7. Lewis & John of Blaencrymlyn Farm, Blackmill

Blaencrymlyn Farm (Source Google Maps Satellite Dec 2018)

Three generations of the John family farmed at Blaencrymlyn farm, near Blackmill, the landlord being Dunraven Estates. Christopher and Ann John farmed into their old age and were followed by their son John John and his wife Mary-Ann. William Lewis was grandson to Christopher and Ann John and likely born out of marriage and brought up at Blaencrymlyn farm. He married Hannah Thomas and the link to the other families is that their daughter Sarah Lewis married Noah Williams.

William (1846 - ) & Hannah (1854 - 1917, born Thomas) Lewis

William Lewis was born in Blackmill (part of Coychurch Higher) in 1845/6 and brought up by his maternal grandparents Christopher and Ann John, living at Blaencrymlyn farm, Blackmill, Glamorganshire. William was likely born out of marriage – his father was also called William Lewis and his mother was either Mary or Catherine John. His occupation is variously given as errand boy, carter, road contractor, farm labourer and coal miner. No birth/ baptism record found.

Hannah (Thomas) Lewis was born 1854 in Brawdy, Pembrokeshire, a parish which includes the hamlet of Trefgarn-Owen (or Trefgarn-Owain). Parents were David Thomas (b. 1814) & Hannah Thomas (b. 1811).

1881 census - Pen y Bryn, Bettws, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

William Lewis is servant/ farm labourer age 34 (born 1847) working for Henry John (38) and wife Catherine (38), farmers of 80 acres.

1881 census - Newcastle Lower (34 Park Street), Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Hannah Thomas (age 26) is servant to George Joseph Llewellyn (a medical GP) and wife Mary Ann in Bridgend.
Birthplace for Hannah Thomas given as "Trefgarn Braway" - assumed to be Trefgarn, Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.
George Joseph Llewellyn was born 1847 in Haverford West Pembrokeshire. In 1861 (age 14) he lived in St Mary, Haverfordwest. He married Mary Ann David in 1876 in Laleston, Bridgend.
All subsequent censuses for Hannah Thomas / Lewis put her birthplace as ‘Trefgarn’.

1885 Aug. Marriage Certificate

Hannah Thomas m. William Lewis 1885 at the registry office, Bridgend (ref: Vol 11A, p787).
Note this is the only marriage of a Hannah Thomas and William Lewis between 1880 – 1890 in Glamorgan
Hannah lived in Newton (Newton Nottage is a coastal parish - now part of Porthcawl); William in Bettws
Hannah born 1854 (age 31), William 1848 (age 37)
William Lewis was a road contractor
Hannah’s father is David Thomas – farm labourer, deceased.
William’s father is also William Lewis, farmer, deceased.
Note Marriage was attended by an ‘Amy Thomas’ – presumably Hannah’s sister (probably the 'Amley John" mentioned in the 1851 and 1861 censuses).

1890 Qtr1 Birth certificate for Sarah Ann Lewis to William and Hannah Lewis (Certificate is ref: Bridgend, Vol 11a, P.703).

1891 Census - "Hendreport" (assumed Hendrepost), St Brides Minor, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Hannah (age 36) and William Lewis (age 46) living Hendrepost, which is very close to Blaencrymlyn Farm (see map at end). States Hannah born 1855 in Pembrokeshire, William born 1845 in Coychurch Higher.
William is collier – born Coychurch Higher, Glamorgan
Sarah A Lewis was born 1890 and is age 1 (and went on to marry Noah Williams).
Sarah is one of 3 children, with John (b. 1887) & Emily J. (b. 1889).

1901 Census - Corner House, Blackmill, Llandyfodwg, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

William Lewis (age 54) married to Hannah Lewis (age 47 - born 1854 in "Trefgarne", Pembrokeshire)
William is colliery labourer below ground – born Glamorgan, Blackmill
With daughter Catherine (age 8) born in Blackmill, Glamorgan
Daughter Sarah (age 11) is no longer living with her parents.

1911 Census - Parc Gwyllt, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Parc Gwyllt was opened as the second Glamorgan County Lunatic Asylum in 1886 (closed and demolished in 1996)
Hannah Thomas is registered as a patient and widow, age 58 (born 1853 in Pembroke, Pembrokeshire). Note she is not using her married surname.

