David Price Pantyffordd

The Family of David Price Pantyffordd.

David Price Pantyffordd. This was taken on the occasion of his daughter Gwenllian's wedding in 1915 age 67. He died the following year. 

 

David Price was born in 1848 at Coydca* (sic) Cilycwm presumably the home of his mother Mary Price (nee Williams). He lived at home with his mother Mary at Trichwmwl following his father Morgan's death at the young age of 44 in 1863 (David would have been 15 at the time). He continued to live there after his mother's second marriage to Thomas Prosser in 1870 (see 1871 census below).

No record has been found of his first marriage which must have occurred between the censuses of 1871 and 1881 because he is registered as single in 1871 but on his marriage to Jane Prosser in 1880 he is registered as a widower. There was a child from the first marriage because in 1881 there is a David Price living with his mother Mary (now Prosser, widow) at Trichwmwl who is registered as David Price, grandson aged either 7 or 9 (difficult to read). Based on other evidence David was born in 1873/4 which makes the elder David’s first marriage in the period 1871-1873.  In 1891 young David was a farm servant at Penwingon Fawr, Trecastle aged 18 (which confirms a date of birth of around 1873). For whatever reason he grew up and married completely independently of his natural father.

David Price married his second wife Jane Prosser in 1880. David (farmer) and Jane (dressmaker) were married 4 Dec 1880 at Tabernacle Chapel, Llandovery . The witnesses were William Price (grooms' brother) and Margaret Prosser (bride's sister).It seems likely that David and Jane met as a result of Thomas Prosser (Janes's grandfather) marrying David's widowed mother Mary. According to the 1881 census David and Jane were at Glynmeirch, Cwmdwr Road, Llywel next door to Jane's widowed mother Anne Prosser and Jane's two brothers Thomas and Evan Prosser.

Following the traditional naming pattern (paternal grandparents followed by maternal), David and Jane's daughter Mary was born ca. 1882 followed by Morgan ca. 1885 (Morgan being the Christian name of both grandfathers). Both Mary and Morgan were born in Myddfai parish but where is not known at present. The family then lived for a while at Pentrebach near Halfway in the Cwmdwr valley between Trecastle and Llandovery, which falls in Llanfairarybryn parish where my grandmother Anne was born 17 Feb 1887 followed by Margaret Jane in 1889. It's likely that David's mother Mary was living with them at this time because she was living at Pentrebach alone in 1891.

The family must have moved to Pantyffordd, Senny ca. 1890 (they are there in the 1891 census) where David Price became farm bailiff (i.e. he farmed Pantyffordd as though it was his own, but on behalf of the owners). Here at Pantyffordd the rest of the family was born, Gwenllian (known as Wena) ca. 1893, Ellen ca. 1895 and Evan Tom ca. 1897. A further child Elizabeth (Lizzie on MI) died as a baby in 1899.

 

The Price family at Pantyffordd, Senny

The very faded photograph above is from the collection of the late Jane Morgan of Pontfaen (who was a daughter of Ellen Price) and was kindly loaned to me by Janet Watkins, her niece. Calculating the ages assuming that the baby in David Price's arms is Ellen then the date of the photograph is 1895. Thus left to right is Morgan (10), Mary (13), Jane Price mother (37) holding Gwen (2), David Price (47) holding Ellen, Margaret Jane (6), Anne (8)

From some further information that Jane printed by on the back of  a copy of the photograph of David Price (see above), Jane lived at Ty Isaf Senny Village  (see photographs) and died at Tymawr just opposite. My mother recalled her living at Tymawr in 1924.

Jane Price (nee Prosser) at Ty Isaf Senny ca. 1920

David Price died at Pantyffordd on 23 Nov 1916 aged 68 and was buried at Brychgoed Chapel, Senny. His youngest son, Evan Tom Price who would have been just 19 when his father died and not long out of the army, took over Pantyffordd and eventually bought the farm. His descendants continue to farm there.

Jane Price died 12 February 1925 and was buried with David at Brychgoed. Their MI (10.4) reads (tr. from the Welsh) "In loving memory of David Price, Pantyffordd, Senny, who died 23 Nov. 1916 aged 68 . Also of Jane his wife who died 12 February 1925 aged 68. Also Lizzie their daughter who died 25th April 1899 in her infancy."

The Family

David PRICE, Pantyffordd, Senny (1848- 1916) b. 25 Feb 1848 at Coydca (sic) Cilycwm d. 23 Nov 1916 aged 68 bd. Brychgoed Chapel. [MI 10.5]

= 1) Unknown

Child:  David PRICE b. 1873

= 2) Jane Prosser (1857 - 1925)  Died 12 Feb 1925 aged 68 [MI 10.5 Brychgoed Chapel]

Children:

Mary PRICE, Shepherds House Cray.  (ca. 1882 - 1963).  Died 20 Jan 1963 aged 81 buried at Brychgoed Chapel [MI 9.6] = William DAVIES of Rushock near Kington, Herefordshire (worked for Swansea Corporation at the Cray Reservoir) (1866 - 1939) died 3 Feb 1939 aged 73 [MI 9.6] They were married in Oct 1903 (Breconshire)

Morgan PRICE, Felin Senni (The Mill Senny) (ca. 1885 -1957) Died 13 Mar 1957 (aged 72) and buried at Brychgoed Chapel [MI 10.8] = **Mary Ann Gardner (1894 - 1959) buried Brychgoed [MI 10.8]. Married April 1909 at Merthyr Tydfil.

Anne PRICE, Brynhyfryd, Cray (1887 - 1969), b. 22  Feb 1887 died 24 Mar 1969 aged 82 = David JONES, of Tyleglas, Senny (1883 - 1951) died 10 May 1951 aged 68. [MI 9.8 Brychgoed Chapel]. See spearate blog post with further information about my grandmother's family.

