I have been in contact with Shirley, the present owner of Saron Cottages, which has now been converted into a single property. She has an Indenture dated 1834 in which William Lewis leaves to Susanna his wife the property. The witnesses of this document are Noah and Martha Price and Thomas Lewis (possibly his son).

Donna Hamilton has also sent me a copy of an original document, dated April 1827, In which Thomas and James Lewis are requesting permission from the Bishop of Llandaff  to build a Chapel for worship.  

There is also a document in 1831 which states Thomas Lewis is occupying a building called Saron, and has land by the chapel which is valued at 15 shillings.

On the 1840 electoral register Thomas Lewis owns freehold land near canal bridge no.84.

The tithe of 1841 says Thomas Lewis has a cottage and garden holding 34 perches. The census of the same date says Thomas is 40, a tailor, he is married to Elizabeth who is 35, their children are Thomas 15 and Daniel 5.

This wonderful photo of Thomas Lewis was sent to me by Donna Hamilton.

I have nothing to add until the census of 1851 when Thomas is 51, he was born in Breconshire, Elizabeth, his wife, is now a straw bonnet maker, born in Goytrey, as are their children, Daniel now 14 and daughter Mary who is 8.

I have done a little research on the children, firstly Thomas in 1851 had become a British schoolmaster, he is married to Jane and is living in Llangadock, Carmarthenshire. He died in 1859 aged 33 and was buried at Saron Chapel churchyard.

Daniel married a lady called Eliza, he also moved away and died in July 1908. His will says he left £2,954 14s between his wife and two sons, George Daniel, a schoolmaster and Ernest Albert, a provision merchant. The photograph is Daniel with his wife Eliza.

Mary married Josiah Lewis and they lived at Dan-y-graig.

In 1858 Thomas Lewis becomes an overseer of the poor for the parish.

Lewis Edmund, the local builder, said in his diary that on Friday June 8^th 1860 he was at Thomas Lewis the taylor (his spelling) but didn’t say what work he was doing.

The land tax of 1867/8 says Thomas Lewis owns 2 cottage and gardens and that they are in his own occupation.

On the census of 1871 Thomas is now 71, still a tailor, Elizabeth is 66, living with them is Elizabeth Lewis, widow, she is classed as a lodger, is an annuitant and was born in Goytrey.

The following year, 1872, Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas, dies aged 67, she is buried at Saron Chapel churchyard.

The census of 1881 finds Thomas a widower, he is living alone at Saron. Thomas died in January 1888 whilst at Yew Tree Farm, he was  also buried at Saron Chapel churchyard. He leaves the sum of £458 9s 8d to his son Dan, provision dealer of Basford Villa, Basford.

The updated tithe of 1888 gives Josiah Lewis of Dan-y-graig as the owner of Saron Cottages, Josiah is the son-in-law of Thomas, I have tried to find a family connection but it seems it is just a coincidence that he married the daughter of Thomas and have the same surname.

In 1891 the occupier is now John Evans, he is 32, a wheelwright born in Panteg, his wife Minnie is 29, she was born in Brislington, Bristol, their children are Annie 6, Harry 4, and one year old Ivor, all  born in Goytrey.

According to the census of 1901 Saron is now three properties, but I doubt this is correct, I suspect the listing of Henry Jenkins, Baptist minister as a separate entry at No.2, this should have been entered with the family living there. John Evans is still living at No.1 at that time along with his family, Harry is now 14 and a railway porter.

The census of 1911 calls the property, Saron House, it has 4 rooms, this is obviously the larger property and I now know it is No. 1. John Evans and Minnie are still in occupation, they have been married for 27 years, have four children, all are living.

The 1921 census gives  John and Minnie living on their own at Saron House, John  62, he is a wheelwright working for W Evans Little Mill,  Minnie is 60 years old.

John and Minnie remain at Saron on the electoral register until 1923, then William Thomas remains there until 1927, followed by Wilfred and Violet Simons. By 1935 Reginald and Grace Kate Cornish are in residence.

The last electoral register before the war gives Elizabeth and Daniel Mills, Daniel was born in 1874, he is bricklayer journeyman, Elizabeth was born in 1883, their sons, living with them are Daniel born in 1914, he is a builders general labourer and Reece, 22, who is a plasterer’s charge hand.

On the 1945/7 electoral register Daniel Mills is living at No. 1 Saron cottages on his own.

