SUSANNAH WILLIAMS
Susannah Williams is the fulcrum around which the story of the Roberts/Williams story is told.
The photograph of her which survives shows a young woman in a large billowing dress, and quite possibly pregnant. This could have been with her first son, Hugh, born on the 2nd January, 1873, or equally her second son Richard (Roberts). She was 27 when Hugh was born and 32 when Richie was born. People have remarked on how well dressed she was, but she was apparently a renowned dressmaker.
Susannah was the 5th child of Hugh and Mary Williams, of Llanfair-yn-Eubwll, Anglesey, a tiny village on the west coast, near Valley. She was one of a family of 10 children.
Hugh was a “joiner” when he married Mary Gongil (sometimes mis-read from the original as Gorgil) at the Parish Church, Llanfair-yn-Eubwll, on 3rd February, 1837. She came from the village of Llanbedrgoch, on the south-east coast of Anglesey. They lived at Llanfair-yn-Eubwll for the rest of their lives.
During their lifetime they lived at several addresses in Llanfair Y Neubwll. These were:
“Ty Newydd”. Joiner. 1841 Census.
“Penerin Isaf”. Farming 7 acres. Joiner. 1851 Census.
Master Carpenter. 1861 Census.
“Rhyd Sir William”. 1881 Census. Farming 16 Ac Of Land (3 April 1881)
Newspaper obituary 1902 “Glanrhyd”.
Hugh Williams was highly respect in the neighbourhood, evidenced by this obituary in the local newspaper, “Y Clorianyd.” It was transcribed in Welsh into the family Bible, which is now in the trust of the Williams family in Melbourne.
It reads “Mr. Hugh Williams, Glanrhyd, Llanfair yn Eubwll aged 87 years old died on the 14th of January 1902. He married on the 3rd of February 1837 and his wife remains alive and she too is in her 87th year. They were therefore married for 65 years. A notable achievement when we remember that only one marriage in a million lasts for 60 years. Her Majesty Queen Victoria was crowned and buried within the period of this marriage. They had ten children and thirty seven grandchildren and forty great grandchildren. The old chap was popular and of good character and a Christian. His remains were buried in the churchyard of the Llanfair yn Eubwll Church. He was a generous and ardent member of this church and a faithful teacher in the Sunday school (which was held) each following Friday. He received a well attended and respected funeral.”
We must be related to half of Anglesey!!
We know that Susannah moved to Holyhead in her early twenties, as she is recorded in the 1871 Census working as a servant at Porthdafarch farm. This farm, only a short distance from the entrance to Porthdafarch beach, is also close to Gofdu farm, which can be reached along the clifftops.
She married John Williams, the eldest Gofdu son, on 14th June, 1872, at St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead. He was 58 and she was 25. The marriage certificate gives the name Mynydd Gofdu to the farm, but that word “Mynydd” seems to have been dropped after that. He was listed as a bachelor, so there was obviously no marriage prior to that. Given the way tongues wag in Holyhead, I imagine the age discrepancy would have been quite a talking point in the Penrhosfeilw area.
Susannah was certainly pregnant, as their son Hugh was born on 8th January, 1873 at his mother’s family home in Llanfair-yn-Eubwll. At the time of the marriage Susannah was listed as living at Crecrist Bach, Holyhead. (This farm can't be found on modern records but could have been near Trearddur Bay.) Incidentally the marriage certificate incorrectly states her name as Susan.
Six years later, however, on 27th January, 1878, John Williams died, aged 64, and Susannah found herself a widow with a young son. Perhaps more importantly, however, she found herself the managing tenant of Gofdu farm. Her mother-in-law had died in 1874 and her father-in-law had died years earlier. John’s siblings had long since left the farm, although Elizabeth does not seem to have married, and lived on her brother Richard’s farm, Boderw, also in Penrhosfeilw.
Five months later, however, she was remarried, this time to William Roberts, of Carreg y Ddraenog farm, Penrhosfeilw. The marriage was solemnized on 7th June, 1878, at St Cybi’s Church.
Very little is known about William or his family. He was the youngest of 6 children. His eldest brother John, and eldest sister Margaret, were both aged 14 at the 1851 census, suggesting twins. The marriage certificate describes William as being 26 at the date of marriage, a bachelor and laborer, of Cerrig Y Ddraenog (Penrhosfeilw). His father’s name is listed as Richard Roberts.
Muriel (Williams) was very surprised at this information about Carreg Y Ddraenog as she had never known about it. She said everybody in Penrhosfeilw tended to look up to the Carreg Y Ddraenog people. She spoke of a Captain Roberts (the eldest), who was a naval captain. She also said his brother had an affair with Mrs. Cefn Coch.
On 17th March, 1879, their son Richard was born. Known throughout his life as Richie, he lived and worked Gof Du until ownership was transferred to his son Eric in the late 1950s.
Three other children were born to Susannah and William. William, born on 3rd October 1880, Elizabeth (Betsy) 5th July 1882, and Mary on 16th July 1884. Until this time all the Williams and Roberts families lived in the original structure which had been standing since at least 1813. Then, during the 1880s a major rebuilding project was started throughout the Stanley Estate at Penrhosfeilw. New buildings were erected on a number of farms, including Gof Du.
The family bible records that the new house at Gof Du, built to replace the old structure, was commenced in 188? (unfortunately the last numeral is indistinct.) This was the building which became something of a landmark on the Penrhosfeilw coastline, primarily because of its remarkably tall chimney. It quickly became a landmark for shipping and remained in place until sometime in the 1940s or 1950s.
