Author Archives: Viv Rosser

Cuthbertson – 1914

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Second Monmouthshire Regiment – Abergavenny Chronicle

November 6th 1914

Mrs Cuthbertson is collecting for her husband’s regiment shirts, socks, sweaters, mittens, mufflers and belts in Khaki or grey; also money to buy the above and cigarettes and tobacco.

All contributions gratefully received her at Goytrey Hall, Abergavenny: Also by Mr Graham, Hilston Park, Monmouth.

 

Col. Cuthbertson Invalided Home – Abergavenny Chronicle

July 9th 1915

 

Lieut.-Col. E B Cuthbertson, MVO. commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment (Territorial Force) has been invalided home from the front.

Upon arrival min England he stayed in London for a while but he is now home in Goytrey.

Reuben Gould and Wm Morris

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Alleged Housebreaking at Goytrey – South Wales Daily News

November 18th 1895

At Pontypool police court on Saturday, Reuben Gould and Wm. Morris were charged with housebreaking at Goytrey on the 15th November.

William Lewis, woodcutter, Goytrey said he left his house securely fastened on Monday morning. When he returned in the evening the window had been opened and a gun and two pouches taken.

Jenkin Rosser mentioned two prisoners going towards Abersychan with a gun in their possession. J Lewis said he saw the prisoners at Abersychan carrying the items produced.

They also had the flasks in their pockets.

Prisoners were committed for trial at the Assizes.

Richard Hewitt – 1894

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A Farmer’s Failure – South Wales Daily News

December 21st 1894

Richard Hewitt, farmer of Goytrey, near Monmouth underwent his public examination at Newport on Thursday. Debtor told the court that he commenced business in 1879 as a farmer, with a capital of £100 at the Canal farm Goytrey. Subsequently he also rented Pudda Farm.

His total rental was £30 per annum. His total liabilities were £130 9s, his assets were £41 10s

He first became aware of his insolvency about three years ago. He attributed his failings to stock. Bad trade and law expenses, the Lord having sued him for rent in the High Court and the petition was filed in consequence.

The examination was formally adjourned.

Cae Susanna

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Cae Susanna – 665 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

15 acres 15 roods 14 perches.

Tire Susanna, owned by the Earl of Abergavenny was mentioned in the Latin leases of 1673 when it was rented by Jacob Harris and lately of Watkin Treharne and pays 4s per annum.

The next mention in 1733 is Henry Bosville of Llanellen (also the owner of Goytre House) when he is renting Cae Susanna for 4s, this changed in 1792 when Edward Jones was renting about 18 acres of rough pasture.

In indenture 1792 for the lives of Dr Hobbs, physic of Monmouth aged 35, his wife Elizabeth 42, and William Morgan, son of William Morgan Llanover. Dr Hobbs was still renting Cae Susanna in 1821.

This had changed by 1829 to Elizabeth Lewis.

By 1861 Col Bird is now holding the lease number 87 for Cae Susanna. A house was built at some time but I don’t have any details.

On the 1891 census William Lewis is the tenant of Cae Susanna he is aged 60 and a general labourer and was born in Goytre. He stays there and again is the occupier in 1901 when he is a woodcutter. The electoral roll of 1905 says a dwelling house called Cae Susanna.

In 1920 the Earl of Abergavenny held a sale of property, Cae Susanna being included, in which it says the freehold land of the Duke of Connaught, 15a 1r 14p, rent 4s and tithe £1 3s 10d. It was sold to Edwin Edgar for £470.

Machine Cottage

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Machine Cottage – Goytrey Wharf

Machine Cottage (now called Aqueduct) was built by Richard Pruett the local stonemason, who built his own house, The Woodlands at Pengroesoped. He was also the brother-in-law of James Rosser

I may be wrong but I think it was built to house the weighing machine when the coal merchant, William Williams lived at the Wharf.

On the census of 1891 William Prosser a 60 year old wood Sawyer from Brecon with his wife Maria 57 also from Brecon were living at Machine Cottage, shortly after moving to the wharf William Prosser was summoned for sending his children to school.

On the 1901 census 32 year old Emily Davies was living at Machine Cottage with her daughter Lilly.

It was occupied in 1911 by Francis Phillips and his family. Francis was aged 56, a GWR platelayer born at New Barn Farm Goytre, (the son of John Phillips and Ann Rosser) Mary his wife was born in Llangattock and their children Ivor 15, a waggoners boy, Amy Elizabeth 11, Edwin Sidney 9, and Ernest Fred 6 were all born in Llanover.

Francis James Phillips with his family, born 1855 New Barn Farm, son of John Phillips and Ann Rosser, died at Goytre Wharf 1833.

Francis Phillips was still living at Machine House on the 1921 census. He is now 66, a canal lengthsman Mary his wife is 57.Their sons Edgar is now 35 a colliery repairer at Blaenavon company but is out of work, Edwin is 19 a farm labourer for for Thomas Whitney, Ernest 17 has no occupation. Their daughter Louisa is 27 her occupation is home duties.

