Lapstone Cottage – 291 on the 1841 Tithe Map. 27 perches.

Lapstone Cottage is now in the parish of Llanover.

The 1661 Land Tax says that John Morgan and William Howell hold 1 messuage, 1 barn and certain lands, and before them Valentine Pritchard.

A letter to the Rev. Mr Williams, curate of Goytrey asking him to publish the banns of William Howell labourer and Mary Saunders who lives with her father at his dwelling house between Croshoped and Cefnmynog. William and Mary were married on the 19^th July 1755 at St Peter’s.

Another letter to the Rev. Williams in 1762 asking for the banns to be published for the marriage between William Long and Barbara Saunders, both living at the house of her father, William Saunders, they were married on the 16^th October at St Peter’s.

There was another marriage in 1819 between William Griffiths and Mary Morgan, they had two daughters whilst living at Lapstone, Margaret who was baptised at 6 months of age on the 31^st January 1822 and Mary on the 23^rd July 1824.

There is an indenture dated 1831 between Edward Hoskins, Alexander Waddington and Henry Frederick. Edward Hoskins died on the 24^th March 1832, this ties in with the 1841 tithe that says Mary Hoskins is the owner and William Griffiths the occupier. (Mary Hoskins died on the 6^th October 1855 and sometime after this date their daughter Eliza sold Lapstone to Lord Llanover for £85.)

Lewis Edmund the local builder wrote in his diary on 20^th November 1855 “At John Jones Lapstone Bridge repairing the house.” (John Jones is my great-great-grandfather.) He married Jane James at Bettws Newydd and their children, Jane (my great-grandmother) Emily, Edwin and John were born there before she died in 1865 aged 30. John was also the clerk at St Peter’s for nearly 40 years.

In 1875 William Williams was renting Lapstone at a cost of £4 10s. Lady Llanover’s agent, Turner, wrote her a letter asking if he, William Williams, could swap houses with Prosser who lives at Pencaffyl. Lady Llanover agrees to the arrangement as long as he works for her.

James Parry was next to sign up for Lapstone, this he did on the 6^th March 1879, again paying a rent of £4 10s. He was there in 1881 with his wife Harriet and children James, Ann, William and Alfred. Later that year he also sends a letter to Lady Llanover saying he to cannot pay the rent and has gone to live in one of Pruett’s old cottages (Woodlands). James Parry died, and was buried on the 28^th September 1881. His wife Harriet later married James Jenkins and lived at Ty Llwyd.

On the 1911 census Thomas Hudson a 43 year old estate worker is living at Lapstone along with his 39 year old wife Marie and Marie’s uncle John Lewis 75, who is a retired general labourer on the estate, Marie and John were both born in Monmouth, also staying with them is Marie’s sister 26 year old Kate Goode who was born in Blaenavon.

The census of 1921 says David Thomas a 59 year old quarryman born in Monkswood and Margaret 39 born in Cwmcarvan are the occupiers.

Murder of Margaret Thomas

Lapstone Cottage Goytrey – 26^th October 1921

When morning broke on Wednesday 26^th October 1921, it was a predictable start to the day for David Thomas and his wife Margaret.  The couple lived at Lapstone Cottage, a small stone built house on the Llanover Estate, at Pengroesoped near Abergavenny.  Having risen as usual just before 6am, David washed and readied himself for work, whilst his 48 year old wife prepared their breakfast of fried potatoes and bacon.  This finished and having exchanged their goodbyes, David Thomas left for work.  It was 6.45am.

David worked at Ffawydden Quarry about a mile and a half from his home. He was responsible for the removal of topsoil prior to the quarrying of stone.  He returned home to the most horrible sight – the dead body of his wife on the kitchen floor bespattered with blood. Nearby was a piece of iron which was blood stained and there is no doubt that it was with this the brute – man is to good a name for such a villain.

Mr. Thomas found his wife was beyond human aid and went to raise the alarm, meeting on his way the village postman, he detached him to summon the local policeman P.C. Preece, who resided about 1 mile from the scene.

Critical investigations have and are being conducted. Yesterday the little white cottage was visited by a number of well known people in the locality and a good many of the women were overcome.