William and Susannah were married for only seven years. William died on 14th June 1885, leaving Susannah a widow again, this time with 5 children. Three years later she was married once more, this time to Henry Hughes, of Llanfworg, Anglesey. The marriage took place at Holyhead Registry Office on 6th July 1888.
There was one daughter Margaret (Maggie), born 3rd November 1890.
This marriage is a mystery. Nothing is known of Henry Hughes, and no record can be found of him. The marriage may not have lasted long. The Roberts/Williams family has stated on many occasions that Maggie was illegitimate and that she was fathered by an employee of Gof Du.
There were always farm workers at Gof Du and Henry Hughes could very well have worked there in the 3 years after the death of William Roberts, but Maggie was certainly not illegitimate. Henry and Susannah had been married for over two years before she was born. Maggie’s birth certificate does not appear in the family bible along with her siblings, although all the others are there. But the certificate itself, now uncovered, definitely records her father as being Henry Hughes.
What is intriguing, however, is that Maggie may have not have been told the truth about her parentage because on her marriage certificate she records her father as being William Roberts. William died in 1885, four years before her birth.
I discovered Henry’s marriage to Susannah around 2012 and it came as a surprise to both my father and Ethel Griffiths, a descendant of Susannah’s first son Hugh by her marriage to John Williams. Dad said that as recently as 2002 when he visited Holyhead, Maggie was still spoken of as being illegitimate when her name came up in conversation. Likewise Ethel said she always believed Maggie to be illegitimate.
The photograph of her which survives shows a young woman in a large billowing dress, and quite possibly pregnant. This could have been with her first son, Hugh, born on the 2nd January, 1873, or equally her second son Richard (Roberts). She was 27 when Hugh was born and 32 when Richie was born. People have remarked on how well dressed she was, but she was apparently a renowned dressmaker.
Susannah was the 5th child of Hugh and Mary Williams, of Llanfair-yn-Eubwll, Anglesey, a tiny village on the west coast, near Valley. She was one of a family of 10 children.
Hugh was a “joiner” when he married Mary Gongil (sometimes mis-read from the original as Gorgil) at the Parish Church, Llanfair-yn-Eubwll, on 3rd February, 1837. She came from the village of Llanbedrgoch, on the south-east coast of Anglesey. They lived at Llanfair-yn-Eubwll for the rest of their lives.
During their lifetime they lived at several addresses in Llanfair Y Neubwll. These were:
“Ty Newydd”. Joiner. 1841 Census.
“Penerin Isaf”. Farming 7 acres. Joiner. 1851 Census.
Master Carpenter. 1861 Census.
“Rhyd Sir William”. 1881 Census. Farming 16 Ac Of Land (3 April 1881)
Newspaper obituary 1902 “Glanrhyd”.
Hugh Williams was highly respect in the neighbourhood, evidenced by this obituary in the local newspaper, “Y Clorianyd.” It was transcribed in Welsh into the family Bible, which is now in the trust of the Williams family in Melbourne.
It reads “Mr. Hugh Williams, Glanrhyd, Llanfair yn Eubwll aged 87 years old died on the 14th of January 1902. He married on the 3rd of February 1837 and his wife remains alive and she too is in her 87th year. They were therefore married for 65 years. A notable achievement when we remember that only one marriage in a million lasts for 60 years. Her Majesty Queen Victoria was crowned and buried within the period of this marriage. They had ten children and thirty seven grandchildren and forty great grandchildren. The old chap was popular and of good character and a Christian. His remains were buried in the churchyard of the Llanfair yn Eubwll Church. He was a generous and ardent member of this church and a faithful teacher in the Sunday school (which was held) each following Friday. He received a well attended and respected funeral.”
We must be related to half of Anglesey!!
We know that Susannah moved to Holyhead in her early twenties, as she is recorded in the 1871 Census working as a servant at Porthdafarch farm. This farm, only a short distance from the entrance to Porthdafarch beach, is also close to Gofdu farm, which can be reached along the clifftops.
She married John Williams, the eldest Gofdu son, on 14th June, 1872, at St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead. He was 58 and she was 25. The marriage certificate gives the name Mynydd Gofdu to the farm, but that word “Mynydd” seems to have been dropped after that. He was listed as a bachelor, so there was obviously no marriage prior to that. Given the way tongues wag in Holyhead, I imagine the age discrepancy would have been quite a talking point in the Penrhosfeilw area.
Susannah was certainly pregnant, as their son Hugh was born on 8th January, 1873 at his mother’s family home in Llanfair-yn-Eubwll. At the time of the marriage Susannah was listed as living at Crecrist Bach, Holyhead. (This farm can't be found on modern records but could have been near Trearddur Bay.) Incidentally the marriage certificate incorrectly states her name as Susan.
Six years later, however, on 27th January, 1878, John Williams died, aged 64, and Susannah found herself a widow with a young son. Perhaps more importantly, however, she found herself the managing tenant of Gofdu farm. Her mother-in-law had died in 1874 and her father-in-law had died years earlier. John’s siblings had long since left the farm, although Elizabeth does not seem to have married, and lived on her brother Richard’s farm, Boderw, also in Penrhosfeilw.
Five months later, however, she was remarried, this time to William Roberts, of Carreg y Ddraenog farm, Penrhosfeilw. The marriage was solemnized on 7th June, 1878, at St Cybi’s Church.
Very little is known about William or his family. He was the youngest of 6 children. His eldest brother John, and eldest sister Margaret, were both aged 14 at the 1851 census, suggesting twins. The marriage certificate describes William as being 26 at the date of marriage, a bachelor and laborer, of Cerrig Y Ddraenog (Penrhosfeilw). His father’s name is listed as Richard Roberts.
