In 1855 Richard Pruett purchased a piece of land belonging to Pengroesoped Farm from widow Ann Morgan of Llanarth upon which he built a rather large stone built property of two houses and substantial outbuildings, all attached.

Richard Pruett was a stone mason, born in 1805 in Llanelli to Richard and Mary (Spooner,) he married Martha Hall in February 1830, they had three daughters, Elizabeth 1838, Sarah 1846 and Martha 1849.

In 1856 Richard built Woodland Cottage; in 1858 he gave all the Sunday school and school pupils (attending Nantyderry school) a treat; he also signed against paying taxes for the widening of Newport Bridge; and he also built a machine house at Goytre Wharf.

On the census of 1861 Richard and Martha Pruett are both 56, Elizabeth is 22, Sarah 14 and Martha 12.

In 1862 daughter Elizabeth married Richard Harris in Cardiff, their two daughters were staying with Richard and Martha on the census of 1871, Ceinwen was 8 and Elizabeth 4. Also in 1871 Martha Pruett married Daniel Buckley at Hockley, Birmingham.

In 1879 Lady Llanover purchased Woodland Cottage from Richard Pruett after many letters and disputes over the purchase price, Richard saying he had been offered £800 by Mr Nicole, Lady Llanover saying “times are hard”. It appears a final sum of £645 was agreed upon. Richard Pruett then moved to Hanover Cottage, Llanover where he died in 1885, being buried at Goytre Church.

In September of 1897 Caroline Lewis of the Woodlands died, she was buried at Llanover church, Daniel Lewis her husband in 1910 was a 77 year old house steward, living with him is his daughter Mary, 48, a house keeper at Llanover. Daniel Lewis died aged 87 in 1920, he was also buried at Llanover Church.

Well Cottage (number 272 on the 1841 Goytre Tithe Map) was owned by the Earl of Abergavenny, in 1788 James and Susannah Morgan were in occupation, two of their children were baptised at Llanover Church whilst living there, son James and daughter Ann.

In 1800 William Proger obtained the lease from the Earl of Abergavenny for Well Cottage, the Earl’s survey of the parish of Goytre shows Well Cottage being occupied by Ann Prosser.

The tithe of 1841 says Ebenezer Morgan is holding the lease containing a cottage and 21 perches, living at the property on the census is Susannah Morgan 30, a dressmaker and Harry Barton 25, a gardener.

Early in 1847 Susannah Morgan married John Evans and left Well Cottage.

By 1861 a new family were living at Well Cottage, Thomas Evans a 53 year old cowman born in St Mellons, his wife Mary 45, a dairymaid, married daughter Ann Merchant, sons Thomas 24, an ag. lab., William 16, an under-keeper,  David 5 and daughters Margaret 18 a charwoman, Elizabeth 11 and Hannah 7, both scholars.

A different family were in occupation by 1871, Ann Jarret, 44 from Glamorgan with her sons John a 21 year old labourer, Abraham and William, daughters Catherine and Martha were all scholars born in Monmouthshire.

In 1872 the lease granted to William Rogers had expired and the Earl of Abergavenny sells Well Cottage to Lady Llanover, by 1879 William Jones is in residence, he paid income tax on the 10th of December for the cottage.

 On the census of 1881 Joseph Morgan and his family are in occupation, Joseph is 49, an agricultural labourer born in Upper Llanover, Mary his wife is 40, born in Raglan, their children, all born in Llanover are Abraham 19, a cow herd, Joseph 12, Philip 10, Mary Ann 8, David 6, Laura and Mary Jane 4 and Ada 3 months.

Joseph Morgan remained at Well Cottage, in 1901 he is 70, Mary is 61, living with them are two daughters, Elizabeth 29 and Margaret 22.

(Their son Philip Morgan remained at Llanover, living on the High Street, married to Charlotte, they had 5 children.)

The census of 1911 says Joseph Morgan is still in occupation of Well Cottage, he is now 80, an old aged pensioner, can speak both English and Welsh, Joseph died in 1920.

Pen-yr-heol, 217 on the 1841 Tithe Map is now in the parish of Llanover.

In 1800 the Earl of Abergavenny leased Pen-yr-heol to William Rogers aged 38, for the lives of his son William 8 and daughter Mary 3.

In 1821 the Earl of Abergavenny converted Pen-yr-heol into two cottages, on the survey of the same year it is Thomas Evans who is renting a house, garden and plock.

In April 1827 the Earl of Abergavenny transferred the assignment of lease  of Thomas Evans and John Morgan to Benjamin Hall. The same year Elizabeth Lewis, spinster of Abergavenny took a lease for one of the properties from Benjamin Hall of Abercarn.