The 1939 England & Wales Register was taken in September 1939 in order to issue identity cards and ration books. The 1931 census was destroyed in the war, and there was no 1941 census.  

Elm Tree – 211 on the 1841 Tithe Map.
(There are two Elm Trees in the parish, this is the one near the entrance to the Wharf.)

Renting  Elm Tree in 1821 was David Williams.

The 1841 tithe and census says the owner is Francis Davies and the occupier is Henry Edwards. Henry is aged 60,  a woodcutter, his wife Jane is 50. Living with them is their 20 year old son, also called Henry.

The census of 1851 gives Henry’s age as 67, he is now a widower, living with him is his daughter Mary, 27 and son-in-law John Walby, 29.

In 1855 a church record updated the occupier to Charles Williams, Henry Edwards having died.

I’m not able to say who lived there in 1861, by 1871 Elm Tree is called Half Way Cottage on the census and is occupied by John Herbert, he is a plasterer and tiler, he is a widower from Tregare living on his own.

The 1881 census is difficult to decipher it looks like Joshua Attwell, but I may well be wrong, he is aged 56, an ag lab (agricultural  labourer) born in Llanvair, his wife  Charlotte is from Chirk, in Shropshire.

Elm Tree is sold in 1899, the occupier at that time is Evan Morgan, he is paying £6 6s a year rent.

In 1901 EvanMorgan is  45, a gardener born in Radnor, his wife Eliza is 38 she was born in Bryngwyn, with them on census night is 9 year old William Savery who was also born in Bryngwyn.

The following advert appeared in the personal section of Free Press on June 5^th 1903:

Take notice, that anyone slandering me in any way whatsoever, after this date will be prosecuted

Signed: Eliza Morgan, Elm Tree Cottage, Goytre.

May 21^st 1903

A new family had arrived by 1904, the Harry’s. Their son Richard Harry started school at Llanover in 1904.

At this time the electoral register shows the owner is William Crump, the gross value of Elm Tree is £5 14s and the rateable value is £5.

The 1910 census gives more information, James John is aged 50, a general labour born in Wenvoe, Hannah his wife is 48, born in Glamorgan. Living with them are their children, David 22, an under keeper, Richard 11 and Llewellyn 9, a scholar, all born in Goytre. James and Hannah had been married 28 years and had 12 children, 4 of which had died. Elm Tree Cottage at this time had 6 rooms.

The poor rate of 1914 says the owner is now Albert Price and Edwin Evans is the occupier.

The 1921 census says the Lewis family is in occupation, William J Lewis is 48, a pickler in the steel sheet works at Baldwins Panteg, his wife Ada is also 48, living with them are sons Philip 14, a gardener , David 10 and Walter 9, their daughter Elizabeth is 17, they were all born in Goytre.

The electoral register of 1930 gives the occupants as John James, Henrietta James, Irene and Arthur James.

The Free Press of 1931 reported the death of George Pardoe of Elm Tree, he was 68, his sister Henrietta James died in 1949 whilst living at Elm Tree, both were buried at St Mathews churchyard, Monkswood.

On the register of 1939 living at Elm Tree is Henrietta James who was born on the 8th December 1872, William her son, a county council roadmap, born on the 6th May 1902, George, another son who is a general labourer for a public works contractor, he was born on 11th December 1911, living with them is John Pardoe, a retired watchman who was born on the 6th August 1863, John T Pardoe, an imbecile, born on the 16th August 1885, there are two closed records.

Pantypudding – 1009 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

Pantypudding was originally in the parish of Goytre, owned by the Duke of Beaufort but now it is in the parish of Monkswood.

In 1851 Joseph Neil was the occupier, the gross value is £19 7s 6d, on the Rev Thomas Evans tithe list of 1864 a Jenkins is mentioned.

The census of 1861, or the part that covers the lower part of Goytre is missing, the following year the occupier is a Richard Morgan.

The census of both 1871 and 1881 do not list Pantypudding.

The electoral register, 1883-1889 shows Isaac Jenkins occupying a dwelling house and land as tenant.

Roger and Elizabeth Williams were living at Pantypudding in 1895, their daughter Elizabeth was baptised at St Mathews in that year.

In 1897 Roger Williams holds a farm sale at Pantypudding.

The occupier in 1899 was Henry Morgan. By 1910 Henry Knipe was the tenant, the owner still the Marquis of Bute, gross value £23, rateable value £3, containing 30 acres.