Muriel (Williams) was very surprised at this information about Carreg Y Ddraenog as she had never known about it. She said everybody in Penrhosfeilw tended to look up to the Carreg Y Ddraenog people. She spoke of a Captain Roberts (the eldest), who was a naval captain. She also said his brother had an affair with Mrs. Cefn Coch.
On 17th March, 1879, their son Richard was born. Known throughout his life as Richie, he lived and worked Gof Du until ownership was transferred to his son Eric in the late 1950s.
Three other children were born to Susannah and William. William, born on 3rd October 1880, Elizabeth (Betsy) 5th July 1882, and Mary on 16th July 1884. Until this time all the Williams and Roberts families lived in the original structure which had been standing since at least 1813. Then, during the 1880s a major rebuilding project was started throughout the Stanley Estate at Penrhosfeilw. New buildings were erected on a number of farms, including Gof Du.
The family bible records that the new house at Gof Du, built to replace the old structure, was commenced in 188? (unfortunately the last numeral is indistinct.) This was the building which became something of a landmark on the Penrhosfeilw coastline, primarily because of its remarkably tall chimney. It quickly became a landmark for shipping and remained in place until sometime in the 1940s or 1950s.
William and Susannah were married for only seven years. William died on 14th June 1885, leaving Susannah a widow again, this time with 5 children. Three years later she was married once more, this time to Henry Hughes, of Llanfworg, Anglesey. The marriage took place at Holyhead Registry Office on 6th July 1888.
There was one daughter Margaret (Maggie), born 3rd November 1890.
This marriage is a mystery. Nothing is known of Henry Hughes, and no record can be found of him. The marriage may not have lasted long. The Roberts/Williams family has stated on many occasions that Maggie was illegitimate and that she was fathered by an employee of Gof Du.
There were always farm workers at Gof Du and Henry Hughes could very well have worked there in the 3 years after the death of William Roberts, but Maggie was certainly not illegitimate. Henry and Susannah had been married for over two years before she was born. Maggie’s birth certificate does not appear in the family bible along with her siblings, although all the others are there. But the certificate itself, now uncovered, definitely records her father as being Henry Hughes.
What is intriguing, however, is that Maggie may have not have been told the truth about her parentage because on her marriage certificate she records her father as being William Roberts. William died in 1885, four years before her birth.
I discovered Henry’s marriage to Susannah around 2012 and it came as a surprise to both my father and Ethel Griffiths, a descendant of Susannah’s first son Hugh by her marriage to John Williams. Dad said that as recently as 2002 when he visited Holyhead, Maggie was still spoken of as being illegitimate when her name came up in conversation. Likewise Ethel said she always believed Maggie to be illegitimate.
RICHIE ROBERTS
For our purposes the most important person in this story is Richie, Susannah’s son by William Roberts.
For many years Richie and his step-brother worked the farm between them but at some point Hugh left and went to live in Liverpool. As a result of the inheritance from his uncle Richard he appears to have been reasonably well off.
Hugh, now living in Liverpool, was described by his grandson David Williams as a bit of a dandy. He always wore pinstriped suits with waistcoat and spats and owned a small plot of land on which he grew vegetables. Flo bought the seeds and Hugh planted and grew them, then apparently sold the vegetables to his wife.
But at some point a dispute arose concerning the continued “ownership” of Gof Du farm.
After the departure of Hugh, Richie continued farming at Gof Du until he married Kate Jones (Katherine Ellen) in 1912, at the age of 32. At that time he left the farm and worked in the building industry in and around Holyhead until called up for active service in the First World War.
Step-brother, Hugh, who by now had settled in Liverpool and married Ellen Vose, had a son named George. George worked at the farm during the war years for his grandmother. According to my mother Eva, George knew little about farming. He was there from 1912 until 1918 approximately. He then went back to Liverpool and married Florence Alice Swan (Flossie).
Richie returned from the War to Gof Du and continued farming there.
On the death of his mother on 2nd April 1932 Richie applied to Lord Stanley, owner of the estate, for full tenancy of the farm. This was done through the Estate’s agent, Captain Nigel Conant. A conflict arose between Richie, Hugh (his step-brother) and Hugh’s son George (Richie’s nephew), as to who was most entitled to the tenancy.
Captain Conant, who was apparently the sole arbiter, determined that Richie had the greater entitlement, and to him passed the authorised tenancy.
According to Eva, Captain Conant told Richie “You have been longest at the farm and you are the one who is entitled to it.”
She says the dispute over who should get the farm created much friction between step-brothers and nephew, which continued during their lifetime, and endured into the next generation.
At the outbreak of the 2nd World War in 1939, Penrhos was evacuated and the house occupied by troops. During this time the house and grounds were neglected and became ruinous in places.
When the war ended, the existing tenants were given the opportunity to buy their properties and the remaining estate, covering thousands of acres, was sold off. The Penrhos mansion was bought by Sir Patrick Abercrombie with a view to its partial restoration. Sadly, his ambition was never realised. Instead the remains were systematically plundered and subsequently demolished. The Home Farm at Penrhos was bought by Captain Nigel Conant, the estate’s land agent, who continued to farm some 500 acres until its sale in 1969 - for the development of the Anglesey Aluminium smelting plant.
I have been unable to ascertain whether or not Richie and wife Kate did in fact purchase Gof Du from the Penrhos Estate but it is possible. Title did, however, move to his son Eric in 1957.
Over three marriages Susannah had a total of 6 children.
These were Hugh, by her first husband John Williams;
Richard, William, Elizabeth (Betsy) and Mary by William Roberts
And Margaret (Maggie) by Henry Hughes.
