Thank you for being so generous. My family originated on Anglesey and are buried in slate
tombs at St. Mair's. I still have family living in the area and love to visit.
John Forsyth, of which we had several generations with that name, were very involved in
the area. One was a Chemist/Surgeon, another was one of the seven men who brought
Methodism to Anglesey.
Thank you for sharing.
Arlene Berta
Folsom, CA, USA
Syd Hughes <sydhughes(a)shaw.ca> wrote: Hi. I am a member of a long time Anglesey
family with connections to the
Suspension Bridge (Toll Bridge)and the Pier. Members of my family
collected the tolls on the bridge and my great-grandfather, great uncle and
cousin all acted as Pier Master and the family lived at Princess Pier House
for years. My grandfather's uncle at one time collected the Tolls on the
Suspension bridge and at least two of his grandson's still live in Menai
Bridge.
My family has an extensive collection of old photographs and postcards of
the village and it's environs that I am willing to share with people.
The two links below are great information sights Menai Bridge and many more
are available if you just google "menai bridge"
http://vintageangleseyprints.co.uk/Default.asp
http://www.prosiectmenai.co.uk/
Syd Hughes
-----Original Message-----
From: wls-anglesey-bounces(a)rootsweb.com
[mailto:wls-anglesey-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Betts, Paul
Sent: December 29, 2007 8:33 AM
To: WLS-ANGLESEY-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: Re: [AGY] Menai Bridge keeper, circa 1890
Happy New Year from Connecticut, USA!
My g-grandfather Charles Betts was a "British Home Child". Sent by his
mother to a Barnardo's Home in East London in 1871, he was "placed to
situation" in May 1881, but with whom was not divulged in the Barnardo's
records. According to later census documents he came to Canada in 1881. In
1895 he made two trips to Menai Bridge. Turns out his mother, Hester, was
remarried in 1885 to William Knight who was the keeper of the Menai
Suspension Bridge. She is listed in 1891 as living in the Bridge House with
William.
Hester Knight has an interesting, if ultimately tragic, story. Married three
times, she finally seemed settled into a decent life in Wales after getting
out of East London. William Knight died late in 1897. A mere three months
later, on February 16, Hester died as well. The death certificate said the
she died "in the Menai Strait off the parish church of Landysilio" of
drowning while in a "state of temporary insanity". It said that an inquest
was held on February 21st. After contacts with the Caernarfon and Anglesey
Records offices I was unable to obtain the coroner's report from the
inquest. D. Whiteside Thomas, of Caernarfon Record Office, DID find a
newspaper account in the North Wales Chronicle dated Feb. 26, 1898 which
reads as follows:
"Some female apparel was found in the Menai Bridge Churchyard by the sexton.
A search was made and the clothes were subsequently identified as the
property of Mrs. Knight, widow of the late Mr. Knight, superintendent of the
Menai Suspension Bridge, who died about three months ago.
Subsequently, the body of Mrs. Knight was found on the sea-shore under the
Cambria Inn, Menai Bridge. An inquest was held on Monday by R. Jones
Roberts, the coroner for Anglesey, when the jury found that the deceased
committed suicide whilst temporary insane."
The night that this happened was Feb 16, 1898.... the eve of what would have
been the thirteenth anniversary of her marriage to William Knight.
So my questions to to the members of this group are:
Do these coroner's records exist ANYWHERE?
Where would Hester have been buried?
Would there have been any probate records, and where might those be?
I assume the Bridge House was owned by the town or county, or perhaps
"Bridge Authority", yes?
I expect thebridge extant at that time has been replaced by now, yes?
Any other ideas of what information I might be able to find about Hester and
her life in Menai Bridge?
Thanks!
And "Happy New Year" too!
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