llangibby, Monmouthshire
William Arthur, Morgan, Son, , 1, , , Llanbaddock, Monmouthshire
Julia, Pritchard, Serv, Unm, , 17, Domestic servant, Trelick, Monmouthshire
1881 census
#85. Upper Wernhir (Listed in Llanbaddock, so not yet transcribed on the main census page for 1881)
Richard, Jones, Head, Mar, 57, , Farmer of 87 Acres, Monmouthshire, Grosmont
Mary Anne, Jones, Wife, Mar, , 50, Farmers wife, Monmouthshire, Grosmont
John, Jones, Son, Unm, 23, , Farmers son, Monmouthshire, Grosmont
Mary, Jones, Daughter, Unm, , 21, Farmers Daughter, Monmouthshire, Grosmont
John, Jones, Brother, Unm, 59, , Agricultural Labourer, Monmouthshire, Grosmont
1891 census
#9. Upper Wernhir.
John, Jones, Head, M, 32, , Farmer, x, , , Herefordshire, Canton?, , English
Maria J., Jones, Wife, M, , 27, , , , , Breconshire, Llanvrynych, , English
Mary, Jones, Mother, Wid, , 59, , , , , Monmouth, Grosmont, , English
John, Jones, Uncle, S, 69, , Farm Labourer, , x, , Monmouth, Grosmont, , English
John H., Gwatkin, Nephew, , 5, , Scholar, , , , Monmouth, Llanbadoc, , English
Mary J., Harris, Step Daur, , 5, Scholar, , , , Brecon, Crickhowell, , English
James William Edmunds was farming here by 1901. His wife Mary Jane was the daughter of William Williams of Pentwyn, Glascoed. They employed Mary Jane’s brother William as a Carter at this point.
1901 census
#10. Upper Wernhir, Llanbaddock, Monmouthshire. 5 rooms or more.
James W, Edmunds, Head, M, 26, , Farmer, Own account, , Llantarnam, Monmouth, , English
Mary J., Edmunds, Wife, M, , 18, , , , Glascoed, Monmouth, , English
William, Edmunds, Son, , 5 m, , , , , Glascoed, Monmouth, ,
William, Williams, Brother in law, S, 14, , Carter on Farm, Worker, , Glascoed, Monmouth, , English
1911 census
10, Upper Wernhir, Llanbaddoc, Mon. Farmhouse & Bldgs. 7 rooms.
James William, Edmunds, Head, 35, , Married, , , , , Farmer, , Own account, At home, Llantarnam, Mon, British, English
Mary Jane, Edmunds, Wife, , 27, Married for 10 yrs, 5 children, 5 still living, Farmers wife, , , , Glascoed, Mon, British, English
Williams Laurence, Edmunds, Son, 9, , , , , , , , , , , Llanbaddoc, Mon, british, English
Daisy, Edmunds, Daughter, , 8, , , , , , , , , , Llanbaddoc, Mon, british, English
Sarah Anne Doris, Edmunds, Daughter, , 6, , , , , , , , , , Llanbaddoc, Mon, british, English
John Cyril, Edmunds, Son, 3, , , , , , , , , , , Llanbaddoc, Mon, british, English
James Lloyd, Edmunds, Son, 2, , , , , , , , , , , Llanbaddoc, Mon, british,