Margaret Jane PRICE Maeseglwys and Pwllcoediog  Callwen Glyntawe (1889 - 1950), died 11 Mar 1950 (aged 61) bd. at Callwen P.Ch = David PRICE (1873 - 1951) died 25 Jan 1951 bd. at Callwen P.Ch. (Callwen is at the head of the Swansea Valley).

Gwenllian PRICE (Gwen a.k.a. Wena), Clwydwaundwr Cray (1893 - 1930) died 17 Apr 1930 (aged 37) MI 10.7 Brychgoed Chapel = **Evan Owen GARDNER married at Merthyr Sep. 1915.

Eleanor PRICE (Ellen) (1895-1973) b. 22 Jan 1895 d. 28 Jul 1973 (aged 78) b. The Croft Llandovery = Morgan DAVIES of Cwmcoedoerion (1894 - 1978) d. 31 May 1978 (aged 84) b. The Croft Llandovery. Married 1 Jun 1916 at Brychgoed Chapel and lived at Dantwyn, Halfway and later at Stone Street, Llandovery.

Evan Tom PRICE, Pantyfordd, Senny (1897 -1955) d. 9 May 1965 (aged 68) (MI 9.10 Brychgoed Chapel) = Eleanor Jane MORGAN (1898 - 1973) d. 15 Apr 1973 (aged 75) (MI9.10 Brychgoed). Evan Tom fought in the First World War and succeeded his father at Pantyffordd, later purchasing the farm.

Lizzie PRICE (1899) died in infancy 25 Apr 1899 buried at Brychgoed with her parents

Some Relevant Census Data

1861 Halfway Inn, Halfway, Myddfai Parish

Morgan Prosser, head, 36, blacksmith and publican, CMN Myddfai

Anne Prosser, wife, 37, CMN Llandingat

Anne Prosser, daughter, 10, CMN Llanfairarybryn

Thomas Prosser, 8, CMN Llanfairarybryn

Gwen Prosser, 5, CMN Myddfai

Jane Prosser, 3, CMN Myddfai

Margaret Prosser, 1, CMN Myddfai

1861, Cwmdwr Mill, Llywel Parish

Jane Prosser, servant, 12, domestic servant, CMN Myddfai

1871 Trichwmwl, Myddfai

Thomas Prosser, head, m, 71, Farmer 172 acres, CMN Mothvey

Mary Prosser, wife, m, 47, CMN Cayo

David Price, stepson, u, 23, CMN Cayo

William Price, stepson, u, 22, CMN Myddfai

1881 Trichwmwl, Myddfai

Mary Prosser h, widow, 45,  Farmer of 30 acres, CMN Cayo

Mary Price, granddaughter, 3, CMN Myddfai

David Price, grandson, 9, CMN Myddfai (s/o David Price)

(Mary was the daughter of William Price and Gwen who lived in Bwlchbrane nearby and had an 11month old daughter Ellen in 1881)

1881 Cwmdwr Rd., Glynmeirch, Llywel

David Price, head, 32, General Labourer, CMN Myddfai

Jane Price, wife, 22, CMN Myddfai

(Note: By this time Jane's father Morgan had died and his widow Anne (57) was living next door to David and Jane with son Thomas (26) and son Evan (19))

1891 Pantyffordd, Senny, Breconshire

David Price, head, m, 43, agricultural labourer, CMN Caio

Jane Price, wife, m, 30, BRE Llywel

Mary, daughter, 9, scholar, CMN Myddfai

Morgan, son, 6, scholar, CMN Myddfai

Anne, daughter, 4, CMN Llanfairarybryn

Margaret Jane, 2, CMN Llanfairarybryn

 

1901, Pantyffordd, Senny, Breconshire

David Price, head, m, 53, farm bailiff, CMN Myddfai

Jane Price, wife,  m, 42, CMN Myddfai

Maggie Jane Price, daughter, 12, CMN Myddfai

Gwen Price, daughter, 8, BRE Senny

Ellen Price, daughter, 6, BRE Senny

Evan Tom, son, 4, BRE Senny

My grandmother, Anne Price had left home and was in service in 1901 and she appears in the census at Yscoedreddfin, a farm in the Cwmdwr valley between Llywel and Halfway, as Annie Price.

1911, Pantyffordd, Senny, Breconshire

David Price, 62, Caio, CMN
Jane Price, 51, Myddfai CMN
Gwen Price, 18, Senny, BRECS

In 1911 my grandmother was still single and in service at Tylegarw, Senny. Morgan Price was married in 1910 and in 1911 he and Mary Ann his wife were living at Clwydwaundwr, Cray (opposite the Brychgoed Chapel). Mary was married to William Davies in 1903 and they were living at Shepherds House near Cray Reservoir which had been built between 1889 and 1906 and where her husband William worked. Ellen was 16 and working at Pentwyn, Cray. Maggie Jane was 22, a dressmaker living at Pwllcoediog Farm, Callwen.

*Mary often registered her birthplace as Caio and David her son likewise.
** Evan and Mary Gardner were brother and sister.

Morgan Price Trichwmwl

The Family of Morgan Price, Trichwmwl

Morgan Price Trichwmwl was just 4 when his father William died at the young age of 44 in 1823. It must have been quite a struggle for his mother Elinor to bring up the family at Trichwmwl. 

Morgan married Mary Williams of Cilycwm* in 1848 at which time he probably took over Trichwmwl from his mother Elinor who went to live with her elder son William at Penlan, Telych. In fact Morgan also died at the age of 44 in 1863 leaving his widow Mary with three boys aged 15, 14 and 12. The youngest son Morgan died at the young age of 16 in 1866.

