Gwenllian (Harris) Jones (abt. 1833 - abt. 1873)

Born about 1833 in Ystradfellte, Brecknockshire

Descendants

Died about 1873 at about age 40 in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales [uncertain]

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Biography

Gwenllian Jones (nee Rees or Harris) 1833 - 1873

Gwenllian was born around 1833 in Ystradfellte.

There is a Gwenllian daughter of Rees Harris and Mary of Redgate Houses, Merthyr Tydful baptised 12 April 1835.

There was also a Gwenllian, daughter of William Harries and Mary of Merthyr Tydfil born 26 March, and baptised 5 April 1835.

There was a Gwenllian Harris with Howell and Margaret Harris on the Census of 1841 (born 1831?) at Blaencamgoed, Resolven. None of the family were born in County, so this Gwenllian may have been born in Ystradvellte. Were these perhaps her paternal uncle and his family? The name Howell does get recycled with one of Gwenllian’s Children, as does Mary and Harris.

Could patronymics be the reason for a Gwenllian Rees (in stead of Harris) born Ystradfellte on the 1851 Census where she is an 18 year old servant on the Cwmwennol (?) Farm near Aberdare?

Other Gwenllians on the 1851 census include a Gwenllian, born Resolven, living with father William - Could this be the same one as shown in the 1841 census above? Possibly the Gwenllian baptised with William as a father? The birth year of 1831 matches between the 1841 and 1851 censuses, but not with the baptism of 1835.

Another is Gwenllian Harris, age 19 at Incline Houses, Merthyr Tydfil, born Merthyr, but she is married to John Harris, so Harris may not be her birth name.

Gwenllian married John Jenkin Jones who was also from Ystradfellte. They lived at 1 Saddler`s Row, Aberdare in 1861 and John was working as a coal miner. They also have their two eldest children, Mary (b.1853) and Howell (b.1856), so presumably they married sometime between 1851 and 1853. The Neath District has a record of a wedding between a John Jones and a Gwenllian Rees in early 1853, Whilst in Merthyr there was an 1853 marrriage between a John Jones and a Gwenllian Harris.

By 1871 they have a new son, Jenkin (b.1866) and they are living in the Mount Pleasant Inn, Aberdare. John is still a miner, but he is also running the public house. Mary has given birth to a daughter, Gwenllian (b. 1870) and married coal miner Thomas Harris from Ystradgynlais. They are lodging at the pub too. The baby is on the Census of 1871, but possibly died around the same time. Gwenllian died around summer 1873 on the Glamorganshire Death Records. She was 40 years old.

John died in 1896, in Tonypandy.

Neither Gwenllian Jones nor Gwenllian Harris were buried at St. Fagan`s or St. John`s churches in Aberdare (according to Glamorgan Records Office).

A possible GRO Death Certificate for Gwenllian reads:

95 / Twenty second September 1873, 2 Ynys Llwyd Street, Aberdare, Glamorgan / Gwenllian Jones / Female / 40 Years / Domestic Servant / Phthisis Certified / C. Jones in attendance 2 Ynys llwyd Street, Aberdare / Twenty third September 1873 / E. W. Seale Registrar.

UK Census 1861 for 1 Saddler's Row, Aberdare, Glamorganshire.

1. John Jones. Head. Married. M. 30. Coal Miner. Ystradvellte, Brecknock.

2. Gwenllian Jones. Wife. Married. F. 29. Ystradvellte, Brecknock.

3. Mary Jones. Daughter. F. 7. Scholar. Aberdare, Glamorgan.

4. Howell Jones. Son. M. 5. Scholar. Aberdare, Glamorgan.

5. William Thomas. Boarder. Married. M. 37. Coal Miner. Llanidloes, Montgomery.

UK Census 1871 for The Mount Pleasant Inn, Trecynon, Aberdare, Glamorganshire.

1. J. Jenkin Jones. Head. Married. 39. Coal Miner and Publican. Ystradfellte, Breconshire.

2. Gwenllian Jones. Wife. F. 39. Ystradfellte, Breconshire.

3. Howell H. Jones. Son. Unmarried. M. 15. Pupil Teacher. Aberdare, Glamorganshire.

4. Jenkin Jones. Son. Unmarried. M. 5. Scholar. Aberdare, Glamorganshire.

5. Thomas Harris. Lodger. Married. M. 24. Coal Miner. Ystradgynlais, Glamorganshire.

6. Marry Harris. Lodger. Married. F. 17. Aberdare, Glamorganshire.

7. Gwenllian Harris. Lodger. Unmarried. F. 2 months. Aberdare, Glamorganshire.

Sources

UK Census 1851, 1861 and 1871 UK BMDs Possible GRO Death Cert.

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Owen Phillips for creating Unknown-220284 on 9 Dec 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Owen and others.