FelRh062auntymay
3.06.2002Draft1
The Solution to the ‘Aunty May, Penygroes’ problem
We were never certain whether May (a.k.a. Mary) Williams(1900 –1989), who lived at Penygroes Penrhyndeudraeth, was just called an ‘Aunt’ because she was a friend of the family or whether she was a blood relation to the Felenrhyd Fawr family: if so, how? No one seemed to know exactly!. Lora Jones her daughter provided much information regarding her grandparents, Laura Elizabeth ( nee Thomas) and William David Williams of Croesor. She, and Sheelagh, also provided much additional information regarding her ‘uncle’ Griffith Davies (1855 – 1933), a builder in Liverpool. She was not certain how he was her ‘Uncle’. We could not find ‘proofs’ of these relationships.
The missing link came as a result of Edgar Parry Williams recently coming across a letter, which he had ‘lost’, from Janet Elson, who lives in Dorset, dated July 1997. In May 2002, we responded to Janet, by telephone and letter. She responded by letter and, amongst other information, stated that William Davies had a daughter called Anne. We quote:-
“Anne had 5 children, David, William John, Jane, & Winnie. I know only of William who had a daughter called May, who lived at Cricieth and had three daughters, Laura, Cherry and Margaret. I believe Anne‘s married name was Owen “
We know William Davies (Anne’s father), he was the eldest brother of Griffith Davies(1). Anne married Daniel Williams and one of their sons was the William which Janet refers to. He was no other than William. D. Williams of Tre Saethon, Croesor. (who married a Laura Elizabeth Thomas of Croesor Fawr). As Janet reveals they were the parents of our Aunty May, Pengroes. So Aunty May was related to Bryn Derwen and not directly to Felenrhyd, who were cousins. Griffith Davies (1855 – 1933 of Liverpool was a brother of Anne.
If we look at the census of 1881 we see, at 3 Tresaeson, Croesor, were
Daniel Williams married 40 born at Llanfrothen in 1841
Winifred dau. unmarr. 14 “ 1867
William D (Daniel ?) Williams son 12 “ “ 1869
Johnny “ 5 “ “ 1876
The mother, Anne, is conspicuous by her absence and Daniel, the father is not recorded as widowed
At Brynderwen, Minffordd we see
Wm. Davies 69
Jane 77 she died a few months after the census was taken
Anne dau. 41 she was born at Yr Odyn, Llanfrothen on the 10.1.1840
Jane
g.dau. 16 born 1865
Anne is likely to be tending to her mother when she terminally ill
We need to look at the census of 1891 and the marriage certificate for proof of Anne and Daniel Williams wedding (this has been requested) If they married about 1864, their ages would be Anne 25 & Daniel 24 Her surname would not be Owen ,as Janet suggests, but Williams We have not located the grave of Anne & Daniel Williams. They are not at Ramoth. They may be buried at Croesor cemetery .
We see at Ramoth (m.i. 246) the following inscription:-
Er serchus gof am William D Williams/ Tresaethon, Croesor/ a fu farw Hydref 29 1912/ yn 44 ml. Oed/ Hefyd Laura ei briod/ a fu farw Ebrill 17 1903/ yn 28 ml. oed/ Daniel eu baban// Hydref 18 1899 yn 3 diwrnod oed/ Hefyd am/ David Williams, brawd WDW uchod/ bu farw Ionawr 14 1913/ yn 30ml. oed.
Laura Elizabeth, (1876 – 1903), WDW’s wife, was the daughter of Griffith Thomas and Mary Davies of Croesor Fawr farm. Thomas is a well documented family and married descendants of Felenrhyd family (viz Olwen & Annie, married David James & John Henry Wms)
Laura WDW had two children, Daniel and May. When Laura died, aged 26, Aunty Sera (Croesor) went to Croesor as a housekeeper to WDW- her second cousin.
May married John Robert Williams and they had six children viz:- Margaret, Cherrie, Hywel, Griffith, Nancy and Lora.
Lora and Janet mentions how Griffith Davies (Liverpool) bequeath his fortune. ( No!- you were not mentioned- hard lines !).
We have solved the lemma of Aunty May. Summarising, the family tree of Aunty May, therefore looks like this:-
Margaret Pritchard married David Williams of Ty Newydd Caeglas Croesor
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William Davies (Bryn Derwen Griffith Davies(1) Felenrhyd
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| | | G. Davies Liverpool Anne marr. Daniel Wms 1st cousins Laura m Wm. Jones Y Ffor
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W.D.Wms 2nd Sera m John Ll Wms
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May 3rd George |
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Lora 4th Edgar