William Gwatkin was born at Walterstone, Herefordshire, around 1820, the eldest known son of James Gwatkin and Elizabeth Richards. Although born just across the border, William came from a family with strong Monmouthshire roots. His father James had been born at Goytre around 1787 and married Elizabeth Richards there, although he was recorded as residing at Llanvihangel Crucorney at the time of the marriage. James worked as a farmer and, after a relatively brief stay in Herefordshire, the family had returned to Goytre by 1823.
William grew up in Goytre alongside at least three younger siblings. His brother Matthew was baptised in 1823, Richard in 1826 and his sister Anne in 1833. The family appears to have been well established in the parish and William spent his formative years in the farming community in which his father had been raised.
On 8 May 1845 William married Eliza Williams at Monkswood. Eliza had been born at Mamhilad around 1819. Their marriage lasted for almost fifty years and together they raised a large family. Census records suggest that neither William nor Eliza spoke Welsh, reflecting the linguistic character of this part of eastern Monmouthshire during the nineteenth century.
The couple had at least nine children. Their eldest son, Edwin William Gwatkin, was baptised at Goytre in 1847 and was followed by Anne, William, John, George, Richard, Thomas, Edmund and Evan Arthur. Through these children, William and Eliza became the ancestors of a substantial Gwatkin family whose descendants remained closely connected with Goytre, Glascoed and neighbouring parishes.
By 1861 William was farming 59 acres at Church Farm, Lower Goytre. Living with him were Eliza and five of their children. Farming remained his occupation throughout his adult life and he appears to have been a respected member of the local agricultural community.
Sometime between 1861 and 1881 the family moved to Maesmawr, Glascoed. William was recorded there in both the 1881 and 1891 censuses and was still farming at the age of seventy.
William spent his final years at Maesmawr. He died in 1897 and was buried at Monkswood on 15 March of that year. Having spent much of his life farming in Goytre and Glascoed, he left behind a large family whose descendants continued to play a part in the history of the surrounding area.
THEIR CHILDREN’S STORIES
Edwin William Gwatkin married Louisa Prodger in 1870 in Newport Mon (GRO Ref SEP Qtr 11A / 264).
Edwin died at Mamhilad and was buried at Goytre Parish Churchyard on 8 March 1916.
The first of Edwin and Louisa’s children was born at Mamhilad: William Prodger Gwatkin (b. Sep Qtr 1871, Vol 11A/Page 140).
The other children were all born at Goytre: Edwin John (b. Sep Qtr 1873, 11A.173), Annie Louisa (b. Sep Qtr 1876, 11A/ 165), Laura Eliza (b. Mar Qtr 1878 11A/158), Mabel (b. Sep Qtr 1882, 11A/165) and Kate also known as Katie (b. 1883).
Edwin & Louisa’s daughter Annie died at the age of 21 in Kensington, London. She was buried on 28th March 1898 at Goytre parish church. A note was made in the burial register: “Goytre Wharf”. Edwin and Louisa were living at Goytre Wharf at the time of the 1891 census, so I assume that this is a reference tying Annie to the family living there – in effect explaining why she was buried at Goytre.
Their daughter Katie died in 1921 at Brook House, Alsager, Staffordshire and was buried at Goytre on 26th Mar 1921.
Anne Gwatkin. Several of his children remained connected with the area. His daughter Anne married Philip Williams of Beech Farm, linking the Gwatkin family with one of Glascoed’s best-known farming families.