Memorial to Morgan Price Trichwmwl at St. Michaels, Myddfai

On 15 July 1870 aged 46 Mary married a second time at Llandovery Registry Office - this time to Thomas Prosser (aged 70), a blacksmith liiving in 1861 at Llwynberllan in Llanfair ar y Bryn parish (Maesyberllan on their marriage certificate). In 1871 the census records

Trichwmwl Myddfai 1871

Thos Prosser, 71, Farmer of 172 acres, Myddfai CMN

Mary Prosser, wife, 47, Cayo (sic), CMN

David Price, Stepson, 23, Cayo (sic), CMN

William Price, Stepson, 22, Myddfai CMN

Thomas Prosser died 9 Aug 1879 aged 82 and was buried with his first wife Gwen at Cefnarthen Chapel. A later post will have more information about the Prosser family.

In the early 1870's David Price married but was widowed early - it is possible his first wife died giving birth to their son David who was born around 1872/73. The young David was with his grandmother at Trichwmwl in 1881.

David probably got to know his second wife Jane Prosser through his stepfather Thomas Prosser (Jane was Thomas' grandaughter) and David and Jane Prosser married in 1880.
William Price, the younger surviving brother married Gwenllian Davies in1875 and in 1881 was farming nearby Bwlchbrane Myddfai and subsequently Dagfa in 1891 and 1901.

Mary Prosser was living alone at Pentrebach near Halfway, Cwmdwr in the 1891 census. It is possible that she lived there for a while with her son David before the family left to farm at Pantyffordd, Senny.  Her MI at Bwlchyrhiw Chapel, Myddfai records that she was with her son William at Dagfa when she died on 16 Mar 1901.

Memorial to Mary Prosser at Bwlchyrhiw Chapel Myddfai

Morgan Price (1819 - 1863), Trichwmwl b. 9 Oct 1819 bp. 19 Oct 1819 MPC bd. 10 Sep 1863 aged 44 [MI 251] = Mary Williams (1826 - 1881), Caio. Married 25 Jan 1848.

• Children:
• David PRICE, Pentrebach, Halfway and later Pantyffordd, Senny (1848 - 1916) b. 25 Feb 1848 at Coydca (sic) Cilycwm (probably Caio*) = 1) Unknown and 2) Jane PROSSER (ca.1858 - 1925). See separate family page.
• William PRICE, Dagfa, Myddfai (1849 - 1923?) later of Colbrook, Llandovery (MI 69 MPC) d. 27 Feb 1923 aged 72 = Gwenllian Davies of Gellifelin Halfway (1849 - 1891) m.19 Jun1875 Llandovery Reg. d. 16 Dec 1891 bd. MPC [MI 64] See separate family page.
• Morgan PRICE (1851 - 1866) Died aged 16 last qtr. 1866 Llandovery Reg.

*Note: Mary mostly registered her home parish as Caio (also spelled Cayo) and David likewise.

The Family of William Price Trichwmwl

Trichwmwl - nestling in the trees on the North side of Mynydd Bach

William and his wife Elinor lived initially at Trawsllwynddu where, according to the Myddfai Parish Records, most of the children appear to have been born. He is not mentioned in his father Morgan's will but his widow Elinor is mentioned in his mother Gwenllian's will. There may be a very simple explanation for this. William married before his father's death and he is likely to have received stock etc. from Morgan at that time and therefore Morgan was free to leave the remainder of the tenancy of Trawsllwynddu to his son David after Gwenllian’s death.

William and Eleanor moved across Mynydd Myddfai to Trichwmwl around 1818* (see note) just before his brother David's marriage. At some point William was an excise man (he is described as "late excise man" in the PR baptismal entry for his daughter Margaret in 1808. Also for a while William was a schoolmaster at Myddfai School (1810 - 1812) - confirmed in PR baptismal entry for William in 1816 (also in David James MLP**- see note).

William died at the comparatively young age of 44 in 1823 after which time Eleanor continued to farm Trichwmwl until sometime between 1841 and 1851 by which time she was living with her son William at Penlan, Telych. Her son Morgan took over Trichwmmwl probably on his marriage to Mary Williams in 1848.

Trichwmwl hidden in the trees. This was the closest I got on that day.

TRICHWMWL: a farm of 58 acres (1839) occupied by Elinor Price and owned by Edward Jones of Felindre, Llandovery. The farm house is now unoccupied. Documents from the last century, as often as not, refer to the place as Trichwmwd. Thus there are at least two rather literal meanings, three clouds or three commotes. There is no record of it being a place where commotes meet and neither for that matter do three clouds. What do meet within a short distance are three small valleys, tri chwm; thus the name may refer to this fact. (David B James MLP)

The bare bones are as follows -

William PRICE (1780 - 1823) bp. 22 Jun 1780 MPC, died at Trichwmwl, bd. 3 Mar 1823 (44) MPC = Elinor JONES (1780 - 1860), bp. d/o Morgan John and Gwenllian 30 Apr 1780, Llywel PR. Married 8 Jul 1803 Llywel PC. After William's death in 1823 Elinor continued to live at Trichwmwl - see 1841 census. She then lived with her son William. She died at Black Cock Myddfai (the home of her daughter Anne) and was buried 9 Oct 1860 MPC (per Myddfai BT’s).

Children:

Elinor PRICE (1804 - ?) bp. 2 Sep 1804 MPC (d/o Wm. Price) - No mention of her found in subsequent records or censuses.

Gwenllian PRICE (1806 - 1878) bp. 6 Jul 1806 MPC d. 31 Dec 1878 aged 71 bd. Defynock PC (MI BK3) = John PRICE (1809 - 1898) of Torffynnon, Llywel and Tanyfedw, Cray (brother of Howell Price Cwmllech-see below). Married 1841 at Llywel PC. John d. 28 Aug 1898 aged 90 (MI Defynock BK3). John was at home with his father at Cwmllech in 1841. They lived at Torffynnon, Pentrefelin in 1851c, then Clwydcaenewydd, Cray 1861c and 1871c. Finally lived at Tanyfedw Cray (includes Berthevan) where the family line continues to this day.