By 1830 Thomas White was renting a cottage and garden from Mr Hall, Thomas and his wife Elizabeth had a son Thomas who was baptised at Llanover church.

The tithe of 1841 says Benjamin Hall is the lease holder, occupying the cottages are Thomas White and Walter Watkins, although the census of 1841 shows only Thomas White 45, his wife Elizabeth also 45 and their children William 15, John 14, Thomas 11, Henry 7 and Mary 4 living at the property.

The White family remained at Pen-yr-heol through to the census of 1851 where Thomas is now 55, a woodcutter, the garden belonging is said to be 1 rood 13 perches.

Pen-yr-heol is missing off the 1861 census as are many of the properties so forward to 1871 when William Jones 42, a labourer from Carmarthen, his wife Jane 41, children John 16, Mary 13, Margaret 10 and William 6 are in residence.

In 1873 the Earl of Abergavenny finally sold the property to Lady Llanover, a document dated December1879 shows William Walters paying income tax for Pen-yr-heol.

William Walters, 58, under gardener, and Elizabeth 52 are in occupation on the 1881 census, William was born in Mamhilad, Elizabeth in Llanellen, living with them is his step-mother Elizabeth Jones.

William Walters appeared as a witness on behalf of the welsh speaking inhabitants of Goytre for a welsh speaking vicar. He was paying £5 rent to Lady Llanover, the Walters family remained at Pen-yr-heol until the late 1890’s when the electoral register shows John Evans in occupation.

The census of 1901 says John Evans is 53, head gardener born in Cardigan, Rachel, his wife is 45, a school mistress born in Glamorgan. Rachel died at Pen-yr-heol, Goytre in 1907 aged 47 and was buried in Llanover churchyard.

In 1911 the census  says John Evans is 62, a retired gardener from Llandyssil, his son Aneurin is 23, an engine fitter in a blast furnace, and daughter Lilian 26 are still in occupation at Pen-yr-heol.

In 1944 Mrs M A Davies is mentioned on the land tax, the owner being Llanover estate.

Wern Farm was 517 on the 1841 Tithe Map, previously called Duffryn-y-Gwartheg. The field names were Cae Austin, Cae Bach, The Meadow, Cae ffynon, Lower orchard, House, garden and pasture, Cae Scybor Lower Will Gutta field, Upper Will Gutta field, Little orchard.

in 1762 William Lewis of the Wern married Susannah Nicholas at St Iltyd’s Mamhilad, they had a son David who died also in 1762.

They had one daughter Martha who was baptised at St Peter’s church in October 1779. (Martha married Abraham Jarrett at St Peter’s church in May 1813.)

William Lewis died, probate granted on the 1st of May 1781,  leaving his property called Dyffryn-y-Gwartheg to his wife Susanna and then to his daughter Martha.

In September 1781 William Lewis’s widow Susanna married James Lewis at St Peter’s church.

The overseers of the poor records in 1794 say David Jones is renting the Wern, the owner is now James Lewis who is paying the land tax for the property whilst living at Goytrey Lodge.

In 1823 a license was granted to James Lewis for a protestant meeting house called Duffryn Gwerllog, this is the same time that land belonging to the Wern was given for the building of Saron Chapel.

On the land tax of 1831 the occupier of the Wern was Vaughan Williams, the owner being James Lewis, the overseers accounts dated 1833 say Vaughan Williams is running a beer shop, he was paid by the overseers £1 10s for supporting a travelling passenger who took ill.

The 1841 tithe map says the lease holder is now Noah Price, the occupier is Vaughan Williams. The Farm consists of 29 acres 2 rood 38 perches, paying £3 0s 6d to the rector.

The census of 1841 says William Vaughan is 45, a farmer, Mary his wife is also 45, their children are Mary 14,  William 11, Thomas 6 and John who is one year old. William Vaughan is mentioned in the parish overseers book in 1844 as being the overseer of the poor.

On the census of 1851 William Vaughanis a 58 year old farmer from Radnorshire, Mary his wife is now 56, daughter Mary is 23, William 20, Thomas 15 and John 11, Mary and  the children were born in Goytre.

William Vaughan’s wife Mary died in July 1852, she was buried at Saron Chapel.

The local builder Lewis Edmunds wrote in his diary in November 1859 that he was at the Wern Goytrey for William Nichols.

 William Price  is the new holder of the lease for the Wern, the electoral register from 1852-1870 says William Price of Abergavenny holds the freehold land.

In 1867 Ann Price, 40 a farmer daughter is admitted to Abergavenny Asylum she remains there until August 1876 in  mania and feeble condition.

An advert appeared in the Usk Observer October 1869 for the sale of the upper part of the Wern wood, 15 acres and the lower part of 9 acres.

