Hi John,
Thanks for your email.
The last owner occupant of Neuadd Ddu in my Owen family was Richard Owen who died there
Oct 27, 1879. I have checked my Owen database and don't seem to have a Griffith Owen.
The first member of my Owen family to carry the Owen name was Robert ap Owen (1800 -
1871) the only child of Owen ap Robert and Ann Morris.
I found the following on the 1881 census. Not sure who this Mary Owens (b.1837) is. She
could be the wife of my gtgrandmother's brother Owen Owen (b.1827) or David Owen
(b.1840). But this is bit like grabbing at straws and I am only assuming that Mary could
be part of my Owen family. It's possible your Penny family took over Neuadd Ddu from
these Owens? Do you think Mary may be related by marriage to your Ann Owen? Mary's
husband could have been a son or brother of your Griffith Owen?
Dwelling: Neuadd Ddu
Census Place: Festiniog, Merioneth, Wales
Source: FHL Film 1342333 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5550 Folio 60 Page 20
Marr Age Sex Birthplace
Mary OWENS W 44 F Montgomery, Wales
Rel: Head
Occ: Farmer
Jane OWENS U 6 F Ffestiniog, Merioneth, Wales
Rel: Daughter
Occ: Scholar
Sarah EVANS U 19 F Llanfrothen, Merioneth, Wales
Rel: Servant
Occ: General Servant
The following are extracts from my Jones Family History, which give a short history of my
Owen family's occupancy of Neuadd Ddu 1809 - 1879.
"My gtgrandmother Catherine Owen's grandfather, the quarryman Owen Rhobert
(1761-1818) of Bwlchiocyn, and his wife Ann (1757-1819), together with Martha of Penstryd;
Ann Sion Andrew; Robert, Gwen and Ann Roberts of Cymerau and Sian Ellis of Tyuchaf were
founder members of the Calvinistic Methodist Chapel in Ffestiniog. Owen was the ruling
figure in the chapel responsible for paying the itinerant preachers their six old pence
fee, and he, together with John Hughes, were the deacons of the chapel between 1784-1814.
Owen Rhobert, Jane Rhobert and their young son Robert Owen moved from Bwlchiocyn to Neuadd
Ddu in 1809 where they took up farming.
Owen Rhobert died in 1818 and his wife Jane in 1819. It was Catherine's father, Robert
Owen, who, after taking over the farm, Neuadd Ddu (Black Hall), at the age of 19 years,
allowed his house to form the Bethesda Chapel which remained there for 7 years until a new
one was built in 1826. He became a deacon of this chapel in 1835 and held this post up to
his death from typhoid on the 4th March 1871, a month before the marriage of his daughter
Catherine to Edwin Jones of Rhuddlan, Flint.
Catherine's brother Richard Owen born 16th June 1838 like his brother the Reverend
Robert Owen MA (1834 - 1899), was involved in the Methodist movement. Richard became a
deacon and the financial secretary of the Bethesda and Tabernacle chapels from 1864 to
1879. He was said to be "A modest man who made good use of his time to read and
improve his mind and he reached a good degree of knowledge. He was very strong when he
believed in anything."
Richard took over the farm, Neuadd Ddu, on the death of his father, and lived there for
eight years until his death on the 27th October 1879."
Please let me know if you have any ideas on this.
Regards,
Brian
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/j/o/n/Brian-Jones/
----- Original Message -----
From: Paddy Buckley
To: Jones, Brian ; wls-merionethshire(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 9:16 AM
Subject: Re: [MER] Owen Family of Neuadd ddu, Ffestiniog
Hi Brian
The farm at Neuadd Ddu turns up in my wife's Penny family history. Four of the
unmarried children of Thomas Penny (1858-1929) and his wife Ann Owen (1860- 1936) ended
their days at Neuadd Ddu. They were Martha Penny c Jan 20 1895 died Nov 9 1952; John Owen
Penny c Apr 20 1900, died Nov 16 1970; Maggie Penny c Dec 4 1891, died May 9 1925 and
Robert Owen Penny c Feb 5 1904.
The Penny occupancy of Neuadd Ddu was much later than your Owen family, but there may
have been a family link through Ann Owen a daughter of Griffith Owen 1826-1880.
John Buckley
----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Jones
To: WLS-MERIONETHSHIRE(a)rootsweb.com
Cc: WLS-GWYNEDD(a)rootsweb.com
Sent: Thursday, February 28, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: [MER] Owen Family of Neuadd ddu, Ffestiniog
Hi List,
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has connections with the following
family. I have some interesting history of this family, which I would only be too pleased
to share.
It is probable that one or both of the following sons moved to Liverpool sometime
before 1899; Owen Owen (b.1827), David Owen (b.1840)
Parents:
Robert ap Owen born May 27, 1800 at Bwich Loncyl, Llan Ffestiniog died March 4, 1871
Neuadd Ddu, Llan Ffestiniog
Married May 22, 1824
Jane Jones born February 11, 1801 at Llanfachreth died February 28, 1866 at Neuadd
Ddu, Llan Ffestiniog
Children:
Ann Owen born July 17, 1826 at Neuadd Ddu (Emigrated to Australia in 1852)
Owen Owen born November 11, 1827 at Neuadd Ddu
Elizabeth Owen born September 11, 1829 at Neuadd Ddu died November 10, 1866 at
Islington, London ( was in domestic service in London, may have married H Hughes circa
1864)
John Owen born December 30, 1831 at Neuadd Ddu died 9 June, 1886 at Clunes, Victoria,
Australia ( Emigrated to Australia in 1852 married Ellen Curtin 1873)
Robert Owen born March 15, 1834 at Neuadd Ddu died November 8, 1899 at Llwynteg,
Pennal (Was a Calvinistic Methodist Minister - was unmarried)
Catherine Owen born May 18, 1836 at Neuadd Ddu died Jone 29, 1900 at Penrhynduedraeth
( My gtgrandmother; married Edwin Jones April 15, 1871)
Richard Owen born June 16, 1838 at Neuadd Ddu died October 27, 1879 at Neuadd Ddu (
Took over the farm Neuadd Ddu on the death of his father - was unmarried)
David Owen born January 26, 1840 at Neuadd Ddu
Jane Owen born October 13, 1841 at Neuadd Ddu
Sarah Owen born circa 1842 at Neuadd Ddu ( may have married Owen Williams)
Looking forward to hearing from someone.
Regards,
Brian
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