At 06:19 29/04/99 +0100, you wrote:
To Bob Holloway.
Hello Bob. I will certainly retain details of your Mary Davies - just in
case. I can remember Cwmisdan farm well when I used to visit relations in
the area. It was on a very, very steep road called Cwmsidan Hill anda
place where my step-grandfather used to lead his pony and trap it was so
steep. Passengers were obliged to walk as well. I believe the farm
building is now abandoned. My other memory of the farm was as a young
evacuee attending Talley school. Us children were obliged to walk home to
our respective farms along the way - three or four miles with no
transport at all. There was a young vivacios red-headed girl from
Cwmsidan who turned all heads and hearts!! Oh well.
Barry.
Barry,
I visited last year and there are two buildings close by each other, one is
Cwmsidan Fawr and has a stone in the wall 'JT 1847' - John THOMAS is the JH
I assume and this is still lived in. Next door about 50 yards nearer the
'main' road is Maesygroes where John THOMAS the elder died in 1834. This
today is in ruins. Prior to that he had lived at Cwmsidan Fawr.
I was very fortunate to get the obituary of John THOMAS (elder) and a
friend has translated it from the welsh for me.
If interested read below for his obit and an article written in about 1885
otherwise delete now. The Esgair-nant Chapel is just outside Talley and is
still in regular use today.
From Y DRYSORFA 1834 page 343.
DIED 1834 April 30. Mr John Thomas, late of Cwmsidan Fawr. Parish of
Llansadwrn, Carmarthenshire, 71 years old. He had the privilege of
spending 49 of those years in the way (translaters note - literally
vineyard) of Jesus Christ
among the Calvinists at Esgair-nant Chapel, Taly-Uuchan. He was
honoured early by being an elder in their midst, and strengthened to be
faithful in his place and office to the end of his life. He was often
disappointed in man, i.e. friends, but more in his own heart. He said often
during his lifetime that he had many tests of truth in the word, in his
circumstances and his experience.
�Blessed are those that God Jacob supports, and who has his hopes in his
Lord God. Many sins the righteous have, but the Lord saves us from
them.�
He was always busy in prayer and it was not often wanting in the
congregation. His was noted as an elder that was characterised by being
outspoken and was honest towards his brothers and sisters in the church,
regardless of who they were. He faced the sinners and regarded himself
responsible to God for his position and place in the House of God. And
he would say often �Oh for the ability to make things happy and not sad.�
He was very busy with the Sunday School since it was first established in
this neighbourhood. The two of them started 40 years ago (of which one
is still alive: Mr Thos Lewis, Tal-y-Uuchan). The Lord blessed his work
in a special way; and they had the wonder of forming several branches in
this locality and nearby; and saw several of these under their care turn to
the Lord from time to time; and they often praised God for his goodness
towards them and with their work.
In his last illness, which was not short, he was bound to praise the Lord for
his Goodness to him all the time. Friday before his death, he went to
Chapel, even though he was tired in body, and very weak; and some of his
friends thought that he looked at the end of his journey, from his looks and
discussion. He spoke of God�s well being towards his people, and how he
was kept and forgiven all his life. And even through the darkness and
illness that was in his saddened heart he still found room to think
sometimes that God would not leave him to deceive himself, even though
there was material to do so in the best of places. �This is my comfort
(translator's note - succour) this is my celebration, and this is my hope
in the face of
afflictions; yes, in the face of death and judgement, may it be that he also
saves all those that through him come to God, because he always pleads
over them.�
I see enough of this man that set God right, to keep the principal of
sinners; yes, my type. O gracious way! O wondrous way! There is a way
to take away the damned from my condition, and bless my nature and raise
to God�s image. And there is a way to complete with the wholeness of
God. Who can say what is included in this!
He can have the praise concisely,
When the house of clay is opened� etc.
On the Sabbath afternoon, several brothers and friends came to see him,
and long and seriously did he advise them to be faithful, to stay with the
Lord and to strive for the faith. He was afraid that external forces were
being spread along the land these days, �Through philosophy and dark
emptiness, according to man�s tradition, according to world morals, and
not to Christ�s'.