Apart from Hugh, who went to Liverpool, it’s my understanding that all the other members of that generation remained in and around Holyhead.
Richie and Katherine Ellen (Kate, nee Jones) married at Holyhead Registry Office on 31st August, 1911. Kate herself was one of 16 children to Edward (Jack) and Mary Jones of 6 Baker St. Holyhead. It was apparently a very small house, now demolished, and how so many children could have been reared there is mind boggling.
Now resident at Gof Du Richie and Kate had 11 children, of whom 8 survived.
They were:
Edward Richard, born 07/02/1912, died 22/12/1961
Myfanwy, born 1913 (died at 6 months). A DOB is difficult to ascertain. The Anglesey Birth Records have two Myfanwy Roberts born Holyhead in 1913. The first date is 26/06/1913 and the second is 05/08/1913. In both cases the parents’ names are missing. The only clue is the mother’s maiden name, given as Jones in both cases.
William Glynne, born 06/04/1916, died 02/06/1967
Eric Lloyd, born 03/07/1918, died 19/06/1968
Cyril, born 10/04/1920, died 22/12/1991
Muriel, born 03/04/1922, died 08/09/2010
Eva Kathleen, born 24/12/1923, died 30/01/2000
Trevor Wyn, 24/02/1928, died 08/07/1982
Jane, c1929, (I can find no record of her birth. Possibly Stillborn), and
Susan, DOB unknown (Stillborn).
In relation to the above family it’s interesting to note that the Anglesey Birth Index does not record the name of either the father or mother. The only clue is the mother’s maiden name, which is given as Jones in all entries. Had I not known the actual birthdates it would be difficult to trace this family from the birth records alone.
All the children grew up at Gof du and became part of the Penrhosfeilw community. They went to the Penrhosfeilw Chapel, on the corner of South Stack Rd. and Plas Rd, which had been built in 1895, with a spectacular view towards the Irish sea to the west and Snowdonia to the south. It remained a functioning chapel until 2000 when it was sold into private hands. It was later beautifully renovated and made available for rental to holidaymakers.
The Chapel records for 1896, one year after its opening, show Richard Roberts, at the age of 8 was a member of the congregation, and contributed four shillings to the collection. Similar amounts are shown for the following 4 years.
The Gof Du family appears in the records several times over the following years, the last being in 1949.
Incidentally, there are several versions of the farm’s name. Initially it seems to have been called Mynydd Gof Du. Later the Mynydd was dropped and it became simply Gof Du. At other times the name was spelled Gof Dy, and at other times the name became Gofdu (one word). This itself became abbreviated later to Godu. The chapel records up to 1949 say Gof Du.
For many years Richie and his step-brother worked the farm between them but at some point Hugh left and went to live in Liverpool. As a result of the inheritance from his uncle Richard he appears to have been reasonably well off.
Hugh, now living in Liverpool, was described by his grandson David Williams as a bit of a dandy. He always wore pinstriped suits with waistcoat and spats and owned a small plot of land on which he grew vegetables. Flo bought the seeds and Hugh planted and grew them, then apparently sold the vegetables to his wife.
But at some point a dispute arose concerning the continued “ownership” of Gof Du farm.
After the departure of Hugh, Richie continued farming at Gof Du until he married Kate Jones (Katherine Ellen) in 1912, at the age of 32. At that time he left the farm and worked in the building industry in and around Holyhead until called up for active service in the First World War.
Step-brother, Hugh, who by now had settled in Liverpool and married Ellen Vose, had a son named George. George worked at the farm during the war years for his grandmother. According to my mother Eva, George knew little about farming. He was there from 1912 until 1918 approximately. He then went back to Liverpool and married Florence Alice Swan (Flossie).
Richie returned from the War to Gof Du and continued farming there.
On the death of his mother on 2nd April 1932 Richie applied to Lord Stanley, owner of the estate, for full tenancy of the farm. This was done through the Estate’s agent, Captain Nigel Conant. A conflict arose between Richie, Hugh (his step-brother) and Hugh’s son George (Richie’s nephew), as to who was most entitled to the tenancy.
Captain Conant, who was apparently the sole arbiter, determined that Richie had the greater entitlement, and to him passed the authorised tenancy.
According to Eva, Captain Conant told Richie “You have been longest at the farm and you are the one who is entitled to it.”
She says the dispute over who should get the farm created much friction between step-brothers and nephew, which continued during their lifetime, and endured into the next generation.
At the outbreak of the 2nd World War in 1939, Penrhos was evacuated and the house occupied by troops. During this time the house and grounds were neglected and became ruinous in places.
When the war ended, the existing tenants were given the opportunity to buy their properties and the remaining estate, covering thousands of acres, was sold off. The Penrhos mansion was bought by Sir Patrick Abercrombie with a view to its partial restoration. Sadly, his ambition was never realised. Instead the remains were systematically plundered and subsequently demolished. The Home Farm at Penrhos was bought by Captain Nigel Conant, the estate’s land agent, who continued to farm some 500 acres until its sale in 1969 - for the development of the Anglesey Aluminium smelting plant.
I have been unable to ascertain whether or not Richie and wife Kate did in fact purchase Gof Du from the Penrhos Estate but it is possible. Title did, however, move to his son Eric in 1957.
Over three marriages Susannah had a total of 6 children.
These were Hugh, by her first husband John Williams;
Richard, William, Elizabeth (Betsy) and Mary by William Roberts
And Margaret (Maggie) by Henry Hughes.
Apart from Hugh, who went to Liverpool, it’s my understanding that all the other members of that generation remained in and around Holyhead.
