Re recent inquiries about DAVIES families: there was an Elizabeth
(maiden surname unknown) born c.1819 who was wed to Thomas DAVIES,
born c. 1821. I have been unable to locate their marriage date or
place. They are both said to be born in Breckonshire in the 1841
census when her father Thomas was an agricultural labourer in
Llanafanfawr, hamlet of Llysidinum. At that time they had daughters
Elizabeth aged 2 and Margaret 11 months.
In the 1851 census Elizabeth was a 13-year-old servant for the Hevell
family at a farm in Llangynog. I could not find her in 1861, but she
might be the mother of William DAVIES born c. 1860 — possibly a "love
child." The father may have been William POWELL, shown in the 1861
census as a 19-year-old ploughboy on Rees DAVIES' farm at Llanynis --
just to complicate matters Rees also had a daughter Elizabeth DAVIES,
aged 16 or 17, in the same household, who could have been the mother.
Certainly Thomas DAVIES and his daughter put their marks on the
wedding register for the marriage of Elizabeth DAVIES to William
POWELL (1842 - 1924) in the Parish Church of Llanyre, Radnor, on 11
June 1866. At that time William, was described as a labourer living
at Builth. Elizabeth's address was Newbridge. Suddenly in the 1871
census a son, " William POWELL" appropriately aged 11 is listed, as
well as Thomas aged 4; I have found no sign of the 11-year-old
William Davies, so it seems his surname changed to Powell. William
and Elizabeth surely reclaimed their own child born out of wedlock,
or else the son of a close relative? Living then in Rhosferig, a
hamlet of Llanfihangel Brynpabuan, William was a railway labourer and
his wife listed as a "lodging house keeper" (they had three lodgers
in their household.)
William and Elizabeth as parents went on to raise a large family, and
are shown living in Cefnybedd (now Cilmery), beside Builth Wells, in
the 1881, 1891 and 1901 censuses. I believe William Powell died in
1924 (Builth district) but do not have his certificate.
William POWELL and his wife Elizabeth are my great-grandparents.
Their son Thomas POWELL (1867-post 1901) married Agnes MORGAN (1875-
c.1901) and their daughter Gladys (1896 - 1964) is my late mother.
William's parents, my GG-grandparents, were Edward POWELL (1797-1891)
and Mary (nee PARRY), both of whom also resided in Cefnybedd for a
long period, as did Thomas and Agnes. I know of at least four
generations of the Powells, all ancestors of mine, that lived in this
famous village where Prince Llewelyn was slain in the 12th century.
Since Edward was baptised in the Llanganten parish church, at
Cefnybedd, it may well be five generations! Sadly I have never
visited Wales, let alone seen Cilmery -- but I plan to rectify this
in a visit this coming British summer.
Any more information on this POWELL family or the DAVIES connection
will be most welcome.
Geoff Adams
New Zealand