Pembrokeshire
“Llangwm 150 Years Ago” is a regular feature in the biannual Llangwm Village News. Researched by retired archivist Nikki Bosworth, the series offers valuable insights into everyday life in Llangwm and the surrounding area during the nineteenth century.
1865
(from Llangwm Village News, 42, Autumn 2015)
From the pages of the “Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph” Wednesday 29th November 1865: -
“On Saturday last we were visited by another storm of wind and rain. About midday the wind greatly increased in violence and, from two ‘til three o’clock, it blew a perfect hurricane; doing more damage to roofs of houses and exposed buildings in an hour than had resulted from the continuance of the gale on Wednesday for several hours. The roofs of several houses on Merlins Hill, Hill Street and Prendergast suffered considerable damage. Several barges moored down the river also broke from their moorings and, becoming foul of each other, were greatly damaged while others were drifted by the wind and tide and are now left high and dry far beyond the reach of ordinary spring tides.”
From the pages of the “Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph” Wednesday 20th December 1865: -
The advertisement for Wheeler & Wilson’s Lock Stitch Sewing Machine claimed that “these machines can easily be worked by a child and the printed directions sent in every case are sufficient to enable the purchaser to become a proficient in its use without any other instruction” and that it would be “the best Christmas and New Year’s Gift”.
From the Pembrokeshire Police diaries and charge sheets for September 1865, with additional information from the censuses and parish registers and from the “Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph” on the Petty Sessions proceeding: -
On 6th September 1865, a case of assault was brought by Elizabeth Hire of Freystrop against Mary Owens of 36 Cardmaker’s Pool, Freystrop. “A quarrel appeared to have begun about a chain, and the women not only used their tongues, but pushed and struck each other.” The case was dismissed, each party having to pay their own costs. The witnesses appearing in the case were George Sutton and Ann Griffiths. Elizabeth was the wife of James Hire, a collier, and had been baptised on St David’s Day 1812 at Llangwm parish church, the daughter of William and Mary Owen of Llangwm. In 1861, Elizabeth was living at Windy Hill on Freystrop Mountain, sharing her home with her husband and 11 other people; by 1871, she had moved to 45 Cardmaker’s Pool. Mary Owens (née Cousens) was the wife of Nicholas Owens, a collier originally from Johnston.
During 9th September 1865, the police visited Black Tar twice on “suspicion of beer being sold on the premises of Mrs Young but found nothing to cause suspicion”.
On 20th September 1865, George Jones and James Davies of Llangwm, fishermen, were charged with illegally fishing for salmon “with a fixed engine” on the Western Cleddau on 24th August. The case was dismissed on the grounds “that, the boat only being fastened by an anchor, the net used for fishing was not a fixed engine within the meaning of the statute”.
And, finally, John Folland of Llangwm, lighterman, was charged with being “drunk and riotous".
1866 (The Oyster Season)
(From Llangwm Village News, 43, Spring 2016)
Information from the ‘Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph’ and ‘Pembrokeshire Herald’ newspapers, Police Charge Sheets [PQ/AP/5], Police Nominal Roll [PCC/PO/1], parish registers and censuses at Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies: -
Llangwm was once famous for its oysters and piles of oyster shells can still be found in local gardens and on the sides of footpaths leading down to the shore. In Spring 1866, Charles Thomas was employed as an agent for the Herne Bay Oyster Company in Pembrokeshire. It has not proved possible to positively identify Charles Thomas as he does not appear in this capacity on the 1861 or 1871 census in Pembrokeshire but he was certainly accused of contravening the Oyster Fishery Bye Laws several times between December 1865 and April 1866.
At the Roose Petty Sessions held at the Shire Hall in Haverfordwest on Saturday 17th March 1866, Police Constable John Griffiths stated that “I am at present stationed at Llangwm. On 1st February last, I inspected the oyster beds at Black Tar, belonging to the Herne Bay Company, to whom defendant is agent, and saw a quantity of oysters on the top of the bed under 2 ¼ inches. I spoke of the matter to the watchman but did not say anything to the defendant until I gave him the summons. The number of oysters on the face of the bed was between 200 and 300. The oyster beds were about 100 yards from the road. The tide was over part of the beds. I walked between the beds of oysters and passed the small ones through my ring".
Mr Price, solicitor for the defendant, replied “The oysters in the bed are daily turned over with long iron rakes and the teeth of those rakes coming in contact with the oysters will necessarily chip the edges and so it is possible that small oysters will be found in the beds”.