All evidence points strongly to the fact that the murder must have been committed early in the day – probably soon after the husband left for his work. Mrs. Thomas’s routine would be to let the fowl and pigs out shortly after breakfast, but on his return Mr. Thomas fond the animals still locked in their pens. Neither had she commenced her daily chores.

The husband, attired in ordinary everyday labourer’s clothes was a pathetic picture.

The inquest was held in the village Temperance Hotel at Pengroesoped, the husband was called as the first witness, he said he was David Thomas of Lapstone Cottage and his wife’s age was 43, he had left the cottage at 6.40 and returned at 5.30pm, when on gaining access to the house he found his wife dead. On the way to work he saw young Billy Thomas and spoke to him. On his return home unable to get into the house, thinking his wife had gone for milk or water, he discovered the pigs had not been fed and were ravenous, after a while he tried the other door and found it to be on the latch, when he got into the house he found an iron bar about a foot long lying by his wife’s right hand.

Missing from the house were several items; a silver watch of his wife’s; a metal watch of his own; a navy blue suit; navy blue waistcoat and trousers; a pair of light black boots; a tie; 19s; a pair of pants; a singlet; two good razors and bar of shaving soap. In the house they found a tin can close to the wall. In the bedroom witness said he found a folded handkerchief, also missing was £4 in treasury notes.

He had seen a strange man about several days before on the canal bank.

Mrs. Thomas sometimes worked for Mrs. Rosser Llanover and on the 13^th October on arriving at work she seemed very upset and said about 8am that day she had seen wet footprints on her path leading to the door of her house. She then went up to the door of her shed and found a big man sitting there and it frightened her. She asked him what he wanted and he said some sticks to light a fire. She told him to be off as she had to carry her sticks a long way. She did not see him again.

William Williams of Llanover said he saw Mr. Thomas working at the quarry on the day of the murder and passed the time of day with him. Alfred Thomas, son of the last witness said he also saw Mr. Thomas in the quarry on the day in question.

Mrs. Elizabeth Evans, widow, Pengroesoped said that Thomas had come to her house to see if his wife had come for water, he then went back home and half an hour later came rushing back shouting someone has murdered Maggie, he then went to Henry Jones for help.

The body was covered in a red quilt and lots of mats but you could still see her legs, nurse Saunders of Tredegar examined Mrs. Thomas and found her dead.

Critical investigations are and being conducted but nothing tangible has been discovered. The murder must have been committed early in the morning, soon after the husband left for work.

Mr. Bryn Morgan of Glan-y-nant Farm said he had seen a man washing himself in the brook, asked if he knew Mrs. Thomas he said she was one of the most jolly women you could wish to know. At one time Mrs. Thomas was housekeeper for Mr. Charles at Park-y-brain Farm.

The funeral of Mrs. Thomas, which took place at Saron Baptist Chapel, a distance of one and a half miles from her cottage was lined with about two thousand people, many to pay genuine respects and many from morbid curiosity.

Friday November 4^th 1921 – Funeral of the Victim

Thousands Witness the Sad Ceremony

On Sunday afternoon when the weather was in its most beneficent mood I rode out to the scene continues our reporter.

Naturally expectant of a large crowd I was nevertheless surprised at the traffic on the highways.

Hundreds upon hundreds of visitors, drawn from far and near in the county and many outside invaded the customary Sabbath quietude of the picturesque little village when the funeral took place of the victim.  The country roads and lanes were thickly lined with motor cars, motor cycles, ordinary pushbikes and scores more walked the distance from Pontypool and Abergavenny and intermediate villages.

Around the pretty little white Lapstone Cottage, where the murderer, at the time of writing unknown, committed his gruesome task and on the way to Saron Baptist Chapel, a distance of approximately a mile and a half, there would be, at a moderate computation a concourse of two thousand people, many to pay genuine respect and many methinks were drawn there from a morbid curiosity, as was evidenced by the way they passed in queues through the graveyard to get a glimpse of the coffin.