Richie and Katherine Ellen (Kate, nee Jones) married at Holyhead Registry Office on 31st August, 1911. Kate herself was one of 16 children to Edward (Jack) and Mary Jones of 6 Baker St. Holyhead. It was apparently a very small house, now demolished, and how so many children could have been reared there is mind boggling.
Now resident at Gof Du Richie and Kate had 11 children, of whom 8 survived.
They were:
Edward Richard, born 07/02/1912, died 22/12/1961
Myfanwy, born 1913 (died at 6 months). A DOB is difficult to ascertain. The Anglesey Birth Records have two Myfanwy Roberts born Holyhead in 1913. The first date is 26/06/1913 and the second is 05/08/1913. In both cases the parents’ names are missing. The only clue is the mother’s maiden name, given as Jones in both cases.
William Glynne, born 06/04/1916, died 02/06/1967
Eric Lloyd, born 03/07/1918, died 19/06/1968
Cyril, born 10/04/1920, died 22/12/1991
Muriel, born 03/04/1922, died 08/09/2010
Eva Kathleen, born 24/12/1923, died 30/01/2000
Trevor Wyn, 24/02/1928, died 08/07/1982
Jane, c1929, (I can find no record of her birth. Possibly Stillborn), and
Susan, DOB unknown (Stillborn).
In relation to the above family it’s interesting to note that the Anglesey Birth Index does not record the name of either the father or mother. The only clue is the mother’s maiden name, which is given as Jones in all entries. Had I not known the actual birthdates it would be difficult to trace this family from the birth records alone.
All the children grew up at Gof du and became part of the Penrhosfeilw community. They went to the Penrhosfeilw Chapel, on the corner of South Stack Rd. and Plas Rd, which had been built in 1895, with a spectacular view towards the Irish sea to the west and Snowdonia to the south. It remained a functioning chapel until 2000 when it was sold into private hands. It was later beautifully renovated and made available for rental to holidaymakers.
The Chapel records for 1896, one year after its opening, show Richard Roberts, at the age of 8 was a member of the congregation, and contributed four shillings to the collection. Similar amounts are shown for the following 4 years.
The Gof Du family appears in the records several times over the following years, the last being in 1949.
Incidentally, there are several versions of the farm’s name. Initially it seems to have been called Mynydd Gof Du. Later the Mynydd was dropped and it became simply Gof Du. At other times the name was spelled Gof Dy, and at other times the name became Gofdu (one word). This itself became abbreviated later to Godu. The chapel records up to 1949 say Gof Du.
“PRIMROSE HILL”
On the 28th of December 1900, The barque “Primrose Hill”, bound for Australia from Liverpool, sent a distress signal in mountainous seas near South Stack Lighthouse. Several attempts were made to get a line to her, but all failed. Even the passenger ship Hibernia got close, but had to call it off because she was herself in danger. Over a period of several hours the Primrose Hill was blown south into Abraham’s bosom, just north of Gof Du, and eventually struck a submerged rock near Penrhos Point. Before the Rocket apparatus could get into position the barque had gone to pieces. Richie, then aged 19, was one of a number of men who tried to rescue the sailors by forming a human chain into the sea. Despite their efforts only one of the crew of 33 were saved.
PORTHDAFARCH
Penrhosfeilw is an area rich with play areas for growing children, but also potentially dangerous. The farm borders the steep cliffs to the south and access to the Porth Gof Du beach was restricted to low tides. To the west of the farm was what is known as “The Range”, an area cordoned off by military forces as a gunnery and rifle practice area.
The favourite play area around Gof Du was, of course, Porthdafarch Beach, easily accessible from the farm, although occasionally there would be visits to Porth Gof Du, accessible only at low tide. And even then it was a tricky climb up and down.
Porthdafarch is rightly known as one of the best beaches in Anglesey and is always full of people during the summer holidays. It is blessed with warm water from the Gulf Stream. Porthdafarch is a Welsh word which literally translates as “Port of two horses.” An odd name and not one easily researched. We do know, however, that it has been called that for over 350 years. It appears as far back as 1645 in Mercator’s Map of Anglesey.
In 2010 a slate tablet was placed on the wall behind the beach. No one seems to know who put it there. On the slate appears an ode to Porthdafarch Beach.
Porthdafarch
Softly the swish
Between the earth and the sky
Fulfilling my wish
Of a homestead close by
Where I in this place
Know the warm sense of grace
Its sounds and its air
Speak a mirth so aware
That the earth in its song
Filled my heart for so long
Broad reach of the seas
Soft clouds racing by
Such winds as these
Cause my spirit to fly
To where Gulls take wing
With long plaintive cry
To haunt my quiet thought
With life’s longing
A sigh
Poem written by
John Arnold Fenton 1931 - 2007
Another plaque nearby commemorates Samuel Jonathan Griffith 1850-1893 (Bardic name Morswyn), known for his famous Welsh hymn "CRAIG YR OESOEDD". Morswyn married Jane Elin Thomas from Kingsland, Holyhead. They lived at 7 Kingsland and suffered the loss of both their children Ifan Huw (1877 - 1880) and Jane Elin. (1882). Morswyn also died at a young age (43) on August 10th 1893 and was buried at Maes Hyfryd cemetery, Holyhead.
This hymn perhaps sums up his sorrow at the deaths of his children:
In the deep and troubled waters
Jesus is mine only Friend:
He will lead me through the river,
There my sorrows all shall end;
Jesus clings when all friends fail me,
Jesus soothes my soul's alarms;
Soon I cross the stormy Jordan,
Singing in my Saviour's arms.