Children of William and Hannah Lewis:

John Lewis (b.1887 Bettws)
Emily Storer (b.1889 as Lewis in Bettws)
- Married Robert Storer in 1910. Robert Storer (b. 1880) was son of Alfred (b. 1865, a railway foreman platelayer, born Staffordshire) and Jane Storer (b. 1835, and originally from Kent) and living Ebenezer Terrace, Blackmill (according to 1901 census)
- According to 1910 marriage documents, Emily Sybil Lewis was living "Glyn View", Blackmill and daughter of William Lewis, general labourer.
- In 1939 Register, Emily (age 51) and Robert "Stones" (age 59) are living at "Trola Rhiw" cottage, Bridgend with Catherine Smith (age 47 - Emily's sister) and John Lewis (Catherine's son, then age 4).
Sarah Ann Lewis (1890-1974) - see Noah & Sarah Wiliams Tree
Catherine Lewis (b.1893) - see Joseph & Catherine Lewis Smith Tree

John (b. 1837) and Mary Ann (b. 1849, born Williams) John

John John was brought up at Blaencrymlyn Farm to parents Christopher (born 1796) and Ann John (born 1801).

Mary Ann Williams was the daughter of Richard Williams (b. 1822) a farmer (at Tynywaun, Coychurch) who was also the poet "Bartimeus" and an assistant Methodist preacher. Her mother was Ann Williams (b. 1819).

1871 census - 'Caner Bach', Higher Coychurch, Glamorganshire

John John is working at 'Caner Bach', the adjacent farm to Blaencrymlyn.

1884 Ann John (mother of John John) dies age 86. Presumably John John takes over Blaencrymlyn farm at this point.

1891 census - Blaencrymlyn, High Coychurch, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

The farm is managed by John John (b. 1837) and his wife Mary Ann John (b. 1849), farmers
Plus their son Richard (age 11, b. 1880).
Richard Williams (age 69) the poet (Mary Ann’s father) appears to be staying with John and Mary Ann John as a boarder, his occupation being 'living on his own means'.
Plus 2 servants Thomas Evans (age 50) and Mary Elizabeth (age 16)

1911 Census - Blaencrymlyn, Blackmill, Bridgend, Coychurch Higher, Glamorganshire

John (age 74) and Mary-Ann (age 62) John living alone, farmers.

1919 publication ‘The Centenary of the Calvanistic Methodists of the Church of Glynogwy – Officials and Members of the Church' gives a summary for Richard Williams (the poet Bartimeus), his parents Thomas (d. 1870) & Sarah (d. 1875) Williams and mentions his daughter Mary Ann Williams (b.1849).

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/GLA/Llandyfodwg/GlynogwyCM
THOMAS (TWMI) WILLIAMS, Penllwyngwent. He was one of the first members and officials. He was one of the sons of the Gadlys. The testimony we have of him is that he was a good man, and a man of strong personality, but of a very harsh temper, so that he wasn't always easy to live with. He died May 4th 1870, 83 years old.
SARAH WILLIAMS, his wife. She was the daughter of the Rhiw, near Tonyrefail. It is said of her in her obituary in the "Cylchgrawn" (Magazine) for March 1876 as follows:- "She was a pleasant lady, approved of by all who knew her. Her neighbours thought and spoke of her as a good, godly woman. She was distinguished with great tenderness of feeling, she was not able to sit like many before a powerful sermon without being moved by it, but powerful ministry would get hold of her deeply in her spirit, until it filled her bosom with pious feelings. I heard her many a time when I was a child, and when I had grown up, breaking out to praise her Saviour, under the influence of deep feelings, and with a trembling voice." (It is said it would be difficult sometimes to get her out of chapel, as she would forget time completely.) "She was an example also in generosity. She would contribute with a ready heart and an open hand, and she received the cause of Christ in the timely place of help and was a refreshing stimulus by her example through her long life. The continual effects of her blameless life and her Christian journey are to be seen in her family, for the majority of her children are members of the church of Christ in various places. This godly lady died Sunday, December 6th 1875, 82 years of age. She was buried the following Thursday in her husband's grave, who preceded her by about five years.
They had six children. [The fourth child was ..] RICHARD, or, as he was known best, "Bartimeus". He took delight in writing poetry, and he published three books - "Glennydd Ogwy" (The Banks of Ogwy), "Bartimeus ar Fôr Tiberias" (Bartimeus on the Sea of Tiberias), and "Bartimeus ym mhlith yr adar"(Bartimeus amongst the birds). He was able to sing fluently, and one finds many a truly poetical aim in his songs. Apart from writing poetry, he was also an assistant preacher with the Independents, who he joined after he had gone to live amongst them in Ty'nwaun. Mrs. John, Blaencrymlyn near Blackmill is his daughter.

