The Edwards Family: March 2017

William Dennis

William Dennis was the man that should have been my grandfather.

This was a story that was never talked about amongst my family. It was my Auntie Doreen that told me this story shortly before she died. Apparently, William married my grandmother, Ann Smith in July of 1900, just a few months after his cycling fine. A few months after that, I was told that he was killed in a mining accident.

It is a really creepy thought, but if he hadn't died, then it is likely that myself, my brother, my cousins, my mother and my aunts and uncles would never have been born.

I've managed to find his obituary, but so far I have been unable to find any mention of his death in newspaper archives.

We record the death of a young friend William Dennis to the place above who died 26th February at the early age of 26 years old.The son of John and Hannah Dennis, Gadlys Street,Aberdare.

His mother died when he was just a small child.Soon after this, his father moved to Ferndale to live there and he spent the greater part of his life living comfortably in the house of his aunt,Elizabeth Williams of Taff Street.

He was buried the following Saturday at Aberdare public landfill site . The service was carried out by the Reverend D Silent Evans, Aberdare. He left a young widow of six months to mourn him who participated in the ceremony.

Let the widows comforter and father of the fatherless look after her in her misery and longing.

Here is a copy of their wedding certificate.

Here you can see the Smith family's census entry in the 1901 census. It was this clue of my grandmother being named as Ann Dennis that led me to believe that she had indeed had a previous marriage.

After William's death, she discovered that she was pregnant. She had a little boy and named him William John Dennis. I'd love to learn what became of him.

My grandmother, Ann Davies, as I remember her.

W56 Consecrated Maerdy Cemetery.

Blaenllechau.

A Mystery Solved

One day, during my teenage years, I was out with my parents driving around South Wales. My mother saw a road sign for Ystradgynlais. She became really animated and asked, "We must go there. I'd like to see my Uncle Reg (or did she say cousin?) She had no idea where he lived but she appeared determined to find him. We were actually stopping the car and asking total strangers whether they knew where Reg lived. Eventually, we actually found him. I remember him being quite a tall man, with grey hair. We had quite a welcome, with the best china brought out for us. Problem was, I never fully understood who Reg was. Looking through our family tree, nobody in the Davies or Smith line has a Reg,

Then, a few days ago, from the depths of my memory I remembered my mother asking those people on the road in Ystradgynlais. She wasn't asking about Reg. She asked after Reg Dennis.

Look back at the Scorching Cyclists newspaper clipping. There was another Dennis mentioned. Gomer Dennis. To my mind, this was probably William Dennis' brother.

Looking at the 1911 census report, I found an entry for Gomer Dennis who at the time, was living in Ystradgynlais. Also listed, was his eight year old son, Reggie. Mystery solved.

It makes me think that there must have been contact between the Davies and the Dennis family for years after William Dennis' death. I'm pretty sure that I can remember my mother saying that they used to visit Reg.

I managed to find one other newspaper story relating to Gomer Dennis.

William Dennis is buried with his father in Plot E52 at Aberdare cemetery.

I have tried to visit the grave. We made a visit on a Sunday. Sadly, the cemetery is huge and none of the plots appear to be numbered. I've been advised that it is best to visit on a weekday, timing your visit to coincide with the grave-diggers morning tea break. Apparently a packet of biscuits makes them more helpful.

Recently, thanks to Facebook, I've managed to contact Kevin Dennis. He is Gomer Dennis' great grandson. He runs a transport firm in Ystradgynlais.

Index

I believe that this picture shows my great grandparents, Martha and William Smith together with my grandmother, Ann. The child could be my Auntie Phylis. For many years the Smiths lived in New Street in Ferndale.

My grandmother went on to have seven children. One of them was my mother. A few months before my Auntie Doreen died, I was told that my grandmother had a previous marriage. She had married a young collier, but just a few weeks after the wedding, he was killed in a mining accident.

I told this story to my brother and cousins. We were all somewhat dubious about the story. We all felt that it was often best not to believe anything that Auntie Doreen ever told us. However, from research I have found out that it was true. Ann married a young man called William Dennis in July 1900. He was killed in 1901 although so far I have been unable to find any details of his death.