        Children:

• Ann PRICE (1843 - 1877) d. 12 Nov 1877 aged 34 bd. Defynock PC (MI A90)
• Elinor PRICE (1845 - 1924) unmarried lived at home until her brother John married, then at Elias Row Sennybridge in 1901 bd. Horeb Cray d. 24 Jun 1924 aged 80 (MI Cray A27)
• Mary PRICE (1848 - 1850) d. 2- Jan 1850 aged 2 yrs. 6 months bd. Defynock PC MI A90

• John PRICE (1849 - 1936) d. 9 Mar 1836 aged 87 (MI Horeb A27) = Margaret (1862 - 1954) d. 23 Mar 1954 aged 92 Horeb MI A27. Lived at Tanyfedw Children: Elinor G (1895), Annie (1896 - 1939) d. 9 Feb 1939 Horeb MI A27, Johnny Tanyfedw (1897- 1951) d12 Oct 1951 aged 54 Horeb married Abigail Jennet ? (1903 - 1950) d. 17 Mar 1950 (47), Margaret (1899), David (1902 - 1919) d. 9 Oct 1919 aged 17 (Horeb MI A27and others?)
• Mary PRICE (1851 - 1908) d. 19 Feb 1908 aged 56 bd. Defynock PC (MI BI1)= Daniel WILLIAMS (1857 - 1923) d. 25 Aug 1923 aged 66 MI BI1 Defynock. Lived at Penwain Aberdare.

Margaret PRICE (1808) bp. 17 Jan 1808 MPC bd. 27 Jan 1808 (9 days old) MPR.

Mary PRICE (1809 - 1883) bp. 17 Jan 1809 MPC d. 8 Feb 1883 aged 73 Defynock PC BK2 = Howell PRICE (1806 - 1881), Cwmllech  Llandeilo'r Fan Breconshire (s/o Howell Price Cwmllech and brother of John Price Torffynnon who married Mary's sister Gwen - see above) Married 1833 Llywel PC. Howell died 17 May 1881 aged 78 Defynock PC (MI BK2)

Children:

• Howell PRICE bca. 1836 = Margaret ? married ca. 1855. At Carnau Llanfihangel Nant Bran 1861 with Children Howell(1856), John (1858), William(1860), David (1861)
• Eleanor PRICE (1837) bp. 20 Aug 1837 Llandeilo'r Fan PC
• Anne PRICE 1840 bp. 20 Apr 1840 Llandeilo'r Fan PC
• Mary PRICE 1843 bp. 2 Jan 1843 Llandeilo'r Fan PC = ? Davies - kept house for brother William 1891/1901 census.
• Gwen PRICE 1846
• William PRICE 1850 farmed Cwmllech after his father - bachelor (sister Mary kept house for him 1891 and 1901 census)  - bd. Llandeilo'r Fan MI 104 d. 26 Dec 1934 aged 88 together with nephew John (s/o Howell) d 14 Aug 1934 aged 76.
• John PRICE 1853

Anne PRICE (1811 -1863) b. 3 Mar 1811 at Trawsllwynddu, bp. 3 Apr 1811 MPC d. 23 Dec 1883 aged 73 MI Cefnarthen 20.2 = David JONES (1814 - 1899), Black Cock***(see note), Myddfai and later Hafod Fawr Myddfai. bp. Cefnarthen 3 Jun 1814 s/o David John David and Elizabeth. Married 14 Jun 1834 MPC d. 19 May 1889 aged 75 MI Cefnarthen 20.2

         Children:

• Eleanor JONES b. 5 Feb 1835 bp. 8 Jun 1835 MPC
• William  JONES bp. 18 Jul 1837 MPC
• David JONES (1840 - 1880) bp. 2 Jun 1840 MPC  d. 21 Mar 1880 aged 38 bd. Saron Cwmwysg MI71 = Margaret JONES ****(see note)  (1836 - 1897) of Brynmaendu, Traianglas, Llywel (1861 census) d. 15 Oct 1897 aged 63 bd. Saron Cwmwysg MI 71. Married ca. 1867. Living at Brynmaendu, Traianglas in 1871c. Children: Anne 1868, James 1869 - 1916 = Mary Evans, Thomas 1872, Howell 1876.
• John JONES bp. 1 Feb 1843 = Anne DAVIES
• Joseph JONES bca. 1845 - 20 Jul 1918 aged 72 Cefnarthen MI 10.1 = Eleanor ? (1852 - 1 Aug 1936 age 84) Cefnarthen MI 10.1. Children: Mary 1875, David 1877, Josephus 1879, Hannah 1891, Joshua 1893 - 2 Dec 1916 aged 25 (MI Cefnarthen 10.1), Lizzie 1895 Edgar 1897.
• Elizabeth JONES bca. 1848
• Thomas JONES Hafod Fawr, Myddfai bca. 1853 = Anne ? Children: Sarah Anne 1887 (became assistant teacher at Myddfai School around 1919), Lizzie Jane 1889, Mary Ellen 2890, Alice A 1892, Morgan 1895, Maggie H 1897, John E 1900

Margaret PRICE (1813 - ?) b. 22 Aug 1813, bp. 30 Aug 1813 MPC. = William WILLIAMS (1804 - 1858) Pentwyn Uchaf (1804 – 1858) Myddfai (s/o David Williams, farmer of Cayo) d. 16 Nov 1858 aged 54 bd. Seion Chapel Myddfai MI 112 . Married at MPC 31 Oct 1840. Living at Pentwyn Uchaf in 1841 and 1851 census. Following William's death in 1858 Margaret continued to farm Pentwyn Uchaf in 1861 but by 1871 she (and the whole family apart from John) is at Bedw Hir Merthyr Rd. Llwydcoed, Aberdare - she is a housekeeper, Eleanor a dressmaker and the boys are all working. Also in this census is a grandson William aged 1.

