Chapel Ed Cottages No.2

On the census of 1861 Evans family had taken up residence, David 22, Mary 22, son Evan 2 and daughter Catherine 6 months. David and Mary were born in Denbighshire, Evan in Wrexham and Catherine in Goytrey. David Evans had married Mary Roberts in Wrexham in July 1848.

In 1861 David Evans is 61, still a labourer, Mary 32, Evan12, Sarah 8 Mary 4 and Thomas 1.

On the census of 1871 Yew Tree is called Chapel Ed Cottage the Evans family are still in residence, David is now 51, Mary 43, Evan is 23 a fireman, Thomas is 12, David 9, both attending school and John 3, John began school in 1875.

By 1881 Evan Evans had married, he was living in New Inn village with his wife Helen and three young daughters, Mary, Helen and Edith.

David Evans 61 in 1881 had become a farmer of 16 acres his wife Mary is 52, a farmers wife, son John is still attending Goytre British school where in 1882 he is presented with a medal for attaining his second grade when tragedy struck,  he died the same year aged 15.

David Evans died suddenly on 13 July 1882 of heart disease, but probably through the shock of losing his son John.

Mary now became a greengrocer, living with her in 1891 is son Thomas 30, employed in an engineer works.

Mary died in February 1897 aged 69, she was buried with husband David and son John in the grounds of Chapel Ed.

The electoral register of 1900 says Charles Cornish is in residence at one of the cottages. Also the census of 1911 says Charles Cornish is 36 a gamekeeper, who was born in Somerset, Annie his wife is 33 born in Dorset, their children are Gerald 8, Reginald 6, Elsie 3, all born in Sully Glamorgan and 1 month old Laura, born in Goytre.

The parish poor rate of 1914 says Valentine Morris is in residence.

At the time of the 1921 census Albert Cotterill a 35 year old journeyman plasterer working for Panteg housing scheme is living at Chapel Ed, his wife Emily is 36, son Albert is 10, they were all born in Malvern, daughter Muriel 9 and son Dennis 5 were born in Llanhowell.

The electoral register for 1928 says Rees Charles Cooke is occupying the property.

No. 968 on the 1841 tithe map – 60 acres.

Rowland Morgan was in occupation of Yew Tree Farm, his children, baptised at St Peter’s church were Reinold in 1712, Morgan 1714, Mary 1715, Elizabeth 1718 and William 1721.

An entry in the parish overseers account dated 14 May 1730 says Rowland Morgan was summoned to appear or a warrant would be issued against him, no reason was given for any misdemeanour he had committed.

Rowland Morgan died in 1760, he was buried in St Peter’s churchyard on the 23 November.

The next document I can find relating to Yew Tree is the will of John Morgan dated 1798 leaving the property and all he owns to his wife Frances.

In 1818 Frances is mentioned with her son Henry occupying the property which Roland Morgan did once occupy. Frances Morgan died in 1827, she was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.

In August 1835 Henry Morgan released the property to his daughters Mary and Ann.

In 1837 Henry Morgan sold Yew Tree Farm to John Williams and his wife, John is a shopkeeper of Usk, he pays £700 of which £400 is mortgaged.

The census of 1841 says John Powell 70 is farming at Yew Tree, living with him is his son also John who is 30, a school master, and daughter Susanna 20.

An indenture dated 10th April 1849 between John Williams, the owner of Yew Tree Farm, now of Kemys Commander and his wife are mortgaged to Richard Greenway of Pontypool.

I am unable to find any information relating the to 1851 census.

On the 22 June 1857 John Williams of Usk died. In 1861 Henry Williams of Maerdy Farm, Usk (son of John and Mary) and Mary Williams, widow of John Williams, shopkeeper, sold Yew Tree Farm to Charles Herbert for £1195.

On the 26 June 1861 Henry Williams wrote to Charles Herbert through his solicitor asking the reason for the delay in purchasing Yew Tree Farm, the sale finally went through. Charles Herbert the new owner was a provision merchant of Varteg, the land tax of 1867 says the owner of Yew Tree Farm and Yew Tree Cottage is Charles Herbert.

In 1863 Mary Williams, widow of Usk took Charles Herbert to court saying she had overpaid interest of £6 6s 1d on his purchase of Yew Tree Farm and Cottage.