I've found two items relating to William Smith.

The first is a report on his inquest. This definitely relates to my Great Grandfather as I know that he lived at 40 New Street, Ferndale.

Fatal Accident to Ferndale Man- Struck on the Leg by Overhead Wire. Inquest Adjourned. An inquest was opened at the Salisbury Hotel. ferndale. on Saturday morning last by Mr. R. J. Rhvs. district coroner, touching the death of William Smith, married, 58 years of age. residing at 40. New Street, Ferndale, and employed as pulleyman at the No. 1 Pit of Messrs. D. Davis and Sons. Ltd. Henry Davies. son-in-law of deceased, gave evidence of identification, and stated that he had been in fairly good health during the past twelve months. The Coroner: Had he been injured previously ? Witness: Yes. on the hand. George Jones, rider, the next witness, said that lhe was riding on a journey of twelve empty trams on a single road about 8.45 a.m. last Wednesday. When he first saw Smith he was then fifteen yards ahead of the journey, but when passing he noticed that he was lying on the ground, shouting for help. "At this time we were travelling at a slow pace. Immediately I heard his shouts I assisted in taking him to the locking station, where he informed me that he had received a cut on the leg." Thomas John Davies, haulier, who was an eye-witness of the accident, said that he. was standing only half a yard away from Smith when he saw him being struck by the overhead rope, which broke and flew back, hitting him on the leg, thus causing him to fall on his seat. Thomas Johns, manager of the pit, described the breaking of the rope. The doggy had got on to the drum of the engine (the other side of Midwinter, the engineer), which he could not possibly see, and thus caused the two ropes at the main and tail-to overlap each other until they came to a standstill. Mid-winter re-started the engine, which now caused the rope to snap at the cap. The engine had been in that place for about seven years, and the rope was a new one, the latter having only been in use since July 23rd, and during all those years everything; had gone on quite satisfactorily without any accident. Dr. John Williams was next called. He said that he attended Smith at 10 a.m. at his home in New Street, when he found him suffering from a. shock, but quite conscious. He ordered him to take cocoa, and whilst dressing tho leg Smith drank two cupsful. The nature of the injury was a cut on the shin 3 inches below the knee, with much discolouration around the knee. The Coroner Did you see him afterwards ? Witness: Yes. I again called at. 2 o'clock in the afternoon. This time I found him in a semi-conscious state, and it was with difficulty I was able to arouse him. and after I had gathered a little information he collapsed. It was 7 p.m. the same day when I saw him next, and he was perfectly unconscious. "I could not possibly rouse him in any shape or form." said the doctor. At 10 p.m. he again went to see him. but this time life had expired. The Coroner How do you account for his death ? Witness: Some injury to the brain caused coma. It could have been concussion followed by extreme congestion, but there were no symptoms whatever externally. It was decided to adjourn the inquest till Wednesday morning next at 10.30, in order that a post-mortem might be held.

This report was from The Rhondda Leader,
6th September 1913

The witness, Henry Davies, was my grandfather, George Henry Davies, also known as Harry.

I'm not so sure about this report. William Smith must be a really popular name. This happened on 11th August 1900. In the 1901 census, William Smith's occupation was listed as a coal haulier. I suppose that he may have found a new job between the two dates.

A delivery cart on Pontygwaith bridge. Could this be William Smith?

Ferndale Colliery.

40 New Street, Ferndale.

Thomas Smith

Thomas Smith was my great great grandfather. In 1861 he is listed as owning a farm called 'Hermitage' in Haycastle, Pembrokeshire.

Farmer of 105 acres.

Which begs the question, why didn't his son William inherit the farm? What became of the farm?

Some interesting facts about Thomas Smith.

Another family member having a brush with the law.....speeding. This time, a fine o £1/9/3.

A big fine in 1864.

He was married in 1845.

His wife Mary died in 1863

He re-married in 1866 to Jane Roberts.

Alexander and Ann Smith.

I've managed to trace the family back to the late 1700s. Before Trafalgar. Before Waterloo. When people wrote with a quill pen. This is what the Davies / Smith / Deveraux side of the family tree now looks like.