Dear Louise,
By way of coincidence I've recently been in touch with a few people
researching the pilots of Briton Ferry with the surname WILLIAMS but on the
GLAM list, below is some of the correspondence between us.
Bridle is a very uncommon name, so any occurence of it may mean the names
are related so those below may be related to your family.
There are also two births in the PRs of BRIDLEs
BRIDLE John father James labourer mother Mary Anne 4 June 1854 Woodland
Row, Briton Ferry
BRIDLE Sarah father James labourer mother Mary Anne 7 Oct 1855 Briton Ferry
There are six BRIDLE burials:-
David 1 Oct 1887 Neath Abbey 2 months old
Hannah 12 Oct 1887 Neath Abbey 13 weeks
James 24 Sept 1874 Briton Ferry 50 yrs
Mary Ann 9 Aug 1887 Neath Abbey 33 yrs
Richard 6 Sept 1887 Neath Abbey 2 months
It looks as if David and Hannah were twins, Neath Abbey is near Skewen.
Let me know if there is anything else you need to know.
I hope this is of some help,
Regards,
Mike
( Penally Pembrokeshire )
----- Original Message -----
From: Michael J Roberts
To: PAUL WILLIAMS ; Michael J Roberts
Cc: GLAMORGAN-L-request(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 1:25 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Pilots from Briton Ferry
Hi Paul,
I mentioned to you that you should always include the Glam List on your
email where relevant and then failed to do the same thing myself !
Thanks for forwarding it, I noted that there is someone else researching
WILLIAMS Pilots in Briton Ferry perhaps they will be able to link up with
yours.
Can anyone answer the question of whether certain jobs are retained in the
family and pass from father to son or some other relative ?
Kind Regards,
Mike
( Penally Pembs )
----- Original Message -----
From: PAUL WILLIAMS
To: Michael J Roberts
Cc: GLAMORGAN-L-request(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 9:52 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: Pilots from Briton Ferry
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the updates i will work through this.
I have the records for Baglan, does anyone want this?
Kind regards
Paul Williams
On 10/04/06, Michael J Roberts <mjroberts(a)glenwoods.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
Dear Paul,
Thanks for your email and my apologies for the inadvertent incomplete one
I
sent you. Its alway better to include the Glam List where appropriate on
your emails as there could be another person searching the same family or
able to make some contribution to your search.
One of the things that struck me is the number of William/ Williams pilots
there are in St.Mary's Parish Register, Briton Ferry and I have extracted
them below by family, I've also included sea related jobs to see if there
is
any connection between them. All the parents are pilots unless I've
written
in an alternative job next to one of the children, which represents the
parents job at the time of baptism. I did this to see what other clues
emerged when they are all lined up in a row. There were 275 baptisms of
WILLIAM/ WILLIAMS surnames and 89 ( 32 % ) of them were pilots which
either
indicates that the sea air is good for fertility, jobs were handed down in
families, or it could be a coincidence. By contrast there were 152 Lewis
baptisms and no pilots. I tend to think the WILLIAMS clan were operating a
"closed shop". Perhaps some lister could advise whether it was customary
to
keep a job like pilot in the family, so when a pilot retired he passed the
job onto his son or relative. He could possibly acquaint his son or
relative
with the necessary skills as he grew up and take him with him on board as
there would have been few regulations preventing him.
I was intending to link these baptisms up to families in the various
census
but my attention has been diverted by other matters, however you may
hopefully find the list useful to see if there is any connection between
your Williams and all the other William pilots etc.