He urged them earnestly to read and think/wonder a lot on the word, and
to pray more and more that the Holy Ghost enlightened through and in the
word, leading them, and explaining to them the secrets that are in the
word, confirming their thoughts and views regarding the word, and
expertly teaching them in the truth, �as does Jesus�. Because God�s things
are only known by God�s Ghost. Because he takes from within, says
Jesus Christ, and told to you.
Monday and Tuesday following, he spoke a little, He said every now and
then, �O how mighty is his goodness towards a poor sinner, great
goodness the Lord showed to me along this journey till now, and he
continues in his goodness faithfully to the end.�
Tuesday saw signs he was worsening, one brother asked if he knew who
he was. If I do, he said, you are an old brother. Today is one edge of
death, and there is no change, everything is good, everything is good. O, I
said several times to you Betty, trust in him, give yourself to him, lean on
him.
A brother in many straits
A friend in a sea of trouble, he is.
And that�s the last word. A few minutes later his soul flew silently to the
eternal world.
The following Saturday a large crowd gathered to give his body the last
rites, when Mr Rees Morgan gave the sermon, based on the words, �I heard the
voice from heaven telling me � etc. and also the Rev Richard Davies;
�From them come together with these tales'. And whence started the
procession to Tal-y-Uuchan graveyard, where he will lie until the morning
when the Archangel calls and God�s horns will wake all the residents of
the Earth, and then I am certain he will arise in strength, and in eternal
glory enjoy God in beauty through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Amen. JJT
From HANES METHODISTIAETH YN SIR GAERFYRDDIN page 259.
There have been many fairly famous elders in this church. The first I shall
mention is Dafydd Harry, the old servant of Mrs Griffiths, Glanyrafonddu
Ganol; Rhydderch Shon Hugh, Nantyrogfan; Morgan Rhys, Capel Hir,
father of Rhys Morgan, we think, David Morgan, Mardy; Thomas Lewis,
Talyllychau, and John Thomas, Cwmsidan. Thomas Lewis was the author
of the hymn �Wrth gofio ei ruddfanau yn yr ardd, � etc. There are two
articles on him in �Efengylwyr Scions�. All I shall say about him here is
that he was remarkably strong in character, and possessed remarkable
ability to lead a church. He worked industriously with the cause. He was
an influential man in the Monthly Meeting. It was a privilege to have
Thomas Lewis as a leader here at Esgair-nant Church. He died in 1842.
John Thomas, Cwmsidan, was a strong and very useful man. He was
capable of being as able as Thomas Lewis, but did not have as much
ability to lead a church as him. John Thomas was very particular and
severe in the light of discipline. He was also the church�s secretary. He
and Thomas Lewis were leading pillars in the cause of Esgair-nant, for
many years.
John Thomas, like Thomas Lewis, composed several excellent hymns such
as, �Wrath goofy moor fired yaw�s dyad,� etc. [How I remember how
short is my day]. He died in 1834 , aged 71 years. He was the father of
John Thomas, Cwmsidan, the second and grandfather to John Thomas,
Wern, the current eldest elder of the chapel, and Edward Thomas,
Cwmsidan.
......John Thomas, Cwmsidan, the second died February 19, 1878, aged 77......
The present elders are Mr John Thomas, Wern, Thomas Rees,
Glanyrafonddu Ganol, W. Davies, Cilwern, Thomas Williams, Wernfawr,
J.D.Thomas, Plasnewydd, Griffith Morgan, Banc, Simon M.Jones, Plas,
John Davies, Gelli, and J.Sellick, Bancycelwydd.
Regards
Bob Holloway
Main surname interests: HOLLOWAY (West Midlands), BARNFIELD (Shropshire),
DAVIES (Talley,CMN),THOMAS (Talley,CMN), CLIFT(West Midlands), ROLLASON
(West Midlands)
Web pages:
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