Service at the Cottage

The officiating minister the Rev Leonard Collin Edwards Baptist minister who showed me an exquisite bouquet from Lord and Lady Treowen, officiated at a short service inside the cottage ground, where the unfortunate woman had spent thousands of happy hours in attending to her household duties – where the poultry and the farm stock generally knew her and her voice.  Somewhat inured to unusual and pathetic scenes I was appreciably moved by the singing of ‘Jesu, lover of my soul’ to the welsh tune of Aberystwyth – deep in its emotionalism and particularly so, as this was the first time I had ever heard it rendered by welsh men, women and children.  The tragedy which had been enacted in that little lonely cottage – the diminutive coffin enveloped by a mass of chrysanthemums, roses and characteristic country flowers – the large concourse of people the majority of the male suasion bareheaded – some smoking cigarettes – the hooting of motors as they dashed madly along the main roads – women, young and old attired in gay summer array – who had motored or cycled to the scene – were a peculiar admixture of human nature – some impressed – temporarily undoubtedly – others there from a torrid  pulse of interest.

Taken along the country lanes to the last resting-place.  Crowds lined the thoroughfares as the last mortal remains were carried, in relays by workmen on the estate.

Headed by an appreciable number of workpeople employed on the Llanover Estate the mournful procession wended its way to the Chapel. Bearers carrying the coffin followed and then was to be seen the husband leaning on the arm of a lady relative.  At the occasional halts he was the picture of pathos.  There was poignant attitude depleted on his features. Intermittently there was an apparent tremulous and hesitation in his walk – but throughout he bore up bravely – as fulfilled a soldier.

At The Chapel

Wending my way to the comparatively small Church I found hundreds of people congregated there.  The ubiquitous ‘man in blue’ the village policeman respectfully asked the large concourse to move further up the hill and they readily acquisteed.  Inside the chapel everything possible had be done to make the necessary preparations, and the chief mourners

William Sullivan, 42, a tramping labourer from Cwmbran was charged with the murder of Margaret Thomas.

George Henry Smith, milk seller, Mamhilad said on Friday October 21^st he saw prisoner and asked him where he was going; he said he had come from Newport workhouse and was going to Abergavenny workhouse. He again saw him on October 26^thheading towards Pontypool. Florence Smith, wife of witness also identified Sullivan as the man seen on the dates mentioned.

A pair of boots left at Lapstone Cottage along with a dirty pair of pajamas and a very dirty handkerchief were discovered by Mr. Thomas and handed to the police. These items were identified as belonging to Sullivan.

Annie Jones of the Forge Hammer Inn, Cwmbran, said Sullivan was drinking in her pub on the 26^th October paying 2s 6d for his first drink and later £1 note for drinks with his brother.

Lily May Groves (14) Albion Road, Pontypool, indentified Sullivan as the man who called at her home asking her to ask her mother if she would like to buy a pair of boots and a coat. He wanted 2/6d for the boots and 2/- for the coat. He was told to come back at 6pm. He left the boots and coat on a chair.

Hannah Eliza Groves, 54 of Albion Road Pontypool said she purchased the items from him.

Sullivan was found guilty of the murder of Margaret Thomas.

(Full article can be read in the Free Press)

William Sullivan, 42, a tramping labourer from Cwmbran was charged with the murder of Margaret Thomas.

George Henry Smith, milk seller, Mamhilad said on Friday October 21^st he saw prisoner and asked him where he was going; he said he had come from Newport workhouse and was going to Abergavenny workhouse. He again saw him on October 26^thheading towards Pontypool. Florence Smith, wife of witness also identified Sullivan as the man seen on the dates mentioned.

A pair of boots left at Lapstone Cottage along with a dirty pair of pajamas and a very dirty handkerchief were discovered by Mr. Thomas and handed to the police. These items were identified as belonging to Sullivan.

Annie Jones of the Forge Hammer Inn, Cwmbran, said Sullivan was drinking in her pub on the 26^th October paying 2s 6d for his first drink and later £1 note for drinks with his brother.

Lily May Groves (14) Albion Road, Pontypool, indentified Sullivan as the man who called at her home asking her to ask her mother if she would like to buy a pair of boots and a coat. He wanted 2/6d for the boots and 2/- for the coat. He was told to come back at 6pm. He left the boots and coat on a chair.

Hannah Eliza Groves, 54 of Albion Road Pontypool said she purchased the items from him.

Nyth Catty was Goytrey poorhouse, so a little more is known about it’s history. It was replaced by Penwern Cottages between 1864 and 1871.

Goytrey Church overseers of the poor accounts.

