Williams Family Page

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Rachel WILLIAMS was born in 1876. She was the daughter of John WILLIAMS and Ann THOMAS. She married Hubert William EMBRY in 1897.

The WILLIAMS line of ancestry goes back to William WILLIAMS born 1788 at Eglwysilan, Glamorganshire

More About the Williams Family

William and Mary Williams             Top of the page

William WILLIAMS was born 1788 in Eglwysilan and married Mary THOMAS at Eglwysilan on 25 April 1812. Mary was born 1790 in Cefn-coed-y-Cymmer, Brecknockshire. William and Mary had ten children. In 1813 William is recorded as being a labourer living at Park. In 1821 he was a labourer living in a lot near Panty Bach. In 1824 he is still living in a cottage at Panty Bach working as a labourer. In 1826 he is a labourer living at Cwm y Pandy, in 1829 his address is again given as Panty Bach and working as a labourer. In 1830 he is a labourer living at Caerphilly. In 1832 he is a labourer living at Park Hamlet. In 1841 the family is living at Gelly Varth. William is working as a labourer and with him and Mary are Morgan 28, William 23, Rachel 14, John 12, Margaret 9, Morgan William 5 and John BEVAN aged 3. William died on the 8th February 1871 and was buried at Eglwysilan on the 11 February 1871. Mary was buried there on 6 April 1877.

Children of William and Mary Williams             Top of the page

Morgan baptised at Eglwysilan on 13 March 1813. Morgan married Margaret COPLET on 20 February 1848 at Eglwysilan I don’t know if they had any children. On 25th July 1863 Morgan married again, this time to Mary LLEWELLYN at Eglwysilan. Morgan is recorded as a widower and Mary a widow. Living with Morgan and Mary Williams at Park road is Mary’s son Daniel LLEWELLYN aged 17; Morgan is working as a woodcutter. In 1881 he is farming 100 acres at Park. They are living at Cwm Ceffyl Cottage, near the vicarage, Park. In 1891 and Morgan is a farm labourer. Morgan died on 29 April 1898 and was buried at Eglwysilan .

David     see David and Mary Williams

William born 1818. There is a record of William WILLIAMS, son of William WILLIAMS marrying Ann EVANS on 14 September 1842 at Eglwysilan. In 1861 he is living with his wife and children in Llanwonno and is recorded as woodcutter and bar house keeper. In 1871 He is a labourer living at Trehfod; living with the family is a grandson aged 9, Evan MORGAN and his mother-in-law, Leah ROSSER. Therefore I am unsure about the marriage record or did Ann’s mother remarry? By 1881 they are living at 17 Bryncelin, Ystradyfowdyg and William is now a baker still living with them is their grandson Evan working as a coal haulier.

Mary was baptised on 22 May 1821. She died in Eglwysilan and was buried there on 1 May 1837 aged 16 years.

Thomas was baptised on 17 February 1824 at Eglwysilan. Thomas is not recorded as living with the family on the 1841 census, however there is a on the facing page, Thomas WILLIAMS aged 18 working as an agricultural labourer for William THOMAS, farmer at Paidraw and in 1851 a farm servant for John MORGAN, a farmer of 50 acres at Trelwi, Rhydyborthan. Thomas might have emigrated to USA; Lucille Uhl told me that there was family living at Shamokin, Pennsylvania. There are records for a Thomas Williams and his family living there in 1860 bur a burial record would seem to indicate that this was not our Thomas. He may have married a woman named Elizabeth from Machen, Monmouthshire and farmed and raised his family in Eglwysilan but I have no definite record.

Rachel was born on 29 August baptised 30 September 1826 at Eglwysilan. She gave birth to a son, Aneurin in 1849, the base born son of Thomas EVANS. Aneurin is baptised in the name of EVANS. Aneurin is living with his grandparents on the 1851 and 1861 census. In 1873 he married Ann WILLIAMS and they can be found living in Bedwas in 1881, they have two children Thomas and Llewellyn. Aneurin died in 1910 in Ystrad Mynach. Rachel went on to marry David MILES in 1850 and they had 5 children: Mary 1852-1926 married Ebenezer DANIELS, Margaret 1854 - 1922 married John Jarman , Naomi 1857 who died the same year, Ruth 1858=1945 and David 1863 - 1928 married Mary Ann ROWLAND. Their son John Charles MILES served in the Royal Regiment of Artillery during WWI. He was awarded both the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal for bravery in the field