My father, however, Proposed another (possibly apocryphal) version of how this hymn came to be written. He said that Griffith was wandering, drunk along the clifftops of Porthdafarch when he fell down on to the beach. As he lay waiting for help the words of the hymn came to him.
Gof Du farm was managed and worked by Richie all his working life. He was of course helped by his 5 sons and others who regularly visited. The farm became well-known during the summers because the field at the front of the farm-house was made available to campers, many of whom came from all parts of North Wales. They purchased milk and produce from Kate, and explored the picturesque surrounds, including South Stack island and lighthouse only a few kilometres to the north.
This arrangement went on for many years, and may even continue today. For the Roberts family it was a convenient way to supplement the earnings necessary to feed and clothe a large family.
The favourite play area around Gof Du was, of course, Porthdafarch Beach, easily accessible from the farm, although occasionally there would be visits to Porth Gof Du, accessible only at low tide. And even then it was a tricky climb up and down.
Porthdafarch is rightly known as one of the best beaches in Anglesey and is always full of people during the summer holidays. It is blessed with warm water from the Gulf Stream. Porthdafarch is a Welsh word which literally translates as “Port of two horses.” An odd name and not one easily researched. We do know, however, that it has been called that for over 350 years. It appears as far back as 1645 in Mercator’s Map of Anglesey.
In 2010 a slate tablet was placed on the wall behind the beach. No one seems to know who put it there. On the slate appears an ode to Porthdafarch Beach.
Porthdafarch
Softly the swish
Between the earth and the sky
Fulfilling my wish
Of a homestead close by
Where I in this place
Know the warm sense of grace
Its sounds and its air
Speak a mirth so aware
That the earth in its song
Filled my heart for so long
Broad reach of the seas
Soft clouds racing by
Such winds as these
Cause my spirit to fly
To where Gulls take wing
With long plaintive cry
To haunt my quiet thought
With life’s longing
A sigh
Poem written by
John Arnold Fenton 1931 - 2007
Another plaque nearby commemorates Samuel Jonathan Griffith 1850-1893 (Bardic name Morswyn), known for his famous Welsh hymn "CRAIG YR OESOEDD". Morswyn married Jane Elin Thomas from Kingsland, Holyhead. They lived at 7 Kingsland and suffered the loss of both their children Ifan Huw (1877 - 1880) and Jane Elin. (1882). Morswyn also died at a young age (43) on August 10th 1893 and was buried at Maes Hyfryd cemetery, Holyhead.
This hymn perhaps sums up his sorrow at the deaths of his children:
In the deep and troubled waters
Jesus is mine only Friend:
He will lead me through the river,
There my sorrows all shall end;
Jesus clings when all friends fail me,
Jesus soothes my soul's alarms;
Soon I cross the stormy Jordan,
Singing in my Saviour's arms.
My father, however, Proposed another (possibly apocryphal) version of how this hymn came to be written. He said that Griffith was wandering, drunk along the clifftops of Porthdafarch when he fell down on to the beach. As he lay waiting for help the words of the hymn came to him.
Gof Du farm was managed and worked by Richie all his working life. He was of course helped by his 5 sons and others who regularly visited. The farm became well-known during the summers because the field at the front of the farm-house was made available to campers, many of whom came from all parts of North Wales. They purchased milk and produce from Kate, and explored the picturesque surrounds, including South Stack island and lighthouse only a few kilometres to the north.
This arrangement went on for many years, and may even continue today. For the Roberts family it was a convenient way to supplement the earnings necessary to feed and clothe a large family.
WORLD WAR 1
woundedDespite being a farm worker with a young family Richie was called up for military service on February 16th 1916, aged 36 years and 10 months. His enlistment records say he was 5’2” (1.57 metres); he described himself as a farm labourer of Gof Du Farm, Penrhosfeilw, Holyhead, and was posted to 6th Battalion (Training), Royal Welch Fusiliers. The surviving records show he subsequently transferred to 3rd Battalion, RWF. Rank: Private. Regimental Number: 55371.
He saw service in France in late 1916, early 1917, and was severely wounded in the left arm on 7/2/1917, but the location of the action is not listed in his records. He was admitted to 13th General Hospital, Boulogne-sur-mer, in north-western France, on 13/2/1917, and within a week was evacuated to the UK and admitted to Wharncliffe War Hospital, Middlewood Rd. Sheffield. http://www.wharncliffewarhospital.co.uk He was returned to active duty on 4/10/1917.
Very little, if anything else, is known of Richie’s war service, except that his left arm gave him trouble for the rest of his life. There is a charming story passed down within the family which says that during the battle in which he was wounded he picked up a small china figurine of a girl on the battlefield and kept it in his pocket. He gave it to his wife Kate on his return. The figurine was later given to his daughter Muriel, and still remains in the family nearly 100 years later.
He subsequently served in the Transport Section of the RWF at Limerick and Fermoy, Ireland. He was demobilized from the army and transferred to the Army Reserve on 13/8/1919, aged 40.
Eventually, as the family grew up the boys began moving away. I’m not clear on what they did in their earlier years but certainly Edward Richard moved away when he married Joan Swannell. The marriage index for England and Wales lists the marriage as being in the first quarter of 1943. They had two children John and Terry.
Glynne married Malvina Christabel (universally known as Millie) and they had three children, John Arthur and Jane.
Eric married Agnes (maiden name not known), and had one son Richard. On Richie’s retirement in 1955 or thereabouts Eric, managed the property, and with modern farm management techniques, turned it into a model farm, eventually purchasing the Freehold title.