In the same court, John Skyrme of Llangwm was charged with storing and collecting oysters of less size than 2 ¼ inches. P.C. Griffiths stated that he had visited the coach house used by the defendant for receiving oysters from the dredges and saw 48 under the size in the mouth of a bag containing about 3 bushels. [A bushel of oysters weighed 45 to 60 lbs and comprised 100-150 oysters depending on their size.]
Both cases were adjourned for a fortnight. To find out more about John Skyrme’s case, go to the website www.skyrme.info and click on ‘Library’. The case against Charles Thomas was dismissed but he had been fined £3 (in lieu of 1 month’s hard labour) for a similar offence on 22nd December 1865.
1866
(From Llangwm Village News, 44, Autumn 2016)
News from the pages of the Pembrokeshire Herald and General Advertiser September-December 1866: -
Mary Jones aged 70 was found dead in a kneeling position at her bedside in Llangwm. Miss Jones had attended chapel on Sunday evening when she had appeared to be in her usual health. On the Monday, it was noticed that she had not left her house. As she lived alone, the door was forced open and she was found in her bedroom. The cause of death was recorded as cholera.
Elizabeth Jenkins, an oyster woman, of Llangwm was fined £1 for selling undersized oysters in Pembroke Dock.
James Jones, John Grimes, John Skyrme and Mary Young, all of Black Tar, were fined sixpence each for allowing their donkeys to stray on the highway.
Thomas Jennings, a tinker, was fined 10 shillings for being drunk and disorderly outside the "Three Horseshoes" public house in Main Street, Llangwm. He was reported to have been singing in the street from 10.15 p.m. to 1.30 a.m. Thomas was an Irishman, from Roscommon, and lived in a tent with his wife in the parish of Burton.
The weather for Milford Regatta was described as "exceedingly unfavourable as it rained heavily through the entire day. A vast concourse of people assembled on the esplanade in front of the Lord Nelson Hotel, from where a good view of the proceedings could have been obtained if the state of the atmosphere had not been so hazy." One of the races was for Llangwm dredge boats, to be rowed by 2 women and 1 man. First prize of £2 was won by the 'Mary', 2nd prize of £1 by the 'Sarah' and 3rd prize of 10 shillings by the 'John'.
1867
(From Llangwm Village News, 45, Spring 2017)
Information from the 'Haverfordwest & Milford Haven Telegraph' and 'Pembrokeshire Herald' newspapers, police charge sheets, parish registers and censuses at Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies: -
The first baptism at Llangwm parish church in 1867 was that of Margaret Alice, daughter of David and Margaret George of Great Nash, on 2nd January. There was only one marriage at the church between July 1866 and June 1867 and this took place between William Martin and Martha Phillips, both of Hook, on 23rd March. The burial service for 98-year-old Mary Lewis of Guilford was held on 14th March.
Another Mary Lewis of Guilford, daughter of sailor John Lewis and his wife Mary, was baptised at Llangwm church on 15th March. Sadly this child died aged 12 days and was buried on 19th March. In 1867, Guilford was still in the parish of Burton but its proximity to Llangwm meant that many residents preferred to attend the nearer church.
William, son of Robert and Betsy Palmer of Black Tar, was baptised on 27th January and appeared on the 1871 census as a 4-year-old with his father but, by this time, William's mother had died, buried at Llangwm church in July 1870.
At the Petty Sessions court in April 1867, William Evans of Llangwm was charged with neglecting to maintain his elderly father. William was a farmer at a property known as Roadside but had previously worked at Hook Colliery. He occupied 37 acres of land, for which he paid £40 a year, "but was backward in his rent and now owed his landlord £10". The Overseer of the parish of Llangwm stated that the father was allowed 3 shillings a week, 1 shilling 6 pence of which was supposed to be contributed by the defendant. William added that he was also supporting the two illegitimate children of his daughter (the grandchildren being Emma, born in Aberdare in 1857, and Sarah, born in Llangwm in 1860, their father being deceased and their mother lame from a disease in the hip joint) without assistance from the parish. The Bench considered that the defendant could not afford to pay any more and the case was dismissed.
In March 1867, Elizabeth Lewis of Llangwm was charged with assaulting her neighbour Martha Skyrme following a dispute over the ownership of a pile of manure. Mrs Lewis was accused of lifting the shovel over her head and threatening "to lay her down with it". Mrs Skyrme wrested the shovel from the defendant and hurled it away. The dispute continued with threats, fists clenched and spitting in the face. The magistrates considered this case "too trifling to call for further interference and dismissed it".
