Llandybie Old Families 2
===================
“Peter DuBuisson married a ‘Miss Birt, of Newland, Gloucester-shire’
20 June 1775. In the Llandybie parish register there is a record of a
marriage between ‘Thomas Birt, clerk, of the parish of Newland in the
county of Gloucester, widower, and Mary Lane of this parish,
spinster’, 6 Sept. 1797. Was the Rev. Thomas Birt Margaret
DuBuisson’s father, or possibly her brother ? The couple were married
‘in the presence of Peter DuBuisson and Margaret Dubuisson.’
“Peter and Margaret DuBuisson, had four children, at least, but some
of them died young. Margaret DuBuisson died in June 1804, aged 57.
In an obituary notice of her death in The Cambrian Newspaper, 14 July
1804, it is stated that her husband was a partner ‘in the banking-house
of Landeg & Co. in Swansea’. Peter DuBuisson died in Dec. 1812,
aged 74. The following notice of his death appeared in The
Carmarthen Journal, 26 Dec. 1812 ‘On Thursday se’n night at
Glynhir, Peter DuBuisson Esq., Receiver General for the Counties of
Carmarthen, Pembroke and Cardigan. Residing upon and farming his
own estate, Mr. DuBuisson was an upright Magistrate and an upright
man’. The family had a deep interest in agriculture, as may be proved
by their treatment of the highland region of Glynhir. Richard Fenton
refers to Glynhir—’now made by great perseverence and profound
agricultural knowledge from hard mountain ground into as good land
as any in the County’.
Perhaps this is the best place to deal with the tradition that the family
betrayed this country during the war against Napoleon. According to
local tradition, that was the purpose of the spacious dovecot at
Glyn-hir,—the pigeons were used (it was believed) to send messages
to French spies ! The truth is, that the present dove-cot was built after
the battle of Waterloo ; it was preceded by a smaller wooden dove-cot.
Apare from this, dove-cots were quite common in gentlemen’s
mansions in those days, and that for a very good reason— to supply
food for the table!
“It is also noted lately, in an article in the Western Mail, that there is a
secret cellar at Glyn-hir, and it was romantically supposed, ‘It can only
be conjectured that such a place must have been constructed and used
for the hiding or the concealment of contrahand and weapons of war’.
The supposition is very romantic, but the cellar in question is not so
secret as all that ! It was used for so prosaic a purpose as the
preservation of game after the shooting season Nobody ever took the
trouble of finding out just when the place was built. It was quite
natural of course for such a tale to gain ground, because the family was
of a French origin. But the inhabitants of the parish would never have
forgiven the family if they were guilty of treachery during the course
of the war. On the contrary, the family was very popular in Llandybie
throughout the years.
“After Peter DuBuisson’s death the estate passed on to his son,
William DuBuisson. He was born in 1781, and was the High Sheriff of
Carmarthenshire in 1826. He married Caroline Henckell, the daughter
of James and Elizabeth Henckell. The Henckells came originally from
Germany about the end of the 17th century, and like the DuBuissons
they were refugees on account of their religious convictions. They
came to this country with a company of sword-smiths, and gained
much prominence in industrial enterprises. In the parish church there
are memorial tablets to Maria Henckell (who died 28 April
1821),—Caroline DuBuisson’s grandmother—and James and
Elizabeth Henckell. According to the memorial tablet James Henckell
was a merchant of the city of London.
“Caroline DuBuisson was a woman of strong personality, with a keen
eye for making money. She immortalised herself on one occasion in
this respect. One cannot be quite certain of the circumstance—perhaps
it was during Napoleon’s escape from Elba, or maybe when he was
defeated at Waterloo. However, when one of these incidents happened,
two young men, relations of the family, happened to be staying at
Glyn-hir ; they were recalled to join their army unit in France, taking
with them a few carrier-pigeons. After the victory at Waterloo, the
pigeons brought back to Glyn-hir the news of Napoleon’s defeat. At
the time, in London, it was rumoured that the situation was otherwise
and in consequence the market fell. Caroline went immediately on
horseback to Bristol, and then to London, buying up as many Consols
as she could lay her hands on. In a few days the Londoners heard the
correct news, but by then Mrs. DuBuisson had managed to make a
considerable fortune. Probably she was a good business woman, and
one wonders if she was any relation to that Henckell family of
Germany, the prominent financiers. Her friend, Mrs. Rothschild, was
her partner in this adventure, and it is known that she too came from
Germany. There is a suggestion in the parish registers, of certain
German connections in the locality, because a Mrs. Margaret
Sehelswell was buried at Llandybie at the end of the 18th century.