The 1914 poor rate says the owner is D F Pritchard and the occupier is Sidney Morgan.

No. 743 on the 1841 Tithe Map – (Now missing under the railway line).

This property, owned by the Earl of Abergavenny was 5 acres 1 rood and 15 perches.

In 1768 the occupier is Thomas Lewis, his children Thomas, Henry and William were all baptised in the 1770’s in St Peter’s Church, his occupation was given as yeoman.

Thomas Lewis’s wife Mary died in 1799 and was buried at St Peter’s Church. Some time afterwards Thomas moved to Pwllmewrig where he died aged 97 in April 1822.

His son Henry then took the lease.The 1841 census says he is aged 70, a labourer and was born in Goytrey. His wife Susan is aged 60. Henry remained at this property until his death in January 1854 aged 86, Susan died in April 1862 aged 97, both were buried at St Peter’s.

In June 1865 the Earl of Abergavenny sold the land on which the property stood to the Great Western Railway for the building of the railway line that came through the village.

The position of the house was almost under the railway bridge in the village and was demolished when the railway line was laid.

No. 131 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The overseer of the poor in 1798 was David Thomas “for the Upper House”. In 1811 the owner is listed as David Thomas and the occupier is Edward James. Edward James died in 1840 without leaving a will so his wife Rachel, now living in Llanover, testified to ownership to his goods and chattels.

The 1841 tithe states David Thomas has the land “in hand”. On the census of the same year David Thomas is aged 85, Mary his wife is 60 and living with them at Upper House is 25 year old Hannah.

Lewis Edmunds, the local builder wrote in his diary on the 21^st January 1842, “at the funeral of David Thomas of Goytree at Hanover aged 90 years.”

Upper house was purchased by Col. Henry Byrd in July 1857 along with Pentre Bach.

Thomas Jenkins and his family are in occupation in 1861, he is aged 50 and a farm labourer, Hannah his wife is also aged 50, they were both born in Goytre, living with them are Thomas’s step-children, Mary Ann 16, Cathrine 9, Elizabeth 8 and David 6, all the children were born in Llanover.

Occupying the house in 1871 was James Rosser and his wife Keturah, James was aged 39 and Keturah 29. Living with them are their children, Ann Elinor and Rachel Martha Rebecka. Their two year old eldest son Richard is with his grandmother at Pantglas. More children were later born at Upper House, Sarah and Ruth Maria. In 1877 James was working as a weaver at Gwenffrwd Factory.

By 1881 James and his family had moved to Oviel Garn, the new occupier of Upper House was Edward Williams who was a 42 year old labourer, his wife Merab was aged 37, their children are John 9, Florence 7, Edward 5 and Rebecca 10 months.

Edward Williams name was on a list of one of the worst offenders for his children not attending school for which he was fined 5s in December 1884.

Edward Williams had died by 1891 but Merab remained at Upper House, by now she was aged 47, John her 19 year old son was an agricultural labourer, 10 year old Rebecca and 7 year old William were scholars.

On the 1911 census Merab is still at Upper House, she is now 67 and living with her is her 25 year old daughter Florence who is a dressmaker, visiting them is one year old Darcey Lee, a neice.

In 1911 Merab says she is a market gardener.

On the electoral register of 1915 Merab has moved to Goytre Wharf.

Rhydlofan – No. 60 in the 1841 Tithe Map.

Rhydlofan is now in the parish of Llanover, but was on the edge of the parish of Goytre when the parish border was divided by a stream.

In 1775, John Jones, taylor, held the lease for Rhydlofan from the owner, John Sparrow Esq., containing wood of 2 acres, house and garden of 31 perches and a meadow of 1a 1r 4p.

There are two deaths mentioning their home as Rhickllwyfen, they were William Jones aged 72 and Elizabeth Mathews aged 85 in 1835. Both were buried in St Peter’s Churchyard.

Lewis Edmund wrote in his diary on Christmas day 1839 that he spent it at Richard Rosser’s, Rhydllwyfan.

The tithe of 1841 says the owner is now Sir George Chetwynd and the occupier is Charles Jones, he is aged 35 and a mason. Ann, his wife is 40, their children are Mary 12, Martha 8, Lazarus 6 and Ann 4.

William Jones and his family remain at Rhydlloyfan for the next twenty years, by 1861 William is aged 58 and still a mason, Ann is 48 and says she was born in Llanvair, son William is 17,  a mason.