Kind Regards,
Mike
( Penally Pembs )
WILLIAMS Family - all Pilots
1. David William & Ann
Catherine - 24 Apr1831
2. David William & Jennet
David - 24 Jun1798
Thomas - 17 Oct1802
3. John William & Margaret
John - 11 Nov 1789
Leyson - 2 May1791
David - 19 Apr1793
Mary - 19 Apr1795
Lewis - 24 Apr 1798
4. Lewis William & Mary
Margaret - 29 May 1822
5. Thomas William & Jennet
Anne - 11 Jun 1784
6. William William & Ann
William - 17 Feb1793
WILLIAMS Family - Pilots / Hobblers / Naval Officers / Master / Mariner /
Commander / Mate / Ship Broker /
7. Charles Williams & Charlotte Eaton ( widow )
Elizabeth ( illegitimate ) - 1 Jun 1834 ( described as Mariner )
8. Charles Williams & Harriett
Joshua - 9 Mar 1845
Thomas - 4 Apr 1847
9. Charles Williams & Kate
Thomas Charles - 25 Dec 1864 ( described as Mate )
10. Charles Williams & Catherine
William - 8 Apr 1866 ( described as Ship Captain )
11.David Williams & Ann
John - 20 Jul 1823
Ann - 5 Dec1825
David - 9 Nov 1828
12. David Williams & Elizabeth
John - 13 May 1816
13. David Williams & Jennet
John - 8 Jan 1797
William - 25 Sept 1800
14. David Williams & Margaret
William Samuel - 11 Jan 1863
Mary - 17 Sept 1865
Lewis Henry - 18 Nov 1866
15. David Williams & Mary
Cecil Jane - 30 Mar 1828
Griffith - 11 Apr 1830
16. Griffith Williams & Mary Catherine
Cecil Remale - 14 Nov 1892 ( described as Naval Officer )
Ronald Ethelston - 26 Jun1901
17. Griffith Williams & Cecilia
David - 2 Jul 1848 ( then Hobbler )
Margaret - 15 Sept 1850
Thomas - 19 Dec 1852
Jane - 18 Feb 1855
Jane - 1 Jul 1868 ( aged 11 yrs )
Griffith - 14 Dec1859
Benjamin - 1 July1868 aged 6 yrs
William - 1 Jul 1868
18. James Williams & Mary
Daniel James - 30 Dec 1855
John - 1 Nov 1857
Robert Upton - 24 Jul 1859
William Henry - 20 Apr 1862
Phillip Jones - 26 Apr 1863
Charlotte Anne - 16 Oct 1864
Abraham - 20 May 1866
Jacob - 22 Dec 1867
Mary Elizabeth - 6 Mar 1870 ( 1 yr old )
Samuel - 9 Aug 1885 ( 14 yrs old )
19. John Williams & Jane
Leyshon Charles - 6 Apr 1863 ( described as Mariner )
20. John Williams & Mary
David - 28 Jun 1842
Thomas - 5 Jul 1844
Elizabeth - 27 Jul 1846 ( described as Master )
Mary - 24 Dec 1848 ( described as Commander )
Joanna - 12 Oct 1850 ( described as Commander )
John - 8 Mar 1853
Thomas Emmanuel - 22 Dec 1857 ( described as Ship Broker )
Leyshon - 1 Jun 1869 ( described as Mariner ) ( 32 months )
Rees Henry - 1 Jun 1869 ( described as Mariner )
21. Lewis Williams & Emma
Catherine - 10 Mar1869
Leyshon - 22 Feb 1871
Elizabeth - 24 Jul 1885 ( aged 12 yrs )
22. Lewis Williams & Margaret
Margaret - 14 Feb 1848 ( decribed as Mariner )
Jennet - 5 May 1850
Margaret - 11 Mar 1852
Lewis - 2 Mar 1856
Richard - 27 Feb 1859
David - 27 Jan 1861
David - 20 May 1863
Elizabeth - 3 Jun 1866
23. Lewis Williams & Mary
Leyson - 3 May 1818
Mary Ann - 14 Mar 1820
Lewis - 15 Feb 1824
Henry Craven - 18 May 1826
Robert - 11 Jan 1829
Elizabeth - 22 Sept 1831
David - 27 Apr 1834
Lydia - 2 Jun 1837
24. Leyson Williams & Elizabeth
Lewis - 24 Mar 1840
25. Leyson Williams & Jennet
Jennet - 10 Feb 1833
David - 1 Mar 1835
Jennet - 21 Feb1836
Catherine - 12 Oct 1838
Leyson - 1 Mar 1841
Maria - 29 Oct 1843
David - 22 Jun 1846
26. Robert Williams & Margaret
Mary Catherine - 7 Oct 1868 ( Skewen ) ( described as Ferryman )
27. Simon Williams & Mary
David - 5 Oct 1845 ( described as Ferryman )
Robert - 20 Feb 1847 ( described as Ferryman )
Elizabeth - 8 Jun 1848 ( described as Ferryman )
Jane - 3 Feb 1850 ( described as Ferryman )
William - 23 May 1852 ( described as Ferryman )
28. Thomas Williams & Mary
Frances - 10 Jun 1827
Thomas - 29 May 1836
29. Thomas Williams & Rebecca
William Charles - 19 May 1872 ( described as Hobbler )
30. Wiliam Williams & Anne
Charlotte - 30 Nov 1848
David - 12 Jan 1851
Anne - 13 May 1855
Mary Jane - 21 Jun 1857
31. William Williams & Jane
Mary - 19 Feb 1846
32. William Williams & Margaret
William - 17 Mar 1822
Griffith - 8 Dec 1823
David - 16 Jan 1826
Ann - 14 Jul 1828
Robert - 19 Oct 1830
John - 14 Oct 1832
Mary - 3 Mar 1835
Thomas - 2 Apr 1837
Elizabeth - 12 May1839
Leyson Richard - 13 Jan 1842
----- Original Message -----
From: PAUL WILLIAMS
To: Michael J Roberts
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 10:30 AM
Subject: Re: Pilots from Briton Ferry
Hi Mike,
Thanks for the mail,
I was a little confused by what you say about David William, i have my
records from microfiche
i have his baptism date as 24 jun 1798 aged 3 weeks.