“William DuBuisson died in 1828 at his brother’s house in Surrey. The
following obituary notice appeared in The Cambrian Newspaper, 7
Nov. 1828 ‘On Monday last at Wandsworth Common, William
DuBuisson of Glyn-hir’. He was probably buried there, since there is
no record of his burial in the Llandybie registers. On his memorial
tablet in Llandybie Church the following inscription is seen:
In Memory of William DuBuisson, of Glyn-hir in this Parish, who
departed this life at his brother’s house at Wandsworth, in the county
of Surrey, on the 47th year of his age, after a long and painful illness,
which he bore with exemplary patience and Christian resignation,
looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of his Faith.
“The next in the line of inheritance was William DuBuisson, who was
born 1 May 1818, and like his father before him he too (in 1871) was
the High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire. The photograph taken during his
term of office is still (1939) in the possession of the family. It portrays
twelve Glyn-hir tenants, sporting periwigs and carrying lances ; this
was the last occasion in the county when such a retinue accompanied
the Sheriff. William DuBuisson married Mary, the daughter of John
Lawford of Tottenham ; the two are well remembered in the parish for
their work in fostering education, &c. William DuBuisson died at
Torquay 2 May 1894 ; and his widow died at the same place in Sept.
1918, aged 92.
“The Rev. Edmund DuBuisson was William DuBuisson’s brother; he
served the parishes of Selachim and Breinton in the county of Hereford
for many years. His son, the Rev. John Clement Du Buisson was born
at Breinton, but he lived for many years at Glynhir with Arthur, his
brother. He served as a curate at Hawarden for two years, and during
the years 1899-1916 he was the sub-warden at the Bishop’s Hostel and
served as a teacher in the Canon’s School in Lincoln Cathedral. He
was appointed a Canon of St. Asaph’s Diocese in 1922 and became the
Dean of St. Asaph in 1927. He died in April 1938 and was buried at St.
Asaph’s.
“Arthur Edmund DuBuisson, the Rev. Edmund DuBuisson’s son (and
brother of J. C. DuBuisson), was the last member of the family to
reside in Glyn-hir. He went to England after the end of the first World
War, and died at Hartley Whitney, Herts., in Oct. 1930. He lost a son,
John Edmund DuBuisson, in Salonica during the war; another son,
William DuBuisson, is now (1939) living in London.”
By 1921, the DuBuisson family was the first to give way to the past
way of life. The family moved to Surrey, as noted above. Mr. Arthur
DuBuisson’s son still lives in Surrey, and he takes a keen interest
about everything that takes place in Llandybie, and he still retains
property in the village. He is well-versed in the history of Glyn-hir.
The upheaval of leaving Glyn-hir was a sore blow not
only to the staff but also to the people of the village, as the DuBuissons
took a keen interest in the church and village affairs. Most of the staff
had to seek other employment after being in the service of the family
for so many years. The end came very sudden for them, and all of them
had to seek a new way of life.
With the Gulston family at Derwydd it was different, as the run-down
of staff was more gradual. But with the coming of the Second World
War in 1939 the family was left with a chauffeur, gardener, a
companion, and casual domestic service. Derwydd is occupied today
by Mr. and Mrs. Stepney Gulston, who have a small staff of daily
service. But the old mansion remains as impressive as ever in its
magnificent splendour, and is a reminder of its past glories and
traditions. Derwydd is still well maintained by their proud owners.
***************************
Richard James
CarmarthenshireFHS
View Carmarthenshire Web Pages:
http://members.aol.com/cmnfhs1/
When writing to Pauline or Myself about anything to do with Carmarthenshire
FHS or Carmarthenshire mailing lists please use the mailing lists rather than
our personal e-mail address. (Unless it is personal) We don't always answer
direct mail.
***************************