Author Archives: Viv Rosser

Gelli

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Gelli – 509 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Owner the Earl of Abergavenny and containing 13a 2r 20p.

A marriage took place on the 6th April 1767 between William Prosser bach and Judith Morgan at Mamhilad church, after the wedding they lived at Gelli. They had several children, James baptised in December 1769; William in February 1771; Edward July 1774; Thomas 1776; Philip December 1779, and Richard May 1782.

In 1798 Judith Prosser paid land tax for Gelli. In 1806 Thomas Prosser was the constable for Gelli for his lease, he was mentioned again on the 1821 Barony of Abergavenny survey.

When Thomas died in 1834 the tenancy passed to Jacob Prosser, he is the constable in 1837 and in 1840 he holds the lease of land for lives called Gelly.

The 1841 tithe says Jacob Prosser is paying £1 3s 10d to the rector, the owner being the Earl of Abergavenny.

The 1841 census “on the main road between the road from Penpellenny to Goytre Hall.” Jacob Prosser 35 farmer, Mary 30, Lewis 5, William 3, Thomas 1.

The 1851 census says Jacob Prosser is a farmer of 13a. In 1855 the Rev Thomas Evans wrote to Gabb, the Earl of Abergavenny’s agent asking him to renew the lease for Gelli to Jacob Prosser as he was a hard working man and that it’s value is £6 6s not £12 as originally thought. The parochial rate and rent charges amount to £2. The cottage and garden he valued at £1 16s and mentioned that thatch cottages are a perpetual source of expense.

On the front of the envelope the Rev Thomas Evans wrote “The bearer is a very good man – one of the oldest communicants I have. I should be glad to see him continue in the parish inhabited by so many of his forebears.”

In 1859 Jacob Prosser signed the petition against paying taxes for the widening of Newport Bridge and in 1861 he takes a lease for the lives of the Prince of Wales.

Jacob Prosser is 75 years old in 1871 and now a labourer, they are boarding William Evans 7, and Rebeka Thomas 5 months, and have a maid servant, 12 year old Jane Austin.

In 1885 Hugh Johnson was charged with stealing 3/6 the property of Mary Prosser Goytrey. He and his mother were allowed to sleep in the barn and go in and out of the house.

In 1898 Mary Ann Williams 45, of the Gelly died and in 1899 Ann Williams aged 73 of Griffithstown, late the Gelly died both were buried at St Peter’s church yard.

By 1899 a James Green was renting a dwelling house and smiths called Gelly, and in 1900 10 pigs were offered for sale by Cornish of the Gelly. The 1991 census says Charles Cornish was aged 45 and a market gardener, born in Somerset, married to Hannah for 19 years and had 6 children all alive.

David Hugh Morgan of the Gwynedd was renting Gelly in 1914 and when the Earl of Abergavenny held his property sale in 1918 Gelli, containing 13a 3r 20p was purchased by the leaseholder David Hugh Morgan for £350.

In November 1943 Mr Wm Powell of the Gelli was fined for allowing a bull to roam in a field with a public right of way and fined 20s

On the 1939 register at Gelli is William Powell, a farmer born on the 8th April 1905, Annie May his wife was born on the 9th January 1904, their children are Wm John born 25th December 1928, Glyn born 7th July 2029, David born 7th December 1935, plus one closed account.

Upper Woodlands

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Upper Woodlands – 13 on 1841 Tithe Map.

The original owner was the Earl of Abergavenny

The first mention I can find is in 1771 when James Jones, a pauper of Woodland Cottage was buried at St Peter’s church.

A document that says it was late in the possession of Mary Frederick, a pauper, commonly called Mary James, widow; she was buried at St Peter’s on October 6th 1778

After Mary Frederick’s death the lease is held by William Jones for the lives of William 26, Vaughan 17 and Charles 15. William Jones still holds the lease on the 1821 Earl of Abergavenny survey.

Gwellian, daughter of William Jones married Henry Lewis on the 27th September 1822 and lived at Upper Woodlands.

The 1841 tithe says Henry Lewis,  on the  census of 1841 Henry is  50, Gwellian 45, their children are Ruth 15, Elizabeth 10 and Ann 2.

Ruth married John Hart in 1845 and they lived in John Rosser’s house (no. 11 on the 1841 tithe) which was very close to Upper Woodlands.

Henry and Gwellian are still at Upper Woodlands on the 1851 census, Henry is aged 60, a labourer born in Llantrissant and Gwellian is 59 and also living with them is their daughter Elizabeth aged 19.

There is a report in the Usk Observer in February 1859 in which Henry and Elizabeth are charged with trespass on the land of Henry Bird and fined 10s. The fine was paid by his employer Samuel Harris of Gwenffrwd factory.