In April 1999, during a conversation with my mother, she gave me the following anecdote regarding the transfer of the farm from Richie to his son Eric. According to her Richie never owned the freehold title to the farm, although the stock and farm implements were his.
She says “Around 1956-57 Richie, by then 65 and having reached retirement age, wasn’t interested in the freehold, but Eric said he would like to purchase it. Being the son of the leaseholder gave him a great advantage.”
According to Eva, Eric and Agnes' financial status at the time was apparently quite good. They had worked in the armaments industry during the war, and were well-paid. With only one son they had few outgoings. Additionally, Eric had received compensation for the loss of three fingers in an industrial accident during that period, when he got his hand caught in a machine.
Negotiations for the property went amicably, with Richie supporting his son’s purchase. However things went awry shortly afterwards when Kate, Eric’s mother, apparently tried a swindle which went wrong, and soured the relationship between them ever after.
Apparently Kate didn’t like Eric’s wife, Agnes, a Scot, and the feeling was mutual. So when they were all assembled in the solicitor’s office signing the contracts and transferring the deeds, Kate managed to get the solicitor on his own and instructed him to write the name of the new titleholders as Eric and Richard Roberts.
The solicitor took this to mean Eric and his son Richard, but Kate’s intention was to mean her own husband, Richard. In any event Eric’s wife Agnes wasn’t mentioned. When this was later discovered there was an unholy row, and the title deeds had to be altered to include Agnes. The already difficult relationship between Kate and Agnes was soured irrevocably and they never spoke to each other again.
In fact things got even worse when the deadline arrived for Richie and Kate to vacate the farm for the retirement home they had rented in Cyttir Rd. Kingsland, a suburb of Holyhead. This home was newly-built but construction was delayed for some reason, and they couldn’t leave the house on the designated date. Agnes, however, was unbending, and had them ordered out.
Contact with this side of the family has been lost.
During the Second World War Cyril joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was involved in the Normandy Landings. He was captured by the Germans and held for a short time as a Prisoner of War. He and a number of other prisoners were eventually released by American forces. On demobilisation he married Lena and they had one daughter, Irene. Cyril and Lena lived for the rest of their lives in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.
After a whirlwind courtship Muriel married Edward (Ted) Williams at the English Methodist Church, Holyhead, on 30th June, 1945, one month after VE Day. Ted who was in the Royal Navy, had been posted to Holyhead as a Naval Telegraphist, and had been a frequent visitor to Gof Du farm.
He also had a strong connection to the farm because he was a Great Grandson of John Williams, Susannah’s first husband.
Ted and Muriel had four children: Alun, Mair, Glenys and Eluned. The family moved to Australia in 1966.
Eva Kathleen married David Hugh Jones, who had been working on Pen Y Bryn farm, Porthdafarch Rd, after he moved to Holyhead from Anglesey. They were married at Hyfrydle Chapel, Holyhead, on 21st November, 1944. They had five children: Cyril, Dilys, Gwyneth, Nesta and Kenneth. They migrated to Australia in July 1960.
Trevor Wyn married Margaret (date unknown) and had four children: Valerie, Martin, Sandra and Ann. In 1955 they migrated to Australia at the invitation of Margaret’s uncle.
Trefor wrote in glowing terms about his new life in Australia and encouraged Eva and David to follow him. In turn, they encouraged Muriel and Ted to migrate. Ultimately another family member, Ted’s sister Ethel and her husband Stan also migrated to Australia.
In Australia all families lived at various towns in the State of Victoria, primarily Traralgon and Churchill in Gippsland, and later Melbourne.
On the death of Eric Roberts, Richard and his mother Agnes farmed Gof Du together, but the relationship was apparently too strained, and the farm was sold out of the Roberts/Williams family either in the late Sixties or early Seventies. It had been in the family for at least 150 years.
He saw service in France in late 1916, early 1917, and was severely wounded in the left arm on 7/2/1917, but the location of the action is not listed in his records. He was admitted to 13th General Hospital, Boulogne-sur-mer, in north-western France, on 13/2/1917, and within a week was evacuated to the UK and admitted to Wharncliffe War Hospital, Middlewood Rd. Sheffield. http://www.wharncliffewarhospital.co.uk He was returned to active duty on 4/10/1917.
Very little, if anything else, is known of Richie’s war service, except that his left arm gave him trouble for the rest of his life. There is a charming story passed down within the family which says that during the battle in which he was wounded he picked up a small china figurine of a girl on the battlefield and kept it in his pocket. He gave it to his wife Kate on his return. The figurine was later given to his daughter Muriel, and still remains in the family nearly 100 years later.
He subsequently served in the Transport Section of the RWF at Limerick and Fermoy, Ireland. He was demobilized from the army and transferred to the Army Reserve on 13/8/1919, aged 40.
Eventually, as the family grew up the boys began moving away. I’m not clear on what they did in their earlier years but certainly Edward Richard moved away when he married Joan Swannell. The marriage index for England and Wales lists the marriage as being in the first quarter of 1943. They had two children John and Terry.
Glynne married Malvina Christabel (universally known as Millie) and they had three children, John Arthur and Jane.
Eric married Agnes (maiden name not known), and had one son Richard. On Richie’s retirement in 1955 or thereabouts Eric, managed the property, and with modern farm management techniques, turned it into a model farm, eventually purchasing the Freehold title.
In April 1999, during a conversation with my mother, she gave me the following anecdote regarding the transfer of the farm from Richie to his son Eric. According to her Richie never owned the freehold title to the farm, although the stock and farm implements were his.
She says “Around 1956-57 Richie, by then 65 and having reached retirement age, wasn’t interested in the freehold, but Eric said he would like to purchase it. Being the son of the leaseholder gave him a great advantage.”
