Can anyone please help me in my search for my WATKINS ancestors from the Blaenau Gwent
area. They are:
Edgar Lewis WATKINS my grandfather, born 1887. He lived at Ty Dan Y Wal in Cwmtillery in
1900-1910. He had brothers Rees, John, Evan and Gwilym, and sisters Sarah and Gwenllian.
His brother Rees married Francis EVANS whose family lived at Royal Street Park Hotel.
They had a son Arthur. Rees died in Oak Street in 1901 and is buried in Blaenau Gwent
Cemetery.
Edgar was a member of the Powell Tillery Gymnastics Club in 1905 and was in the 1908
Olympics. He was in the St John's Gymnast Club, Ebbw Vale in 1914. He married Hannah
Maria BIRD of 81 Alma St, Abertillery in 1910. He was a colliery labourer and they lived
in 49 Clynmawr Street in 1911, where my Mother Hannah Muriel WATKINS was born. They lived
at 98 Tillery Street in 1914 when my Aunt, Iris WATKINS was born. Edgar was in the 10th
Btn SWB 1st Gwent in World War One and the family moved to 4 Marlborough Road, Six Bells,
(I don't know why) returning to Abertillery in 1917. Edgar went off to London in
1921/1922 and split from the family and I don't know what happened to him thereafter.
My grandmother and mother left to live in London themselves in 1927 when my paternal
grandfather, James BIRD died.
My elderly Aunt now lives in Canada and would love to know what happened to him. We have
unearthed a lot, but still don't know where he went. Does anyone recognise any of the
above, or have old photographs of Gymnastic Clubs. Any help would be very much
appreciated.
Many thanks.
Iris