Snow lay on the ground in February 1867 when James James was accused of assaulting John Phillips. James, who had one leg and walked with the aid of a crutch, admitted giving John Phillips two smacks in the face with his open hand "but they were not severe". The defendant was fined 10 shillings.
David Reynolds of Troopers Inn was fined 1 penny for allowing a cow to stray onto the road and Benjamin Hitchings of Llangwm was fined the same amount when his two donkeys strayed from home.
In mid February, there was a railway accident between New Milford (now known as Neyland) and Johnston. The Irish cattle train, after leaving New Milford, became too heavy for the engine to draw up the incline to Johnston (now the cycle path) and came to a standstill. The guard Rees then divided the train and sent one half on to Johnston and remained with the latter part on the up-line. In the meantime, a passenger train left New Milford. The engine driver, not knowing that there was danger ahead, ran into the cattle train, smashing the guard's van to pieces. Several Irish drovers, who were in the train at the time, saved their lives by jumping out as they saw the other train approaching. The engine was thrown off the rails but the driver, stoker and passengers all escaped uninjured.
1867
(From Llangwm Village News, 46, Autumn 2017)
1868
(From Llangwm Village News, 47, Spring 2018)
An announcement in "Potter's Electric News" (a newspaper published in Haverfordwest) revealed that Anne, eldest daughter of the Rector of Llangwm, had married William Burns Beatson, M.D., of H.M. Indian Army, Civil Surgeon of Nagpur, Central India, at Christ Church in Bankipur on 25th February 1868. It is not clear how Anne met her husband-to-be or came to be in India. Her father, Rev. Thomas
Williams, was born in Nevern and served as Rector of Llangwm for almost 50 years, from 1833 to 1882, and her mother Caroline came from Carew. William Burns Beatson was born in London, qualified as a doctor at Guy's Hospital and served overseas for most of his working life. Anne had been born on 15th May 1840 and baptised at Llangwm church on 18th June. Sadly, Anne died on 20th September
1869 in India and her son - Harry, born on 21st June 1869 - had already died from "disorder of the bowels and failure of nutrition" at only four days old.
At the Summer Assizes in 1868, fisherman Samuel Evans was found not guilty of "burglariously breaking into the dwelling-house of Daniel Skyrme" at Llangwm with intent to steal a ham. However, there appeared to be no doubt that he was in the house and that he did make two cuts in the ham with a knife.
In a civil case at the Assizes, John Higgon (as executor of the late Mr G Lort Phillips) sued Francis Paul, late of Ashdale Farm, then in Burton parish, for non-payment of 6 months' rent and shooting rights at Ashdale and recovered £60. It would appear that Ashdale was then unoccupied for some time as John Eynon, waterman, of Lawrenny was acting as caretaker when William Brown and James Brown of Llangwm were accused of stealing a quantity of lead from the roof of the kennels.
Another case at the Summer Assizes is worth a mention even though there was no connection with Llangwm. Thomas Noot was indicted for making a forged copy of an entry in the Slebech baptism register. There were two classes of shipwrights in H.M. Dockyard at Pembroke Dock - hired and established - where Thomas had worked. On 6th December 1867, Thomas Noot had been promoted to an established shipwright's post but he had to prove that he was no more than 35 years old by producing a birth certificate or certified copy of his baptism. As Thomas had been born in 1828, he decided to tamper with the details of his baptism, a copy of which had been obtained by his cousin William Noot of Boulston from the curate at Slebech church. Thomas pleaded that, "having a very large family, he was anxious to get bread for them". Although he was found guilty, there was a strong recommendation to mercy on account of his previous character so he was only sentenced to 2 months' imprisonment with hard labour. According to the later censuses, he was able to resume his career as a shipwright, living with his family at Cosheston and then at Golden Hill in Pembroke.
1868
(From Llangwm Village News, 48, Autumn 2018)
Sources for below include newspapers "The Welshman" and "The Pembrokeshire", papers from the collection of RTP Williams, solicitors, of Haverfordwest and other items held at Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies: -
In 1868, the parish of Burton extended as far as Guildford and Llangwm Ferry. The stream which is crossed by the stepping stones formed the parish boundary between Burton and Llangwm. Most of the property in the parish of Burton was owned by the Williamston Estate.
On 10th October 1868, Owen Henry Philipps Scourfield of Williamston "attained his majority"; in other words, he came of age or reached his 21st birthday. Owen was the son of John Henry Philipps, who had taken the surname Scourfield on succeeding to the estates of his maternal uncle William Henry Scourfield and who later became Sir John. Owen's mother was Augusta Lort Philipps of Lawrenny, a member of the family who owned much of the property in Llangwm village.
