The Family of John Jones and Rebecca Thomas

The Family of John Jones and Rebecca Thomas

John Jones and Rebecca Thomas married in Christchurch, Cwmaman, Carmarthenshire, Wales in 1843 - the year after that parish and church were created from Llandilo Fawr, Betws and Llandybie in Carmarthenshire and Llanguick (Llangiwg) and Llangadog in Glamorgan (see Christchurch on the Cwmamman history site). Both were described as being of full age with John a labourer residing in Trap, father also John Jones a labourer. Rebekah (sic) was residing in Trefach, father John Thomas, a weaver. Neither could sign their own names. The marriage was witnessed by John Edwards and Thomas Davies Jones.

John Jones senior may have been John Jones (c.1782-1858) buried on 7 February 1858, who was at Pantyffynon, between Onnen Fawr and Trap Mill in the 1841 and 1851 censuses with wife Mary.

In the 1841 census Rebecca Thomas is likely to be the person of that name recorded as a female servant aged 20 in the household of Morgan Davies at Lovelodge Mill, Fairfach near Llandybie.

Four baptisms were recorded for John and Rebekah Jones at Christchurch: John (1843), David (1846), Mary (1848) and Griffith (1850). The first had their address as Trap, Tregib Hamlet. Griffith's was given as Hewlddu.

In the 1851 census John and Rebecca are at Llwin (llwyn?) Caredig in Llandybie. This is listed after Gelly Fawnen farm and Ty Newydd and is likely to have been located off Nant y Glyn Road, between present-day Pontaman and Glanaman. John, a labourer aged 31 born Llandilo parish and Rebecca aged 29 born Llandybie have three sons: John (7), David (4) - both born Llandilo - and Griffith (1) born Llandybie. Also in the household is Mary James(?) (2) a nurse daughter, born Llandybie - but is this Mary Jones?

By 1861 they are listed in Ferenfawr, a part of the Llandybie parish on the outskirts of Ammanford. In fact, their location at Heol Ddu is close to where they were in 1851. They are adjacent to a property called Mount Pleasant and effectively on the mountainside above Glanaman. In this census Rebecca is shown as being born in Llandilo, John junior and Mary are no longer with them, David (14) is a shoemaker, 11-year-old Griffith is a labourer iron. Thomas (7) and Elizabeth (4) both born Llandebie have arrived - as has Owen Thomas (3) described as a 'border' born Glamorgan Llangefelach.

The burial on July 29 1863 of Rebecca Jones, aged 42, of Heol Ddu is shown on the Llandebie parish records.

John and Elizabeth Jones

By the 1871 census John Jones had remarried and was recorded at 39 Park Street, Caegurwen (now Lower Brynaman):

John Jones 53 Lab Born Llandilo Carmarthenshire

Elizabeth Jones 57 Born Llandilo Carmarthenshire

Thomas Jones 16 Fireman Born Llandebie

Owen Jones 14 Fireman Born Llandebie

Elizabeth Jones 13 Born Llandebie

In 1881 John (60) labourer born Llandybie and wife Elizabeth (67) born Llandilo were alone in Clynboidy Cott, Caegurwen. Clynboidy Cott (Glynbeudy) was a substantial area of housing in what became Lower Brynaman.

Descendants of John and Rebecca Jones

John Jones (1843- ) - Baptised at Christchurch Cwmaman on 17 December 1843, living at Trap, Tregib Hamlet. John married Ann Harries (1844- ) born Mynydd Mawr, Carmarthenshire. In the 1871-1891 censuses they were at Gough Road, Allt y Graig, Llanguicke, Glamorgan - now Ystalyfera. John was described as a 'fireman iron works' born Llandeilo and subsequently Cwmaman. They had 9 children - of which 2 had died by the 1911 census - including the following (all born Ystalyfera):

Rebecca Jones (1863- ) born Llanarthen (Llanarthne?), Carmarthenshire according to 1871 census.

