Garth Y Pigau

GARTH Y PIGAU -   Nant Y Riw

In 1803 Griffith and Gwen Evans of Garth y Pigau had their son Evan, born on 3 July, baptised at Capel Garmon on July 10.

In 1809 Robert Hughes of Garth y Pigau was buried on 16 August.

Accordidng to the 1841 census the family living at Garth y Pigau consisted of:

Robert Roberts (46)

his wife Elizabeth (43)

and their 8 children

Harry (Henry) (18),

Anne (16),

Hannah (14),

Elizabeth (9),

Elinor (7),

Mary (5),

Evan (3) and

Catherine (2 months).

In 1851 the census described Garth Y Piga as a 120 acre property farmed by 53 year old Robert Roberts and listed the other occupants as:

Robert's wife Elizabeth Roberts, 52,

Henry, 27, a farm servant,

Hannah, 23,

(We note that Anne was not listed this year and did not appear on a Garth y Pigau census again)

Elizabeth, 18, a dressmaker,

Elinor, 16,

Mary, 14,

Evan, 12

and Catherine, 9.

All the family were born in the Llanrwst area.

Robert's wife Elizabeth died in 1852 at the age of 54.

In 1861 the census lists Robert Roberts, 62, of Garth y Piga as a Widower. He was still farming 120 acres. Also listed there were:

Evan, 21,

Ellin, 25,

Mary, 23,

Catherine, 19

and cowman labourer John Thomas, 15.

All were born in the Llanrwst area.

The 1871 census lists the following at Garth y Pigau:

Robert Roberts, Widower, Head, 74, Farmer of 120 acres employing 3 labourers and 1 Boy. Born in the Llanrwst area, as were all the rest, including a new resident, Robert's bachelor brother Evan, now retired.

Evan Roberts, Brother, unmarried. 60, Retired Farmer.

Elizabeth - Daughter, Widow, 37. Farmers daughter.

Evan Roberts, Son, Unmarried, 31, Farmers Son. Evan died aged 36 in 1875

Eleanor, Unmarried, Daughter, 35, occupation listed as Farmers Daughter.

Mary, Daughter, Unmarried. 33, also listed as Farmers Daughter.

Elizabeth Roberts, Grand Daughter, 6 (This could possibly have been the daughter of the widowed Elizabeth, who had likely returned home after the death of her husband.)

Robert Roberts, Grandson, 4 (Also possibly the son of Elizabeth)

Richard Roberts, Servant, Unmarried, 21, Farm Servant.

Elias Roberts, Svt Unmarried. 14. General Servant.

By 1881 Robert Roberts seems to have died, and the property is being jointly farmed by his two daughters, Mary and Eleanor.

For Garth y Pigau Mary ROBERTS is listed as the first household head. She was still unmarried at 43 and her occupation was listed as Joint Farmer of 130 Acres Employing two men.

The second household was listed as that of Eleanor ROBERTS, Head, unmarried, 45, and also listed as a Joint Farmers of 130 Acres Employing two men.

Robert ROBERTS, her nephew, is now aged 14 and attending school, but there is no mention of his mother (probably Elizabeth) or his sister, Elizabeth, who would have been 16 by now.

Isaac ROBERTS was employed as a Servant and lived on the premises, was aged 33, and born in the Llanrwst area.

William JONES of Llanrwst was also employed as a Farm Servant and lived on the premises. He was aged 20.

Sarah ROBERTS worked as a General Servant. She was unmarried and aged 22.

In the 1891 census the only person named as Head of the household was

Elin Roberts, now 56. Her nephew Robert was now 24, and his sister Elizabeth, now 25, had returned to the household and was working as a dressmaker.

Margaret Ann Hughes, 21, worked as a domestic servant.

Owen Jones, 21, worked as an agricultural servant.

All were born in Llanrwst and spoke Welsh.

Today, Garth y Pigau is still a busy farm.

 To be continued . . .