To celebrate Owen's birthday, bonfires were lit on prominent high points throughout the Williamston Estate in Pembrokeshire, such as Newton Mountain and Pope Hill. All of the Williamston employees had the day off work and were treated to a meal of roast beef, plum pudding and "good English ale". Schoolchildren were provided with tea and cakes and, in the evening, a dinner party was held at Williamston House for friends and relatives of the family. At Burton, an oak tree was established near the church and, at Williamston itself, two Wellingtonias (also known as Giant Redwoods) were planted. On Newton Mountain, near the Cricket Club, fireworks marked the end of the evening. All were fortunately fired without accident despite a crowd of around 700 or 800 who gathered to watch the fireworks. The Roman Candles were described as very beautiful and the Rockets attained a great height "occasionally a source of terror to the softer sex". The celebrations ceased at midnight but the bonfire continued to burn "brilliantly" throughout the following day.
Owen Henry Philipps Scourfield, born in Burton, married twice. His first marriage was to Gertrude Katherine Allen in 1877 and, after her death in 1894, his second marriage took place just over a year later to Frances Katharina Harriet Lea. There were no children from either marriage. Owen died on 5th February 1921, aged 73, from diabetes and kidney disease. In his will, written in 1914 with a codicil added in 1916, he left a wide selection of paintings, silverware, candelabra and other belongings to numerous relations and godchildren, pensions to former servants and the main Williamston Estate to the Saunders Davies family of Pentre.
1869
(From Llangwm Village News, 49, Spring 2019)
Sources for below include censuses, parish registers, maps, newspapers and police diaries available at Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies: -
On Saturday 20th March 1869, two little girls aged about 7 and 9 years were left alone at their grandparents' house. The house was at North Hill, part of the Llangwm Hill estate, situated between Llangwm village and Hook village.
The girls found a flask containing gunpowder in a cupboard and were playing with it near an open fire. The powder exploded and shattered the flask. The elder child suffered a severe injury to her hand and her sister was struck under the right eye by a piece of the flask. The girls received medical aid but were lucky not to have been more seriously harmed.
Their grandparents were William and Sarah Evans. Originally a collier, William had then worked on the river as a bargeman or lighterman but, by the 1860s, he was farming between 40 and 50 acres. The couple had at least 7 children, of whom the eldest son was also called William. It was this William Evans who was the father of the two girls. William was a coal-miner, initially working at Hook Colliery, but moving to Aberdare sometime before 1857.
The two children were not named in the newspaper report covering the accident but, by a process of elimination, they must have been Emma and Sarah. It is evident from the censuses that the girls were sometimes left with their paternal grandparents in Llangwm. According to 'The Welshman' newspaper, "the most exaggerated rumours" were circulating after the explosion. It was claimed that the injuries were caused by a tramp who had called at the house and gouged out the children's eyes and nearly murdered them. Police Constable Thomas Beynon, who lived in a house at The Kilns in Llangwm village, was requested by Sergeant Clarke of the Pembrokeshire Constabulary to investigate the story.
The truth was that Emma had invented the tramp story, fearing that she would be punished for meddling with the gunpowder.
1869 - Fun and Games at the Regatta
(From Llangwm Village News, 50, Autumn 2019)
Information from local newspapers available online at newspapers.library.wales and on microfilm at Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies: -
On a cold but fine Friday in mid October 1869, a Regatta was held on the river Cleddau just downstream from Haverfordwest. The old walk of Fortune's Frolic was lined with hundreds of people and the hillside was crowded with locals enjoying a day's holiday. On the steamship "Wave" (built in Pembroke Dock the previous year), moored midstream, the band of Castlemartin Yeomanry Cavalry played a selection of tunes.
The sailing and rowing races included a special event for the Llangwm dredge boats. Four boats, to be "manned" by two women and one man, competed in the race. However, the winning boat was subsequently disqualified as the crew was found to consist of two men and one woman. The names of crews were not recorded in the newspaper reports of the event.
On shore, in the Croft Field, a number of "rustic sports" took place. Apart from running races, high jump and throwing a cricket ball, there was the chance to win a leg of mutton and 2 shillings 6 pence by climbing a greasy pole. This contest was won by a man named Stultz who got to the top of the pole by means of a rope tied round the pole, with loops attached in which he placed his feet alternately, whilst, with his hands, he raised the rope a small amount at a time.