The census of 1871 gives William Morgan and his family at the Wern. William is 42, farming 36 acres, Martha his wife is also 42, their children are Thomas 17, Henry 15, John 13, Jeremiah 11. Azariah 9, Elias 7, Lewis 5, Decimus 4 and David 2.

William Morgan was born in Llanbadoc in 1828, the son of William and Mary, Morgan, nee Jeremiah. Martha his wife was also born in 1828, in Mamhilad, the daughter of Thomas and Martha Jenkins, nee Davies. They were married in May 1850 at Penygarn Baptist Church. Before coming to live at the Wern they lived in Llanfrechfa and Glascoed.

They Had 13 children, William (1851-1939) Thomas (1853-1939) Martha (1854-1854) Henry (1855-1879) John (1857-1909) William Jeremiah (1860-1941) Azariah (1861-1937) David Elias (1868-1935) Louis (1865-1950) Decimus (1867-1937) David Hugh (1869-1946) Benjamin (1871-1874) Mary (1873-1873.)

Three of the sons emigrated to America, Azariah, David Elias and William J.

 In 1877 22 year old Henry Morgan was sent to Abergavenny Asylum by the Rector, Thomas Evans, suffering from mania and epilepsy, Henry died two years later and was buried at Saron Chapel.

Azariah was fined 25s in 1877 for not having a dog license. Clifford Louis served in the army from the age of 17 later joining the navy.

William Morgan died in September 1892 leaving £81 to his widow Martha.

David Hugh Morgan then took over the farming, the owner of the Wern being the trustees of A Lewis Glyn Vach Llanthoney, the property having 23 acres.

Martha Morgan died in 1913 aged 84, she was buried at Saron Chapel along with William and her children. In 1920 David Hugh Morgan retired from farming at the Wern, after purchasing it for £350 from the Marquis of Abergavenny’s sale in 1920. He then let the property  to Evan Davies and his wife Elizabeth, Evan remained at the Wern until his death 11 years later in 1933 he was 74 years old.

The 1939 register shows Rees Meyrick a retired cemetery superintendent with his wife Mary and son Wilfred living at the Wern.

An indenture dated 1782 for a cottage and quarter of a cover is in the name of Ann Harry 74, grand daughter Ann 23, Martha 10, the children of Thomas Millwright, now in the name of Thomas Watkins.

This had changed by the tithe of 1841,  the lease holder is now John Walters, subletting to John Jenkins (of Penystair) of 17 acres 3 rood and 30 perches paying £1 14s 4d tithe to the rector. Living in Bwrgwm Bach on the census of 1841 is John Anthony and Mary his wife, both aged 65.

From this date it has been very difficult to confirm who was in occupation until 1881 when Walter Jenkins a 42 year old gamekeeper born in Goytre was living there with his family, Ann his wife is 44, their children are Annie 12, William 10, Maria 8, Rachel 6, and one year old twins Martha and Mary. The older children were attending Goytre school.

In 1888 the new owner was Josiah Lewis the vicar of Llanbaddoc, this had changed by 1905 to the Rev. David Davies of Hanover house and again in 1910 to Edmund Williams of Newport, the gross value being £3 10s.

The census of 1921 says Leonard Rowley, 39, born in Llanover and his family are living at Bwrgwm Bach. Leonard is an out of work  tinker man at Blaenavon colliery, his wife Margaret is 39, born in Swansea, their children are Muriel Elsie 16, and Evan James 14, both born in Llanover, with Herbert Charles 7 being born in Goytre.

Wernog Vach, 482 on the 1841 Tithe Map is now missing, the location of this property was in the field below Common Bach.

It contains a cottage and garden, land numbers 462-469 of 5 acres 1 rood and 3 perches.

In 1740 an indenture is granted to Walter Evans by the Earl of Abergavenny, the previous lease was held by his late wife Elizabeth and then by Elizabeth’s sister Margaret Hugh.

By 1831 Mary Lewis was in occupation, the tithe of 1841 says Elizabeth Bird now holds the lease of a house and garden, paying 13s to the rector.

On the census of 1861 widow Elizabeth Lewis and her two sons, William and Thomas were in occupation. The same year the lease of the property was given to Henry Bird.

On the census of 1871 Elizabeth Lewis, now 61,  William 41 and Thomas 22 were still at Wernog Vach, both William and Thomas were woodcutters, this is the last entry I can find of Vernog Vach.

By 1881 Elizabeth and her sons had moved the short distance to Saron Cottages.

The first mention of Laburnums is when a Freehold ground rent of £1 per ann. is payable by Mr Jackson secured upon the Laburnums for 99 years commencing 25th March 1900. The plan on the 1841 Tithe Map number 969 is 1,207 square yards.