William Preece from Raglan is in occupation of Yew Tree Farm on the census of 1871, he is 48 farming 100a, Mary his wife is 54, she was born in Smithfield, their children are William 22, Thomas 20, Mary J 18, Temperance 13, Catherine 10 and nephew Caleb Hicks 12. Caleb is a labourer born in Abergavenny, all the children were born in Goytre other than Catherine who was born in Monkswood.

William Preece had left by 1881, William Harris had taken the farm, he had married Elizabeth Mathews, the daughter of Henry Mathews of Plough Farm Goytre in 1871, the census says he is 29, a farmer of 50a, born in Monkswood. Elizabeth is 29, born in Goytre, their sons are William 6, Edwin 1 and daughter Mabel 4. They have a farm servant, William Redwood 46.
William and Mabel ought to be attending Goytre school  but William Harris was summoned by Pontypool Board of Guardians for non-attendance of his children in 1882, December 1883 and again in June 1884.
William and Elizabeth had a son Charles born in May 1885 and a daughter Gertrude Ellen in June 1889, Charles was baptised in Goytre church, Gertrude in Monkswood church.

William Harris and his family left Yew Tree farm shortly afterwards, they moved to Plough where he gave his occupation as blacksmith.

The following advert was placed in the Free Press, the owner of Yew Tree Farm had been the Rev. James Cadwallader, curate at Usk prison, he had left Usk in 1891 and returned to his birthplace, Pembroke where he died shortly afterwards.

Parish of Goytrey
Marfell & Poole Have been instructed to offer for sale by public auction at the
Three Salmons Usk on Monday the 21st day of August 1899 at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

Freehold Farm and Lands
Known as Yew Tree Cottage Farm situate in the parish of Goytrey adjoining the road leading from Monkswood to Penperllenny and containing an area of 36a 0r 2p or thereabouts.

Now in the occupation of Mr George Stinchcombe as yearly tenant, also all that Cottage and Garden adjoining the above farm and containing upwards of one acre and now in the occupation of Mr William Summers.

The property is pleasantly situated with a southern aspect and commands good views of the surrounding country.
It adjoins a good road and is situate about 3 miles from Usk, 4 from Pontypool and 7 from Abergavenny.
Auctioneers: Trotsky Court Usk.
Solicitors Gustard and Waddington.

The farmhouse is described as substantially built and slated, contains parlour, large kitchen, back kitchen with oven, boiler and good dairy. 4 bedrooms plus dressing room. Large barn with stables, cow house, cart shed and pig styes. Tithe payable to the rector £4 3s 5d and land tax 18s .

Yew Tree Farm was purchased by the tenant George Stinchcombe who had married Harriet Rose Evans in 1891, on the census of 1901 they had three daughters, Harriet, Florence and Hilda.

On the 1 April 1910 George Stinchcombe was summoned for non-payment of poor rate to the parish. he owed the sum of 12s 11d, in his defence he said the work carried out by the parish was unsatisfactory and the ratepayers did not get value for money, he would pay but under protest.

The census of 1911 says he is 46, a farmer born in Monkswood,  his wife Harriet is 40 from Glascoed, their children are Florence Rose 16, who is doing dairy work on the farm, Hilda 14, Nellie 8, Harold 6, Annie Rachel 5 and Kathleen Emma 3.

On June 11 1913 George Stinchcombe was fined 15 shillings for not having a dog licence.

On the 1921 census George is still farming at Yew Tree farm, living at home as well as Harriet his wife are daughters Nellie, Annie and Kathleen, Harold, their son is now assisting of the farm. Annie is an apprentice to tailoring at Mr Croom’s in Commercial Street Pontypool.

The Stinchcombe family remained at Yew Tree Farm for many years with George dying in July 1951 and Harriet in April 1961, they were buried in Monkswood churchyard.

In their wills George left £50 to son Harold and Harriet left £405 also to Harold.

No. 223 on the 1841 tithe map, now in the parish of Llanover.

On the 11th May 1768 Joshua Thomas married Rachel Rosser at St Peter’s church Goytre. Rachel was the daughter of John and Ann (nee Phillips) of Pantglas Mill and farm which was a very short distance from Bwrgwm cottage.  

Joshua and Rachel had several children baptised,  Rachel in June 1769, Mary in June 1772, John and Margaret in 1773, possibly twins.