From the account of Walter Griffiths, overseer of the poor for the office 12th day of May 1802 to 11th day of July 1802: To Candy Morgan for a piece of ground whereon it is intended to build houses for poor persons and hedging the same 1/-.

At a parish meeting held the 4th day of May 1808 it was agreed by the major part of the parishioners then present to build a house for Catherine Jenkins immediately on part of ground belonging to the parish at the expense of the parish under the direction of the overseers to be called Nyth Catty.

Joshua Davies Clk; William Morgan; James Prosser; Edward Jones; John Moses – x; William Jeremiah – x; Thomas Jenkins – x;

Account of Thomas Jenkins overseer of the poor from the 19th April 1809 to 27th day of April 1810 – hedging Catty’s Nest 2/-.

The account of Vaughan Jones overseer of the poor from the 8th day of May to the 19th day of May 1809;

David Jones mason for building a house for placing a poor person £3; Francis Morgan carpenter for 9 days work at 2/9 per day; A lock for the door 2/2; Nails 1/-; Pair of hinges, 2 plugs and 1 staple 3/-; Thomas Prosser for the thatching 6/-; William David for 28 cartloads of stone already risen for the building 9/4; 4 days halling the said stone £1 4s; A labourer filling them, 2 days 4/-; A load of lime at the kiln 10/-; Halling the lime 15/-; William Morgan for timber and halling it 15/6; James Prosser for 4 thraves and a half of straw at 6/-; Thrave £10 1s 9d; Candia Morgan coal 12/-:

Catherine Jenkins a pauper was buried on December 20th 1812.

At a parish meeting on the 10th April 1813, it allowed £7 1s 8d for enlarging the cottage called Kitty’s Nest.

The poorhouse also took in paupers from the surrounding parishes, the following people were mentioned:- Candia Morgan’s funeral cost £1 1s 0d; Richard Evans from the workhouse aged 61 was buried on the 20th January 1816; on the 27th Samuel Saunders from the workhouse was buried aged 40;  on the 6th February 1816, Peter Edwards aged 32; and Margaret Watkin aged 90 from the poorhouse on 25th May 1819. The last person named in 1836 was Francis Morgan aged 90.

On 25th September 1835, Richard Jones takes Catty’s Nest at a rent of £2 per annum and in 1836 the thatcher repaired Catty’s Nest at a cost of £1 4s 3d. On the 1841census Richard Jones was 50 years old, a shoemaker, Ester his wife was 40, their daughters are Hariett 5 and Eliza 10 months.

An undated document says Richard Jones was the occupier and the rateable value for Nyth Catty was left blank as it was owned by the parish. Richard remains at Nyth Catty until he dies in 1864. After his death his wife Ester sold Nyth Catty to James Morgan for £10. To avoid his creditors, James Morgan put the property into the name of his son Roger, who at that time was living with his brother Henry aged 28, a farmer of 100 acres in Llanellen.

On the 1871 census James Morgan was a labourer aged 45, Charlotte his wife 46, and their children Ellen 16, Ann 14, Louisa 8, and John aged 10.

A document I have says there was a case in 1870 stating Richard Jones an old man moved into the property about 1834 and was given permission  to live there instead of becoming chargeable to the parish. Jones took the cottage and begged a few loads of straw from the neighbouring farms, thatched the cottage and made it habitable. He subsequently received parish relief and lived in the house until his death without paying rent.

James Morgan erected two substantial dwelling houses (now Penwern Cottages) and assigned them to his son.

Brook Cottage – 666 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Lease for a house, shop and garden, quarter of an acre on the highway leading from Abergavenny towards Pontypool dated the 29th September 1701 to William Thomas a joyner for the lives of George, Mary and Elizabeth, the children of Thomas William. Rent 6/- and heriot 6/-

On 30th July 1765 Thomas Lewis married Sarah Williams, their children were Mary who was baptised on 14th February 1768, Thomas on the 5th May 1771, Henry on the 9th April 1773 and Michael on the 17th May 1778.

William Lewis married Elizabeth Edwards on 2nd May 1790 and the following children were born at Brook Cottage and baptised at St Peter’s; Ann on the 13th February 1791, Martha on the 5th May 1793, Elizabeth on the 26th January 1796, William on the 12th January 1800, John on the 22nd August 1802, Mary on the 2nd November 1806 and finally Sarah on the 26th February 1809.