John was born on 25 April 1830 and baptised at Eglwysilan four days later on 29 April. William and Mary had baptised a son John the previous year on 29 April 1829 but he had died. John married Jennet LEWIS on 1 May 1858 at Eglwysilan, They had two children Miriam and David. In 1861 they are living in Caerphilly at a house near the Police Station, John is working as a woodcutter. After this they disappear but in 1871 census Miriam, aged 12, is working as a servant to Richard and Mary FRANCIS at Abertridwr and David aged 9 is working as a servant at Aber Farm for Thomas and Edwin THOMAS. Miriam married Thomas JENKINS on 9 November 1875 at Eglwysilan they had 12 children, in 1911 only 6 are still living. Their eldest son, Evan John died in the pit explosion on 24 May 1901 at the Universal Pit Senghenydd. Their third son, Christopher was killed in Belgium on 17 December 1918 and is buried at Belgrade Cemetery, Namur. There is a memorial stone to both of them in the churchyard at Eglwysilan and Christopher is remembered on the War Memorial at Senghenydd.

Margaret was baptised at Eglwysilan on 15 January 1832 she married Oliver LEWIS in 1855 in Cardiff They had seven children born to them before emigrating to the USA in 1870, They settled near Scranton, Pennsylvania and had two more children. Most of their descendants remained around the Scranton area. Margaret died in 1893 and is buried in Scranton along with Oliver who died the following year. Oliver’s obituary in the local newspaper reads: "The funeral of Oliver Lewis, a brief mention of whose sad death occurred in this column, will take place this afternoon from the family residence, 204 Spring Street. Deceased was one of the most widely known men in this section. Throughout his illness he suffered with a Christian fortitude. Apoplexy was the cause of his death, which occurred at 9:20 Sunday morning. Deceased was 62 years of age and he was born in Wales. He came to this country twenty-three years ago and has been a resident of Waverly for many years. During the six years that he has resided in this city his quiet and unassuming manner won for him a large number of friends. He was a devout member of the Welsh Congregational church and a promoter of all church work. Eight children survive him. They are William B., Daniel, Robert, Shadrach, Mesach, and Abbie Lewis, Mrs. Thomas J. Evans, and Miss Margaret Lewis. Interment will be made in the Washburn Street cemetery. This is the second death in the family within eight months, as on December 1 last Mrs. Lewis, a kind and loving wife and mother, was taken suddenly ill and died in a short time. "

Sarah was born on 27 May 1834 and baptised at Eglwysilan on 19 June 1834 I know nothing more about her.

David and Mary Williams             Top of the page

David was born on 20 September 1815 at Eglwysilan he was the second son of William WILLIAMS and Ann THOMAS. He married Mary WILLIAMS on 9 November 1839 at Eglwysilan. The marriage record states that he was employed as a woodman and was living at Gellifach. Mary was the daughter of Evan WILLIAMS, navigator and was living at Cefn Clwyd. Witnesses to the marriage were Jacob WILLIAMS and William ISAAC. Their daughter Ann was born in 1840 and on the 1841 census it shows that they were living at Gwern y Milwr, Eglwysilan and David is a labourer and they have one daughter, Ann. David is entered as a farm labourer on 1851 census and they are living at Cwm Park in a cottage near Gelli Faanadlog and have five children: Ann, Rachel, Isaac, Mary, John (Ioan) and Matthew. They are in Llanwonno parish in 1861, David is a coal miner living near to the Methodist Chapel, they have four children living with them: Isaac, Mary, John, and Matthew. In 1871 they have moved to Troedrhiw, Ystradyfodwg, David is a coal miner but he is also marked as disabled John and Matthew are still living at home and both are working as coal miners. In 1881 their address is given as 8 Troedrhiw Place and they have three men lodging with them. David died in 1883 at Porth and was buried at Eglwysilan on 3 July 1883. Mary moved to Nantgarw and died there, she was buried at Eglwysilan on 6 September 1900.

Children of David and Mary Williams             Top of the page

Ann was baptised in Eglwysilan on 6 February 1841 and appears on the census that year with her parents at Gwern y Milwr. In 1861 she has left home and is working as a servant to the DAVIES family at a farm called Ty Fry. I have been unable to find any further positive information about Ann.