       Children: 

• Eleanor WILLIAMS (bp. 18 Sep 1841 MPC)
• David WILLIAMS (1843)
• John WILLIAMS (1845)
• Mary WILLIAMS(1848)
• Morgan WILLIAMS(1851)
• Dan WILLIAMS(1855)
• Joseph WILLIAMS(1857)

William PRICE (1816-1866), Penlan Telych and Butter Hall Llandovery  b. 22 Jan 1816, bp. 1 Feb 1816 MPC, bd. 9 Dec 1866 aged 51 MPC (MI 252) = Elinor EVANS (bca 1820 - 188?), born Pencarreg, Llanybyther, Cards. In 1851 William, still single, was farming Penlan, Telych. His mother Eleanor was living there with him together with a servant, Elinor Evans of Pencarreg. Eleanor Price died in 1860 and by the 1861 census, William had married Eleanor Evans (married ca. 1852) and they were living at Butter Hall, a fairly large house on the main road in Llandovery. By this time William is described as a haulier. William died in 1866 and is buried at Myddfai next to his brother Morgan Price of Trichwmwl. William and Elinor's first daughter Mary was born at Caio according to the 1861 census. By 1871 Mary the eldest daughter has married - she married William Hughes last quarter 1867 at Llandovery and three of her siblings Morgan, Eleanor, David and John are with her but no sign of Eleanor in this census. In 1881 Eleanor with William (Mason), David and John (labourers) had moved to 40 Morris St, Llangyfelach, Swansea. I have some further details of this family should anyone be interested.

Morgan Price (1819 - 1863), Trichwmwl  b. 9 Oct 1819 bp. 19 Oct 1819 MPC bd. 10 Sep 1863 aged 44 [MI 251] = Mary Williams (1826 - 1881), Cilycwm. Married 25 Jan 1848. See further post.

• Children:
• David PRICE, Pentrefelin, Halfway and later Pantyffordd, Senny (1848 - 1916) b. 25 Feb 1848 at Coydca (sic) Cilycwm = 1) Unknown and 2) Jane PROSSER (ca.1858 - 1925). See separate family page.
• William PRICE, Dagfa, Myddfai (1849 - 1923?) later of Colbrook, Llandovery (MI 69 MPC) d. 27 Feb 1923 aged 72 = Gwenllian Davies (1849 - 1891) m. 2nd qtr. 1875 Llandovery Reg. d. 16 Dec 1891 bd. MPC [MI 64] See separate family page.
• Morgan PRICE (1851 - 1866) Died aged 16 last qtr. 1866 Llandovery Reg. 

Census Information (relevant to Elinor Price).

1841 Trichwmwl, Myddfai

Eleanor PRICE, 62, Farmer

Gwen PRICE, daughter, 32

William PRICE, son, 20

Morgan PRICE, son, 16 

1851 Penlan, Telych (note - Telych is a hamlet or district between Myddfai and Llandovery. It is part of Llandingat parish)

William PRICE, head, unmarried, 32 farming 115 acres 2 employees, CMN Mothvey

Elinor PRICE, mother, widow, 75, farmer's mother, BRE Llywel

Elinor Evans, servant, 30, CRD Pencarreg

* The previous occupiers of Trichwmwl were William and Lewis John. William John died in 1816 aged 78 and Lewis John died 1817 aged 88. Presumably the tenancy thus became vacant and was taken up by William Price. It is also of interest that according to D.B. James MLP (p. 75) Trichwmwl had either been built or extensively rebuilt around 1806. Many barns and even houses before this period were of mud wall construction but many were rebuilt in stone during the first half of the 19th century.

** D. James MLP p.154

*** David Jones and Anne lived at Black Cock (aka The Heath Cock in 18th century) which was originally an inn on one of the early mountain routes between Trecastle and Llandovery before the current main road through Cwmdwr became the main turnpike road. By the 19th century Black Cock was a smallholding and by 1839 or so had passed into the ownership of Edward Jones of Velindre, Llandovery, the solicitor who also owned adjacent farms including Llanerchgoch, Trichwmwl, Hafod Fawr and Hafod Fach. David and Anne were at Black Cock in 1841 until approx. 1862. In the 1850's the adjacent farm Hafod Fawr was occupied by Daniel Jones, originally of Cilycwm and his wife Mary and their numerous children - they are to be found there in the 1861 census. However, from information in the DTM Jones collection and also Llandovery court records researched by D.B. James in MLP (page 94) Daniel Jones was declared bankrupt in 1862 and all his possessions sold to pay his creditors with the result that David Jones and Anne moved to Hafod Fawr and Daniel Jones and his family moved into Black Cock. This family is an interesting one since it provides a ink with my family. One of Daniel Jones' daughters, Margaret, married John Jones of Meity Fechan who was a son of Llewellyn Jones, my paternal great great grandfather.

****In fact Margaret was the daughter of James Jones originally of Llanddeusant who himself was the son of Jane Price and Rees John (Jane was the daughter of William Price Tynllwyn) so Margaret was a distant cousin of David Jones. James Jones of Llanddeusant (1793 - 1852 see MI 28 Saron) married Anne Griffiths of Penycae Myddfai (MI 22 Saron) at Llywel PC in 1816. Living at Brynmaendu in 1841 and 1851 they had Children Mary 1826, Howell 1829, Margaret 1836 and Gwenllian 1837. Anne died in 1849 and James in 1852 leaving Margaret and Gwenllian alone at Brynmaendu in 1861. I am indebted to Gareth Jones of Brewood for some of this information. David Jones and Margaret are in his female line.

The Will of Gwenllian Price Nantygweision

Gwenllian PRICE (nee Davies) (1749-1844) married Morgan PRICE 8 Nov 1777 at Llywel Parish Church. She survived her husband by 39 years living to the age of 95. She made her will in 1834 and died 10 years later on 21 Apr 1844. She is buried at Saron Independent Chapel, Cwmwysg (MI 1)

The Will.

