Williams families
Wales, being Wales, there is more than one Williams family hailing from Glascoed! It seemed to be the most common surname in the village in the 19th Century. Many were related to each other. Here are the stories of some of them.
1) The Williams family of Beech Farm
Descendants of this Williams family were often known as “Williams, Beech Farm” - and they certainly played their part in inter-marrying with other Glascoed residents. In those days, who else were you going to meet other than the boy or girl “down the road” or even “next door”?
According to oral history, the Williams family were at Beech Farm for 150 years before leaving there (they left sometime between 1910 and 1920). Roger Williams was born at “Cwmbychan”, near Crickhowell, Breconshire in approx 1790, but it is always possible that his father or mother was a “Beech Farm” son or daughter who moved away for a period to work or farm in Breconshire.
There is a story, recounted both in the family (according to Glyn Williams and John Williams, of Upper House) and also repeated by a Morgan family from Prescoed Cottages, that one of the ancestors of the Beech Farm Williams’ was a sea captain, having his own vessel, who married a Zulu woman who was on board his ship for a time. According to this story, they had children together.
Henry Williams, son of Roger and later of The Bryn, Glascoed, was known as “The White Black Man” in the village, due to his appearance - dark curly hair - and he was a big man. Was this name due to Zulu roots, due to the story or merely a coincidence? I’d love to find out more - since Roger is my direct ancestor.
3) WILLIAMS: Upper Wernhir
The patriarch of this family was Richard Williams and the matriarch, Mary
I am grateful to Darren Davies who has provided this family outline:
GENERATION ONE
Richard Williams
Born c.1776 Kerry, Montgomeryshire
Died 7th September 1857, Pontnewydd
Buried Pontrhydyrun Baptist Chapel
Occupation Farmer
Married Mary
Born c. 1786 Monmouthshire
Died 7th August 1856, Pontnewydd
Buried Pontrhydyrun Baptist Chapel
GENERATION TWO
Known Children of Richard and Mary
1. Ann Williams
Born c.1815 New Town, Montgomeryshire
married Edwin Charles in October 1847
Died 31st May 1859, Llanbaddock
Buried Glascoed Chapel
Edwin Charles was born c. 1825 Clytha, Monmouthshire
2. Richard Williams
Born c. 1816 Montgomeryshire
Died 9th August 1851, Monmouthshire
Buried Pontrhydyrun Baptist Chapel
3. Thomas Williams
Born c.1816 Kerry, Montgomeryshire
Died 7th July 1885, Monmouthshire
4. John Edward Williams
Born c.1820 Mochdre, Montgomeryshire.
married Eliza Evans 20th May 1847 at Usk Baptist Chapel.
Died 17th May 1896, Llanvihangel Pontymoile
John farmed at Upper Wernhir in the 1840s, I believe prior to his marriage to Eliza. See his bio for further details.
Eliza Evans was born 1825 Llandenny, Monmouthshire (Baptised 6th March 1825, Llandenny Parish church)
5. Sarah Williams
Born c. 1824 Newtown, Montgomeryshire
Married Thomas Turner
Died 1903, Monmouthshire
Thomas Turner was born c.1820 Llangibby
GENERATION THREE
Children of John Edward and Eliza
Emily Augusta (born 1849 Llanbaddock, died 1907 San Francisco USA)
Eliza (Born 1850 Llanbaddock, died 1913 at Pontypool Hospital)
John Benjamin (born 1853, Gwernesney, died 1911 Seattle USA)
Mary Temperance (born 1855, Gwernesney, died 1936 Griffithstown, Pontypool)
William (born c.1855 Gwernesney)
Edward Oliver (born 1858 Gwernesney, died 1939 Pontypool)
Alfred Henry (born 1859 Gwernesney, died 1933 Griffithstown, Pontypool)
Arthur Sydney (born 1861 Gwernesney, died 1939 New Zealand)
Sara Emma (born 1863 Gwernesney, died 1933 New Inn, Pontypool)
Harriet Matilda (born 1865 Gwernesney, died 1923 Griffithstown, Pontypool)
Hannah Agnes (born 1868 Gwernesney, died 1923 Griffithstown Pontypool)
Children of Sarah and Thomas Turner
John Thomas (born c.1857 Llanthewy Vach, died 1928 Pontypool)
William (born c.1862 Llanthewy Vach, died 1941 Pontypool)