Rachel was baptised at Eglwysilan on 1 May 1843. On 12 August 1865 she married William John DAVIES at Eglwysilan on 12 August 1865. Rachel and William had three children born to them John, Edward and George, when sometime between 1969 and 1871 they decided to emigrate to USA. William went on ahead and Rachel soon followed him and their fourth child, Mary Ann was born in Sherman, Ohio in 1871, Elizabeth 1873 and Isaac Edmund in 1876. On the 1880 USA census William is working as a coal miner at Norton, Summit County, Ohio. In 1900 their address is given as East Precinct, Akron, Ohio and William is a labourer. William died on 3 October 1914 and is buried in Akron; Rachel died in 1928 and was living at 340 Hillwood Drive Akron. John married Margaret NEWTON and they lived in Ohio and had five children one branch going down to Florida, USA. Edward died in 1871 soon after they arrived in Ohio. George married Emily BENYON and they had five children one branch going to Indiana, USA. Mary Ann married Havilla CURTIS they too had five children but Mary died soon after the youngest was born and the family then went to live in Colorado, USA. Elizabeth married William RIES, they had two daughters. Isaac Edmund married Minnie NAEHRING they had two children Violet Lucille and Robert. Lucille wrote to me many times in the late 1990s and into the Millennium and told me a lot about the Williams family. She married Glen UHLand they lived in Akron Ohio. In one of her letters she said that there was family living in Shamokin, Pennsylvania but she didn’t know anything about them and I have been unable to establish which Williams' family member went there to live.  See The Williams Family in the USA

Isaac was baptised at Eglwysilan 6 November 1845. On the 1861 census his occupation is given as coal miner, he died shortly after and was buried at Eglwysilan on 8 August 1861.

Mary was baptised at Eglwysilan 15 April 1848. In 1867 she married David BEVAN and they had five children. In 1881 they are living at Pen-y-Craig, Lllantrisant. Sometime after this they emigrated to Australia, some of the family living in and around Brisbane, Queensland and some in New South Wales, Mary died in Queensland on 2 September 1928.

Ioan (John) D - see John and Ann Williams

Matthew was born on 7 June 1853 at Eglwysilan. In 1861 he is a scholar living with his family in Llanwonno. He is still living with them at Troedrhiw, Ystradyfodwg and working as a coal miner in 1871 . In 1879 he married Mary Ann EDWARDS at Pontypridd. In 1881 they are living at 26 Mary Street, Llanwonno. In 1891 they are living in a house behind the New York in Llanwonno but have moved to 5 Mount Pleasant in 1901 and again to 5 Oak Street by 1911. This census states that they have been married for 31 years and have had six children, four still living; John (Ioan), Edward, John Thomas and Hannah. Matthew died on 12 May 1928.

Morgan was born 5 August 1858 but was buried at Eglwysilan on 8 September 1860

John and Ann Williams             Top of the page

John (Ioan) was baptised at Eglwysilan 7 August 1850. In 1861, although only 10 years old he is already working as a coal miner. He married Ann THOMAS on 20 December 1873. Their daughter Mary Ann was born in 1874 and Rachel in 1876.

In 1877 John was involved with the rescue of 5 miners trapped for 9 days in the flooded colliery called Tynewydd. For his brave efforts Queen Victoria bestowed the Albert Medal and he was presented with a watch, bible and a sum of money. See Tynewydd Pit Disaster 1877

Another daughter, Louisa was born to John and Ann shortly before they emigrated to USA. They sailed into New York on 8 August 1879 aboard the “Republic” They then travelled to Ohio where John’s sister Rachel and her family had made their home. In the 1880 USA census John, Ann and their three daughters are living at Wadsworth, Medina, Ohio. Three more daughters, Sarah Jane, (Sal) and Margaret (Maggs) and Ethel were born in Ohio. Their only son Benjamin Harrison was born at Kelly’s Ferry in Tennessee in 1889. See The Williams Family in USA.

The family returned to Wales in 1891/2. Rachel, Maggie, Mary Ann, Sarah and Edith are listed as passengers on the City of New York sailing from New York arriving 8 December 1891 at Liverpool. Their ages are quite mixed up on the passenger list and I cannot find a record for John or Ann Williams’ return. A family story says that Ann returned to Wales to visit her family but once back home with them refused to go back to America so it is possible that John sent the children home first and followed at a later date. There is a number of Ann and John Williams listed as single passengers on voyages back to the UK that it is impossible to be sure which is them.

In 1901 John and Ann appear on the census living at 2 Penlline Street, Cardiff with Sarah, Maggie, Edith and Bennie still living at home. John is working as a coal trimmer, Sarah is working as a dressmaker and Edith and Maggie as shop assistants. Also living with them is their granddaughter 3-year old Olive EMBRY, daughter of Rachel and her husband Hubert EMBRY. By 1911 the family have moved to 17 Agate Street, Cardiff and John is still working as a coal trimmer (shipping). Benjamin is the only child still living with them, his birthplace is given as Tennessee and he is a seaman on a steamship. This time they have a different granddaughter living with them, 10-year old Maria (Mia) Elsie EMBRY, daughter of Rachel and Hubert Embry.John died on 29 December 1924 in Cardiff and Ann in 1942 in Cardiff.

