7. Lewis & John of Blaencrymlyn Farm, Blackmill

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.

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

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 [ref: 003].

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: 003].

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)

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

• John John is working at 'Caner Bach', Higher Coychurch - 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' [ref: 018] 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).

• 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.

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 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) (see s.8 Thomas and Jenkin Families of Pembrokeshire). 

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: 003]
• 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 Birth certificate for Sarah Ann Lewis to William and Hannah Lewis [ref: 003]

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. 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 Sybil Lewis (b.1889 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 Williams (in S.1)
• Catherine Lewis (b.1893) - see Joseph & Catherine Lewis Smith

Joseph Lewis Smith (b. 1894 aka Jack Lewis Smith) and Catherine Lewis Smith (b. 1893, born Lewis, aka Katie)

Joseph Lewis Smith was born 1894 to father Joseph Lewis Smith, a tailor from Leicester, England. He was a journalist working in Fleet Street, London and known as Jack Lewis Smith (which was also his 'pen name') and 'Uncle Jack'/ 'London Jack' to the Williams family.

Catherine Hannah Lewis was born 1893 to William Lewis (a coalminer) and Hannah Lewis (born Thomas) in Blackmill, Glamorganshire. She was known as Katie.  It appears she had moved to London in her early 20's. Her sisters were Sarah Ann Lewis (who married Noah Williams) and Emily Lewis (who married Robert Storer/ Stone).

1920 Marriage of Joseph Lewis Smith (age 26, a journalist) to Catherine Hannah Lewis  (age 27) in the Lady Margaret Anglican church, Walworth (at the time in the County of Surrey).

• Joseph living at 3 Henshaw Street, Catherine living at 63 Rye Lane, Peckham
• Joseph's father was Joseph Lewis Smith (deceased) a master tailor
• Catherine's father was William Lewis (deceased) a labourer.

1924 Birth of Dennis Lewis to Joseph Lewis Smith, journalist and Catherine Hannah Smith (formerly Lewis). At the time they were living at 66 New Kent Road, Southwark, London. 

1935 living in Southall, Middlesex

1939 Register:

• Joseph J L Smith (b. 1894) is a Newspaper Copy Holder. Married but living alone at 91 Warrington Road, Barking and Dagenham, Essex
• Catherine Smith (b. 1892, age 47) is with her son John Lewis Smith (born 1935, then age 4) at Trola Rhiw Cottage, Bridgend, Glamorgan - staying with her sister Emily Stones (b. 1888) married to Robert Stones (b. 1879)
• We know that Robert Stones had originally the surname Storer, and the 1901 census shows he lived (age 21) in Ebenezer Row, Blackmill with his parents Alfred and Jane Storer. So this is either a mistake in the Register or they have changed their name.
• By the time of the Register, 29 September 1939, there had already been mass evacuations of the population due to the impending war and it is not uncommon to see families split up.

Around 1960. The following article was published by Joseph Lewis Smith and draws on his visits to Caecaradog farm, Wick, Glamorganshire - though places and people names have been changed. His wife's sister, Sarah Williams, would have been at the farm around this time.  The Shippen Door by J. Lewis Smith:

What we anticipate seldom occurs, what we least expect generally happens. These words passed through my mind as I stood by the gate of the house that was now my home and just gazed. Had I been wise to sever all connections with London and come to live in Wales? Should I miss the bustle, noise and excitement and find myself just a clown among the clover?

The morning air was chilly out with an invigorating crispness that I had never noticed in town and, moreover, sweet-smelling. The countryside at first seemed strangely quiet but later, as my ears became attuned to it, full of strange and not unmusical sounds.

My destination, Cydwell Farm stands a mile or so outside the village, the house standing well back from the road. It is reached by crossing a stile and following the path across the field. To traverse this path is usually quite uneventful unless, of course, the bull is loose.

As I walked towards it I began to reflect on the events of the past few weeks. I had left Essex where I had lived for thirty years. I had retired from the newspaper I had served for that period and I was tackling something I had always wanted to to. Potter around on a farm, working when I wanted to and lazing when I did not.

My wife decided the issue when she said "My sister Alice owns a house in Stanwick. We can have it if you wish because Mrs June who resides there, is leaving to go and live with her married daughter.

"Any strings?" I asked. "No strings at all. Of course I knew you would want something to occupy your time so I said you would do all the odd jobs."

Now, I have always been regarded as something of an odd-job type. I would be asked to repair a five-bar gate damaged by tresspassers, replace a worn-out electric light switch, put an extra shelf in the pantry, help with the decoration of a room, solder a leak in the copper kettle or re-glaze the window broken by the children's ball.  Not to mention such other matters as interviewing the local postmaster concerning the late delivery of an important telegram or querying items in the telephone account.

A cow standing on the other side of the stile blocking the path brought my reverie to an end. Was it an omen seeing this particular cow this morning? It was Daisy, my sister-in-law's pet; in fact she was the only person who could handle the animal.  In face of much opposition she remained adamant that Daisy shall not be sent to the slaughter house but end her days peacefully on the farm.

I looked at the cow for some moments with amusement for I well remember she was the cause of the only bad feeling that ever existed between Alice and myself. The incident happened about 12 years ago when I was repairing the door of the shippen [cowshed] which the children had damaged by standing on the lower cross-bar and swinging on it.

Cutting away some fo the old wood with a chisel I struck a knot in the wood which flew off and hit daisy on the neck. She Bellowed and Alice entered at that moment said I must have thrown something at the cow. She refused to listen to any explanation and stamped out.

The friction lasted till milking time when 16 cows, including Daisy, were driven in. Daisy would never be milked by machine and because of this she occupied the stall nearest the door. The process of milking was well under way when my small son came into the shippen and seeing the 15 cows connected by long tubes to the milking machine and Daisy being done by hand exclaimed "Gee Aunt. Never knew you had to fill them up with water first." The laughter that followed blew away the ill-feeling.

Arriving at the house I knocked and entered. The family were just finishing breakfast. After a few words of greetingI enquired what was needed. For some moments nobody answered although they were all smiling.Then my nephew said, "The shippen door needs your attention. The latch is broken. Will you see to it?"

"How did it happen?" I asked. "The children are grown up now."

"Not the children" replied my nephew, "Daisy. She got shut in and must have leaned against the door, hew weight forcing the latch and breaking it. Even Mum was cross with her for that."

"Never be cross with a cow" I replied. "Always remember these words from the old welsh legend. The cow is an  animal blessed. It is ordained. It is not right that she should be struck by the flesh of a sinner."

And then I laughed for at that moment despondency left me and I realised that my coming to Wales had not been a mistake. Had not Daisy, and the door, supplied the answer I needed? Work.

Following Catherine's (Katie's) death, Joseph spent time with his two sons.

Joseph and Catherine Lewis Smith's children:

• Dennis Lewis Smith (b. 1924). Emigrated to Australia - lived in Cabramatta, Sydney, New South Wales.
• John Lewis Smith (b. 1935).  Lived Southall, Middlesex.

Earlier John Families

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