The preamble quotes her late husband Morgan’s will dated 2 Jun 1804 (see previous post)which bequeathed £10 and suitable chambering to their daughter Margaret and £20 to and suitable chambering to their daughter Mary.

Morgan had bequeathed all that was left after funeral expenses and other bequests to Gwenllian and after her to his sons, John, David, Morgan, Joseph and Daniel in the proportions that Gwenllian should will or in default to be divided equally between them. He appointed Gwenllian and David his son joint executors of his will.

She states that Margaret and Mary have already been paid their “pecuniary and specific legacies” and that each of her sons John, David, Morgan and Daniel in “money and goods considerable sums more than their share of the residue of the said personal property of Morgan.” whereas my son Joseph has not received any part of his share of the residue of the said testator’s personal estate.”

The residue of that estate now amounts to £5. “To each of my sons, John Price, David Price, Joseph Price and Daniel Price I bequeath the sum of £1, part of that said sum of £5 and I bequeath to Anne, the widow of my said son Morgan Price the sum of £1.”

“To David, my son and executor £125 on trust so that it would be invested and the interest used to provide for the clothing, maintenance and support of my son Joseph Price in such a manner as David Price shall think suitable and if this interest is insufficient then the principal can be used so long as the interest and the sum from the principal does not exceed £11 in that year.” After Joseph’s decease whatever is left of the £125 to be paid to all and every one of my grandchildren living at the time of Joseph's death"

“To Eleanor, the widow of William Price of Trichwmmwl [sic.], to Margaret, wife of Rees Williams and Mary the wife of Thomas Thomas the sum of £1 each.” 

“All the rest and residue of personal effects and estate to my son David Price.” 

Gwenllian Price

Will dated 23 Aug 1834

Will proved 1 Jun 1844 at Llandovery in the diocese of St. David’s by David Price of Trawsllwynddu.

Gwenllian died 21 Apr 1844 (95) and buried at Saron, Cwmwysg (MI1)

Probate value of estate was under £200.

Notes

1. Anne widow of Morgan. Morgan is a bit of a mystery. He obviously died before 1834 (the date of Gwenllian's will) but no record of his death has been found. However, there is a baptism for Mary 1827 and Elizabeth 1829 at Saron Cwmwysg daughters of Morgan and Anne Price, Pwll Uchaf. There is also a marriage record for Morgan Price = Anne Jones at Llanfairarybryn on 31 Dec 1825 – tentative at best.

2. William Price Trichwmwl died in 1823, his widow Eleanor continued to live at Trichwmwl through 1851 and died in 1860.

3. Joseph Price was obviously physically or impaired in some way and remained with David his brother at Trawsllwynddu until his death on Christmas Day 1861. He was buried with his mother at Saron.

The Will of Morgan Price Nantygweision

Morgan Price Nantygweision died at the comparatively young age of 52 on 1st Mar 1805 just 6 years after his father William. He made his will in June 1804 indicating that he probably died of natural causes. His will can be seen at the NLW and online here.

Morgan Price's Will

(Note that this is part transcript, part précis)

Will probate valuation £145

 "This is the last will and testament of me Morgan Price of the parish of Mothvey in the county of Carmarthen, farmer.

 I give and devise one moiety half part or share (the whole into two equal parts to be divided) of and in all those messuages or dwelling houses, stables, gardens and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate in Stone Street within the town and borough of Llandovery in the parish of Llandingat in the said county of Carmarthen and now in the several tenures or occupations of John Jones, cobler [sic.], William Jones, blacksmith, John Davies, earthenware man and Joseph Jones, taylor [sic.] unto my brothers Rev. John Price and David Price, their heirs and assigns to such uses upon such trusts and to and for such intents and purposes as are herein after mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) to the use of my beloved wife Gwenllian and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease as to for and concerning one moiety half part or shares, the whole into two equal parts or shares to be divided in the aforesaid moiety of the aforesaid hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances to the use of my son John Price his heirs and assigns forever and as to for and concerning the other moiety half part or share of and in the aforesaid moiety of the aforesaid hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances to the use of my son David Price his heirs and assigns forever."

Précis of the remainder of the will -

The tenement of Nantygweision and Drainllwynddu to his wife Gwenllian for the rest of her life.

After Gwenllian's decease the remainder of the tenement of Drainllwynddu to David his son.

After Gwenllian's decease the remainder of the tenement of Nantygweision to Morgan his son.

To his daughter Margaret ten pounds and suitable chambering after Gwenllian’s decease.

To his daughter Mary twenty pounds and suitable chambering after Gwenllian’s decease.

To Morgan, Joseph and Daniel 2 cows after Gwenllian’s decease.

To Morgan his son his cupboard bedstead and my largest iron pot after Gwenllian’s decease.

To Joseph my son his large brass pan, tribbet belonging to it and my kive or mash tun after Gwenllian’s decease.

To Daniel my son my clock and case and kitchen table after Gwenllian’s decease.

The rest and residue to Gwenllian subject to payment of debts. It is then up to her to decide how the inheritance should be apportioned at her death between his sons.

To my son John £5 being the legacy my late father bequeathed to me to be paid six months after my decease.

Gwenllian and David his son are appointed executors of Morgan’s will.

If Gwenllian marries a second time then the will was to be executed as though she had died.

Morgan Price

Dated 2 Jun 1804

Witnesses, Morgan Davies Llanerchgoch and William Morgan, Bailyglace.

Gwenllian's will states that Morgan's will was proved in the consistory court of Archdeaconry of Carmarthen 16th March 1805 by Gwenllian Price.

Notes:

1. Drainllwynddu is probably the origiinal name of Trawsllwynddu. It is significant that although Trawsllwynlddu and Nantygwesion were distinct properties in 1841 the latter had disappeared from the census in 1851 where Trawsllwynddu is listed as a property of 250 acres.