Children of John and Ann Williams             Top of the page

Mary Ann was born in 1874 in Porth, Glamorganshire. In 1879 she emigrated from Wales to USA with her parents and lived in Ohio and Tennessee before returning to Wales in 1891. In 1901 she married William WRIGHT in Cardiff and they had five children before Mary died in 1918.

Rachel was born in Ynishir on 17 November 1876. She too emigrated from Wales to USA with her parents and lived in Ohio and Tennessee. Rachel known to me as Gran Embry told us how , as a child she remembered hearing the news of the deaths of Billy the Kid and Jesse James. She also told of seeing the great paddle steamers cruising along the Tennessee River. Kelly's Ferry, where the family lived in Tennessee was on the banks of the Tennessee River below Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga and Gran Embry would row across the river to deliver tobacco sand other provisions to people living on the opposite side. Rachel returned home to Wales in 1891. On 7 August 1897 she married Hubert William EMBRY at Penarth, Glamorganshire. See EMBRY family History.

Louisa was born 21 March 1879 at Porth, Glamorganshire. She emigrated from Wales to USA with her parents and lived in Ohio and Tennessee before returning to Wales in 1891. In 1901 Louisa is working as a parlour maid at Sutherland Avenue, Paddington, London to the SALMON family. She married William BUSH in 1904 in Cardiff and they went to live in Grosvenor Place, London where Willie was working as a caretaker in 1911. They moved back to Cardiff and in 1939 are living at 10 Orbit Street and Willie is working as a church caretaker. St Germans Church was at the end of the street and the church or church hall was bombed one night during WWII and Willie and Louisa had to be pulled from the rubble but they were unharmed apart from a few bruises. Louisa and Willie had one son John Alexander BUSH. Louisa died 4 December 1963.

Sarah Jane was born 12 October 1881 in Ohio. She came across to Wales with her siblings in 1891 and in 1901 she is living with her parents in Penlline Street, Cardiff and working as a dressmaker. On 12 April 1906 she married Edwin George WEBBER. George worked as a milling machinist and they went to live at 50 Keppoch Street, Cardiff. They lived there for the rest of their married lives. Sarah died on 23 January 1955 she left effects of £1500 9s 9d to her husband.

Margaret May (Maggie May) was born on 5 November 1883 at Byesville Ohio. She came to Wales with her siblings in 1891 and in 1901 is living with her parents at Penlline Street Cardiff and working as a shop assistant. On 14 September 1909 she married Allman Victor J. MATHIAS in Cardiff and in 1911 they are living at The Grove, Rumney in a house they have named “Byesville”. Allman is working in a flour mill. By 1939 they have moved to “Farvu” 150 Wenallt Road and Allman died later that year. Louisa continued to live there for the rest of her life and died on 4th March 1969. She left £412. They had two children Allman and Margaret. Allman, known as Jimmy joined the RAF during WWII and spent some time in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp.

Edith was born in 1886 in Ohio and came to Cardiff with her siblings in 1891. In 1901 she is living with her parents at Penlline Street, Cardiff and working as a shop assistant. Apparently poor Edith only had one lung and she died in 1910 aged 23 years.

Benjamin Harrison was born on 26 December 1889 at Kelly’s Ferry Tennessee but came to Wales with his siblings in 1891. He is a young boy living with his parents at Penlline Street, Cardiff in 1901 and has moved with them to Agate Street by 1911 when he is recorded as being a seaman on steamships. He gained his 2nd Mate Certificate in 1915 enabling him to work on foreign going steamships and his 1st Mate certificate in 1918. In 1917 he had married Bridgette Winifred GODFREY and a son Godfrey John was born to them in 1919. Benjamin continued to serve in the Merchant Navy up until his death in 1943 – see Benjamin Harrison Williams.

Gallery

JohnAnn  John and Ann Williams (nee Thomas) JohnWedd  John Williams on his Wedding Day  JohnDavies Jenjamin Harrison Williams
 Ann Williams (nee Thomas) GranEmbry Gran Embry- Rachel Williams Eglwysilan Memorial Stone Jenkins Family (Miriam Williams) Eglwysilan
(c) 2020 Pamela Deans