6. Thomas of Wallas Farm, Ewenny

Wallas Farm - 1841 (source Tithe Maps NLW and old OS maps NLS)

William and Mary Thomas farmed at Wallas (or Wallace) farm, with William continuing until his death age 84 in 1842. The farm leasehold was passed onto their son Thomas Thomas. The link to the other families is that Mary Thomas (daughter of William and Mary Thomas, and sister of Thomas Thomas) married Philemon Williams (who lived at the nearby farm, Cae Caradog).

Prior to that, the Thomas and Bonvil (also Bonvill, Bonville, Bouvil) families lived and farmed at Wallas/ Wallace Farm, Ewenny. In 1735 Charles Bonvil acquired the lease, which was passed onto the youngest of his 3 daughters, Mary, upon her marriage to William Thomas (who was the son of his colleague John Thomas - both were Gentlemen and Trustees). However William & Mary Thomas (#2 for clarity) died without descendants and no connection has yet been found to the next occupiers of Wallas farm, who were also called William Thomas (#1 for clarity) and Mary Thomas.

Thomas Thomas (1791 – 1856) & Mary Thomas (b. 1803, born Thomas) with sons John (b. 1827) and William (b. 1837)

Thomas Thomas was baptised in 1791 at Ewenny, Glamorganshire to William Thomas and Mary.

Mary Thomas ws baptised in 1803 at Coity, Glamorganshire to Thomas Thomas (b.1774) and Elizabeth Thomas (b. Morgan - married Thomas Thomas in 1795 in Coity).

1833 Marriage of Thomas Thomas and Mary Thomas in Ewenny, Glamorgan by license. Witnesses were Thomas Thomas (Mary's father) and Thomas Davis.

1841 census - Wallace Farm, Ewenny, Glamorganshire

shows Thomas Thomas (age 44-48) and Mary Thomas (age 35-39)
living with his father William Thomas (#1) (age 85).

1842 Will of William Thomas (#1) bequeathes his son, Thomas Thomas all Real Estate (Freehold, Customeryhold, Copyhold and Leasehold) and monies, farming stock and household goods.

1851 census - Wallace Farm, Ewenny

shows Thomas Thomas (age 59), farmer, with wife Mary Thomas (age 48).
With son William Thomas (age 14)
and 2 servants.

1856 burial of Thomas Thomas of Wallace, Ewenny age 66 (ie b. 1790) (Glamorgan Parish Registers).

1858 Cardiff and Merthyr Guardian, Marriages. THOMAS —POWELL. Jan. 21, at Laleston Church (by license), by the Rev. Henry Lynch Blosse, vicar, Mr. William Thomas, of Wallace Farm, to Elizabeth, second daughter of Mr. Rees Powell, of Llangewydd Court, near Bridgend.

William (1754/8 - 1842) & Mary Thomas (1754 – 1833, born Hopkin) and daughter Mary (1789 - 1876)

William Thomas (#1) baptised 1754 at St Brides Major, father is William Thomas, mother is Mary. (Source: Glamorgan Parish registers - Possible).

Mary Hopkin baptised 1754 at St Brides Major, Glamorgan. Father is Evan Hopkin, mother is Mary.

1782 Will of William Thomas (#2), shows that he dies without heirs and his leasehold lands at Wallas are to be sold by his wife (therefore assumption is William Thomas (#1) occupies Wallas at this point).

1784 Marriage Bond. William Thomas (#1) of Ewenny to Mary Hopkin of St Brides Major (NLW). From 1700 - 1823 Marriage Bonds were alternatives to marrying by Banns. The bond forms part of a marriage license obtained from the Bishop of the diocese in which the couple allege that there are no impediments to their marriage. A penalty sum (£200 in this case) is payable if the terms of the bond are breached.

1789 Birth Certificate for a Mary Thomas at St Bride’s Minor, Glamorganshire to William (#1) and Mary Thomas (Possible - Source Glamorgan Baptisms).

1791 Baptism of Thomas Thomas at Ewenny, Glamorgan to William (#1) and Mary Thomas (Glamorgan Parish Registers).

1798 Land Tax Assessment for Wallas Farm and surrounding fields near Ewenny shows William Thomas (#1) owing £2, 4 shillings and 11d for land owned by Richard Turberville and £1, 3 shillings for land owned by Lord Plymouth.

1814 Indenture and agreement for lease of farmland in Wick to Philemon Williams – references Philemon Williams to be married to Mary Thomas of Wallas in Parish of Ewenny. Her father is William Thomas (#1), farmer.

1814 Dec. Marriage of Philemon Williams and Mary Thomas in Ewenny (source: Parish Marriages). Attended by William Thomas (#1) (Mary’s father) and Margaret Alice Williams (Philemon’s mother).

1833 burial of Mary Thomas of “Wallace” in Ewenny, age 79 (ie born 1754).

1841 Tithe maps for Ewenny show William Thomas (#1) of Wallas as occupier of Wallas Farm and occupier of 47 associated fields in Ewenny parish. Some of these are shown on the map above - for which he paid tithes - superimposed on a slightly more recent map (reproduced with permission of the National Library of Scotland - website http://maps.nls.uk/index.html). In addition William Thomas (#1) was landowner/ occupier for a further 5 fields in the Parish of St Brides Major.

Landlord for 21 of these Ewenny fields was Lady Harriet Clive (1779 – 1809), the 2^nd daughter of the Earl of Plymouth and a benefactor in the Penarth and Cardiff areas. She was created Baroness Windsor in 1855.
Landlord for 8 fields was Richard Turberville and for another 18 fields was William Gwinnel.