The 1821 Earl of Abergavenny survey states Dr Hobbs is the leaseholder of Brook Cottage, the tenant is Thomas Lewis.

The 1822 Court Leet says Thomas Lewis died seized of a lease, the 1825 land tax says William Lewis is the occupier of the Lords land previously held by Thomas Lewis, William died and was buried at St Peter’s on the 4th September 1827, the lease is then transferred to John Lewis.

The 1840 electoral register gives John Lewis, near Twmpyn, and on the 1841 census he is aged 35, his wife Elizabeth is 30 and their children are William 11, John 7, Thomas 5 and two daughters Anne 9 and Elizabeth 1.

At a rent of £4 10s John Lewis is occupying a cottage garden and beer shop with land of 1 acre 2 rood and 37 perches.

In 1851 John Lewis is 48 and a woodcutter born Goytre, Elizabeth is 40, and 6 children. Brook on this census was called Ty Will Morgan.

The 1861 census for parts of the parish is missing and Brook Cottage is not listed.

1871 census sees a new tenant, James Cobner who is aged 55 and a carpenter living with Martha 18, Mary 8, James 7 and Thomas 4. He is married to Cathleen, who on the 18th July 1878 on the order of Col. Henry Byrde is sent to the Abergavenny Asylum suffering from melancholia.

Ownership of Brook changed by 1889 when the tithe update says Alex Edgar is the owner and Samuel Twissel is the occupier, this fits with the 1891 census as Samuel is a widower aged 59 and living at Brook with his daughter Edith 19.

In 1901, Mary Edgar, a grocer, is living at Brook cottage.

A Free Press article dated 15th October 1909 says the stiles at Brook Cottage were renovated by Pontypool Rural District Council. On the 1910 valuation of the parish, Edwin Edgar of Ynyspicca is the owner and the value of Brook Cottage is £6 10s and the rateable value is £5 15s.

On the 1911 census there are 4 rooms in the cottage and Mary Edgar is aged 71, a widow, and living there with Philip Jenkins a lodger aged 82, formerly a woodman, both being born in Goytre. Mary Edgar died and was buried on the 25th April 1912 at St Peter’s Church.

The poor rate of 1914 says Edwin Edgar is the owner and Brook is occupied by Philip Williams.

In June 1915 there was an advert in the Free Press for a cottage to let on the main road, apply Edgar, Ynyspicca.

The next tenant was Charles Jones whose son Vernon died on the 10th October 1915 aged 8 hours, (see infant deaths, Usk).

In residence on the 1921 census is 44 year old Oswald Court from Mamhilad and his family, Oswalds occupation is a castrator, Ruth his wife is 44, born in Goytre, They have three daughters,Lena 18, born in Mamhilad  an apprentice dressmaker at Miss Orchards Pontnewynydd,  Louisa 15, born in Mamhilad is helping in the garden and home duties and  Linda 7 born in Goytre.

The Court family must have left Brook by 1922 as the occupier on the 1922 electoral register is David Williams.

Two more adverts were placed in the Free Press, one in May 1927 – “for sale – rudge perfect working order, apply Brook Garage Goytre” and on the 24th February 1933 “house and garden, roadside, close to bus,” apply with references Edgar, Goytre.

Abergwellan – 606 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

For many hundreds of years Abergwellan was in the parish of Goytre. 

After Lady Llanover purchased many properties in the parish of Goytre the boundary changed and Abergwellan became part of Llanover Parish

From 1690 to 1724 Abergwellan was used as a non-conformist meeting house. In 1724 the meeting house was moved to the Wern.

In 1755 Thomas James was overseer of the poor for Abergwellan

From 1808 until at least 1829, David Francis was the constable and occupier of Abergwellan,  Iltyd Nichols was the owner and paid land tax for the property.

In 1832 Philip Morgan became the tenant, the information on the 1841 tithe states he was farming 20 acres 1 rood and 27 perches and  paying £1 17s 1d to the rector. His age on the 1841 census was 65, his wife Elizabeth was 50.