Christopher (1796 - 1869) and Ann (1797 - 1884, born Morgan) John plus daughters Mary (b. 1828) and Catherine John (b. 1826)

Potential parents and ancestors for Christopher & Ann John are provided by a family tree chart found on 'FamilySearch.org', though these details have yet to be corroborated:

1807 July 18, Advertisement in The Cambrian. TO BE LET BY AUCTION, At the Wyndham-Arms, Bridgend, on Monday, the 20th day of July, 1807, between eleven and twelve o'clock in the forenoon of the same day. Lot1. A Good FARM, HOUSE, BARN, OUT-HOUSES, and SHEEP-WALK, called BLAENCRYMLYN, situate in the parish of Coychurch, being 88 Acres of Land, subject to great improvement, now in the occupation of Evan Morgan, at the old reserved rent of £19 8s.

1823 - letters associated with rental information for Dunraven Estates (source - NLW) states that the tenant of Blaen Crymlyn farm, Christopher John, paid £38 rent per year and worked a little coal from under one of the meadows (but considered only a minor coal vein).

1841 census - "Beonecrimlin", Coychurch, Bridgend & Cowbridge, Glamorganshire

Christopher (born 1796) and Ann John (born 1801) living at ‘Beonecrimlin” – one of the many spellings of Blaencrymlyn in the census.
With another Christopher John (born 1816) relation unknown, and children Catherine (1826), Mary (1828), Thomas (1834), Margaret (1835), John (1837) and Sarah (1839).

1842 Tithe Apportionment Schedule for Coychurch Parish, Higher Hamlet shows Blaen Crymlyn farm (Ty Erw Drin) occupied by Christopher John. Landlord is Sir Mark Wood. Land is in Arable and Pasture.

1851 Census - Blaen Crymlyn, Coychurch Higher, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Christopher (age 55, born Bettws) and Ann (age 53) John are farmers of 60 acres
with daughters/ sons Mary (age 21), Thomas (age 18), John (age 14) and Sarah (age 12).
Grandson William age 5 (born 1845/46) is errand Boy, born Coychurch Higher. Likely William is son of Mary or Catherine John.

1861 Census - Coychurch, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Christopher (age 66) and Ann John (his wife - age 63) are farmers of 14 acres
living with daughters/ sons John (age 24) and Sarah (age 22).
Grandson William is Carter (age 15, born 1845/46 at Coychurch).
Also another granddaughter Emily John (4).

1869 Death Certificate for Christopher John

Born 1795, age 74, died Q2 1869 at ‘Blaen Cerumlin’, Coychurch Higher. Occupation, farmer. District Bridgend, Vol. 11A, p.277.

1871 Census - Blaencrymlyn, Coychurch Higher, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Ann John (age 74) is widow and head of farm of 77 acres
with Son John John (age 34) and daughter Sarah John (age 32)
with grandsons William Lewis (age 24) and Frederick John (age 11)
with granddaughter Emili John (age 14)
with servant William Morgan (age 47)

1880 Ann John is farmer at ‘Blaencrymlin’ – listed in Slaters Commercial Directory 1880.

1881 census - Blaencrymlyn, Higher Coychurch, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

Ann John (age 84) remains head of household and farmer of 82 acres.
With daughter Sarah John (b.1840, age 41 unmarried)
And Grandson Frederick John (age 19, b. 1862), Christopher John (age 6, b.1875) and Granddaughter Ann John (age 17, b.1864).
With servant John Lewis (age 14)

1884 death certificate for Ann John, age 86 (born 1798). Died Blaen Crymlyn, Coychurch Higher of old age. Frederick John (grandson) being present at the death. (Ref: District - Bridgend, Q2, 11A, p.344)

Children of Christopher and Ann John:

Mary John (b.1828). See William & Hannah Lewis Tree.
Catherine John (b.1826). See William & Hannah Lewis Tree.
Thomas John (b.1834). Married Cecilia Thomas (b.1835) in 1857.
- son Frederick (b.1859)
Margaret John (b.1835)
John John (b.1837). Married Mary Ann Williams (b.1849)
- son Richard John (b.1880)
Sarah John (b.1839)

Blaencrymlyn Farm

Blaencrymlyn farm is located at 51.564476, -3.532166.