Joshua Thomas died in 1790, he was buried in Llanellen churchyard, he died without leaving a will, a bond was made leaving all his goods and property to his wife Rachel. 

The land tax of 1808 says Rachel Thomas, yet in 1814 the land tax says Rachel Anthony,  (her brother John Anthony Thomas, who lived very close to her at Bwrgwm Bach appears to have dropped the surname Thomas, hence the reason why Rachel Thomas is sometimes referred to as Rachel Anthony.)  The tithe of 1832 says Rachel Thomas is the owner of a house and garden in hand (in her ownership.)

Rachel Thomas died in January 1839 aged 96, she was also buried at Llanellen church with her husband Joshua.

The census of 1841 for Bwmgwm says Rachel Thomas is 72 (daughter of Rachel and Joshua Thomas) she is of independent means, living with her is her 30 year old niece Rachel Anthony (Thomas) a female servant working for Hanbury Williams Coldbrook Abergavenny as a dairymaid. Rachel Anthony is the daughter of Rachel Thomas’s brother John Anthony Thomas.  there are several references when Rachel Anthony is also called Rachel Thomas.

On Saturday 15th May 1841 Lewis Edmund, the local builder wrote in his diary he was at Rachel Thomas’s of Goytree, whitening, and again on May 8th and 9th 1850 he was at Rachel Thomas’s whitening outside.

The census of 1851 says Rachel Thomas is 82, a landed proprietor, Rachel Anthony, her niece is a house servant aged 40, also on the census is Rachel Thomas’s sister Margaret Price aged 78.

Land tax in 1852 says Rachel Thomas has a house and land of 2a 0r 6p in hand.

Several entries appear in Lewis Edmunds diary, saying he was at Rachel Thomas’s Bwrgwm, on the 12 March 1853 he was whitening inside, on the 10 November he wrote, at thanksgiving at Hanover and at Rachel Thomas 3 o’clock.

On the 16th February 1855 Lewis Edmund wrote in his diary Rachel Thomas jnr. died at Bwrgwm aged 85 years, buried at Hanover, left house to Rachel Anthony.

Another entry in Lewis Edmunds diary says he was at Rachel Anthony’s on the 31st May 1856.

On the census of 1861 the entry now says Rachel Thomas is now 49, a dairymaid, she is unmarried and living on her own.

Lewis Edmund was repairing at Rachel Anthony’s on the 9th October 1868.

On the 1871 census Rachel Thomas is 58, a farmer, living with her is 30 year old Emma Tuffley a dressmaker and 70 year old Walter David, a farmer.

The census of 1881 says Rachel Anthony is 68, retired, Living with her is married niece Margaret Gwatkin and Margaret’s daughter Rachel, and Martha Davies.

Rachel Anthony died in in December 1886, she was buried at Ebenezer Baptist Chapel Blaenavon. She left  the following legacies in her will.

To Rachel Rosser, the daughter of James Rosser Goytre, her house and garden.
To the five Johnathon children of Pantalar Farm Llanover £100 each.
To Margaret Evans of Abertillery £100
To the five children of Ann Rosser Goytre 3 cottages and premises (shops) in High Street Blaenavon .
To Margaret Ferncombe (now Gwatkin) living with her £100.
To Leah Jenkins Garndiffaith £50.
To the Baptist Missionary Society £200.
To the Bible Translation Society £100.
To the Baptist Colleges in Pontypool, Haverfordwest and Llangollen £100.
To the infirm Baptist Ministers £100.
To Horeb Baptist Church Blaenavon £100.
To Saron Chapel Goytre £100.
To Mr Mullers orphanage Ashley Down £30.
To Mr Spurgeon’s boys orphanage £30.
To the widows fund London 19 guineas.
To the Baptist tract fund 19 guineas.
The value of her will is given as under £1,900.
She also stated that all monies given to females in her will is for their sole use only. 

After her death Lewis Edmunds swore a declaration stating that he had know Rachel Anthony and that the property Bwrgwm had been given to her by her aunt Rachel Thomas.

Rachel Jones (nee Rosser) raised an £80 mortgage against the property in 1888 from William Meredith of the High Street Blaenavon, shortly after this she sold Bwrgwm to Lady Llanover on the 8th December 1888 paying £5 2s 8d duty of succession.