Sometime in the 1840’s William Gwatkin (son of James) became the tenant, the rateable value was £10 15s. William married Eliza Williams on the 8th May 1845 at Monkswood Church. Eliza was the daughter of John Williams, a hoopshaver. In 1850 William added his name to a list of Goytrey parishioners who were voting against the police. By the 1851 census the family had increased by two children, Edwin 4 and Ann 1. Another son William was born in 1853 and at this time William was also listed as overseer of the poor for Abergwellan.

In 1853 Abergwellan was given to Lady Mary Wyatt as part of her marriage settlement. A recent law had been passed where it stated that each county had to have it’s own reformatory and in 1856/7 there was a draft lease drawn up by Iltyd Nichols, Benjamin Hall, Col Byrde and others to turn Abergwellan into the reformatory for the county. A petition was drawn up against this and Lewis Edmunds the local builder from Llanover wrote in his diary on the 28th January 1857 “about the parish of Goytrey with a petition about the proposed new reformatory school and collected 91 names.” The petition worked as the new reformatory was opened in Little Mill.

In 1855 John Preece became the new tenant and on the 1861 census he is living with his mother-in-law Elizabeth Lloyd aged 64, a farmer’s widow. John is 44 and a farm bailiff born in Hereford, Elizabeth his wife is 32 and born in Gloster, their children are William 7, John 5, Thomas 3, and Elizabeth 1. Also living there are John’s brother Samuel who is 20, and a servant Mary Morris born in Goytrey.

More children were born to John and Elizabeth Preece, Henry in September 1863, Emily Margaret in November 1866 and May Sarah in May 1868, all being baptised at St Peter’s church. 

Edmund Lewis wrote in his diary in 1868 that he spent May to July working at Abergwellan on the outside of the house and again in 1873 when he put the crest on the barn and also spent time repairing the house and stable.

John Preece died in May 1875, Elizabeth his wife died in 1882, they were buried at Chapel Ed Goytrey.

The owner of Abergwellan (freehold house and land) is listed on the Electoral Register as Sir Mathew Digby Wyatt. (His death is recorded as the 21st May 1877.)

The new occupiers in the 1881 census were John Jones 52, born Carmarthen, his wife Elizabeth 54, and daughter Elizabeth 14.

There is an indenture of Abergwellan being conveyed to Lady Llanover from Lady Mary Wyatt in 1886.

On the 19th March 1887 John Jones appeared as a witness for a welsh speaking vicar for the parish of Goytrey, in 1888 he becomes a tenant of Lady Llanover.

The 1901 census says John Jones is aged 57, daughter Elizabeth is 34. A son Thomas Evan is born on the 11 May 1901, he later attended Llanover school. John Jones died and was buried on the 6th February 1907 at Llanover.

The 1911 census gives a little more information than previous and says Abergwellan has 4 rooms and living there was Emma Jane Jones 44, a farmer’s widow, Thomas 9, Mary 5, and William Sadler, a boarder aged 40, a woodcutter.

On the 4 August 1920 a marriage took place at St Peter’s church between Thomas Shaw a postman of Flannel Street Abergavenny and Elizabeth Williams of Abergwellan.

On the census of 1921 head of the household is widow Emma J Davies, Emma is 54 born in Llangattock Brecon, her son Thomas Evan Jones, an assistant school master is 20, daughter Mary Jones is 15, both Thomas and Mary were born in Goytre.

An article in the Free Press tells the story of Thomas Evan Jones’ achievement of a Master’s degree, this I have put separately. Another article is that of an accident in 1936 involving John and his mother Emma.

Thomas married Irene May Evans on the 13th September 1940 at Llanafan, Builth Wells.

Abergwelfan is now a listed building in the parish of Llanover.

Ancient Thatched Cottage – 294 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Containing 11 perches – orchard 26 perches and garden 19 perches.

This cottage is no longer standing, it was in the centre of Pengroesoped, at the top of Lapstone lane on the right.

Before 1766 the cottage was owned by Francis Morgan of Llanover,   he gave it to his daughter Margaret on her marriage at St Peter’s on the 18^th July 1766 to William Mathews. There is an examination of William Mathews in 1774 to his right to reside in the parish as he was born in Llanthewy Vach, he said he had gained the right as a servant to Francis Morgan of Llanover, his father -in-law.

