Braichycymmer Farm

1871 - 1911

those.shell.overruns

Also known as Braichy Cymmer House - lies up at the top of Garw Fechan on the opposite (west) side of the valley from Fenton Place The 1881 census geo-reference shows the farmer living in what became the public house at Braichycymmer. The assumption then is that the farm's land extended west up the Garw Fechan valley. However, the same Census shows (4 images later on the same RB11, Piece 05326) that there was a Braichycymmer Hotel - which is more likely to have been the position shown on maps of the time as being the end property of Garw Fechan Road So perhaps it was an Enumerator's error of transposition of the map position, as it was though that this farm extended EAST of the river By 1901 Census, thought to be the largest farm in the area, though most of the land was probably mountainside. Subsequent evaluation using Google Earth would indicate that the farm lies right at the top of the Garw Fechan lane. This is also where Myrna Williams (nee Jenkins) recalled it being

Census Records

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
Edward Thomas 63 Bettws 1818 Farmer of 700 acres Head

Loss of 200 acres - ref. 1871 census
Mr Thomas (farmer) is now a widower
Edward S Thomas 32 Bettws 1849 Not known Son

A middle name initial is included
Margaret J Thomas 28 Bettws 1852 Not known Daughter

A middle name initial is included
David John 22 Coychurch 1859 Servant Indoor Not known

H M Morgan 15 Llandyfodog 1866 Not known Not known

Margaret Williams 21 Coity 1860 Servant Not known

Elizabeth Thomas 20 Llangeinor 1861 Servant Not known

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
A H Jones 70 Weston Turville, Buckinghamshire 1821 Farmer Head

This is a change of family from the previous two decades
Catherine Jones 64 Michaelstone 1827 Not known Wife

Thomas Rees 32 Micahelstone 1859 Shepherd Nephew

Janet Williams 17 Michaelstone 1874 Not known Niece

John Raymond 29 Dinas, Pembrokeshire 1862 Clerk in Holy Orders Not known

The farm has changed hands for a third time

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
Gwilym Jones 35 Garw Valley 1866 Farmer Head

Not known if Gwilym Jones is related to the previous Farmer A H Jones
Kitty Jones 30 Ireland 1871 Not known Wife

Mary Jones 1 Llangeinor 1900 Not known Daughter

George Jones 49 Staffordshire 1852 Cattleman Not known

George Jones (Widower)

This is the same family who ran Pantyscawen Farm, according to the 1901 Census They married in 1893

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
John Tudor 56 Garw Valley 1855 Farmer Head

Annie Tudor 37 Garw Valley 1874 Not known Wife

Mary Ann Tudor 15 Garw Valley 1896 Dairy worker Daughter

Sarah Tudor 13 Garw Valley 1898 Not known Daughter

Willie Tudor 10 Garw Valley 1901 Not known Son

John Ellis Tudor 9 Garw Valley 1902 Son

Jenkin Tudor 7 Garw Valley 1904 Son

Gwilym Tudor 4 Garw Valley 1907 Son

Arthur Tudor 1 Garw Valley 1911 Son

less than one month old when census was taken
Thomas Thomas 37 Llangynwyd 1874 Shepherd Not known

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
Edward Thomas 53 Bettws 1818 Farmer of 900 acres Head

Mary Thomas 54 Llantrisant 1817 Farmer's wife Wife

Catherine Thomas 25 Bettws 1846 Daughter

Edward Thomas 22 Bettws 1849 Son

William Thomas 21 Bettws 1850 Son

Margaret Thomas 19 Bettws 1852 Daughter

Sarah Thomas 16 Bettws 1855 Daughter

Daniel Evans 25 St Brides Minor 1846 Servant Not known

Jane Jones 22 Llangynwyd 1849 Servant Not known

Christopher Ellis 16 Bettws 1855 Servant Not known

RG15 Piece 26919 Schedule 284. The family were multi-language (Welsh and English).

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
John Tudor 63 Fforchdwm 1855 Farmer Head

Place of birth misspelt.
Ann Tudor 47 Blackmill 1873 Wife

Sarah Tudor 23 Llangeinor 1897 Teacher Daughter

Teacher employed by the Glamorgan Education Committee, and working at the Ffaldau Girl's School in Pontycymer. She was unmarried.
William Tudor 20 Llangeinor 1901 Shepherd Son

Assisting Father on the farm.
John Tudor 19 Llangeinor 1902 Farm worker Son

Assisting Father on the farm.
Gwilym Tudor 15 Pontycymer 1903 Farm worker Son

Assisting Father on the Farm.
Arthur Tudor 10 1911 Son

Annie Tudor 16 Llangeinor 1905 Servant Niece

This Census has a map which shows this farm to be sited just down from Garreg Street in Pontycymmer - close to where the Ffaldau pit once was. Still not sure that this geographical position is correct.

First Name Last Name Age Place of Birth Year of Birth Occupation Relationship to Householder Remarks
John Tudor 66 Llangeinor 1855 Farmer Head

Annie Tudor 47 Fforchdwm (Sic) 1874 Wife

Sarah Tudor 24 Llangeinor 1897 Teacher Daughter

William Tudor 20 Llangeinor 1901 Shepherd Son

John Tudor 19 Llangeinor 1902 General Farm work Son

Gwilym Tudor 15 Pontycymmer 1905 General Farm work Son

Arthur Tudor 10 Pontycymmer 1911 Son

Annie Thomas 16 Llangeinor 1905 Servant Niece