1841 census - “Wallace” Farm, Ewenny, Glamorganshire.

William Thomas (#1) (age 85) is head of household (born Glamorgan, b. 1752 – 56)
With Thomas Thomas (age 44 -48), Mary Thomas (age 35-39), John Thomas (age 14) & William Thomas (age 4)
Plus William Charles (age 55-59), David Lewellyn (age 16-20), John Edmond (age 15-19), Eliza Austin (age 15-19), Elizabeth Cavy (age 15-19), Ann Lewellyn (age 15-19), William Butler (age 15-19), Edmond William (age 15-19).

1842 April. Burial of William Thomas (#1) age 84 of “Wallace” at Ewenny, Glamorgan (implies he was born 1758). 1842 will of William Thomas (#1) bequeathes his son, Thomas Thomas all real estate (Freehold, Customeryhold, Copyhold and Leasehold) and monies, farming stock and household goods. Will includes inventory of goods, costed at £1,006 and 17 shillings.

[The following is Work in Progress. While it is apparent Charles and Philippa Bonvil, and then their daughter who married William Thomas, lived at Wallas farm – William and Mary Thomas died without any descendants. I have yet to find any information that links them to the next generation who farmed Wallas/ Wallace Farm – who are the William and Mary Thomas identified above.]

Charles (- 1755) and Phillippa Bonville (- 1740) plus their daughter Mary Bonville

1728 & 1735 Deeds (as mentioned in Indenture of 1752)

Thomas Lewis of Soberton, Southampton, esq. on 10 July 1735, granted to the said Charles Bonville a lease of the m. and lands called Wallas farm in said p. Ewenny in the lordship of Corntown, containing 100 a. of land, for the lives of the said Charles Bonville, Phillippa, his then wife, and the said Mary Bonville, their daughter [...] [The last skin of this deed has been cut off].

Charles and Phillips Bonville had 3 daughters:

Elizabeth (- 1747) who married and became Elizabeth David.
Cecil
Mary (who went on to marry William Thomas)

1740 Burial of Philippa Bonvil, St Brides Major, Glamorgan. Wife of Charles.

1740, 1750 & 1752/3 Charles “Bonvil” or “Bouvill” of Wallas, Gentleman, is mention in a number of deeds and leases as trustee (for example in relation to the Edmondes family). In some cases John Thomas, Gentleman, of Llangan is also a trustee.

1752 Marriage of William Thomas to Mary “Bonvill” at Ewenny, Glamorgan (Source: Glamorgan Parish registers)

1755 Burial of Charles “Bonvil” of Wallas at St. Brides Major, Glamorgan.

John Thomas and son William Thomas (1719 - 1782) of Llangan

1719 Baptism of William Thomas of Llangan, Glamorgan (Source: Glamorgan Parish Registers).

1752 Indenture, pre-nuptial settlement of William Thomas of parish of Llangwn/ Llangan and Mary Bonville of Wallas in parish Ewenny (Source NLW):

Indenture, whereby John Thomas of p. Langwm, co. Glam., gent., in consideration of an intended marriage between his son, William Thomas, of Langan aforesaid, and Mary Bonville, the only unmarried daughter of Charles Bonville of Wallas in p. Ewenny, co. Glam., gent., grants to William Bonville of p. St Brides Major, co. Glam., gent., and Edward Thomas of p. Lansanor, co. Glam., malster, a mansion house and parcels of land all in said p. Langan, on trust for the said John Thomas for his life, with remainder to the said William Thomas and Mary, his intended wife, for their lives, with remainder to their issue, with remainders over. The said William Thomas also grants to the same trustees two parcels of land in p. Coyty, co. Glam., on trust for the said William Thomas and Mary, his wife, for their lives, with remainder to their issue, with remainders over. Covenant by the said William Thomas to invest £100 (the marriage portion of the said Mary Bonville) and a further £400 in realty to be held on the last mentioned trusts. The said Charles Bonville also grants to the said trustees a toft and three closes in p.Coychurch, co. Glam., to be held on the last mentioned trusts.

1782 Burial of William Thomas of Wallas in 1782 at St Brides Major, Glamorgan (Source Glamorgan Parish Registers). 1782 will of William Thomas of Wallas, “Ewenni”, Glamorgan County transfers all his lands in the Parishes of Langan and Coyty to his wife Mary, and then to his nephew John Thomas of Cowbridge. He also gives money (£400) to his nieces, including Mary Thomas of Cowbridge. His leasehold lands are to be disposed of by his wife, on condition that her successor in Wallas Farm pays his nephew (John Thomas of Cowbridge) 100 Guineas. (Source NLW)

Ewenny

Ewenny village grew around the Priory and Church. The Norman church of St. Michael was built in the 12th century by one of the Norman knights of Glamorgan, William de Londres. His son Maurice founded the adjacent Benedictine priory in 1141 when he granted the church to the abbey of St. Peter at Gloucester, together with the churches of St Brides Major, St. Michael at Colwinston and the manor at Lampha. The priory is widely regarded as one of the finest fortified religious buildings in Britain. Over the centuries the priory has sustained some damage, but nonetheless it is still inhabited by its current owners, the Turbervill family.

Wallas Farm

Wallas Farm is located at 51.466717, -3.561918 – OS Grid SS916753. Wallas Farm Barn and associated ranges are grade 2 listed buildings, but converted – built mid 19^th Century.