2. The initial part of the will sounds complex but as far as I can tell it is a device for ensuring that Gwenllian does not dispose of these properties during her life time. Morgan assigns them in trust to his brothers John and David and their heirs during Gwen's lifetime and then to his sons John and David his sons after Gwenllian's death. From the will of Mrgan's son John Price Tircyd we know that John did indeed inherit The Star and The Plough in Stone St. Llandovery in turn leaving them to his sons at his death.

3. It is noticeable that Morgan’s son William is not mentioned in his will but this does not necessarily mean that there was a rift between father and son. It should be remembered that William was married in 1803 and lived at Trawsllwynddu until approx. 1816 when he moved to Trichwmwl. Morgan may well have set up his son with stock etc. before his death and this might well be the reason that William is not mentioned in this will.  Morgan’s son John would have been 22 at this time and so may already have been farming Tircyd.

4 A kive or mash tun is a vessel for brewing. It is interesting that what we would consider basic furniture etc. was valued so highly at this time.

The Family of Morgan Price Nantygweision

Morgan Price was William Price Tynllwyn's second son. He is recorded as a freeholder and gent. in the parish records and he and his wife Gwenllian farmed Nantygweision.

The Usk Reservoir from the South shore

Nantygweision (meaning "servants' brook") was one of the eight or nine small farms to the South East of Myddfai Parish in an area generally known as Dolhowell. DOL HYWEL: an area which corresponds closely to the area of land now covered by the waters of the Usk Reservoir and its immediate environs. This being part of the grange belonging to Talley Abbey. Signifies the riverside meadow of Hywel. (David B. James Myddfai, Its Land and People.)

"During the historic period much of the area was operated as a grange, Dôl Hywel, which had been granted to Talley Abbey by 1324 (Ludlow 1998). The grange chapel, dedicated to St David, was also a chapel-of-ease to Myddfai parish (ibid.), but its site appears to lie beneath the Usk Reservoir. It was an upland grange, probably operated by tenant farmers primarily concerned with the mountain pasturing of animals, and appears to have been largely unenclosed during the historic period, as it still is today. The earliest historic maps depict it as open moorland with few settlements." (Cambrian Archeology)

Usk Reservoir. Trawsllwynddu would have stood on the other shore. Nantygweision would have been under the reservoir.

The farms were separated from the remainder of Myddfai parish by Mynydd Myddfai (Myddfai Mountain) more commonly known as Mynydd Bach (little mountain). Nantygweision was flanked by Tircyd (meaning "adjoining land") to the West and Trawsllwynddu (meaning "across the black grove") close by. All three farms formed part of the Cilgwyn estate at that time. Trawsllwynddu appears to be a later name as it is referred to as Drainllwynddu (possibly meaning "blackthorn grove"?) in Morgan Price's will of 1804.

Looking carefully at a map of the area of 1891, the positions of the farms can be accurately pinpointed. In fact both Tircyd and Trawsllwynddu farmhouses were situated just above the present waterline on the Northern shore of the Usk reservoir. Nantygweision by this time looks comparatively small and its location today seems to be beneath the reservoir not far from the estimated location of Trawsllwynddu. In fact it's significant that after 1841 Nantygweision is not mentioned in the censuses. I would hazard a guess that the land of the two small farms were merged and Nantygweision ceased to be inhabited after Gwenllian's time - she was living there aged 90 in 1841 and died in 1844.

It is also worth noting that Dolhowell forms a rather isolated part of Myddfai parish and is bounded to the East by the area of Traianglas in the parish of Llywel which is in Breconshire. In fact Aberhenwen Fach (Myddfai) which is to the East of Trawsllwynddu is divided from Aberhenwen Fawr (Traianglas) by the Henwen brook which flows down from Mynydd Bach into the Usk river. From a modern geographic viewpoint it is rather surprising that this area did not form part of Trainglas, but then this also forms part of the county boundary. It is not therefore that surprising that in lots of ways the families in this area grew away from the established church at Myddfai and joined the Independent cause at the newly established Saron chapel at Cwmwysg. This is illustrated by the fact that Morgan was buried at Myddfai PC in 1804 and Gwenllian was buried at Saron. These factors also account for the marriage of some of Morgan and Gwen's children with Llywel partners. 

The Family of Morgan Price Nantygweision, Myddfai

Morgan PRICE Nantygweision (1753 - 1805) bp. 29 Apr 1753 MPC bd. 1 Mar 1805 Myddfai PC = Gwenllian Davies (1749 - 1844) Married 8 Nov 1777 at Llywel PC, bd. Saron Independent Chapel, Cwmwysg (MI 1)

Children

(According to Wm. Price Tynllwyn's will, Morgan had 9 children in 1799).

Margaret PRICE (1778 - ) bp. 11 Sep 1778 Myddfai PC = Rees WILLIAMS (1762 - 1846) d. 14 Apr 1846 aged 84 (MI A30 Defynock Parish Church). Rees and Margaret were married 7 Nov 1806 Myddfai PC (Wit: W Price, Rees Davies and Lewis Lewis). 1841 census Cwrtfoesydd, Cray, Rees (Tiler) aged 75, Margaret aged 60

• Children (per census) - Elizabeth (bca 1816), Rees (bca 1821), Lewis (bca 1826)

William PRICE, Trawsllwynddu / Trichwmwl, farmer, (1780 - 1823) bp. 22 Jun 1780 Myddfai PC bd. 3 Mar 1823 (aged 44) Myddfai PC = Elinor JONES Llywel (1780 - 1860) bp. Llywel d/o Morgan John and Gwenllian 30 Apr 1780. Married Llywel PC 8 Jul 1803 bd. 9 Oct 1860 Myddfai PC. It appears that, based on the fact that the baptisms of his children took place while he was at Trawsllwynddu (PR entries) William and Eleanor lived at Trawsllwynddu until approx. 1817 when he moved to Trichwmwl and his brother David took over at Trawsllwynddu.  (Eleanor continued to live at Trichwmwl after William's death (1841 and 1851 census) died at Black Cock Myddfai, home of her daughter Anne). More details of William and Elinor are given in a separate post.