William Jones the elder had died before the 1871 census when Ann says she is a widow and is farming 4 acres, son William is still at home with her.

I can’t work out exactly who was living at Rhydlloyfan in 1881 but by 1891 48 year old James Rowley had taken occupation with his wife Martha. The property is described as being near the boundary brook.

James Rowley remains at Rhydlloyfan and in 1901 he is employed as a platelayer at the ironworks, he died in 1904 and was laid to rest at Hanover Chapel, Martha remains at Rhydlloyfan and living with her in 1911 is her son Herbert who is a milk vendor, Matilda his wife and their 3 year old daughter Catherine. Helping in the home is 14 year old niece Sarah, who is said to be a domestic servant.

Martha died in 1914 was buried at Hanover with James.

When the property came up for sale in 1918 Herbert Rowley wrote to the solicitors who were purchasing Rhydlloyfan on behalf of the Llanover estate requesting that he would like purchase the property for £300 saying his family had lived there for generations.

Herbert Rowley was unsuccessful in his attempt to purchase the property, the 1921 census gives two families in occupation.

First is William John Jones who is 45, born in Pontnewynydd is out of work, although his normal job is a road repairer with Pontypool council. Mary Ann his 45 year old wife was born in Llanover, as was their two year old daughter Lavinia, their nephew, John Valentine Hughes a two month old baby who’s mother is dead is also living with the family.

The second family is Archie John James 24, from Blaenavon, Archie is a miner at John Vipond’s  Varteg Colliery. Mabel Agnes his wife is 22 from Trevethin, they have one daughter, Mabel Kathleen who is 1 year old born in Goytre.

Goytre Farm – Ty Goytre – 633 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

1783 – sale by the trustees of Hanbury Williams, of all that farm called Goytre Farm, messuage, outbuildings, about 86 acres of arable and pasture, situated in the parish of Goytre, now in tenancy or occupation of Richard Williams at a yearly rent of £28.

The 1841 tithe says the owner is William Hunter Little, the property now contains 55a 1r 3p and is paying £9 6s 4d to the Rector. William Hunter Little has let the land to Francis McDonnel.

Occupying the house on the census of that date is William Williams aged 50, an agricultural labourer, Hannah his wife also 50, and their 15 year old son William.

William and Hannah Williams remain at Goytre Farm for the next twenty years; by 1871 they had left Goytre Farm to live at Bwrgwm Cottage with their daughter Caroline.

In October 1874 a sale of Live and Dead stock was held at Goytre Farm.

On the 1881 census George Grenow is in occupation, he is a 51 year old farm servant, his wife Eliza is 44 and they came from Hereford.

The electoral register of 1894 says William E. Thomas of Nantyderry Refreshment rooms is holding the lease.

John Rees holds a farming sale in August 1902, he remains at Goytre Farm and on the 1911 census he is 71 years old, a farmer born in Mynyiddslwyn. Staying with him is his 12 year old grandson Arthur Evans, his housekeeper is Hettie Hughes from Cardiff, and 25 year old Edgar Phillips is a waggoner on the farm.

John Rees had left by 1921 as David Thomas was now holding a sale at Goytre Farm, he was giving up the tenancy.

George Bandfield died at Goytre Farm in 1931, he was 42 years of age and well known in Usk and left a wife and three children.

Upper House – Ty Newydd.   

330 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The owner of Upper House was the Earl of Abergavenny, containing 3a 2r 12p. The fields were Far field; Little field; Orchard; Cottage and garden; Cae Scybor and paying 10s 9d to the Rector.

The tenant holding the lease in 1759 was James Prosser, he was an overseer of the poor for the parish.

By 1815 Thomas Prosser, son of James, was constable for his lands. In 1831 his daughter Catherine married John Griffiths at St Peter’s, Thomas and Ann Prosser were witnesses.

The census of 1841 says that living at Upper House were Thomas Prosser a 61 year old farmer, Mary his wife, four year old Thomas Prosser, son-in-law John Griffiths a 30 year old labourer, their daughter Catherine and their three children, Eliza 9, Mary 6 and 7 month old John.

Thomas Prosser voted against the police, as did most of the parish in 1850, his details were given as living near canal bridge number 83.

On the 1851 census Thomas is a widower, he is 75 years old, a farmer of 20 acres and was born in Goytre, living with him is his 15 year old grandson Thomas.

