I am attempting to locate the Owen family that married into the James
family of Bangor in about 1884. Thanks to the assistance of Peter
Williams, I have learned that as of the 1851 Census, there was a John
James (Widr, age 57 of Harteston, Pembroke) who had two sons, John G.
and William Henry. I have selected the mode of "carpet bombing" as my
means of providing data in hopes that somewhere amongst all the family
linen there exists a piece that twigs someone's memory.
The James family operated a construction business in Bangor. The family
also owned the land where an Odeon Theatre was later built in the 1920s
or 30s. William played the cornet in the Bangor Town Band. In about
1884, William married Margaret Owen (B abt 1860; D abt June, 1951). They
had three children: Elizabeth (Bessie) James, Ellen Jane James and
William
(Willie)Henry James. Twice, William and Margaret separated. Initially,
the two daughters were sent to live in Trefor, Anglesey. Later in 1903,
Margaret and her three children moved to the Lodge of Treorweth Estates,
which was owned by Reverend J.W. Wynne Jones.
Margarets mother was Sian Owen. It is believed that Sian died while
giving birth. Subsequently, Sians sister, Eleanor Owen (Aunt Rhyd
Fawr), so named after the farm in Trefor, Anglesey where she lived,
raised Margaret. Aunt Rhyd Fawr was married to --Jones and had two sons,
John and Richard Jones. In 1881, at the age of 21, Margaret went to
Edinburgh to live with the Cotrells. Margaret was employed at Rydall
Mount School in Colwyn Bay.
James Descendants - Elizabeth (Bessie) James (B abt 1886 or 87; D Nov.,
1956) remained single. Ellen Jane James (B Dec. 17, 1890 likely in
Bangor; D. Mar. 11, 1958 in Holyhead) taught primary school at
Llandrygan until 1919 and played the organ at Elim Chapel in Trefor,
Anglesey. On March 12, 1919, Ellen, a Wesleyan, married John (Jack)
Williams (B May 6, 1875 in Llandeusant; D abt October 18 or 19, 1956 in
Holyhead), a Baptist. William Henry (Willie) James (B abt 1900 in
Trefor, Anglesey D abt June,1942 41? at sea).
Jones Descendants - John Jones never married. Richard Jones, who became
a farmer in Rhosnegr, had two children, Eluned
Nell Jones and Richard (II) Jones. Eluned Nell Jones married Williams
Griffith Hughes who earned the Military Cross in WWI. Nell and Griffith
Hughes who lived in Tregarth did not have any children.Griffith Hughes
had two brothers, John Hughes and [Arthur?] Hughes, who were Protestant
[Presbyterian?] Ministers. John Hughes had a son, Glyn Tegai Hughes, who
ran for the local Liberal office, later went to Switzerland, and then
returned to become the Principal for an adult college and the Chairman
of BBC Wales.