The census of 1901 says William Jackson is a 22 year old shoeing smith, Annie his wife is 23.

William, Annie and daughter Doris Jackson of the Laburnums.

William came from Handsworth in Staffordshire and married Annie Augusta Mathews (born in Mamhilad) in late 1900. In March 1903 their only child Doris Irene was born.

The rateable value of the Laburnums in 1910 was gross value £10 10s rateable value  £8 10s.

In 1911 the census says William Jackson is now a 31 year old builders clerk, Annie is 32 and Doris is 8.

By 1921 William Jackson is now builders manager for Mrs Wilks, Annie his wife is 42 and 18 year old Doris is a shop assistant for William Jacksons general store dealer.

On the register of 1939 William Jackson is a builder and contractor, born in September 1878, Annie was born in October 1877 and Doris Irene in March 1903.

William Jackson died in September 1952 aged 74 leaving the sum of £12,415 12s 4d to his daughter Doris, his wife Annie died in December the same year aged 75 (link to funeral notice here).

Doris remained at Laburnums until her death in October 1987 leaving the sum of £21,575.

117 on the 1841 Tithe Map was called Cwm Bwrgwm.

On the 1821 Earl of Abergavenny Survery of his properties in the parish of Goytre Cwm Bwrgwm was a cottage and garden, in the occupation of William Rees.

This had changed by the 1831 valuation of the parish properties to Elizabeth Morgan, who is also in occupation on the 1841 census where it states she is 65 and living alone, Elizabeth died in 1848 aged 70, she was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.

In 1845 John Hart married Ruth Lewis at St Peter’s church, Ruth lived in Bwrgwm with her family. Sometime after their marriage they went to live at Cwm Bwrgwm.

In 1850 John Hart signed as a dissenter against having a police force in Goytre.

The census of 1851 says John Hart is 27, born in Abergavenny, Ruth his wife is 24, born in Goytre.

The cottage garden is measured in 1852 saying the acreage is 3 perches and 8 roods. I am unable to locate Cwm Bwrgwm  after this date.

John and Ruth Hart had moved to Trevethin by 1871 to the district of the Rising Sun where John is an agricultural labourer aged 53 and Ruth is his 45 year old wife.

There is no mention of the Gwynedd before the 1921 census when David Hugh Morgan, 51, a farmer and his wife Ada were in residence. Living with them is Herbert Medley Morgan, 25, Leigh Richmond Morgan 23, both are nephews born in Hereford, also Olive May, a visitor born in London and Ada Elizabeth Lewis 20, a niece born in Earlswood. Herbert and Leigh Morgan are employed by David Morgan on the farm.

David Hugh Morgan was born at The Wern, a short distance from The Gwynedd, one of the sons of William and Martha (nee Jenkins) in May 1889.

In 1905 Hugh Morgan married Ada Lewis, the daughter of Josiah and Mary of Dan-y-graig Goytre at Saron Chapel, both families having a long association with the Chapel.

The 1939 register shows David and Ada at the Gwynedd on their own. David Hugh Morgan died on the 1st February 1946, probate of £2407 10s was granted to Thomas Percival Holmes Watkins, solicitor, Ada Elizabeth Lewis and Herbert Medley Morgan, pasteuriser.

Ada Morgan died on the 7th November 1960 probate of £1488 10s 8d was granted to Herbert Medley Morgan except for settled land.

Feltham was built about 1909, the occupier in 1910 was widow Martha Merrick, the owner was Albert Price. The gross value is £7, the rateable value being £5 5s.

Martha Merrick (nee Wilks) was the 7th daughter of Ivor Wilks. Martha was born in Goytre, she married Charles Merrick in 1887, later living at Little Mill reformatory school where Mr Merrick was a teacher.

Charles Merrick died aged 50 in 1906 leaving £593 9s 9d in his will to Martha.

On the census of 1911 Martha Merrick is a 55 year old widow, her son Charles William is 21, a mechanic engine fitter born Mamhilad. Living with them is Francis William Cornes 22, a gardener born in Pembridge and Herbert John King 22 a railway porter born in Abergavenny.

The poor rate of 1914 says the owner is still Albert Price and the occupier Martha Merrick.

On the census of 1921 Martha is now 65, Charles is 39, a steam engine fitter and iron turner at M/s Wilks & Son, Little Mill.

Martha Merrick died in June 1938 at Pontypool district hospital (see link to inquest here). In her will she leaves £133 3s 10d to her son Charles, a music teacher.

The register of 1939 at Feltham is Charles, a music teacher and his wife Dorothea, they have two children, Brenda and Dorothy.

Brenda married Malcolm Harris in 1963 and Dorothy married William Richards.

Brenda remained at the family home  until her death in 2018.