John PRICE, Tircyd (1782 - 1854), farmer, bp. 24 Jun 1782 bd. 18 Oct 1854 (73) Saron Ind. Cwmwysg (MI 2) = Mary PRICE (ca. 1773 - 1808) bd. 23 Mar 1841 (67) Saron Ind. Cwmwysg (MI 2). Married 9 Dec 1808 MPC. This family line will be expanded in a future post.

David PRICE, Trawsllwynddu (1785 - 1861), farmer bp. 18 Nov 1785 MPC bd. 4 Aug 1861 (77) Saron Ind. Cwmwysg (MI 16) = Anne REES (1786 - 1836) bd. 13 Nov 1837 (47) Saron Ind. Cwmwysg. Married 20 Nov 1818 MPC. This family line will be expanded in a future post.

Morgan PRICE* (1788 - before 1834) bp. 12 May 1788 MPC = Anne ? Morgan was living in 1804 at the time of his father's death but had died when his mother Gwenllian made her will on 23 Aug 1834 - the will mentions his widow Anne. There are two children (Mary 1827 and Elizabeth 1829 baptised to Morgan and Anne Price, Pwll Uchaf at Saron, Cwmwysg) but no record of Morgan's death has been found.

Elizabeth (1790 - 1804) bp. 23 Jun 1799 MPC Almost certainly Elizabeth Price Dolhowell bd. 4 Jan 1804 (Myddfai PR). She is not mentioned in Morgan's will dated 2 Jun 1804 but her sisters are.

Mary PRICE (1793 - 1871) bp. 8 Aug 1793 MPC  bd. 29 Apr 1871 (88) Saron Ind. Cwmwysg (MI 44) = Thomas THOMAS (1788 - 1862), Llywel bp. Sep 1788 Llywel s/o John Thomas. Married 15 Nov 1811 MPC. Lived at Gwernwyddog, Llywel (just to the East of Trawsllwynddu in Traianglas). This family line will be expanded in a future post.

Joseph PRICE (1797 - 1861) bp. 26 May 1797 MPC d. 25 Dec 1861 bd. Saron Ind. Cwmwysg (MI 1). Lived at Nantygweision with his mother until her death then with his brother David at Trawsllwynddu. Gwenllian's will makes it clear that he was in some way mentally impaired or backward and special provision was made in it for his maintenance (he having received no share of his father Morgan's estate). It is possible that he married (there is a marriage for Joseph PRICE= Margaret PHILIP17 Feb 1824 MPC and there is no other Joseph Price known in the parish records of the time). Gwenllian his mother entrusted Joseph to David's care after her death and from the census information it appears that he lived there until his death when he was buried with his mother at Saron, Cwmwysg.

Daniel PRICE (1799 - ) bp. 3 Mar 1799 MPC. = Margaret THOMAS (d/o David & Mgt. Thomas bp. 31 Aug 1794 MPC). Married 2 Feb 1821 MPC (witnesses William Price and Wm. Thomas) d. 14 May 1839 aged 45 MI 7 Saron, Cwmwysg.

Children - fom the Saron baptismal Register

• Gwen b. 6 Apr 1822, bp. 20 Apr 1822 Cefnarthen Independent d. 1 Sep 1824 MI 7 Saron 
• Sarah b. 16 Aug 1824 bp. 25 Aug 1824 Bwllfa, Traianglas  
• Gwenllian b. 19 Aug 1826 bp. 26 Aug 1826 Bwllfa, Traianglas 
• Margaret b. 3 Aug 1828 bp. 17 Aug 1828
•            Daniel bp. 23 Nov 1830 Clos Traianglas  
• Shadrach b. 14 Dec bp. 18 Dec 1832 Clos Traianglas d. 5 Dec 1833 MI 7 Saron 
• William b. 30 Oct 1834 bp. 22 Nov 1834 Clos Traianglas

 Census Information

1841 Nantygweision

Gwen Price, 90, farmer, N

Joseph Price, 40, Y

Gwen Price, 20, F.S., Y

General Notes 

Morgan and Gwenllian's son John settled at Tircyd. David eventually settled at Trawsllwynddu taking over from William who, after initially living at there, finally settled at Trichwmwl which is directly on the opposite (north) side of Mynydd Bach. Nantygweision, Trawsllwynddu and Tircyd originally formed part of the Cilgwyn Estate. Trichwmwl was owned by Edward Jones of Velindre, he Llandovery solicitor.

Nantygweision, Tircyd and Trawsllwynddu all disappeared under the water when the Usk Reservoir was completed in 1955. Due to their geographical location it is easy to understand how the families living on these farms would have grown as many ties with Llywel parish to the North East of them as well as with the home parish of Myddfai from which they were separated by the physical barrier of Mynydd Bach.

*Morgan and Gwenllian's son Morgan is something of a mystery. He was alive at the time of his father Morgan's death in 1804 (he would have been 16) but had died before 1844 when Gwenllian's will was written. In that will she bequeathed a sum to his widow Anne which might imply that he had died not long before. No burial or MI has been found for Morgan. However the baptisms recorded at Saron and the nearness of Pwll Uchaf to Nantygweision and Trawsllwynddu seem to be a good indication that he an Anne lived there for a time. (One marriage which might fit would be Morgan Price = Anne Jones at Llanfairarybryn PC 31 Dec 1825 - he would have been 37. However this is highly speculative and the entry seems to indicate that both parties were of Llanfairarybryn parish. The witnesses were David Morgan and Morgan Jones.)