I feel that the naming convention leaves lots to be desired so William and
Williams are probably
the same.
Puddlers yes sorry i was thinking Hobbler and wrote the former. I think i
saw in the 1881 census details for my family one son listed as a hobbler
when earlier he had been a pilot!
Leyson name only appears once as i see it in my family tree, i know
Barbara
in Canada has mentioned Leyson in her tree and Barry Wagstaff also
mentioned
the name. These appear to be the other Williams lines with Pilots in them,
but not related it seems in the 19th century to my family maybe be earlier
though.
The William Williams from the Ttravellers Rest was my great great
grandfather, not sure about the William Williams 1895, though i know there
was a grandson called William, never seen him listed as a pilot.
I have the church records for Briton Ferry and Baglan, but the marriages
do
not help much, for example for marriage of David William and Jennet any
ideas where i could search next?
I agree with you Thomas Williams does look like David William's son,
probably a great great great uncle, one of my grandfather's brother,
strangely enough also Thomas Williams born 1853, was a mariner got his 2nd
mates in 1875 and 1st mates in 1881 then masters in Queensland number 43,
The Annabell is mentioned for 1885, yesterday i found the first confirmed
mention of it sailing between Australia and New Zealand in 1883.
I am not sure if i should be mailing you directly or sending it to
Glamorgan-L at Rootsweb?
Do let me know as i am now a subscriber, i have been reading through
passed
years and found a couple of useful leads and a few more important
mentioning
family names i am searching for.
Thank your the help.
Kind Regards
Paul Williams
On 4/4/06, Michael J Roberts < mjroberts(a)glenwoods.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your email, I have been looking through some of the information
I
have.
I see that according to GFHS parish register David and Jennet's son David
was baptised on 24 Sept 1798 at 3 weeks as David WILLIAM.
Thomas Williams is buried in St.Mary's Briton Ferry, the headstone reads:-
How short is life / How long is eternity / Sacred / to the memory of /
Thomas Williams pilot / of this parish / who departed this life /
September
10th 1857 aged 54 years / Also Elizabeth daughter of Henry and mary Thomas
/
who died May 21st 1858 / aged 2 years.
Thomas Williams wife, the headstone reads:-
In memory of Mary wife of / Thomas Williams pilot died July 30 / 1849 aged
47 years / Boast not another day/ nor call tomorrow thine / thou may be
snatched away / by sudden death like mine / Also Mary / daughter of Henry
and Mary Thomas / who died April 2 1867 aged 16 years / Also of Mary /
another daughter of the above named / Henry and Mary Thomas / who died
September 28th 1882/ aged 14 years / She was a plant too tender sweet and
fair / to live amongst the thorns of sin and care / So Jesus took her from
this world of vice / to bloom among the flowers of paradise.
According to the burial register she was buried on 31st 1849 and was
living
Nr. The Kennel Briton Ferry.
Also Mary's parents:-
In loving memory of / Henry Thomas / of Briton Ferry / who died Feb 14th
1900 / aged 77 years / (verse ) Also Mary wife of the aforesaid Henry
Thomas
/ who died April 2nd 1915 aged 75 years.
I wonder why Thomas was not buried with his wife ?
Puddlers in fact worked in the iron industry " puddling iron" . Hobblers
were another form of pilot, I believe not so qualified and restricted to
work in the docks, but I'm not sure on that point.
In a book I have, there is the following reference:-
"On December 7th 1866................... during the two succeeding years
the
following deaths occurred:.......................Mr. and Mrs. Williams,
Travellers Rest, all of whom were well respected."
"On the 4th of June 1842, Mr. Leyshon Williams ( pilot ) lost his life
whilst attempting to board the Venus, of Brixham."
"On November 15th 1895, Mr.William Williams another well known Trinity
pilot, was standing on the line on the dock side, watching a vessel being
towed down the river, when he was suddenly knocked down by a train which
was
shunting, and run over and killed."
You may find more on Leyshon and Williams deaths in "The Cambrian" which
is
on line, also there was probably an inquest.
Giants Grave Cemetery:-
Marble Headstone and Slab:-
In loving memory of / the beloved children of / David and Emily Williams /
Pilot of Briton Ferry / William Griffith / died Sept 19th 1876 aged 4
years
/ Robert John / died May 27th 1881 aged 2 years / David / died May 29th
1881
aged 2 years / Thomas / died June 14th 1881 aged 7 years / Ernest 14th Dec
1885 aged 3 years / Safe in the arms of Jesus / Oh King Jesus pilot me.