By the census of 1891 Charles Morgan, 50, a coal miner born in Llanover and his wife Caroline 51 born in Llanwenarth were in occupation of Bwrgwm Cottage. Ten years later on the census of 1901 Charles had changed his occupation to a roadman, saying he was partly deaf, Caroline says she is a laundress, working from home.

In 1910 the gross rateable value of Bwrgwm cottage was £4 10s, paying £4, the owner was Herbert of Llanover.

By 1911 the occupier had changed to Leonard Rowley who was a 29 year old mason’s labourer, born in Llanover, his wife is Margaret Jane, 29, born in Swansea, their children, Muriel Elise 6 and Evan James 3, were born in Llanover.

Leonard Rowley and his family remained at Bwrgwm, the 1921 census says he is 39, out of work from the “Big Pit” Blaenavon where he is a timber-mans assistant, Margaret is also 39, their three children are Muriel Elise 16, Evan James 13 and Herbert Charles 7. By 1924 Leonard and his family had moved to Bwrgwm Bach according to the electoral register. By 1930 they had moved to Bailey Glas also in Llanover with the electoral register of 1934 saying Leonard Rowley was living in a caravan near the Lodge.

Glanbaiden is a rather imposing house situated in the centre of the village.

It was built by John Burgoyne, a builder from Pontypool for Franklin James Harris. Franklin Harris was born at Gwenffrwd Woolen Mill in 1861, the son of Samuel and his wife Anne nee James.

On November 24th 1893 Franklin Harris married Mary Margaretta Jeremiah the daughter of Abraham and Elizabeth Harris at Llantilio Pertholey church, the census of 1901 says they are living at the Carpenters Arms where Franklin Harris is 40 an innkeeper, Mary Margaretta is 31, their daughter Mary Elizabeth is 6. The Carpenters Arms had previously been kept by Mary’s father Abraham Jeremiah.

In 1894 Mr Webbe of Pontypool made an application on behalf of Franklin Harris for the grant of a full licence for the Carpenters Arms, Goytrey. Mr Lyne of Newport opposed this application on behalf of the police and Lady Llanover, the bench dismissed the objection and the licence was granted.

By the census of 1911 Franklin and his family were in occupation of Glanbaiden, the census says he is 50 years, a retired Victualler, Mary his wife is 41, they have two daughters, Mary Elizabeth 16 and Annie Irene 9, living with them is Mary’s brother Thomas Jeremiah who is 40, a wheelwright.

Franklin Harris and his family were still in residence on the census of 1921, it says he is 60, a retired licenced victualler, Mary his wife is 52, Mary Elizabeth is now 26, an elementary school teacher at Goytre school, as is her sister Annie Irene aged 20. Franklin’s brother-in-law Thomas Jeremiah is still living with them, he is 50 and works for Mrs Wilks, Goytre, as a wheelwright.

Franklin Harris died in early February 1925 aged 64, he was buried in St Peter’s churchyard, he left to his wife Mary £1625. Mary Margaretta died at Maesderwen in November 1939 she was buried with her husband Franklin. In her will she leaves £1081 7s 6d to her eldest daughter Mary Elizabeth Harris.

Mary Margaretta, Mary Elizabeth and Annie Irene Harris remained at Glanbaiden until it was sold in 1933 for the sum of £1000, after which they moved to Maesderwen. Mary Margaretta died in 

The electoral register of 1934 says Catherine Ann Morris and Leah Morris are in residence.

They were still in residence on the register of 1939. Catherine Morris, born in 1889 and Leah, born in 1897 are of private means as was Mona Morris born in 1917, Edward Morris born in 1913 is a handyman. Also at Glanbaiden is Wyndham Williams born in 1899, he is a newsagent and tobacconist.

Glanbaiden was sold to Abraham Jenkins in 1956 for £3500, he died in 1958, and was buried in St Peter’s churchyard.

Glanbaiden was sold in 1963 to Arthur James Eckley for £5,750 then again in 1964 to John Edward Owen for  £4,750, it has remained in the Owen family until recently.

The Rectory was built in 1901 it is now a private home.

The first rector to occupy the property in 1901 was Howell Howell, followed by Joseph Rees Davies in 1903.

