Hello Judith,
To answer your first question, Calvary would be the Baptist chapel that
was in King Street, Brynmawr. Brynmawr came under the registration
district of Crickhowell in that time space.
Rehobeth Welsh Congregational is being demolished. We have been lucky to
retrieve the PR's and they are now deposited at Gwent CRO. Blaenau Gwent
Librarian, Janet Karn, was presented with the Pr's and made copies for
the Blaenau Gwent libraries records. They are mostly in Welsh language
and will require some translation...... any takers? It indeed sad to see
such an old chapel being demolished. Some articles of this chapel are
now at Brynmawr Museum, the organ is one!
Brynmawr of course is now part of Blaenau Gwent and the BG Heritage
forum will now this year have more input into decisions with BGCC. BGCC
Heritage Officer now attends our meetings and we are represented at
Gwent Family History Society by myself and our secretary Eric Smith.
Trevor "the Milk" Jones M.B.E (local historian, Tredegar), Karl Martin
(tramways and roads of Gwent, etc.), Rodger Burchell (local historian),
Edwin Jones and Alan Williams (Brynmawr Local History and Museum), Keith
Thomas (author and local historian), Ron Jenkins (Tredegar Museum) plus
Chairman Peter Morgan Jones (Tredegar local historian) and secretary
Janet Karn (BG family research librarian), plus a good few others. We
are definitely making progress and will be making as much effort to
making Blaenau Gwent (BG) an area where we can retain our natural
heritage.
No records have survived, to my knowledge, for Calvary Baptist (King
Street) to date.
The Clydach Ironworks were in full swing in 1840's and by 1860's the
Ironworks were finished, practically. Clydach Bridge wouldn't be shown
on a modern map today. I am transcribing the Crickowell-Gilwern-Clydach-
Llanelli-Brynmawr- Beaufort 1841 census for Powys FHS currently and have
indexed up to this point. There are many Powells in this area, but no
Newman family to date.
Brynmawr municipal cemetery 1854-1936 has Newman families and also
Powell families. There are Clydach graveyards at Blackrock, etc. now
discontinued. If you are staying at the Rock and Fountain, St Elli's,
Llanelly is only about half a mile away.
The Rock and Fountain is a great Inn. I always stop there for a quick
pint (good Ales) whenever I pass from the old road from Abergavenny to
Tredegar. Up the hill, towards Brynmawr is the 'Olde Drum and Monkey
another great place for food and drink! The Bridgend Inn at Brynmawr
(right on the A465) is another decent place for foof and Ales. Usually
pop in there for a quick pint after Brynmawr Local History evenings!
I only hope 'Professor' Burchell is available on your visit. He is an
expert on Clydach Ironworks. If not perhaps I may be able to purloin his
Clydach notes!
The Newman's at Brynmawr MC are:-
SURNAME FIRST NAME AGE MONTH DATE
Newman Maldwyn 5 Oct 1926
Newman Mary 10m Jan 1886
Newman Ellen 2 March 1872
Newman David 8m May 1900
Newman Sarah 57 Jan 1907
Newman Mary J Aug 1870
Newman Annie 35 Jan 1920
Newman Sarah R 50 Dec 1875
Newman John 70 July 1917
Newman Mary 71 July 1905
Newman Annie 26 Jan 1911
Newman David 56 Dec 1891
Newman Alfred 67 Jan 1929
Newman Thomas 34 Mar 1872
Newman Eliz 22m Sep 1888
Newman Wm 60 Nov 1909
Newman? Ern. 1 Aug 1866
If you can identify any I have the grave numbers.
I also have the Powell graves as well.
best regards
Barrie Jones, Gwent
4. If William Powell was a miner living near Clydach Bridge at the time of his
1846 marriage, does that suggest where he might have been employed? (Since he
was a collier in every record I have of him, I assume it was coal he was mining
in 1846. Does that seem likely?)
5. I can't specifically locate Clydach Bridge on maps, though I've pored over
the general area and read a good deal about the old Clydach ironworks site. Was
CB a community in the 1840's, or just a few isolated worker's cottages, or
simply the bridge itself? Could someone give me map coordinates or general
directions so we might find it next month? (We'll be staying at the old Rock
and Fountain inn, which I'm guessing can't be too far away.)
6. Two records now identify George Newman as a hallier, and one says it was at
the ironworks in Nantyglo. Is a hallier the same as a haulier? Would this have
been iron ore that was being hauled? In the 1840's would this term have meant
hauling by hand or driving a horse or mule cart -- i.e. human beast of burden or
teamster?
7. Where is/was Aberystruth parish church? Is the churchyard still in
existence? Or would this also encompass "Nantyglo chapelry," whatever that was?
I'm having a hard time getting a grip on all the Brynmawr/Nantyglo parishes'
years of existence and locations, despite Genuki and several other websites!
I very much appreciate whatever information you're able to give me, and am glad
to reciprocate if any of my data proves of interest to others.
With best wishes,
Judith Sylte
Whidbey Island, Washington
USA