Margaret Jones (1865- ) married William Lock(e) (March 6 1868- )
PRIODWYD,- Dydd Iau, Rhagfyr 20fed, yn Soar, Ystalyfera, gan y Parch Wm. Jones, y gweinidog, ac yn ngwydd y Cofrestrydd, Mr Wm. Locke, a Miss Margaret Jones; y ddau o Ystalyfera. (Seren Cymru 28 December 1894)

PRIODWYD,- Yn Soar, Ystalyfera, Rhag. 20fed, unwyd mewn priodas Mr William Locke, a Miss Margaret Jones, yn mhresenoldeb Mr Rees, y cofrestrydd, gan y Parch W. Jones, gweinidog. Y mae y ddau o'r lie hwn, a chanodd y cofnodydd ar yr amgylchiad fel y canlyn;-
Hael fendithion nef a daear,
Gaffo Marged lwys a'i chydmar;
Pur lawenydd trwy daith bywyd,
Fyddo'u rhan, ac yna'r gwynfyd. (Seren Cymru 11 January 1895)
Along with one other child who had died by 1911, they had:

Muriel Locke (June 5 1896-1953), a chapel cleaner living at 52 Gough Road, Pontardawe District with her father in 1939.

Annie Beatrice Locke (July 15 1902-1972) who married Morgan Davies (October 4 1898- ) in 1928. They lived at 52 Gough Road in 1939 when Morgan was a coal hewer. They had Valmai Davies (November 14 1928- February 1992). She married William B Thomas ( ) in 1965.

Selina Locke (May 5 1906-July 22 1972), married Evan John Higgins (Dec 17 1904-1968) in 1929. They lived at 17 Tai Gwalia, Upper Cwmtwrch, Breconshire. They had two daughters, including June Higgins (June 5 1931-May 4 2009) who married Henry Owen (Harry) Ketteringham (Jan 19 1928-1987) in 1952.

Regina Jones (December 23 1873-1945) married collier Thomas Cope (December 18 1872-May 23 1941) in 1895 and had Annie May Cope (May 26 1900- 1974). According to the 1911 census two other children had died. This probably included an earlier Annie May Cope (1897-1899). Seren Cymru September 6 1895 had the following notice:
"PRIODWYD,- Awst 24ain, yn Soar, Ystalyfera, Mr Thomas Gope, a Miss Regina Jones, Gough Road, gerbron Mr Rees, cofrestrydd, Ynysmeudwy, gan y Parch John Evans, Caersalem, Ystalyfera."
Annie M Cope married Ieuan Evans ( ) in Pontardawe district in 1920 and had two daughters, including Irene M Evans (June 8 1921- ).

Rosina Jones (February 25 1875- ), otherwise Rosie, married tinplate worker Joseph Owen (June 19 1875- ) in 1898 and had (plus one child who had died by 1911):

Annie Owen (June 10 1898-1970) married David John Edwards (March 17 1894-1962) in 1921. They had children including: Edwina Irene Edwards (October 1 1921-February 17 2009) married William Daniel Morgan (November 19 1916-November 5 1993); Glenys Edwards (January 22 1923-March 10 1994) who married Gwynfor Rees Griffiths (August 21 1920-November 17 1993; died in Ferryside); John Kenneth Edwards (June 3 1925-June 15 2016) married Mair Hopkin (January 10 1926-June 2 2015);and William Eifion Edwards (May 30 1927-January 30 2014).

Hannah Jane Owen (February 9 1900-1988) married William J Jenkins (February 13 1899- ) in 1929.

Maggie Blodwen Owen (September 7 1901-1998) married William J Snook (December 10 1900- ) in 1922. They had Gwynfryn Snook (1923-February 16 2006, died Ystradgynlais) and a daughter. Gwynfryn married Mair Brace (1928-1997) in 1949 and had three daughters.

David Owen (c.1903- )

Irene Owen (February 12 1904- )

John Owen (October 20 1906- ) who married Phoebe Esther Francis (June 24 1911-1985).

Erwyn Owen (October 25 1909-1964). A colliery hewer in 1939 married to Sarah Ida J Jones (July 14 1914-2000) since 1935. He died in Ystradgynlais District. Sarah married Stephen M Price in 1977.

Catherine Jones (April 27 1877-1947) who married James Wadley (1876-1937) born Cwmtwrch, Breconshire. They had children, including John Wadley (1902-1960), Elizabeth Ann Wadley (1907-1969) both born Ystalyfera. Elizabeth Ann married William Rees Gabriel (1904-1970) and had a daughter.

Edwin Jones (1879- ) married Maggie C (Margaret) Thomas (1878- ) born Rhymney in 1910 and adopted a daughter Lizzie Jones born Ystalyfera who was 6 in 1911. Edwin was a tinplate furnaceman in that year and Maggie a greengrocer.

Oliver Jones (1882- ) married Margaretta Morgan (1884- ) born Llanelli, Carmarthenshire in 1905. In the 1911 census Oliver was a coal haulier (above ground). They lived in Gough Road, Ystalyfera with daughter Hannah Mary Jones (5) and son William Idwal Jones (1908-1915) both born Ystalyfera.

