9. John of Tyle-coch Farm and Mackworth Arms, Bettws

Jenkin and Catherine John had livelihoods both as farmers at Tyle-coch Farm from at least 1823 to 1841 and subsequently as innkeepers at the Mackworth Arms. The link to the other families is that Catherine John is the daughter of William and Elinor Treharn of Ffawyddog Farm - and Eleanor John (daughter of Jenkin and Catherine John) went on to marry Philemon Basset Williams. 

Jenkin (1793 - 1859) and Catherine (1795 - 1880, born Treharn) John

Jenkin John was born 1793 to Thomas and Mary John of Llangynwyd.

Catherine Treharn (and her twin Elenor) were born 1795 to William and Elinor Treharn in Llangeinor (see William and Elinor Treharn).

1823 Nov. Marriage of Jenkin John and Catherine Treharn at St Cein church in Llangeinor (Parish marriages – pre-1837). Catherine from Llangeinor, Jenkin from Bettws.

1828 (June) christening of Elinor John to Jenkin and Catherine John at Tyle-coch (“Tylad- Coch”), Bettws. Note all other christenings of her many siblings state birthplace just as Bettws.

1841 census - Tyle-coch farm, Bettws, Bridgend, Glamorgan

• Jenkin John (born 1796 – then age 45) and Catherine John (born 1796, then age 45) farmers
• With 11 children:
  • William (born 1826)
  • Jenkin (born 1826)
  • Thomas (born 1827)
  • Elinor (born 1828 – then age 13, who went on to marry Philemon Basset Williams)
  • Gwillim (born 1830)
  • Mary (born 1831)
  • Catherine (born 1833). Note FamilySearch has Catherine and Mary as twins, born Dec 1832, christening at Bettws.
  • Evan (born 1836)
  • Ann (born 1837). Note FamilySearch has Evan and Ann as twins, born Nov. 1836, christening at Bettws.
  • Elizabeth (born 1838)
  • Margaret (born 1841)
• Plus a John Thomas (age 15)

1846 Sep 19, The Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian.  Frederick Clouder and Geo. Clouder were charged by Jenkin John, of Bettws, with having assaulted him. Complainant said - I am a farmer, and live at Bettws; the defendants live in a house built on one of my fields; I seized a horse of the defendants' for trespassing on my land, and I put a halter on his head, and proceeded with him to the pound; the two defendants came after me, and when they came up to me they went one on each side of the horse, and they took the halter off his head; I then caught hold of the horse by his nose and mane; they had with them a large savage dog, and whilst we were struggling for the horse one of the defendants hissed the dog at me, but I kept him off with my arm; I fell down in the struggle, and while on the ground the horse trod on my leg, until I was unable to move; when I got up Frederick put his fist close by my face, but my son then came up. Thomas John, son of the complainant, corroborated his father's testimony, and the defendants were convicted and fined. F. Clouder in the penalty of £1 10s., and 7s. 5d. costs; and Geo. Clouder in £1, and 7s. 5d. costs. Paid.

1851 census - Mackworth Arms, Bettws

• Jenkin (b. 1794 – then age 57) and Catherine (b. 1795) John are Innkeepers
• Jenkin born Llangynwyd, Catherine born Llangeinor
• With 2 children – Elizabeth (b. 1840), & Margaret (b. 1841)
• And visitor William Griffith (b. 1816 – age 35)
• Note - by 1851 census Tyle-coch farm appears to be managed by a Richard and Jane Griffiths.

1858 Death of Jenkin John, buried St Cynwyd in Llangynwyd age 65 (ie born 1793) (Source: Glamorgan Family History Society Parish and Chapel Registers).

1861 census - Bettws, Bridgend, Glamorganshire

• Catherine John (b. 1794 then age 67) is farmer’s widow. Birthplace is "Lawddog" [presumably Ffawyddog farm], Llangeinor.
• Living with son “Gwiline” (b. 1830 - age 31, presumably the same Gwillim from the 1841 census) a collier. Plus daughter Elizabeth (b. 1839 - age 22) housekeeper.
• The house name has not been translated but it appears to be Syttyisha - which is probably "Cityissia" a placename listed in the national Archives.  "City" was a hamlet in Bettws (source: Genuki). 
• Next door lived Evan and Margaret John (each age 44) and children who may be related.
• The Mackworth Arms was taken over by a Jenkin Elias by 1861.

1871 census - Craig Nantymoel Shop, Llandyfodwg, Bridgend

• Catherine John (b. 1794 – then age 77) head of family
• With son Gwillim John (b.1830 – then age 41), butcher
• and daughter Elizabeth Griffiths (b. 1838) a housekeeper plus Gwillim Griffiths, her son (b. 1866 in London).

1880 Death certificate for Catherine John, age 86 (born 1794) at St Cynwyd church, Llangynwyd. Address stated as Nantymoel, Cwmogwr – which is in Parish of Llandyfodwg and Cwmogwr, Glamorganshire. (Source: Parish and civil registers).

Bettws

Bettws (from Slaters Commercial Directory 1880) is a parish and village about 4 miles from Maesteg, and 5 from Bridgend (its post town). The Llynvi and Ogmore branch of the Great Western railway runs through the parish, which contains some extensive fields of coal. The Earl of Dunraven and others are the principal owners of the soil. Area of the parish, 5,057 statute acres. Population in 1861, 371, and in 1871, 404.

Mackworth Arms, Bettws (now part of Laleston CF32 0LD), Bridgend.

Tylecoch Farm

Tylecoch (or Tyle-coch) Farm, in Garw valley (Cwm Garw) is located at 51.576013, -3.602711. It is near Bettws and presently a grade II listed building  – detailed as late C16 house with detailing suggesting gentry status with C17 modifications. TyleCoch was the home of Hywel ap Gwilym who married into a Welsh gentry family. Tylecoch Farm appears to be associated with various people:

• 1700 – the Morgan family, related to the ‘Maid of Cefn Ydfa’ and were mathematicians who invented the x-ray tube! See: http://llangynwydlowercommunitycouncil.co.uk/LlangynwydLowerHistory.htm
• 1702 Rees Price, Gentleman – patron of Unitarian chapel (protestant dissenters of the time).
• 1802 John & Evan David – petition for nonconformist meeting place

Map below shows location of Tylacoch farm and Mackworth Arms (Map is OS map from 1842-1852):