5. Treharn of Ffawyddog Farm, Llangeinor
Three generations of the Treharn family farmed at Ffawyddog Farm, near Llangeinor, (which was also called Llangonoyd) in the Garw valley, Glamorganshire and part of the Lanmihangle estate. The surname is variously spelt as Treharn, Treharne and Treherne. Ffawyddog means "pine grove".
Initially William and Elinor Treharn (from at least 1789) farmed there - with William also being the church warden at St Cein church, Llangeinor.
There are strong indications that William and Elinor secretly adopted a child named Gwillim - who was the subject of a bastardy bond under the administration of William Treharn. Gwillim went on to manage the Ffawyddog farm jointly with his foster brother and sister - Evan and Eleanor Treharn and they did so into their old age - all apparently unmarried.
Meanwhile, another brother, William Treharne had a child, also called William Treharn with a Mary Williams (outside of marriage) - this William went on to marry Elizabeth - and farmed in Llangeinor. They had many children, but one of the younger ones, Llewelyn Treharne, went to live at Ffawyddog farm with his Uncles and Aunts from a very young age and eventually managed the farm after them.
The link to the other families is that Catherine Treharn, daughter of William and Elinor married Jenkin John and farmed Tyle-coch farm, while her twin sister Eleanor remained at Ffawyddog.
William (1752 – 1835) & Elinor (1753 – 1837, born Davies) Treharn
1748 (Possible) St Cein church, Llangeinor, records show a baptism for a William Treharn to William and Ann Thomas Treharn.
- Other baptisms to William and Ann Thomas Treharn are Wenllian (1743), Margaret (1746), Anne (1753).
1786 May. Marriage certificate for William Treharn and Elinor Davies, both of Llangeinor [ref: 003]. In presence of William Hopkins and David Thomas.
1789 – birth of William Treharn to William and Elinor Treharn.
1795 – birth of Catherine & Elenor Treharn (twins) to William and Elinor Treharn. In 1861 census Catherine gives her birthplace as “Lawddog”, Llangeinor, presumably Ffawyddog farm. Catherine went on to marry Jenkin John.
1798 Bishops Transcripts for Llangeinor show that at St Cein church, John Parry was curate and William Treharne was church warden.
1835 Burial transcription for William Treherne, age 83 b. 1752, died Sep. 1835 in Llangeinor, Glamorganshire. Lived at Ffawyddog farm (“Ffoddwg” on certificate).
1837 Burial transcription for Eleanor Treherne, age 84 b. 1753, died Sep 1837 in Llangeinor, Glamorganshire. Lived at Ffawyddog farm (“Ffoddwg” on certificate).
Gwillim Treharn (1797-1877) and the Bastardy Bond
The following document was retrieved by Jennet Rees (born Williams), from the open garden of a country house near Bridgend where it had been hidden in secret. It was a bastardy bond [further information at ref: 017] - and the William Treharne named was the Great Great Grandfather of Jennet Rees and farmed at Ffawyddog farm, Llangeinor. The document states:
Know all men by those present that we William David of the parish of Bettws in the county of Glamorganshire, labourer and David Harry of the parish of Llangan in the said County, Yeoman, are held and firmly bound unto William Treharn, church warden and William Edmund overseer of the poor of Llanginor in the said county in trust for the parishioners of the said parish in the sum of Fifty pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to the said William Treharn and William Edmund or their certain attorney their executors administration or assigned to which payment well and truly made. We bind ourselves and each and every of our heirs executors and administrators firmly by their presenter sealed with our seals and date 27th day of February in 37th year of the reign of our sovereign Lord, George King of Great Britain, France and Ireland and King defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord 1797.