Headstone:-
In / loving memeory / of / Robert John / son of David and Margaret
Williams
/ who died March 6th 1870 / aged 10 months / Also Margaret wife of the
above
/ who died March 2 1875 / aged 46 years / Also the above David Williams
Pilot, who was drowned in Swansea / Bay Nov 3 1899 aged 65 years.
I hope some of this is new to you and of interest.
Kind Regards,
Mike
( Penally Pembs. )
----- Original Message -----
From: PAUL WILLIAMS
To: mjroberts(a)glenwoods.freeserve.co.uk
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2006 10:57 PM
Subject: Pilots from Briton Ferry
Hi Mike,
Emma forwarded your mail, thanks for the information.
I have a listing for Giants Grave, bit only see a couple who might be
members of my tree.
I was finding that my family were baptised and married in Briton Ferry but
were buried in Baglan
which i found was a little strange.
I have my oldest Pilot David Williams married to Jennet, they had 4 sons
John; David; Williams and Thomas
sons were born 1797-1802, i do not have more information for the parents.
Then following William Williams line, also a pilot born 1801, his sons
William 1821; Griffith 1823, David 1824 and Robert1830, we all pilots.
1851 Census states that William Williams is a pilot and publican,
Traveller's Rest Baglan
1861 Census states that Griffith Williams is a pilot
1871 Census states that Griffith is a pilot, but sons David 1849 is a
mariner, and Thomas is a mariner, i have found details
for Thomas at Kew, he got his 2nd and 1st certificates and then his master
certificate in Queensland number 43, the ship Annabell is mentioned for
1885
i am still looking for this ship.
1871 Census mention my Grandfather Benjamin, born 1862, who seems to be
the
only one who was not into the sea, went down the mines at 10, then got his
mining certificates at night school. worked in Maerdy 1886-1902, Ghana
1902-1905, South Wales mines as manager and sinker. 1911-1926? Gold Mines
in
Sumarta.1926-1928 Bridgend Hotel manager. 1929-1931 Grocer in Ryde, NSW,
Australia.Comes back to Wales, then has a cafe in Bristol, then goes back
to
Australia in 1931 and 1932 why?
Recently i have found a distant relation and they are saying the oral
history says that Benjamin has a Pearling Lugger business out of Perth or
Fremantle. i have searched though all the available information in Western
Australia and find only one business owned by a Wiliams and that was in
Port
Hedland in 1928, the main centres for Pearling were Broome and Shark Bay.
Benjamin died in Merthyr Tydfil in 1934, i think he is buried there.
I have been mailing the person who mentioned Benjamin and his son Benjamin
are buried at Ynysmaerdy, Benjamin's from Briton Ferry but not my line.
As i see it there were different levels of pilots, the top was the Trinity
Pilots, the river pilots or channel pilots then puddlers, i have come
across
the other two Williams' families also researching their trees, it is
useful
certain names only appear in each family, Lewis and Leyson are not common
in
mine.
I have the microfiche records for Briton Ferry and Baglan, so if you want
any names researched just say.
I note with interest Ynysmaerdy appearing in my family tree, it appears
that
some members of Benjamin's first wife family the Thomas' were from there,
his first wife was Cecilia born Mountain Ash 1867-1906.
My Line is from Benjamin's second wife, Emma May Elizabeth Williams
1900-1962, my father Howard born 1929 in Ryde, Australia.
I have been in contact with the person who has been working his way
through
the achives in Swansea, and has a Swansea mariners site.
Any help would be most welcome and I thank you in advance.
Kind Regards
Paul Williams
----- Original Message -----
From: "Louise GIBSON" <blouisegibson(a)ozemail.com.au>
To: <WLS-GLAM-BRITONFERRY-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 1:33 AM
Subject: [WLS-GLAM-BRIT] Briton Ferry Records
Hello Mike
You appear to have ready access to the records of St Mary's at Briton Ferry.
Are these records available on-line ? If not, are you prepared to do lookups
?
Our interest is the family of Lewis WILLIAMS(c1800 - after 1841) and that
of his son Lewis WILLIAMS (c1824 - 1893) Both men were pilots at Briton
Ferry. We have information from all the census with regards to both these
families, but little else. The daughter of Lewis WILLIAMS (c1824 - 1893),
namely Mary Ann, was born c1854 and married George BRIDLE from Swansea in
1877, and this family settled in Skewen. It is the earlier marriages,
baptisms and deaths that we are now interested in.
Regards
Louise GIBSON
Burnie
Tasmania in OZ
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