Three donkeys participated in the donkey races - Moses, Betty and Polly - for a prize of 10 shillings. In the first race, about 50 yards from the winning post, Polly bolted and knocked over a stall selling gingerbread, cakes, nuts, apples and pop. The aim of the second race was for the last donkey to finish to be the winner - and the owners had to ride an opponent's donkey. Both races were won by Moses.
In the evening, a dinner for the organisers of the regatta was held at the Salutation Hotel.
1870
(From Llangwm Village News, 51, Spring 2020)
Information available online at newspapers.library.wales and findmypast.co.uk or ancestry.co.uk: -
A dispute between Llangwm fishermen and the Herne Bay Company over a contract for supplying oysters was reported in the local newspapers of February/March 1870. The information printed in the newspapers provides an interesting insight into the local fishing industry.
The fishermen in dispute were named as John Palmer, William Llewellin, John Davies, William Davies, John Palmer, Richard Cale, John Bryant, William Davies, George Jones, James Jones, Robert Lewis, William Edwards, William Morgan and Richard Palmer. The surnames are recognisably local but the limited number of forenames in use at the time led to more than one person in the village having the same forename, surname and occupation.
James Jones and George Jones lived at Black Tar. Richard Cale was an unmarried 50-year-old living with his widowed sister Elizabeth Herbert in Mill Street. Amongst Richard’s neighbours were blacksmith Henry Brock, grocer Emma Trindall and Joseph Towle, an engine fettler who lived at the Mill House.
The fishermen were receiving £1 12s 6d per thousand oysters (an increase from the previous year’s payment of £1 7s 6d) plus an allowance of 3s 6d for their boats. At that time, 38 boats were contracted to the Herne Bay Company. The newspapers reveal that 26 of the 38 men were “marksmen”, meaning that they were unable to write their own names or read the contract for themselves and had signed the document with an “X”. It was reported that “the signature of William Llewellin was written by Mr James Thomas, farmer, in Mrs Shrubsole’s house, in a private room”.
The fishermen were accused of breaching their contract by not giving the whole quantity of oysters caught to the Herne Bay Company. Their defence was that “the [oyster] beds are exhausted; they are getting exhausted all over the world” so their catch was much smaller than usual. Previously, Llangwm had supplied 33,000 oysters per week but, in 1871, it was only 3,000 per week.
1870
(From Llangwm Village News, 52, Autumn 2020)
Information available online at newspapers.library.wales and findmypast.co.uk or ancestry.co.uk and other websites: -
On 23rd September 1870, the ‘Pembrokeshire Herald’ newspaper reported that William Palmer of Llangwm had been fined 5 shillings for neglecting to have his child vaccinated against smallpox.
Smallpox was an airborne disease that had a death rate of up to 35% and survivors often had extensive scarring of their skin. A serious epidemic was circulating in the UK during 1870-1872. Under the 1853 Vaccination Act, it was compulsory for infants to be vaccinated in the first 3 months of their life. Vaccination was provided by a doctor employed by the local Poor Law Guardians and a certificate was issued to the parents. The smallpox vaccine was the first vaccine to be developed against a contagious disease.
William Palmer had married Mary John at Llangwm church in 1852 and, by 1870, were the parents of at least 8 children. The youngest was Anne, baptised at Llangwm church in 1870 and, sadly, buried there in April 1871. So this was, presumably, the child he neglected to have vaccinated.
Without access to Anne’s death certificate, it is not possible to know the cause of death but infant mortality was high in the 19th century. Was Anne’s poor health the reason for non-vaccination? On the 1861 census, William was employed as an Able Seaman on board HMS Asp, a paddle steamer described as a ‘surveying vessel’, moored off Pembroke Dockyard. At other times, he earned a living as a fisherman. Perhaps William was away from home at the relevant time.
In 1870, 5 shillings was the amount that a working man might expect to earn in 1 day and non-payment of a fine could lead to imprisonment. In 2020, 5 shillings would be approximately equivalent to £15.