According to Eva, Eric and Agnes' financial status at the time was apparently quite good. They had worked in the armaments industry during the war, and were well-paid. With only one son they had few outgoings. Additionally, Eric had received compensation for the loss of three fingers in an industrial accident during that period, when he got his hand caught in a machine.
Negotiations for the property went amicably, with Richie supporting his son’s purchase. However things went awry shortly afterwards when Kate, Eric’s mother, apparently tried a swindle which went wrong, and soured the relationship between them ever after.
Apparently Kate didn’t like Eric’s wife, Agnes, a Scot, and the feeling was mutual. So when they were all assembled in the solicitor’s office signing the contracts and transferring the deeds, Kate managed to get the solicitor on his own and instructed him to write the name of the new titleholders as Eric and Richard Roberts.
The solicitor took this to mean Eric and his son Richard, but Kate’s intention was to mean her own husband, Richard. In any event Eric’s wife Agnes wasn’t mentioned. When this was later discovered there was an unholy row, and the title deeds had to be altered to include Agnes. The already difficult relationship between Kate and Agnes was soured irrevocably and they never spoke to each other again.
In fact things got even worse when the deadline arrived for Richie and Kate to vacate the farm for the retirement home they had rented in Cyttir Rd. Kingsland, a suburb of Holyhead. This home was newly-built but construction was delayed for some reason, and they couldn’t leave the house on the designated date. Agnes, however, was unbending, and had them ordered out.
Contact with this side of the family has been lost.
During the Second World War Cyril joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was involved in the Normandy Landings. He was captured by the Germans and held for a short time as a Prisoner of War. He and a number of other prisoners were eventually released by American forces. On demobilisation he married Lena and they had one daughter, Irene. Cyril and Lena lived for the rest of their lives in Colwyn Bay, North Wales.
After a whirlwind courtship Muriel married Edward (Ted) Williams at the English Methodist Church, Holyhead, on 30th June, 1945, one month after VE Day. Ted who was in the Royal Navy, had been posted to Holyhead as a Naval Telegraphist, and had been a frequent visitor to Gof Du farm.
He also had a strong connection to the farm because he was a Great Grandson of John Williams, Susannah’s first husband.
Ted and Muriel had four children: Alun, Mair, Glenys and Eluned. The family moved to Australia in 1966.
Eva Kathleen married David Hugh Jones, who had been working on Pen Y Bryn farm, Porthdafarch Rd, after he moved to Holyhead from Anglesey. They were married at Hyfrydle Chapel, Holyhead, on 21st November, 1944. They had five children: Cyril, Dilys, Gwyneth, Nesta and Kenneth. They migrated to Australia in July 1960.
Trevor Wyn married Margaret (date unknown) and had four children: Valerie, Martin, Sandra and Ann. In 1955 they migrated to Australia at the invitation of Margaret’s uncle.
Trefor wrote in glowing terms about his new life in Australia and encouraged Eva and David to follow him. In turn, they encouraged Muriel and Ted to migrate. Ultimately another family member, Ted’s sister Ethel and her husband Stan also migrated to Australia.
In Australia all families lived at various towns in the State of Victoria, primarily Traralgon and Churchill in Gippsland, and later Melbourne.
On the death of Eric Roberts, Richard and his mother Agnes farmed Gof Du together, but the relationship was apparently too strained, and the farm was sold out of the Roberts/Williams family either in the late Sixties or early Seventies. It had been in the family for at least 150 years.
At various times there has been archaeological interest in the Gof Du farm. At one time a tin mine operated on the south-east corner of the farm just above Porthdafarch beach. There have been suggestions that this mine had been operated for several hundred years and could even date back to prehistoric times.
Indeed there are several examples of prehistoric settlement. Across the road from Porthdafarch are what are known as the Porthdafarch hut circles, or Cytiau'r Gwyddelod in Welsh, translated as the Irish huts. Just to the east of the Gof Du are what are known as the ancient Penrhosfeilw Standing Stones said to date back to the same period as Stonehenge.
Writing in the British Archaeological Journal of 1870 The Hon. W.O. Stanley (who was landlord of the Penrhosfeilw Estates), reports an excavation of sites at Ty Mawr, Pen Y Bonc, Twr and Mynydd Gof Du, all Penrhosfeilw farms. He quoted the tenant farmer at the time, most likely Susannah’s first husband John Williams, as saying his grandfather remembers huts at waist height, with people living in them. This was said to be about 100 years prior, making it around 1770.
This lends weight to the idea that the Williams family lived in or around Gof Du as far back as the Eighteenth Century. Perhaps the original Gof Du farm dates back even further than we thought.
Indeed there are several examples of prehistoric settlement. Across the road from Porthdafarch are what are known as the Porthdafarch hut circles, or Cytiau'r Gwyddelod in Welsh, translated as the Irish huts. Just to the east of the Gof Du are what are known as the ancient Penrhosfeilw Standing Stones said to date back to the same period as Stonehenge.
Writing in the British Archaeological Journal of 1870 The Hon. W.O. Stanley (who was landlord of the Penrhosfeilw Estates), reports an excavation of sites at Ty Mawr, Pen Y Bonc, Twr and Mynydd Gof Du, all Penrhosfeilw farms. He quoted the tenant farmer at the time, most likely Susannah’s first husband John Williams, as saying his grandfather remembers huts at waist height, with people living in them. This was said to be about 100 years prior, making it around 1770.
This lends weight to the idea that the Williams family lived in or around Gof Du as far back as the Eighteenth Century. Perhaps the original Gof Du farm dates back even further than we thought.