It looks as if Maesafallen is in fact within the parish of Rhos-y-gwaliau [not Llangower]
- until 1856 part of Llanfor parish.
"Parish Registers of Wales" [by Williams & Watts-Williams, National Library
of Wales (NLW), 2000] shows that the Llanfor parish records from 1722 are held at the
Dolgellau Archives Office, with copies at NLW Aberystwyth. Bishops Transcripts from 1677
(with a few years missing) at NLW. The records from 1722 have been transcribed &
published by the Clwyd Family History Society. Some Merionethshire Bishops Transcripts are
available on certain websites - don't know if this applies to Llanfor - perhaps Alwyn
can help here as he has transcribed a number of BTs.
Is Maesafallen accessible through 'oldmaps'? I've just tried to get through to
the oldmaps website but it seems to have closed down. What I have been able to use is the
excellent "British History Online" website : access via
www.british-history.ac.uk/ and then click on MAPS at top of page; search for
Rhos-y-gwaliau, and then make sure that you get to sheet 022/SE - Rhos-y-gwaliau village
is near the top of the sheet, with the Hirnant valley going from south to north on the
right hand side of the sheet. Maes-yr-afallon (spelling?) is shown just west of the
Hirnant in the bottom third of the sheet about half way across. Needs a bit of trial &
error navigation to find.
The farm is shown as Maes Y Fallen in the 1881 census, with John JONES as head of
household - unmarried, age 30, born Llanuwchllyn : this should be accessible online. Using
CD-ROM version of 1881 census I have found it interesting to see the neighbouring
households in terms of the names of the dwellings (useful when looking at maps), names
& occupations etc; route apparently followed by enumerator interesting too!
The list of Monumental Inscriptions for Holy Trinity Church Rhosygwalia [published by
Gwynedd FHS] shows just 35 graves. Grave number 017 is that of -
"John Maxwell THOMSON, Maesyfallen, died 16 July 1872 age 23; also James THOMSON,
born at Cwm Cottage on the 17th & died on the 30th December 1883, son of James &
Jane THOMSON". 1881 census, as I recall, shows James & Jane THOMSON at Cwm
Cottage, Llandderfel.
I have volumes 2, 3 & 4 of the Clwyd FHS publications of the Llanfawr (Llanfor) Parish
Registers, from 1754-1837. The original Llanfor parish was very large, about 20 miles
north-south by 10 miles east-west : reference to 'abode' in the register nearly
always simply referred to the area within the parish rather than a particular dwelling -
eg Ciltalgarth or Rhosygwalia. A brief look revealed just one reference to Maesyfallen
(there may well be some more, but they didn't jump out at me) : John WILLIAMS age 96
buried 26 May 1826.
Jeff