By 1861 Thomas has gone to live with his son Thomas at the Gelli. Thomas the elder died in 1864 and was buried at Saron Chapel with his wife.

Son Thomas Prosser is mentioned in 1867 as overseer of the poor for the Upper House. Thomas is occupying the property in 1871, he is 34 and a labourer, Ann, his wife is 44. In April 1878 their daughter Mary Ann died aged 17, she was buried at Saron Chapel churchyard.

By 1881 they have 4 children, Francis 18, Rees 16, Rachel 14 and 11 year old Levi. By 1891 Thomas and Ann are living on their own, in October 1894 their daughter Rachel married Alan Hanbury at Saron Chapel.

Thomas’s wife Ann died in July 1896 and was buried at Saron Chapel.

Two colliers stole fowls from Francis in March 1900 and ended up in court for their misdeeds.

By the time of the 1901 census Francis is now at the Upper House with his wife Rebecka, he is aged 38 and Rebecka is 30, by 1911 they have three children, Horace 8, Eunice 5 and one year old Harold.

In 1920 the Earl of Abergavenny sold most of his land and property in the parish, adjoining Upper House were three lots:

Lot 1. 2a 4p let at £2 – tithe 5s 8d sold to Francis Prosser for £140.

Lot 2. 1a 2r 28p adjoining lot 1. At 1s 10d tithe sold to Francis Prosser for £60.

Lot 3. An old garden and pasture, orchard, known as Prosser’s land, 2r 12p let at £1, tithe 2s 5d for £110.

Francis paid a deposit of £31 at the time of purchase, with a balance of £279 remaining.

In January 1920 Francis Prosser was arrested in Abersychan for a serious wound he inflicted on Lewis Morgan. Apparently there was bad feeling among the families due to Francis’s daughter not being chosen as the organist at Saron Chapel where Mr Morgan’s son is the Sunday school superintendant.

Francis was taken to court, as the attack was so serious he was held in custody.

(full report in the Free Press.)

On the 1921 census Francis Prosser is 59 a smallholder, his wife Rebecca is 50, their children Harris Idwal 18, Eunice Murial 16 and Harry Llewellyn 13 are all assisting their father on the smallholding, all the family were born in Goytre.

Mr Redvers Prosser of Canal House was involved in a cycle accident in September 1924 at the corner of the Carpenters Arms where he received severe bruising and shock, he is well know in Goytre as an active member of thee local football team.

Upper Cae Coed – 207 on the 1841 Tithe Map.

The tithe of 1841 says the owner of Upper Cae Coed is not known. The census of the same year says John Walters has a cottage and garden and is paying ^½d to the rector.

The 1851 census says 57 year old Walter David is a farmer of 15 acres and he was born in Goytre, Mary his wife is 50 and two children are living with them, Ann 25 and Thomas 23.

The Electoral Register of 1852 says Walter David owns a freehold house and land.

Unfortunately the census of 1861 has been partially lost for the parish so fast forward to 1871 when Walter David is now being called Davies, he has gone to live with Rachel Thomas at Bwrgwm, he is 70 and still a farmer.

I have the same problem with the 1871 and 1881 census for Upper Cae Coed as I can’t be sure who was living there but by 1891 the owner is 30 year old Daniel Williams who is an estate worker, his wife Martha is 34, and living with them is Francis Davies.

They remain at Upper Cae Coed where in March 1907 Martha died, she was 50 years old and was buried at Saron Chapel.

On the census of 1911 Daniel is 50, a farm labourer, living with him is Bridgett Williams, 41 from Berkshire.

Daniel remained at Upper Cae Coed until his death in December 1943.

On the census of 1921 Daniel Williams was 60, he was born in Glascoed,a general farm worker, living with him is 50 year old Bridgett born in Old Windsor, they have adopted children whose father had died, Joanna Collier aged 12, Ruby Jones aged 11, it is not known where either of the children were born. Also, named as a boarder is a baby who’s age is given as 1-3 weeks old,  Gwilym Evans who was born in Nantyderry.

There followed a notice in the Free Press for anyone having a claim against his estate to contact Waddingtons in Usk.

Upper Cae Coed was advertised for sale in April 1944, the advert says there were two upstairs rooms, a kitchen, parlour, back kitchen, good garden and pig styes and water was laid on.

Another death occurred at Upper Cae Coed in 1951, 61 year old James Charles Jones, he was buried at St Mathews Monkswood, his wife had preceeded him.