1871
(From Llangwm Village News, 53, Spring 2021)
Information available online at newspapers.library.wales, findmypast.co.uk, ancestry.co.uk and other websites: -
An argument had arisen in April 1871 between Thomas Clarke of Llangwm and George Griffiths of Burton. Thomas Clarke, who worked for James Thomas at Llangwm Farm, had been out for a Saturday night beer. He was found by George Griffiths ("rather the worse for beer" or "helplessly drunk" depending on which of the men you believe) on the road near Freystrop Cross. George gave him a lift in his cart although he only new Thomas by sight. George himself stopped for a beer at Trooper's Inn whilst Thomas was asleep in the cart. Thomas later claimed that George had stolen his gaiters and removed the buttons. George replied that he had found the leggings in the bottom of the cart and had intended to return them to Thomas the next day. Farmer James Thomas stated that he had seen Thomas Clarke asleep in the cart and that he was wearing the gaiters complete with buttons but Arthur Edwards (nephew of Ann Skyrme, landlady of the Three Horseshoes Inn in Llangwm) thought that he had no gaiters on. James Birch, a tailor from Haverfordwest, had examined the gaiters and believed that the buttons had been removed by a knife or scissors and not torn off. The magistrates dismissed the case.
According to the 1871 census, George Thomas, brother of James Thomas of Llangwm Farm, was a retired shipwright living in Hill Street, Hakin. On Wednesday 3rd May, George set off from Hakin at midday in a small sailing boat, bound for Landshipping "on business". He was next seen heading home again at 6 p.m. The next morning, the boat was found floating upside down, with the sails still set, near Pater. Launched only the previous day, George had built the boat himself. George's body was found near Benton Wood, by a Llangwm fisherman, on 22nd May and taken to his brother's farm. The Llangwm parish register records the burial of George on 24th May with a note that he "drowned in the Cleddau".
In a case relating to breach of contract on 27th May 1871, William Reynish was accused of leaving his place of employment at Llangwm Mill. He claimed that Letitia Harries, the miller's wife, had abused him, calling him a Neyland strag. Although William had been born within the parish of Llanstadwell, he had spent his childhood in the neighbourhood of Johnston and Freystrop. William also claimed that the bed provided for him was not fit to lie on, being a cart with loose straw. The miller, David Harries, maintained that servants often preferred straw beds. William said that he would return to the mill if a proper bed was available. The case was adjourned, with a recommendation that a suitable bed be provided.
In July 1871, there was a dispute over a right of way at Little Dumpledale. Philip Tombs alleged that John Philpin of Llangwm had caused damage to the grass to the value of one penny. John Philpin claimed that the route was a public path. Mrs Elizabeth Skone of Nash Mountain Farm gave evidence that her father had built the house occupied by Philip Tombs at Little Dumpledale, that the path had always been a public one and that her father had never turned any person back. The magistrates ruled that they had no jurisdiction to try the case. There were two men named John Philpin living in Llangwm in 1871, being father and son. At that date, John Philpin senior was resident in the area now known as the Kilns and his 26-year-old son was occupying a property then known as Nash Bottom. It is not clear which of these men was accused of trespass.
1871
(From Llangwm Village News, 54, Autumn 2021)
From documents available at Pembrokeshire Archives in the collection DSO/110, with additional research online: -
In 1871, amongst the children born within the current boundary of the parish of Llangwm, there were four boys who later became members of the Loyal Star Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was a non-political, non-sectarian organisation which, for a small subscription, provided financial assistance towards medical care, funerals and travel to seek employment– a precursor of the welfare state and the National Health Service.
The first meeting of the Loyal Star Lodge was held in the schoolhouse at Llangwm on 2nd July 1892. Forty-four men were present and included members of the Brock, Palmer, Roach, Childs, Warlow, Jones, Phelps and Morris families. Dr Charles Brigstocke of Foley House in Haverfordwest was chosen as their Medical Officer. It was also proposed that members should have a daytrip by steamer to Haverfordwest later that month.
Born in 1871, Samuel Edwards was appointed as auditor to the Lodge. He lived at 6 The Green, also known as Clevedon House. Samuel worked in the dockyard at Pembroke Dock.
John Hughes, also born in 1871, of Guildford was appointed as a “sick visitor”. He had been baptised at Burton church, along with his twin sister Mary Anne Ellen who, unfortunately, died aged 2 years. John worked as a skilled labourer in the dockyard and, after his marriage, lived with his mother-in-law in Port Lion.
Another 1871 baby was John Folland, son of Henry Folland and his wife Martha (nee Havard) of Hook. John began his working life as a teamsman (moving goods with the help of horses) but later moved to Nantymoel to work as a haulier underground in a coal mine.
The fourth boy was John Morgans who lived at 20 (now number 27) Main Street as a child but moved to Parsonage (now Rectory) Road - to a property known as Leaven House - after his marriage in 1894. John had a varied career, starting as a fisherman, then a labourer in the dockyard before becoming a self-employed baker and retiring as a bus proprietor.
