Gareth wrote (re: Jill Smith's query about Bowen):
I think Neathvale is Cwmnedd aka the Vale of Neath which is the river Nedd [Neath] valley
running up from Neath to Glyn Neath.
On the 1851 census the house called Burrows Lodge is two props away from Coediarll which
is a 900 acre farm with many people working there. I suggest that is where they may have
been working when the children were born.There are other farms involved too it seems. It
is in the Coedfrank hamlet in the sub district of Llandarcy, butts on to Skewen village on
census so probably between latter and Neath Abbey.
Perhaps John Ball will pinpoint Coedfrank hamlet more accurately for you.
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Hi Jill (and Gareth),
Actually, Gareth's done an excellent job at pinpointing Coedffranc. It's an area
west of the tidal reaches of the river Nedd (Neath) which includes Crymlyn Bog, Jersey
Marine, part of Llandarcy (where there is now a BP oil refinery), and Crymlyn Burrows
(hence Burrows Lodge). As far as I can gather, the "hamlet" of Coedffranc is now
the south-western part of Skewen. There's a Coedffranc Primary School, a Heol Ffranc
(Ffranc Road), and a Burrows Road - all in the area that presumably was once Coedffranc.
The Tennant Canal which linked Swansea docks at Port Tennant with the Neath Valley, also
runs through this area, parallel with the river.
However, I can't find any of the farms you've mentioned. They may have been lost
when the oil refinery was built. The M4 motorway also crosses this area and could have
buried some of the old farms in the area.
Hope this is helpful.
Best wishes,
John Ball
(in South Wales)
e-mail me at: johnball(a)enterprise.net
Welsh Family History Archive:
http://homepages.enterprise.net/johnball/wales/index.htm
Julie's Welsh Surname List:
http://home.on.rogers.wave.ca/bozzy/index.html