The Family of Mary Jones (1836-1903) and Watkin Williams (c. 1836-1897)
Mary Jones was the daughter of
The Pant-Teg nonconformist baptism records show a Mary Jones - daughter of Daniel Jones Gellilwcafach, labourer in the parish of Llanguick
and his wife Ann - born June 9 1836 and baptised June 16 1836 by Phillip Griffiths independent minister of Pant-Teg, Alltwen and Carmel.
Gelli-Lwca-Fach is close to Saron Chapel, Rhydyfro.
Mary Jones married Watkin Williams on March 16 1861 (Llandilofawr district, vol 11a page 667) at Christ Church, Cwmamman,
Carmarthenshire, witnessed by Jonah Morgan (neighbour at Brynlloi house) and Daniel Jones. He was the son of David Williams, a farmer, with residence given as
Nantgwineu (a farm between Lower Brynaman and Garnant - in 1861 census David (64) and wife Mary (55) are at that farm with daughters
Harriet Williams (23), Margaret Williams (18) and son Daniel Williams (16)). Mary Jones was resident at Gellyceidrim. In the 1861 census they were living at
Cross Keys, Bettws (Glanaman) with her brother Hugh:
Watkin Williams Head Mar 24 Coal Miner; Mary Williams Wife Mar 24 Coal Miners wife ;
Hugh Jones Boarder Un 21 Coal Miner; all born Glamorgan Llanguick.
Elizabeth Jones appears in 1861 as a 19-year-old servant with William Walter, a butcher at Caedu, Llandebie, Carmarthenshire.
By 1871 Mary and her husband had moved back to Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen at Caegurwen Row:
Watkin William Head Mar 34 Iron Miner Born Glamorganshire;
Mary do Wife Mar 34 Wife do;
Anne William do Daur 6 Scholar Born Carmarthenshire;
Daniel William do Son 2 Born Glamorganshire.
In 1881 a Watkin Williams and wife Mary aged 44 cannot be found. However, there is a family with the following details at no. 5, Colliers Row in
Mawr Lower, Pontardawe district - given the names and ages of the three eldest children, they are likely to be the correct family:
Watkin Williams Head Mar 34 Coal Miner Born Glamorgan Killybebyll;
Mary Williams Wife Mar 34 Born Glamorgan Llanguick;
David Williams Son Unm 19 Coal Miner Born Carmarthen Bettws;
Ann Williams Daur do 16 General domestic servant Born Carmarthen Bettws;
Daniel Williams Son 11 Scholar Born Glamorgan Llangyfelach;
Watkin Williams Son 9 do Born Glamorgan Llangyfelach;
Mary Williams Daur 5 do Born Glamorgan Llangyfelach;
Elizabeth Williams Daur 1 do Born Glamorgan Llangyfelach.
The death of a Watkin Williams aged 60 was registered in 1897 (Pontardawe 11a 467). In 1901 Mary Williams (64) was a widow living in Tyr Lone, Graig Felen, Clydach with son Watkin (29) a coal miner hewer,
daughters Mary (25) and Elizabeth (21) and grandson Daniel Morris (7). A Mary Williams aged 67 of Graigfelen, Clydach, Rhyndwyclydach - widow
of Watkin Williams a farmer - was registered by her son David Williams on August 10 1903.
Ann Williams and David Morris
In 1891 daughter Ann (28) and her husband David Morris (28) were in Rhyndwyclydach. He was a coal miner. Their children were
listed as Watkin Morris (6), Hopkin Morris (4) and David J. Morris (2). There was a marriage between an Ann Williams and a David Morris in
Sep Quarter 1884 (Pontardawe 11a 896). By 1901 Ann and David's ages are given as 36 and 48 respectively. Their family is shown as Welsh-speaking
only with David born Carmarthenshire. Watkin and Hopkin are coal miners (the latter a door keeper). The children have been joined by
Rachel Morris (9), Hugh Gomer Morris (6), Mary Morris (3) and Esther Morris (1), all born Glamorgan Llangyfelach.
Hopkin Morris
Hopkin Morris married Bessie Gertrude Saunders in
December Quarter 1909. They had daughters Phyllis Irene Morris in 1910, Gwynneth D. Morris in 1915 and Margaret Morris in 1924.
A Watkin Morris died in West Glamorgan district in December Quarter 1936 aged 51.