A fifth member of the Loyal Star Lodge also born in 1871 was James John Skone. He was born in the London Borough of Westminster to William and Eleanor Skone, both parents originally from Pembrokeshire. James began his working life as a gold-jeweller’s apprentice in London but, by 1895, he had moved to Main Street in Llangwm and was earning a living as a tailor.
These men all played a part in the Loyal Star Lodge to provide a better life for themselves, their families and neighbours.
1872
(From Llangwm Village News, 55, Spring 2022)
Information from online parish registers and censuses, gravestones and a death certificate: -
On 12th May 1872, the baptism of Letitia Childs took place at Llangwm parish church. She was the first child born to John Childs, a labourer in H M Dockyard, and his wife Elizabeth (nee Bryant) of Guilford who had married in 1871. In 1875, 2-year-old Letitia Childs was buried at Llangwm church. This would appear to be a sad but not uncommon occurrence in the 19th century.
According to the civil registration of births in England and Wales, there was only one child named Letitia Childs registered as being born in Wales or England between from 1871 to 1875. However, on the 1881 and 1891 census, Letitia was recorded as being still alive, living with her parents and siblings in Guilford. In 1894, Letitia married Henry Lewis and went on to have 3 children. By 1939, Letitia had been widowed and occupied a cottage in Orchard Row with her eldest daughter Eveline Esmond.
So who was the Letitia Childs that died in 1875? The 1911 census reveals that John and Elizabeth had 9 children in total but only 4 were still alive by that date – Letitia, John (born 1879), Elizabeth (born 1881) and Annie (born 1884). It has been possible to trace 4 of the deceased children – James (1874-1876), Elizabeth (1876-1877), Louise (1886-1887) and Louise (1888-1889). Could the 5th one have been the other Letitia? It is clear that it was not unusual to honour the memory of a deceased child by naming the next baby with the same name. But, as Letitia Lewis was born in 1872, she was still alive when Letitia Childs was buried aged 2 years in 1875.
John and Elizabeth Childs were buried at the cemetery in Pill Parks Way as were their four adult children – Letitia Lewis, John Childs, Elizabeth Stephens and Annie Childs. There appear to be no gravestones for their infant children. The answer to the mystery about the second Letitia Childs could only be found on her death certificate. Letitia, a sickly child from birth, had been the daughter of Richard Childs, a Royal Navy seaman. The registration of her birth was probably overlooked in the circumstances. Her father Richard was the uncle of Letitia Lewis.
1872
(From Llangwm Village News, 56, Autumn 2022)
Information from online parish registers, censuses, Welsh newspapers and the National Archives currency converter: -
In the Autumn of 1872, an argument took place between two young women in Llangwm over a lost coin. The coin was a Florin, a 2-shilling piece, one-tenth of a pound sterling or twenty-four old pence. Its purchasing power would have been equivalent to approximately £6 today.
Both women were married to local fishermen who worked together in the same boat. On the day of the coin loss, joint earnings amounting to 19 shillings had been wrapped in a large piece of paper and left for safe-keeping with Sally Jones. When the two women went to collect the money, some coins dropped out of the parcel and onto the cottage floor. After searching the floor and counting the money again, they found only 17 shillings. The subsequent voluble argument was described as containing language liable to cause a breach of the peace.
One of the women was Jane Evans aged 27, wife of William Evans of Guildford and daughter of William and Elizabeth John. The other was Elizabeth Childs aged 21, wife of John Childs of Llangwm village and daughter of James and Betsy Bryant. Sally Jones was the grandmother of Elizabeth Childs. John and Elizabeth Childs were the parents of Letitia whose story was told in the last issue of Llangwm Village News.
What happened to the lost coin is not known. It may still be under the floorboards of a cottage in Main Street or it is possible that the money was miscounted in the first place.
1873 - We've never had it so good?
(From Llangwm Village News, 57, Spring 2023)
Information from online censuses and Welsh newspapers and from records of Haverfordwest Poor Law Union and Haverfordwest Rural District Council held at Pembrokeshire Archives: -
In January 1873, the Inspector for the Sanitary Committee of Haverfordwest Poor Law Union reported that, in Llangwm, one household of nine persons was living in two rooms measuring 10 feet by 12 feet. This was just one of 900 houses deemed unfit for habitation in the 18 parishes within the Haverfordwest Poor Law Union in 1873.
Other examples in Llangwm included a family of eight sleeping in one room measuring 10 feet by 14 feet and another family of six occupying a room of similar size described as being without ventilation, having no back door and lighted by a small window.