In 1793 Margaret, the daughter of Margaret and William Mathews  married William Jeremiah. That same year her mother Margaret Mathews, widow, died and was buried at St Peter’s.The 1841 census and tithe says William Jeremiah is the owner of freehold land and cottage, he is aged 70,  a wood collier, living with him is Maria 35 and Margaret 2.

On the 20^th June 1849 William Jeremiah sells Thatch Cottage for £30 to William Williams,  coal merchant of Goytre Wharf.

I am not certain who was living at Thatch on the 1851 census as most of the house names have been left blank but about this time the new owner William Williams built a pair of cottages in the garden of Thatch Cottage, they are called Pengroesoped Cottages, the cottages are still here today.

In 1860 William Williams of the wharf moved to Hereford and sells Thatch Cottage to Sarah Price of the Wain-y-clare for £220.

On the 1861 census the occupier is David Morris 25,  a woollen spinner, David was born in Cardigan,  his wife Mary is 21, along with his son also called David. By 1881 David Morris and family had moved to the Old School House where he gave his occupation as a tailor, the family remained in Llanover until his death in 1905.

This ties in with the fact that Samuel Harris, the woollen manufacturer of Gwenffrwd was renting the garden cottage from Sarah Drinkwater (nee Price).

In 1871 another spinner, John Jones aged 63, his wife Elizabeth 60 and a lodger, Morgan Jones 31,  also a weaver were living at Thatch Cottage, but the 1872 land tax says Ann Jarret is renting the property.

Sarah Drinkwater died in 1881, her son William Price made a declaration as to his right of title to the property.

The following occupying families were Francis Herbert a labourer in 1887, Morgan Davies from 1888 to 1896, then William Evans, woollen spinner, with his wife Elizabeth. The next information I have is that by 1914 Llanover Estate are liable for the poor rate and the occupier is Jane Higgs.

Chestnut Cottage

(Also mentioned many times as Ton Cottage.)

In 1841 Chestnut Cottage was owned by T E Cooke and the occupier was William Watkins, he was paying 10s per annum with a rack rent of £2 10s.

At a parish meeting held on the 11th March 1847 it was agreed to reduce the assessment of Thomas Jones’s property by £2 and put it on the cottage of Thomas Watkins.

The next mention is that of Elizabeth Hughes and her son John, a gardener, who were living at Chestnut from 1861 to 1872. Elizabeth died and was buried at Mamhilad Church on 30th May 1872.

An advert in the Free Press on the 3rd November 1877 says there is a sale of household goods and effects for sale at Chestnut Cottage on instruction of the owner John Lewis who is leaving the property.

John Jones then became the occupier and in 1881 he was living there with his wife Elizabeth 59, Isabella 19, and Isaac Jones their grandson.

Isabella married William Lindsay in 1894 and on the 1901 census they are living at Chestnut Cottage with their children Elizabeth 5, Emily 3, and Margaret 2. Isabella was baptised as an adult on 6th April 1906 at St Peter’s Church. More children were born, Agnes and Laura both being baptised in 1905 and a son Francis who died in 1907 when he was 10 months old.

A tragedy struck in 1909 when Emily aged 9 had a terrible accident and drowned in the canal when walking to Pontymoile to meet her mother. In the same year William Lindsay died aged 43. In 1910 Isabella had an illegitimate daughter and called her Winifred Edith. Isabella continued to live at Chestnut with her children.

The gross value of Chestnut Cottage was £4 10s and the rateable value was £3 10s.

In 1918 Alfred Adam Williams was the owner and he sold the property to Edward Henry Charles of Park-y-brain for £85, the tenant was still Isabella Lindsay, paying 2s rent and land tax of 1s 9d with the commuted tithe being 4d.

I checked the electoral records as there are few other records are available after the 1911 census and found that Isabella moved to Woodland Cottage Llanvihangle Pontymoile where she died aged 56 in December 1927 and was buried at St Peter’s.

In residence on the 1921 census is George Mills 49, George was born in Manchester and employed as a bricklayer at Sweet and sons Usk but is out of work, Elizabeth his wife is 38  born in Llangattock Carmarthenshire, their children, six year old Daniel and four year old Reece were born in Bettws Newydd.

Over the following years  George Mills and his wife Elizabeth remained at Chestnut until about  1927. Followed by Edwin and Doris Price from about 1930.