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.