The condition of this obligation such that whereas Jennet John of the parish of Llanginor aforesaid single woman hath in and by her voluntary examination taken in writing and upon oath before Robert Knight esquire one of his majesties justice of the peace in and for the said county of Glamorgan, declared that she is with child and that the said child is likely to be born a bastard and to be chargeable to the said parish of Llanginor and the above bounder William David is the father of the child. If therefore the said William David and David Harry, or either of their heirs, executors, administrators do and shall from, time to time and at all times hereafter fully and clearly indemnify and wave harmful as well the above named church warden and overseer of the poor of the said parish of Llanginor, which now are or … shall be for the time being of and from all manner of costs taxes rates …. And charges whatsoever for or by reason of the birth, education and maintenance of the said child and of and from all actions, suits, troubles and other charges and demands whatsoever touching or concerning the same that then this present obligation .. to be void otherwise of force.
The Llangeinor Register Book for 1797 and 1798 (Bishops’ Transcripts) confirms that in 1797 John Parry was curate for St Cein’s church in Llangeinor and that William Treharne was the church warden. There is evidence that William Edmund, yeoman, lived in Llangeinor and died 1807 (with a Will and probate - assets going to daughter Mary and son John). There is also some evidence for a David Harry through a marriage bond between David Harry and Mary Rees in Llangan in 1794.
Bishops Transcripts (comprising copies of all christenings, deaths and marriages in the parish) show no possible christenings linked to this bond apart from:
- 1798 Gwillim son to William Treharn and Ealena his wife (the birth was 14 October 1797 according to Parish Register). This is the same William Treharn the church warden.
Therefore it is very likely that Gwillim was effectively adopted and that William Treharn made use of some or all of the £50 bond. This implies Gwillim's biological parents were William David and Jennet John.
Gwillim grew up at Ffawyddog farm and later took over the joint running of it with his 'brother and sister'.
1877 Burial of Gwillim Treharn of “Ffwddog” age 80. Wills and probate show he bequeathed Ffawyddog farm (called 'fwthog' - located in the parish of Llangeinor) to Evan and Eleanor Treharne (spinster).
Evan (1799 – 1896) & Eleanor (1795 – 1885) Treharn at Ffawyddog Farm
Censuses from 1841 – 1881 show Gwillim (also called Gwilym and William), Evan and Eleanor (also called Elenor/ Ellennor) Treharne farming as brothers and sisters at Ffawyddog (or Fanoddog/ Fanddog/ Fawyddog) Farm, Llangeinor. Gwillim is shown as head of the farm, with Evan taking over in 1881.
- From 1861 they are joined by their nephew Llewelyn Treharn (b. 1853) who appears to continue to live with them.
- In 1851 census they have a visitor, William John (coal minor - age 27 b. Bettws) who is almost certainly the son of Catherine and Jenkin John of the Mackworth Arms.
- In 1861 they are also joined by their niece Ann Lawer (general servant, b. Bettws age 24)
1885 Oct. Miss Eleanor Treharne b. 1795, died (age 90) of Ffawyddog farm (Glamorgan Gazette deaths 1885).
1891 census shows that Llewellyn Treharne, nephew (born 1853, Llangeinor), is head of the farm, though Evan Treharne (now age 91) is still living there.
1896 Burial record for Evan Treharne, b.1799, of Ffawyddog Farm (St Cein church records).
William Treharn (b. 1789), William Treharne (1815-1871) and Llewelyn Treharne (b.1853)
1815 William Treharn (batchelor) and a Mary William had a child also called William Treharn. The baptism location is given as “Howyddog/ Pantynawel”, probably a reference to Ffawyddog farm and Pantynawel farm, Llangeinor. Pantynawel was a significant building occupied by Richard Jenkins, High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1788.
1853 Llewellyn Treharne born to William (1815-1871) and Elizabeth Treharne (b.1815).
- Censuses from 1841 to 1861 show William (b. 1815, Llangeinor) and Elizabeth (b. 1815, Devenag, Brecknockshire) living in Llangeinor, first at "Tymeinor", then at "Blaengwawr farm" (of 70 acres). They have other children living with them - Elenor (b.1839), Evan (b.1842), Elizabeth (b.1845), Ann (b.1847), Margaret (b.1849), Gwenllian (b.1851), Gwilliam (b.1858).
- William Treharne died 1871, Llangeinor.
1891 census shows that Llewellyn Treharne is head of Ffawyddog farm.