Overview
Cross Farm is a farmhouse near the Crossroads at Glascoed. I assume that this is where the name for the farm and “The Cross” another nearby property has come from.
Cross Farm is not named in all the census returns between 1841 and 1881. I did find an image on the Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1881 that clearly shows a drive leading towards a property that are both in exactly the same place where today’s Cross Farm is situated.
On the 1891 and 1901 censuses, Cross Farm is recorded with its geographical neighbours being (The) Cross and Upper House. I have therefore assumed that the unnamed property, between Cross and Upper House, is Cross Farm. The people living there certainly match the family profile.
Many thanks to Olwen Hughes, who wrote the majority of the text on this page.
Facts and Figures
Year of Construction
Pre-1891. Probably many years earlier than this.
First Recorded Residents and year
Confirmed 1861: John and Mary Williams. Probably a different (50 yr old) Mary Williams was there in 1841, but this is a "best guess."
Residents at time of the 1851 census
Walter and Rachel Williams at "Common Cross," although this is a "best guess."
Location
Residents
1841: First recorded resident?
I believe that the 1841 census shows Mary Williams, a “50” yr old lady, “Independent” at Cross Farm. I’ve worked this out by the route that the census enumerator was likely to have taken. However, I can’t be 100% sure of this.
1851: Walter and Rachel Williams, their family and a lodger?
In 1851, Walter and Rachel Williams were living at “Common Cross” with their daughter Elizabeth (aged 14 and born at Glascoed), son Henry (aged 10, born at Llanfihangel) and a lodger. Was this Cross Farm or another property? I cannot be sure.
The lodger, Thomas Hickey was a 66-year-old Boot & Shoe maker and a Widower and had been born in Ireland. Probably the only Irishman in the hamlet at this time. Mr Hickey was to become the first person to be buried at the new St. Michael’s Churchyard in Glascoed in 1862.
Walter Williams died before the next census and Rachel was next seen living with her children and Grandchildren at Tonbolth, which must have been Ton Cottage or possibly Ton Farm. Both are close to Hill Farm and a distance from Cross Farm.
From 1861: John and Mary Williams and their growing family
The first residents that we can be sure lived at Cross farm were John and Mary Williams. John was the son of Roger and Ann Williams of Beech Farm. Mary was born in Llanbaddock cir. 1827.
They married on September 25th 1859 at Llanbaddock Parish church. Their marriage was reported in the Usk Observer. It was a busy weekend for the family since John’s sister, Mary Ann was married the following day.
We see the family growing through successive censuses.
In 1861, John was recorded as an “agricultural labourer.” Their first daughter Ann, a 1 year old, was born at Llanbaddock, so I imagine that they moved to Cross Farm in 1860 or the early part of 1861.
By 1871, John had become a farmer and they now had five children. In 1881, four of the children were still at home (Mary aged 17, Henry aged 14, William aged 10 and John aged 7).
Deaths and a passing to the next generation.
The parents, both died before the next census and were buried at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Mary Williams died on 18th July 1888, aged 62 and the following year, her husband John Williams died on the 4th November, aged 54. You can see the transcription of the wording on their grave on the Mount Zion Baptist Chapel Monumental Inscriptions pages.
The farm stayed in the family since we see three of the now adult children living at Cross Farm on the 1891 census. They were Mary (Farmer, aged 27), William (aged 20) and John aged 18 at Cross Farm. Both boys were working as hauliers.
From 1892: William and Mary Lewis and family
Mary, daughter of John and Mary Williams of Cross Farm married William Lewis of Upper House in 1892. A family story says that Mary Williams was engaged to marry John Lewis, William’s brother, however this engagement was broken, and she married his older brother William instead. William and Mary had four sons and one daughter, whilst John and Martha settled at Upper House and had three daughters. This caused much resentment between the two brothers.
The 1901 census shows William (aged 41, a farmer) and his 37 year old wife Mary at Cross Farm with a daughter (Annie, aged 5) and three sons (John, aged 8, William aged 4 and Arthur aged 1). By 1911 their fourth son had appeared (Henry, aged 7), along with a servant – Joseph Bate, who was a builders carpenter by trade. I wonder whether there was building work going on at the farmhouse at this time?
The 1921 census evidences further change and some more sadness. Mary Lewis died on 18th May 1913 at Glascoed. Her husband William would live a further 20 years before he was buried next to his wife Mary, at Mount Zion chapel.
William, his sons John and Arthur were and daughter Annie were at Cross Farm on census night, 1921. Annie was joined by her new husband, William John Parry. They had married on 17th February 1920. Their son Tom was born in 1920, although was to sadly die young in 1923, aged 2.
Several other children were born to William and Annie in the following decade – William John (born 1922), Annie Mary (born 1924) and Freda Evelyn (born 1930).
The siblings, John, Arthur, Henry and Annie (now Parry) were all living at Cross Farm at the time of the 1939 National Register, along with two of Annie’s daughters (Annie and Freda Parry).
