Mary (James) Watkins (1846 - 1883)

Born 20 May 1846 in Ty mawr, Yspytty Cynfyn, Cardiganshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Feb 1883 at age 36 in Camddwrbach, Elerch, Aberystwyth, Wales

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Biography

Mary was born at Ty mawr, Ystpyty cynffin on 20th May 1846 to James and Jane James. Before 1851 they moved to Nant-y-Moch, one of the "lluestau" of the highlands inland from Talybont and Aberystwyth, next to Pumlymon Mountain. Nant-y-moch was just along the road from James's family home at Aberpeithnant. There were eleven children in the family and her father worked as a shepherd on the hills.

Mary's GRO Birth Certificate reads: "323 / Twentieth of May 1846 at Tymawr Llanbadarn creyddin upper / Girl / James James / Jane James formerly Jones / Farmer / Jane James Mother Tymawr Llanbadarn creyddin upper / Twenty third of May 1846 / John Davies Registrar."

Mary remained at home throughout the Census years of 1851 and 1861, but had later met William Watkins, a widower of nearby Pen(y)bont, Elerch and they were married in 1870. William had two daughters from his previous marriage. On the census of 1871 the eleven year old Mary was living with her paternal grandfather Hugh Watkins in Llanfihangel. Her sister Elizabeth remained with her maternal grandfather, Harry Morgans of Llanelerch, Elerch, according to the census of 1861.

Mary and William`s first child Edith was born shortly afterwards, as can be seen on the Census of 1871, which also shows them living at Camddwr Bach, another "lluest", not far from her parent`s house. Like many men of the area, William had formerly been employed as a lead miner, but he now turned his hand to shepherding, presumably with the help of his father-in-law. His two trades may well have overlapped when necessary.

By 1881 there are three more children in the family: Winifred, Lois Magareta and William James. Mary`s brother David is also living with them and working the sheep with William. Eldest daughter does not appear on the 1881 Census at Camddwrbach - perhaps she was boarding at the barrack school set up for the children of the lead miners who also worked the same land as the shepherds.

Mary died on the 24th of February 1883. Her Death Certificate stated the cause of death as: "Constipation of the Bowels, Inflamation of the Brain."She was just 36 years of age. After her death the family moved down from the mountain. Mary's GRO Death Certificate reads: "400 / Twenty fourth February 1883. Camdwrbach Elerch R.S.D. / Mary Watkins / Female / 36 years / Wife of William Watkins a Miner / Constipation of the Bowels. Inflamation of the Brain. Certified by Evan Rowland M.R.C.S. / David James Brother present at the death Camdwrbach Elerch / Twenty fourth February 1883 / John Jones Registrar."

Both of Mary`s homes, at Nant-y-moch and Camddwrbach, were flooded in the creation of the Reservoir.

UK Census 1851 for Nantymoch, Parcel Canol, Cardiganshire, Wales.

1. James James. Head. Married. M. 40. Shepherd Keeping Sheepwalk. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

2. Jane James. Wife. Married.F. 35. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

3. Eliza James. Daughter. Unmarried. F. 16. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

4. John James. Son. M. 13. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

5. Margaret James. Daughter. F. 11. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

6. Anne James. Daughter. F. 8. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

7. Mary James. Daughter. F. 5. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

8. Thomas James. Son. M. 2. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

9. David James. Son. M. 3 months. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire.

UK Census 1861 for Nantymoch, Parcel Canol, Cardiganshire, Wales.

1. James James. Head. Married. M. 48. Shepherd. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

2. Jane James. Wife. Married. F. 45. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

3. Anne James. Daughter. Unmarried. F. 17. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

4. Mary James. Daughter. Unmarried. F. 15. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

5. Thomas James. Son. 12. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

6. David James. Son. 10. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

7. James James. Son. 8. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

8. William James. Son. 5. Llanbadarn fawr, Cadiganshire.

UK Census 1871 for Camdwr bach, Elerch, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales.

1. William Watkins. Head. Married. M. 35. Shepard on 321 acres of Land. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales.

2. Mary Watkins. Wife. Married. F. 25. Shepard's Wife. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales.

3. Edith Jane Watkins. Daughter. Unmarried F. 2 Months. Llanbadarn fawr, Cardiganshire, Wales.

UK Census 1881 for Camdwrbach, Elerch, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales.

1. William Watkins. Head. Married. M. 44. Lead Miner. Elerch, Cardiganshire, Wales.

2. Mary Watkins. Wife. Married. F. 35. Ponterwyd, Cardigashire, Wales.

3. Mary Watkins. Daughter. Single. F. 22. Dressmaker. Geneu'r Glyn, Cardiganshire, Wales.

4. Winifred Watkins. Daughter. Single. F. 8. Scholar. Elerch, Cardiganshire, Wales.

5. Lois Margareta Watkins. Daughter. Single. F. 5. Scholar. Elerch, Cardiganshire, Wales.

6. William James Watkins. Son. Single. M. 2. Elerch, Cardiganshire, Wales.

7. David James. Lodger. M. 29. Shepherd. Ponterwyd, Cardiganshire, Wales.

Sources

Death Certificate: M Quarter 1883 Aberystwyth Vol. 11B, p.53.

Birth Certificate: 2nd Quarter 1846 Aberystwyth Vol. 27, p. 32.

UK Census 1851, 1861, 1871 and 1881

UK marriages on FMP

Family Bible

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