On the 7th November 1859 Elizabeth married Robert Williams a widower aged 39 of Llanover; the witnesses were Richard Pruett and Elizabeth’s father, Henry Lewis.

By 1861 there was a new occupier, William Jones aged 28, born in Llanvair, his wife Mary Ann 22, who was born in Rhymney and their 4 months old son John born in Goytrey.

By 1871 this had changed once again to Rachel Davies as head of the household, she was maintained by her son Francis who was 28, born Goytrey, and her 12 year old granddaughter Margaret Wood.

On the 1881 census Walter Jones aged 65, a woodward, and Mary his wife 51 born in Scotland were living at Upper Woodlands. Walter Jones died in June 1900 aged 84 and was buried at Blaenavon.

The 1891 census gives John Williams 49, a woodman born Llanover and Mary his wife 42, married for 6 years and have 3 children, Alice, William and Ivor all born in Goytre.

By the census of 1921 the residents of Woodland Cottage is William Arthur James, William is 27, a coal miner at Viponds but out of work, Gladys his wife is 25, born in Varteg, they have two children Eveline 4, Ceredwn 2, William and the two children were born in Goytre.

Cill or Kiln Farm

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Cill ( Kiln) Farm – 300 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The 1798 land tax says John Hughes is the owner and William Phillips is the occupier, the parish records until 1801 also say the same.

William Phillips dies in 1808; he was buried at St Peter’s Church. After his death the new occupier is Thomas Jenkins.

The owner, John Hughes of The Reddings, Llangwm Isaf dies in 1807 leaving “all that messuage, tenement called Kiln House, barn, twelve closes of land, arable, and meadow to Mary his wife. (John Hughes also owned Parc Bach.) Mary Hughes is listed as the owner on the land tax until 1823.

In 1816 William Lloyd is living at Kiln he had a child called Martha who was baptised at St Peter’s Church she died aged two and was buried at St Peter’s in 1818.

Edward Edwards of Caerleon takes the lease of Kiln on August 2nd 1818 with William Lloyd still being the occupier.

In 1823 another child called Martha the daughter of William and Mary Lloyd, a farmer at Kiln farm, is baptised at St Peter’s Church.

William Lloyd and his family move to Church Farm in 1829.

The 1831 land tax for Kiln says William Morgan is occupying late Mary Hughes house, barn and land and the present owner is Rachel and Mary Mathews.

Another change has occurred by the 1841 tithe, the new owner of 17a and 26p, paying £2 13s 10d to the rector is Richard Seaforth.

John Meredith 35 and Susannah 50 are farming at Kiln on the 1841 census.

In 1847 William Williams takes the lease of both Kiln and Vedw (Vedw is now missing) on the 1851 census William Williams is 41

Lewis Edmunds (the local builder) writes in his diary on the 10th May 1855 that he is at Cill plastering inside and repairing outside for William Cocker.

At the spring assizes in 1859 is a court case Seamark v Williams, declarations are given by Richard Pruett and William Plaisted.

William Cocker is still the occupier in 1860 and is also overseer of the poor  he also voted for William Harris to be the highway overseer. On 1861 census William Cocker is 49, a farmer, his wife Mary is also 49.

There is a court case in the Usk Observer on the 22nd October 1864 where William Cocker claims 5/3d from Herbert Edwards a shoemaker of Goytre for goods obtained – Herbert Edwards was ordered to pay within a week.

Richard Seamark died in 1866, the new owner in 1870 is Robert Thomas.

An advert in the Free Press of 21st October 1876 says there is a stock and furniture sale, the property of Mr John Turner who is leaving Kiln Farm, some time before this date John Turner signs a petition to object to the removal of the quarter sessions from Usk to Newport.
The sale consists of implements, hay, straw, 9 tons of fodder, 5 tons of hay, wagons and carts, various agricultural implements, a mare in foal, ewes and poultry. Also household furniture including an oak table, chest of drawers, feather beds, 8 day clock, writing desk any many other items.

By 1879 John Davies is the new occupier  on the 1881 census he is aged 51, a farmer, Mary his wife is 50, both were born in Brecon, their children are William 25; John 17; Thomas 10 and Margaret 5, all born in Blaina. In 1882 Thomas received a school certificate for freehand drawing, science and art.

John Davies was summoned in 1883 by the board of  guardians for the non-attendance of school by his daughter Margaret Jane.

William Rosser takes the lease of Kiln in 1884 (previously held by Thomas Roberts of Great Oak Farm Tydee,) the farm now has  45a 3r 11p, the rent is £45.

Thomas Roberts decided to sell to Lady Llanover in 1887 and William Rosser was given notice to quit.