It is difficult to know the exact location of these cottages in Llangwm as the first census to record the number of rooms in each property (if less than five rooms) was in 1891. Sculleries, pantries, washrooms, lobbies and water closets were excluded from the total of five or less.
A cottage at the top of Main Street, then known as No. 1 or Elm House, was recorded as having two rooms in 1891 occupied by Mary Palmer and her adult son. Twenty years earlier, on the 1871 census, Mary, her husband and seven children were resident in the cottage. In 1928, writing from the same property, Thomas Palmer states “I am in the house where I was born and always had a small back garden and somewhere to empty the slops, but now no back, only what the house stands on and can’t go to the back to clear other people’s muck and filth.” By 1928, the cottage had four rooms, suggesting that two upstairs rooms had been created.
Back in 1873, the Clerk to the Haverfordwest Poor Law Union was requested to write to the owners of the substandard properties, drawing their attention to the condition of these cottages on their estates, but reports of overcrowded and dilapidated homes in Llangwm continue well into the 20th century.
1874 - Milford Docks: a history
(From Llangwm Village News, 59, Spring 2024)
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the official founding of the Milford Docks Company. The relevant Act of Parliament received Royal Assent on 30th June 1874. Work began on building the docks infrastructure on 5th August in that year but the Milford Docks Company struggled to raise even basic funding for the project. An investment of £50,000 was promised by the Great Western Railway Company but this never materialised. Progress continued to be slow, largely due to financial difficulties. The docks finally opened for business in August 1888, having had several engineers responsible for its creation over the years.
During the docks’ construction, the “Great Eastern” (an enormous liner designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but, by that time, converted for cable-laying under the sea) was berthed in the dock area for repairs. The docks were designed to accommodate transatlantic liners but the bulk of vessels using the facilities were employed in the fishing trade. The original offices of the Milford Docks Company still stand on the dockside but now house a veterinary practice.
Although most Llangwm residents who were not fishermen or farmers worked at the dockyards in Pembroke Dock, the Milford Docks Company had considerable impact generally on the river traffic. “Farmer’s Lass”, a 50-ton sloop, and “New Providence”, a 45-ton schooner, both travelled up and down the Cleddau carrying coal between Hook Colliery and Milford Docks.
Pembrokeshire Archives is now the custodian of an extensive collection of documents relating to the Milford Docks Company – including minutes of the Board of Directors from 1874 onwards, registers of vessels from 1888 onwards, ship entry and departure books from 1890 onwards and details of legal disputes relating to collisions between ships – and these are largely available to anyone wanting to research its history further.
1874 - Candlesticks for MP
(From Llangwm Village News, 60, Autumn 2024)
In the Summer of 1874, a group of Pembrokeshire gentlemen met with the intention of raising money to honour Sir John Henry Scourfield of Williamston House, Houghton, for his services to the county as Chairman of the Quarter Sessions Courts for more than 25 years.
John Henry Scourfield (1808-1876) was the son of Owen Philipps of Williamston and Elizabeth Anne nee Scourfield. John Henry changed his surname to Scourfield on succeeding to the estate of his maternal uncle William Henry Scourfield of New Moat. He was educated at Harrow School and Oriel College, Oxford, wrote books, plays and poems, played cricket, married Augusta Lort Phillips in 1845 and became a Member of Parliament in 1852.
The Scourfield Testimonial Fund was established with the intention that “all classes should subscribe”. Subscriptions were limited to a maximum of 3 guineas [£3.15p] per person, equivalent to approximately £200 today and a fortnight’s wage for a skilled tradesman in 1874. Lists of subscribers and the amount of their donations were published in the local weekly newspapers during Autumn 1874.
Amongst the subscribers, Mrs Ann Skyrme was listed with a donation of 5 shillings. Ann was the landlady of the “Three Horseshoes” pub in Main Street, Llangwm. The inn had been in the Skyrme family since the 1700s and was not just an alehouse as accommodation was provided and groceries sold.
The Scourfield Testimonial Fund raised just over £500 in total. Lord Cawdor wrote to Mr Scourfield to enquire what form of testimonial would be most acceptable to him. In reply, he stated that he already had a portrait and would prefer a piece of silver plate. A silver candelabrum, weighing 700 ounces and 30 inches in height (almost 20kg and 75 centimetres), was presented to Mr Scourfield in April 1875. The candelabrum was engraved with the Williamston coat-of-arms and displayed for the public to see in the shop window of Stephen Green, ironmonger, of High Street, Haverfordwest.