Irene Jones (1889-1918). She was single and living alone with her widowed father at Gough Road in the 1911 census. She married David James Lewis (1886- ).
The death took place on Friday last of Mrs. Irene Lewis, wife of Mr. David James Lewis, Clee's-lane. Deceased had only been ill a few days. She was the the youngest daughter of Mr John Jones and the late Mrs. Jones, Gough- road, and was highly regardod in the district. She was a faithful member at Zoar Chapel. The funeral took place on Wednesday at Zoar Chapel, the chief mourners being Mr. Dd. Jas. Lewis (husband), Mr. John Jones (father), Mr. and Mrs. Locke (brother-in-law and sister), Mr. and Mrs. Cope and Mrs. Wadley (Penywern-road), Mr and Mrs. Joseph Owen (sisters and brothers-in- law), Mr. and Mrs Edwin Jones, and Mr and Mrs. Oliver Jones (brothers and sisters-in-law). Much sympathy is felt with the young husband in his bereavement. (Llais Llafur, 23 November 1918)

David Jones (1846- ) baptised 5 July 1846 at Christchurch, Cwmaman. He married Mary Rees (1847- ) born Cwmpedol (father Thomas Rees a shoemaker) at Christchurch, Cwmaman on December 12 1868. David a shoemaker is listed at Gwtterfawr (later Upper Brynaman) in the 1871 census and subsequently in 1881 at Bryn Cottage, Brynaman. In 1911 Mary was a widow at Mountain View, Garnant having had 6 children of whom one had died. David and Mary's children included:

Jacob Jones (September 17 1869-1953) married Ann Michael (1870- ) born Garnant, Carmarthenshire, daughter of William Michael (1820-1892) and Mary Thomas (1832-1890). Initially a tinplate furnace worker and then a colliery labourer, Jacob had the following children in Garnant with Ann (along with one child dead by 1911):

William Howell Jones (1891-1915) married Rachel Annie Davies (1892- ) born Ammanford. He was a tinplate worker in 1911 when they had two children: David Thomas Jones (2) born Pantyffynon, Ammanford and Hannah Jones aged 1 month, born Garnant. He joined 1st/4th Bn Welsh Regiment (service no 5244) and was reported missing on 7th August 1915 at Suvla Bay (Gallipoli), Turkey. His family were told he was dead late in 1916:
Mrs. Jones, late Coronation Road, has received official intimation from the War Office that her husband, Priv. William Jones, who was missing since the 7th August, 1915, is now reported killed from the above date while in action at Suvla Bay. Great sympathy is feit throughout the district for the widow and her little children, and with his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Jones, Coronation Road. (Amman Valley Chronicle - district News, 30 November 1916).

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records his death date as 10 August 1915. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles War Memorial.

Mary Hannah Jones (October 4 1892- ) married Charles Coker (January 10 1889-1960, born Battersea) a 29-year-old miner also of Coronation Road, Garnant (father Robert Coker) at Christchurch, Cwmaman on March 13 1917. Charles Coker was a boarder in Jacob Jones' household in Coronation Road in 1911. A Lizzie Ann Coker of Coronation Road died in October 1919 aged 9 months. In 1939 they were at Globe Cottage, Garnant Hill with Yvonne Coker (December 15 1927- ) and Derrick J C Coker (October 20 1931-2004).

Sarah Ceridwen Jones (26 October 1896-1975) baptised 7 January 1897 at Christchurch, Cwmaman. With her widowed father at Coronation Road, Garnant in 1939.

David Michael Jones (18 October 1903- ). With his widowed father at Coronation Road, Garnant in 1939, a railway porter (grade 1) with wife Mary J ? (March 21 1908- ).

Rebecca Jones (1872-1905) married William Morgan Jenkins (c.1852), a widowed collier, at the Parish Church of Llandilofawr on May 7 1900. They had Mary Elizabeth Jenkins (1901- ). In 1911 the (again) widowed William Morgan Jenkins and Mary Elizabeth were with Mary and Margaret Jones at Mountain View, Garnant.

Hannah Jones (1874- ). With parents at Mountain View, Garnant in 1901 also with son Daniel Stanley Jones (1899- ). The child's father David Harries (1872- ) was pursued for arrears of payments in 1900 and eventually married Hannah c.1906.
David Harries, of Near Lamb Shop, Garnant, was apprehended under an affiliation warrant for arrears in payment towards the child of Hannah Jones, of Mountain View, Garnant. Defendant was committed for one month. (The Cambrian 16 February 1900)
Daniel Stanley Harries is recorded in the 1911 census with both parents at Bryncethin Bach, Garnant.

