Anne (James) Willliams (abt. 1814 - 1889)

Born about 1814 in Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, Wales

Wife of Titus Williams — married 14 Dec 1839 in Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 4 Nov 1889 at about age 75 in Llwyncelyn, Cardiganshire, Wales, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jessie Gregor [send private message]

Biography

My great-great-grandmother, Anne James, was born in Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, Wales in about 1814. I haven't been able to find her baptism yet so that estimate is based on averaging out all the census returns between 1841 and 1881, and the age on her death certificate. She was the oldest of at least eight children born to the couple, Evan James and Anne 'Nanny' Thomas. (Evan was married twice, both to an Anne Thomas! My Anne came from his second marriage. A lot of this information came from his will, in addition to the parish registers.)

The banns of marriage were read on the 24th November, 1st and 8th December 1839 between 'Titus Williams of this Parish & Anne James of the Parish of Penboyr'. The couple then married at Penboyr on the 14th December 1839. Titus was recorded as being of full age, a bachelor and cooper, residence Blaen-morw; father John Williams, farmer. Anne was also of full age, a spinster and servant, residence Pantyfallen; father Evan James, labourer. He signed the register and she marked her name with a cross. The witnesses were Peter Williams (probably Titus's younger brother) and Evan James (probably the bride's father)!

Titus and Anne went on to have at least nine children: Elizabeth (1840), Anne Maria (1842), my great-grandmother Jane (1844), John (1845), Mary (1848), Evan (1850), Dinah (1852), Jeremiah (1856) and Sarah (1858).

In their first census in 1841, they were living at the 'Cottage on Blaenmorw, Manerdivy, Pembrokeshire'. The county names and borders were changing at this time, and Manerdivy was spelled in many different ways! It is now known as Manordeifi (Maenordeifi in Welsh). Living in the cottage were Titus, aged 35, a cooper, wife Anne, aged 27, and their first child, Elizabeth, aged one. They were all recorded as not being born in the county (Pembrokeshire) because they were all born in Carmarthenshire, including baby Elizabeth who was born in Penboyr.

By the 1851 census, the family had grown to six children but they were still living at Blaenmorw Isaf, 'Manardivy' which is now recorded as being in Cardiganshire. Titus is listed as being 44 years old and a cooper, born in Trelech. (This given age was a couple of years out but it is clearly the right person!) Wife, Anne, is 36, born in Penboyr. The children are Elizabeth (11), Anne (9), Jane (7), John (5), Mary (3) and Evan (1).

In the next census in 1861, the family was complete with the addition of their three youngest children: Dinah (8), Jeremiah (5) and Sarah (2). Titus was now recorded as being 57 years old and still working as a cooper. Anne was 46, and the other four children still living at home were Elizabeth (21, a dressmaker), Anne (19, 'out labouring'), Mary (13) and Evan (11). They were now living at Llainwen, Manardivy, and this was, sadly, to be the last census for the head of the family, Titus.

In a dreadful year for Anne, she was widowed when Titus passed away at Llainwen on the 14th May 1862. According to his death certificate, he had died of 'Consumption. Not certified'. Later that year, their son Jeremiah died on the 16th December 1862 at Llainwen. He was only six years old and died of diphtheria.

In her next census in 1871, Anne was living at Llwyncelyn Cannol Place, Cilgerran, Cardiganshire. She is listed as a widow, aged 58, whose occupation was 'ordinary labour'. Living with her was her youngest daughter, Sarah, now 13; and her granddaughter, Mary, aged 8.

In her last census in 1881, Anne was probably living in the same place but, once again, the spelling was different and the county lines were blurred. Her address was given as Llwyncelyn, Kilgerran, Pembrokeshire. She is living alone as a widow and annuitant, aged 67.

The poor soul must have suffered greatly because, according to her death certificate, she passed away at Llwyncelyn on the 4th November 1889 with the certified cause of death being 'Cancer of the Liver, Jaundice, Exhaustion'. She was described as Anne Williams, aged 74, widow of Titus Williams, Cooper. The death was registered on the 7th November 1889 by E. Carpenter, present at the death. So far I haven't been able to find out who that person was, nor have I found Anne's grave but I will keep searching ...

Sources

• Marriage Banns at Find My Past: Pembrokeshire Marriages and Banns record set (Welsh Archive Services).
• Marriage record: "Wales, Carmarthenshire, Parish Registers, 1538-1912," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KCGZ-7TR : 18 April 2018), Titus Williams and Anne James, 14 Dec 1839, Marriage; from "Parish Records Collection 1538-2005," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing Penboyr, Carmarthenshire, Wales, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
• Marriage Parish Register at Find My Past: Carmarthenshire Marriages and Banns record set (Welsh Archive Services).
• 1841 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1841," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M77Q-2CJ : 25 May 2019), Titus Williams, Manordeifi, Pembrokeshire, Wales, United Kingdom; from "1841 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
• 1851 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1851," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SGZM-9QC : 8 November 2019), Titus Williams, Manardivy, Cardiganshire, Wales; citing Manardivy, Cardiganshire, Wales, p. 18, from "1851 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey.
• 1861 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M7DS-NH7 : 24 October 2019), Titus Williams, Cardiganshire, Wales, United Kingdom; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
• 1871 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V55G-3KB : 28 September 2019), Anne Williams, 1871.
• 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W9-B3LS : 12 December 2017), Ann Williams, Kilgerran (Pembroke), Cardiganshire, Wales; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 3, Piece/Folio 5428/116, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,487.
• UK death registration: Cardigan, Vol 11b, Page 4, December quarter 1889 (age given 74).
• Death Certificate held by Jessie Gregor.