And this is where I leave the story – for now! The records pages have been reproduced (mostly by Olwen Hughes) and they tell their own story. Enjoy reading.
Records
Kelly’s directory 1901
William Lewis, farmer, Cross Farm
Registers of Electors
On the first registers, Cross Farm was not named, although John Williams was in this format: “John Williams. Glascoed. House and land as tenant.”
- 1868
- 1870
- 1871
- 1872
- 1873
- 1874
- 1875
- 1876
- 1878
- 1879
In 1889, the property was recorded with these words:
“Williams, John Glascoed, Pontypool land and tenement near School”
From 1909 onwards the property was recorded as “Cross Farm.”
- 1909 – William Lewis.
- 1922 – William Lewis, John Lewis, Arthur Lewis and William Charles Parry.
- 1929 – William Lewis, John Lewis, Arthur Lewis Annie Parry and William Charles Parry.
Censuses
1861 – “Cross Road” #47.
John Williams 26 agricultural labourer b Glascoed
Mary Williams 34 b Llanbaddock
Ann Williams 1 b Llanbaddoc
1871– “No name.” #16. Neighbouring houses: No 17 Cross, No 18 Upper House
John Williams 36 farmer b Glascoed
Mary Williams 44 b Llanbattock
Ann Williams 11 b Glascoed
Elizabeth Williams 9 b Glascoed
Mary Williams 7 b Glascoed
Henry Williams 4 b Glascoed
William Williams 2 months b Glascoed
1881 – #25, “No name.”
John Williams 46 farmer b Glascoed
Mary Williams 54 b Llanbattock
Mary Williams 17 b Glascoed
Henry Williams 14 b Glascoed
William Williams 10 b Glascoed
John Williams 7 b Glascoed
1891 – “Cross Farm.”
Mary Williams single 27 farmer b Glascoed
William Williams 20 haulier b Glascoed
John Williams 18 haulier b Glascoed
1901 – Cross Farm. “5 or more rooms”.
William Lewis Head Married 41 Farmer Employer Born Glascoed English speaker
Mary Lewis Wife Married 37 Born Glascoed English speaker
John Lewis Son 8. Born Glascoed English speaker
Annie Lewis Daughter. 5. Born Glascoed English speaker
William Lewis Son 4 Born Glascoed English speaker
Arthur Lewis Son. 1. Born Glascoed
Leonard Williams, Servant, Single, 42. General Farm Labourer. Worker. b. Glascoed English speaker
1911 – “The Cross Farm.” Farm House. 6 rooms.
William Lewis. Head. 50 Farmer Grazier. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
Mary Lewis. Wife. 47 married for 19 years. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
John Lewis. Son. 18 Farmers son working on farm. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
Annie Lewis. Daughter. 15 Farmers daughter House work. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
William Lewis. Son. 14 Farmers son working on farm. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
Arthur Lewis. Son. 11 School. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
Henry Lewis. Son. 7 School. B. Glascoed, Monmouth.
Joseph Bate. Servant 44 Builders carpenter. B. Birmingham, Worcestershire.
1921 – Cross Farm, Glascoed.
William Lewis, Head, 60 years and 6 months. Male. Widower. Born Glascoed, Mon. Farmer. Employer. Working at home. English Speaker.
John Lewis, Son, 28 years and 7 months. Male. Single. Born Glascoed, Mon. Farmer labourer (over-written with words General Agricultural Labourer). Employer is W. Lewis. Working at home. English Speaker.
Arthur Lewis, Son, 21 years and 7 months. Male. Single. Born Glascoed, Mon. General workman (over-written with words “Agricultural Labourer on farm”). Employer is W. Lewis. Working at home. English Speaker.
Wm. J. Parry, Son-in-law, 29 years and 11 months. Male. Married. Born Glascoed, Mon. Miner. Additional writing: Assistant Timberman Repairer. Employer: Elled Colliery Co. Pontypool Additional writing: Pontnewynydd. “Out of work.” Born. English speaker.
A. Parry, (overwritten with name Arthur; NOTE although this is actually Annie nee Parry), Daughter, 25 years and 11 months. Female. Married. Born Glascoed, Mon. “Home duties.” English speaker.
Thos Parry, Grandson, 10 months, Male. Parents both alive. Born Glascoed, Mon.
1939 National Register – Cross Farm, #29.
1. Lewis, John – M 15.11 92 Single. Farmer
2. Lewis, Arthur – M 24.11 99 Single. Haulage Contractor Genl
3. Lewis, Henry – M 11.2 04 Single. Haulage Contractor Genl
4. Parry, Annie – F 9.7 95 Widow. unpaid Domestic
5. This record is officially closed
6. Parry, Freda E 5.7.1930. Single. School. (WILLIAMS added in green ink) NOTES (on subsequent marriage – F 5.7 30 S School CR 283 M(arried) N(ame) WILLIAMS 10.3.66. NOTE: The actual marriage registered in June Quarter 1965.