Elizabeth Jones (1876- )

Margaret Jones (March 9 1879- ). Single and with her mother at Mountain View, Garnant in 1911. She was a grocer and confectioner at Mountain View in 1939 with Thomas Edgar Jones and one other.

Thomas Jones (1882- ). A shoemaker at Mountain View, Garnant in 1901.
NO BOOT-LACES REQUIRED.
USEFUL INVENTION BY A GARNANT MAN.
One morning a young Garnant bootmaker, Mr. Tom Jones, who resides at Mountain View: was sitting outside his workshop, when a. collier ran by to work with his boots unlaced, having evidently overslept. Jones became meditative. Was it possible to avoid the time incurred in bootlacing, and to invent a contrivance which would dispense with the use of laces, eyelets, tongues, buttons, etc. Through dint of perseverance and much persistent study he has succeeded, and has obtained a provisional protection order from the Patent Office. The device, it is said, wiil prove an inestimable boon, and will, doubtless. revolutionise the boot trade. Mr. Jones has already received many tempting offers for his clever invention. (Weekly Mail 2 September 1905)
More about Tom Jones and Amman Boot Polish.

Young Watcyn Wyn

Watcyn Wyn - the bard in his chair

Mary Jones (1848-1871) baptised 27 August 1848 at Christchurch, Cwmaman. She married Watkin Hezekiah Williams (1844-1905), a 27-year-old collier from Cwmgarw at Christchurch, Cwmaman on April 9 1870. He was the son of Hezekiah Williams, a labourer. She was described as a dressmaker from Brynamman. Watkin Hezekiah Williams is better known by his bardic name Watcyn Wyn, poet and, later, preacher and headmaster of Gwynfryn school in Ammanford. Mary was dead within 11 months, leaving Watkin a widower with a three-week-old daughter Mary Williams (1871-1931). Mary was described as an unmarried private teacher at Gwynfryn, Ammanford in the 1911 census living with her widowed stepmother Anne Williams. Watkin Williams had remarried in 1879 to Anne Davies (1853- ) and had George Owen Williams (1879-1930) who became the first headmaster of the Amman Valley School.

Griffith Jones (1850-25 June 1906) baptised 28 July 1850 at Christchurch, Cwmaman. He married Mary ? born Llannon, Carmarthenshire. His address was Danycoed farm in Llandebie when he died. They had children:

David John Jones (1872- ) born Ystrad Rhondda, Glamorgan (Aberdare in later census). He married Mary Ann Thomas (1 January 1874-30 August 1926) born in Garnswllt, Glamorgan in 1894.

Lizzie Ann Jones (1874- ) born Ystrad Rhondda, Glamorgan.

Rebecca Jones (1877-1930) born Ystrad Rhondda, Glamorgan (Treorchy in later census) married Charles Ernest Gooding (1872-1947) September Quarter 1893. Had children: Annie Mary Auguste Gooding (1894- ) married Leonard Rowland Martin (1896- ), St Michael's, Woburn Sands, 4 June 1915; Violet Gwendoline Gooding (8 December 1904-20 August 1980, died in Cardiff).

Daniel Thomas Jones (1881- ) born Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. He married Rachel Thomas (1879- ) born Tycroes, Carmarthenshire. They had:

David Christopher Jones (1899- ) listed in 1911 census as David Christford, born prior to the marriage in Tycroes, Carmarthenshire.

William Edgar Jones (1902-1902) born Tycroes, Carmarthenshire.

Hannah Mary Jones (1899- ) born Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

Gwynfor Jones (1904-1905) born Ammanford, Carmarthenshire.

Daniel Caradog Jones (November 21 1908-1970) born Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. He married Phyllis Llewelyn (October 13 1909- ). He was a colliery worker living in Pontamman Road, Ammanford (next to the Mount Pleasant Inn) in 1939.

John Oliver Jones (April 14 1910-August 29 1958) born Ammanford, Carmarthenshire. A french polisher in 1939 at 5 Wernoleu Road, Ammanford. His gravestone in Llandybie also commemorates his wife Ray (November 16 1906-March 18 1983).

Thomas Jones (1854- ) - See The Family of Thomas and Jemimah Jones, Lower Brynaman, Glamorgan, Wales

Owen (Thomas) Jones (1856- )

Elizabeth Jones (1857- )