The new tenant under Lady Llanover was Daniel Davies from Carmarthen. He stayed until 1902 and at that time placed an advert in the Free Press for the sale of live and dead stock as he as leaving Kiln Farm.

David Jones becomes the new tenant,  on the 1911 census he is aged 70, a farmer from Cardigan, Margaretta his wife is 55, they have been married for 12 years and have 2 children, Margaret and John who attended Llanover school.

David Jones is still at Cil farm on the 1921 census, he is now 81 and still a farmer, Margaretta is now 66, their children, Margaret is 22 her employment is assisting on the farm, son John is 19 and is a plough and Waggoner on the farm.

On the register of 1939 living at Kiln farm is John I Jones, a farmer who was born on the 5th April 1902, his wife Margaret born on the 31st January 1899, Margaret is a dairy maid assisting on the farm, also living with them is Margaret A, who is said to be incapacitated by illness, she was born on the 13th November 1914.

William Watts – 1834

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William Watts – Monmouthshire Quarter Sessions

April 19th 1834

Monkswood, Appellants: Goytrey Respondents

This was a case on the removal of a pauper 66 years of age, named William Watts.

The advocates were, for the respondents, Mr Talbot, for the appellants, Mr Nicholls.

Wm Watts, being examined by Mr Talbot, deposed that 45 years ago he married Martha Edwards, whose mother gave to him a cottage at Monkswood which he occupied 6 years.

The witness on his cross-examination by Mr Nicholls, stated that this cottage was given without a legal conveyance, by a parole agreement; and the brother of his wife had since disputed witness’s right of possession. The question was left to arbitration and it was decided that the pauper had no right to the possession during the lifetime of his mother-in-law; but £20 were awarded to him as compensation for a building which he had erected. The pauper afterwards left Monkswood and acquired property, value £160 in Goytrey, in which place he occupied a house at £12 a year.

Mr Talbot maintained that the pauper’s settlement was by property, in the parish of Monkswood and that the parole conveyance of the cottage was valid.

The learned gentleman quoted authorities in support of his view of the law of the case; but the order was quashed.

(Wm Watts was the innkeeper of the Royal Oak from 1811-1815  he later lived at Ynyspwcca)

Arthur Jones – 1894

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Stealing a Watch – South Wales Daily News

October 26th 1894

At the police court on Thursday – before Dr W J Mulligan and M Fowler – Arthur Jones, a labourer was convicted of stealing a watch, the property of Herbert Bishop of Goytrey, on Wednesday and default of paying a fine of 40s, was sent to prison for a month.

David Thomas – 1909

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Snaring Rabbits – Evening Express

September 18th 1909

David Thomas, farm labourer, Goytrey was summoned at Pontypool today for trespassing in search of game at Goytrey on September 14th.

Mr T Watkins, Pontypool prosecuted on behalf of Mr J c Hanbury.

Ernest Williams, a gamekeeper stated that he found wires set as rabbit snares on Park-y-brain Farm, and after watching them for some time he saw the defendant approach and set them again.

Defendant said he has permission from the occupier of the farm to snare a few rabbits, but this was found to be untrue.

A fine of 10s was imposed.

William Jenkins – 1895

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Serious Charge Against a Goytrey Farmer – South Wales Daily News

August 19th 1895

At Pontypool police court on Saturday, E J Phillips presiding. William Jenkins, Pantglas Farm Goytrey, was summoned for feloniously assaulting Margaret Jones, a married woman, at Goytrey, on the 9th inst.

Mr L Webb defended. Prosecutrix said that on the day in question prisoner came to her house on business and after conversing with her, seized and committed the offence complained of. A large number of witnessess were called and prisoner gave on oath a complete denial to the charge.

After a long hearing, the Bench committed the accused for trial at the assizes, accepting bail for £100 and sureties in a like amount.

Morgan, Mr – late Mellin Coed – 1858

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Mr Morgan sudden death – previously of Melin Coed

Mon Merlin November 6th 1858

Sudden death at Glascoed – On Friday evening as Mr Morgan, a farmer of this place and who formerly farmed at Melin Coed Goytrey, was returning from the fair, he dismounted near Mr Davis Williams, Monkswood.

In attempting to get on horseback he fell and died in the course of a few minutes. After the body was discovered and conveyed to the Beaufort Arms.

The deceased was doubtless attained with apoplexy.

Richard Pruett – 1858

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Goytrey Sunday School – Mon Merlin

September 11th 1858

On the 1st inst. At the house of Richard Pruett (Woodland Cottage, Pengroesoped) the children of Goytre Infants Sunday school in number about 30, were liberally treated to tea and cake.

This treat was not a little appreciated by the happy band of children on the occasion.

Mr and Miss Smith were present.