Death of GWR official – 8^th February 1919 – well known in Swansea

Mr Edwin Jones chief inspector of the GWR who has just passed away will be remembered as station inspector at Swansea.

Edwin Jones, his wife Edith (Gwilliam) and family.

He was here during the 1880’s, at the time of the famous onset of Mr W E Gladstone, when there was in town the largest assembly of Liberals ever held in South Wales.

In 1890 he was appointed traffic inspector for the Swansea district.

He then went to Paddington as chief lamp inspector and now for the past 13 years has been chief inspector at Cardiff.

Born at a farm near Nantyderry, Mon, he began his service with the GWR at Swansea in 1872 and was promoted to Llanelly and took the responsibility for the transit of tinplate for shipment at Liverpool before Swansea became the chief exporting port.

In 1887 he was placed in charge of the train working arrangements at Windsor and while there was able to render memorable service to Queen Victoria by assisting in the capture of MacLean who tried to assassinate her majesty.

Inspector Jones held the would be murderer secure among a crowd of spectators until a superintendent of police took him into custody.

(Edwin Jones is my great-great-uncle, born at Lapstone Cottage, Goytrey, in 1857).

A sincere thank you to Luned James for sending me the following article . Luned’s ancestors farmed in Llanover, the wonderful photo was taken outside Church Cottage Goytre early 1900’s.

There is an 1844 marriage record for a David Hutchinson a gardener and Hannah Lewis nee Davies widow both of Brynmawr. See entry. No further research done on either David or Hannah before this date.^[1]

David and Hannah were living and (probably) working at Lower Fro, Llanofer when their first daughter Mary Ann was baptised at the parish church in 1845. (lost the record)**

She was followed by other daughters Isabella in 1846, Hannah M (Anna Maria) in 1848; Margaret in 1849, Catherine (Jane) in 1851 an Elizabeth 1853. Their only son David was baptised in 1855.

David Hutchinson senior died months after the baptism of his son. Buried David Hutchinson, Lower Fru (sic) 28^th October 1854.

Hannah 43 a widow married Thomas Jenkins 54 a bachelor in 1860 and in the 1861 census they were living at Graig Ddu, Goytre, with four of Hannah’s daughters and her son.

Margaret Hutchinson married John James 3^rd Q 1867 Newport Reg Dist. Unsure why they married outside the area. See separate sheet for the couple.

In the 1871 census the Jenkins were living in Coal Brook Villa with Isabella, Elizabeth and Margaret’s daughter Elizabeth May James is visiting.

Isabella Hutchinson married John Williams 1^st Q 1873 Abergavenny Dist. They live at The Factory and by 1901 they are living at Ceffynminog (spelling?) near The Refreshment Rooms. They had Annie b.1873/4, Isabella b. 1886c; Reginald b. 1888c. Isabella m Henry James Shore 1909 Reginald John Shore b. 1910/11.

Mary Ann Hutchinson Goytre married James Ralph a coachman of Goytre at the parish church 17^th July 1880. James Ralph buried Goytre 23 De 1891. Mary Ann Ralph married William Evan Thomas 1897 in London. There is a burial at Goytre 1909 for Mary Ann Thomas of The Refreshment Rooms and a headstone which says she was the widow of W.E.Thomas and relict of Ralph. See her entry.

Anna (Hannah) Maria Hutchinson Goytre married William Lewis a guard Abergavenny at Goytre parish church 12^th February 1881 (no obvious trace after this)

In 1881 Hannah and Thomas may have been living in Saron Lane where Thomas is 78 and not working, Hannah is working in a laundry with Elizabeth 27, David 26 is still living at home and granddaughter Annie Williams , Isabella’s daughter. A few months later Thomas was dead at 78, his abode was given as Fro Ganol.

1891 Hannah, Elizabeth and David are still living together possibly in the same place as previous census with George Davies a lodger (he may be a relative of Hannah nee Davies)

In December 1891 David Hutchinson married Margaret Williams, she went on to run The Refreshment Rooms at Nantyderry and he as a coal dealer from 1911 until his death in 1928.

Elizabeth Hutchinson 42 spinster of School House, Nantyderry, married Thomas Evans 36 bachelor, Capel-Ed, at Goytre 28 February 1897 by licence.

In 1901 Hannah Jenkins age 69 (a mistake?) was living with Isabella and Thomas Evans at 2 School Cottages, Nantyderry (where the group photograph was taken)

Hannah Jenkins died at School Cottage in 1910 aged 84.

Isabella Williams died 1918 age 72

David Hutchinson died of The Refreshment Rooms aged 73 in 1928

The Refreshment Rooms Nantyderry

1901 William Evan Thomas and wife Mary Ann nee Hutchinson

1911 David Hutchinson and his wife Margaret until his death 1928.

1. There is a John s/o John & Hannah Hutchinson 8^th Sept 1844 bpt Goytre. No death or marriage found of any of these.

Thomas Jeremiah was born in Goytre on May 21^st 1797, one of twelve children of Richard and Mary.

Held at the National Library of Wales is a small leather-bound notebook written in pencil by him giving a short account of his life and adventures.

“I was born of poor but honest parents, my father kept a little farm of about 180 acres under Squire Leigh of Pontypool. My father kept the farm for about twenty years in the parish it was called the Goytre Halls, where I was born. I was a rebellious and unsettled youth and went into service with several farmers but was eventually much taken by the “Gallant sons of Mars” who were stationed at Abergavenny.”

At the age of sixteen years and six months he enlisted in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Abergavenny on November 27^th 1812. He went to the continent on March 23^rd1815.

He has written an account of the Grand Review of allied troops on June 18^th 1815 and the ensuring battle of Waterloo.

He served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers for 25 years.

“A Short Account of the Life and Adventures of Private Thomas Jeremiah, 23^rd or Royal Welch Fusiliers 1812-1837, including his experiences at the Battle of Waterloo.” Is a lovely little booklet edited by Gareth Glover and printed by Ken Trotman publishing.