Mary Phillips died in Abergavenny aged 63 in  1927, she was buried in Llangattock church yard. Francis Phillips died in 1933, he was also buried with Louisa in Llangattock.

Rose Tree Cottage

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Rose Tree Cottage (Upper Goytre or Top Road as I have always known it) – 369 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Rose Cottage or Twyn-y-rhws was owned was the Earl of Abergavenny

On the 1821 Earl of Abergavenny’s survey Ann Lloyd was living at Rose Tree Cottage, by the 1841 tithe John Lloyd was the occupier of a cottage and garden containing 26 perches. On the 1841 census John was aged 70 and a Woodward, living with him were Mary 50 and Elizabeth 10.

There was a new occupier by 1851, Henry Edwards who was aged 67 (he was the son of Henry Edwards who was born in 1783, a miller born in the parish of Goytrey) he was a widower and living with him is his son-in-law John Walby aged 29 and his daughter Mary.

I cannot say with certainty who was living at Rose Cottage on the 1861 census, the enumerator was very vague when naming the houses and didn’t seems to follow the normal route, also part of the census is missing, so there is a gap until 1870.

An advert in the Free Press says Twyn-y-rhws is for sale and is to be offered at the Three Cranes Hotel in Pontypool; John Griffiths is the occupier, paying a yearly rent of £5. The purchaser was Thomas James.

On the 1871 census John Griffiths is aged 38, a merchant born in Llangors, Hester his wife is 34 and was born in Abergavenny.

By 1881 John Griffiths had left and William Morgan aged 29 a thatcher, Keturah his wife 27 and their three children, Flory 5, Kate 3, and Ann 1 were at Rose Cottage.

Rose Tree was sold again in 1889 by Thomas James (he had purchased Ty Cooke) to W T Cooke.

Jane Jones was at Rose Tree Cottage in 1891 but by 1894 George Roberts was on the electoral register.

Richard Rosser was the tenant in 1901, he was aged 31 a steel iron worker, born in Goytre, living with Keturah his wife aged 29 and their 3 children, Amy 4, William 3, and Rachel 1.

In 1911 Elizabeth Carpenter aged 42 a dressmaker, born in Hengoed and Rachel Jones 23, a newsagent were resident at Rose Tree.

Rose Tree Cottage was sold again in 1918 from Eborall Cooke to William Parsons of Gwael y garth Merthyr.

On the 1921 census John Litten is residing at Rose Cottage with his family, John is 42, born in Offwell Devon, he is a GWR signalman, his wife Marie Elizabeth is 37 born in Tredegar. Sons John and Frank (13) were born in Merthyr, John 15, a grocers assistant, Three more sons, Raymond 11, Ernest 4 and two year old Stanley were born in Goytre. Also visiting is William Parsons aged 70 from Aberdare, he is a retired signalman.

Mr D H Morgan & Miss Ada Lewis

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Mr D H Morgan – Miss A E Lewis – Wedding at Saron Chapel  April 1904

David Morgan – Ada Lewis

Last Wednesday morning witnessed a quiet but pretty wedding at Saron Baptist Chapel, Goytrey.

It was an event unique in the annals of the church, for although the church has been established now close upon a hundred years marriages have never been solemnised in the chapel until the present occasion.

The contracting parties were Mr D H Morgan, The Wern and Miss Ada E Lewis, Danygraig, both of Goytre.

The families on both sides have been connected with this church for a great number of years, and indeed on the bride’s side for generations, for reading up the history of the church we find that the bride’s great grandfather was the person who so generously gave the freehold site upon which the chapel has been built, and it seems therefore, to fall in with the fitness of things that a descendant of his should be the first to be married at Saron.

Naturally, great interest was centred in the event and willing and deft hands came forward to decorate the chapel for the auspicious occasion.

The ceremony was timed to commence at 0 o’clock but long before the appointed hour had arrived the chapel was well-nigh full.

The marriage was conducted by the Rev. A Bowen Morgan, ATS (authorised person for said chapel) assisted by Rev, G Cule Maesyberan. The service was brightened by selections played by Miss Carpenter, organist.

After the ceremony the bridal party, relatives and guests repaired to Danygraig where a modest but sumptuous breakfast had been prepared.

During the afternoon the happy pair left for Staffordshire, where they will spend the honeymoon.

Numerous and costly presents were received, but time will not permit us to insert a list in the present issue.

Suffice to say that the bridegroom was the recipient of a handsome ink stand from the Sunday school for services rendered and the bridge a cheque from Mr David Buck, Pontypool, who was also present at the wedding and breakfast.

May all joy go with the happy pair.

(This wonderful photograph was sent to me by Bill Morgan who lives in America,  he is a descendant of Azariah Morgan).

Edward Powell – Mamhilad

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I have included this photo as they are so rare in 1873

Edward Powell

This is Edward Powell aged 17 in 1873, he was convicted on the 6th March at Monmouth Petty Sessions for stealing a ferret and 2 vermin traps and sentenced to a calendar months hard labour, he was released on April 5th

His description is given as being 17 years old, 5′ 4″ with brown hair and blue eyes, single and a labourer, born in Mamhilad