On the census of 1911 the Reverend Joseph Davies was 42, he was born in Cardigan and spoke both Welsh and English, his wife Annie Sophia was 45 , they had been married 18 years and had had two children. Living with them is a monthly nurse, Rosehannah Gratton, 51 who was born in Birmingham, and a general servant, 20 year old Lucy Hannah Ross from Tredegar.

In 1920 Henry Belcher became the new rector of the parish, he was 59 on the 1921 census, he was born in Gloucester, his wife Clara was also 59, she was born in Westminster, living with them at the rectory was visitor Ellen Rolls also born in Westminster and a servant Mabel Gertrude Price 40 from Abergavenny.

In 1933 the Reverend Thomas John Richards was the new rector, followed by Sydney George Morgan in 1939.

In 1949 this had changed to the Reverend Charles William Kelly who left and was replaced by the Reverend Algernon Lionel Davies in 1956.

Harold John Thomas Richards was the new rector in 1969, the last rector to live at the Rectory was Clifford Ray Cale who came to the parish in 1982.

No. 718 on the 1840 Tithe Map – containing 3a 3r 35p small holding.

On the 10th July 1765 David Valentine (the son of William, baptised at St Peter’s in 1710) took the lease of all those two cottages of about 2 acres waste ground in Pellenigg, parish of Goytre, then in possession of Mary Valentine. Lease for lives of the said David Valentine, David his son 20 and Mary his daughter 22.

Elizabeth, the wife of David Valentine the elder died in 1778, and was buried at St Peter’s.

David Valentine the elder died in 1782, he was buried in St Peter’s churchyard. Three years later in 1785 David Valent (a variation of Valentine ) the son of David and Ann his wife died, he was also laid to rest at St Peter’s.

I have found the following children of David and Ann baptised at St Peter’s. David in November 1777, Elizabeth in 1780, John in February 1787 and Martha in August 1796.

David Valent’s name is listed as paying land tax for the property in 1798.

Ann, the wife of David Valentine died in 1810, she was buried at St. Peter’s.

The Earl of Abergavenny’s survey of 1821 says David Valentine is still tenant of pasture and arable lands, but he died the following year 1822, from his death age he had been born in 1745.

A Court Leet in 1823 says David Valentine died possessed of leasehold land. The land tax the same year is paid by William Vallent.

Earl of Abergavenny lease no. 79 was regranted to William Vallent on the 29th September 1831, William had married Elizabeth Proger but I cannot find the marriage.

On the electoral register of 1840 is William Valentine in this parish, leasehold land for lives near Chapel Ed.

The census of 1841 says William Valentine is 70, Elizabeth is 65, living with them is 11 year old Mary Richards, the tithe of the same year says William Valent is in occupation of little field, cae ffynon, a garden, meadow and little orchard and little field.

William Valentine had died or moved sometime before 1851 as the occupier on the census of 1851 is David Jenkins a 68 year old blacksmith who had previously lived at Phoenix cottage. The following year David Jenkins died, he was buried in St Iltyds churchyard Mamhilad.

The census of 1861 is missing but in 1871 John Williams a 45 year old shoemaker and his wife Elizabeth 40 are in residence, they were both born in Goytre. John had died before the next census of 1881 as his wife Elizabeth is now a widow living at Penwern with her brother James Jenkins.

By 1901 William Lewis and family had moved into Elm Trees, sadly his son called William Isaac died at 8 months on the 2nd of April 1901. The census says William Lewis is a 27 year old butcher, Edith his wife is 28.

No 212 on the map is owned by the Earl of Abergavenny, the gross value is £3, rateable value is £2, the property has 2 acres.

William and his family remain at Elm Trees for quite some time, in 1911 it says the property has 6 rooms, William is a pickler at the steel works, Edith is 39, they had been married for 17 years, their children are  Clifford 15, Edith 14, Florence 13, Ivor 8, Elizabeth 7, Richard 5 and Philip 4.

In 1920 the Earl of Abergavenny sold many of his properties, lot 23 was Elm Trees, a smallholding of 3a 0r 35p rent of £7 7s p.a., the property was sold to Mrs Gertrude Williams of Nash Road, Newport for £305.

William Lewis and his family remained at Elm Trees for some considerable time afterwards.

At Elm Trees on the register of 1939, Ruth Jones born in 1860 is a market gardener, Ernest James Jones born in 1893, John Thomas Jones born in 1881 is incapacitated and Winifred E, born in 1896.