Melin Y Coed: Roots: Williams (1)

Some of the Williams Families of the area. As well as the Williams family of Pentre Mawr, details of Thomas Williams (B. 1843) and his wife Elizabeth (Jones, b. 1841) who worked at Bryn Dyffryn and Cyffdy, lived at Ysgoldy, and whose son Robert moved to Saskatchewan.

Lori Rulison of NY USA will be visiting Melin y Coed again in June of 2008, and hopes to meet up with anyone connected to the family she has been researching below. She writes:

My great great grandfather (Thomas Williams b. 1843) and grandmother (Elizabeth Jones b. 1841) were both born in Llanrwst and are buried in the old St. Marys churchyard. They lived and worked on the Cyffdy estate, my grandfather being listed at an "engine driver". Thomas died October, 1906 and Elizabeth July, 1899. They also lived at some point at Hen Ysgoldy, Melin y Coed.

I found on the page "Window to the Past" listed at Bryn Dyffryn an Elizabeth Jones, 21, housemaid of Penmachno and Thomas Williams, 18, groom, of Maenan. These would be the right ages for them, they are together at the same location and Ysgoldy is just the next house down the road from Bryn Dyffryn which seems to make sense if they are there 10 years later! Any ideas who to ask for more information about Bryn Dyffryn (Photos on page "Bryn Dyffryn") or where to look for church marriage records from that area? -- They must have married at least by 1863 if they have a son Robert 8yrs old in 1871.

Above: Hen Ysgoldy, 2006.

They had a son, Robert who was born April 1863 (my great grandfather). He immigrated to Canada in 1913.

They also had several daughters:

Catherine Williams b.1865

Mary Williams b. 1867

Ellen Williams b.1870 and perhaps 2 more twin daughters born later.

Above: Ysgoldy 2006 at time of Lori's visit.

I would love to find someone who could tell me about the history of the Cyffdy Estate and also if any of the daughters married and have family still in the area. I visited Llanrwst in 2004 and again in 2006 but was unable to find any living relatives.

Robert (my great grandfather) left Melin y Coed sometime in his early teens and went to Betws y Coed where he is listed in the 1881 census as a servant, living at Llys Caradog, working for an English shopkeeper, Robert Rowlinson. (There is also a Winnifred Williams listed as a servant to the Rowlinsons originally from Llanrwst area -- perhaps a relative of Robert?)

Robert became the town baker and also had a barber shop in his home on Stryd y Felin (Mill St.)

Above: Robert Williams outside the Rowlinson Store, Betws y Coed.

Robert met and married Hannah Jane Morritt, an English woman from Tranmere, Birkenhead. They were married at St. Michaels Church, Betws y Coed, on 27 October, 1884.

Above: Robert Williams and Hannah Jane Morritt on their Wedding Day, 27 October, 1884

In the 1891 census they are living at No 3 Mill St. (Garth) and have two children. They lived there until 1913 when they left for Canada.

The Williams Family in Betws y Coed in 1903.

The Williams children in Stryd y Felin, Betws y Coed in 1906

Robert and Jane Williams had 8 children in all :

Robert Jr. b. Oct 14, 1886

Martha Jane b. March 20 1889 (my grandmother)

John b. Nov. 23, 1892

Edith Maude b. April 7, 1894

Frederick George b. March 5, 1897

David James b. Jan 2, 1900

Louisa b. June 14, 1902

Harry b. Sept 19,1905

Above: The Williams Family before they left Betws-y-Coed.

I was always told that one of either Robert's or Jane's parents had inherited a large sum of money and when they died then Robert and Jane were given the money - enough for them and their eight children to immigrate to Canada. They sailed out of Liverpool aboard the ship "Virginian" on April 11, 1913, arriving at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on April 18, 1913. I have not been able to find a ship's passenger list to confirm this but I have a certificate of medical inspection that verifies their passage.

They settled in the Moosejaw, Saskatchewan area. I don't know why or how they ended up there. They apparently did not stay long. I was always told that after the first harsh winter there they decided to leave. The entire family then moved to Detroit Michigan, USA. I don't know exactly when they moved or why they went there. The entire family lived there for the rest of their lives (except for Louisa who married and eventually moved to California.)

(Note: The "Sheep Joneses" of Rhiw had moved to Saskatchewan in 1911 - there might have been a connection here - RE)

My grandmother, Martha, married within the year of moving to Detroit. She married John Berry -- a name I am told is quite well known in Llanrwst. Was it someone with whom she would have been familiar? It is a mystery and, of course, when she was living we never thought to ask!

Above: Martha Jane Williams with her father Robert.

There, you have all I know of my family -- I am really hoping to find some connections to living relatives still in Wales.

Lori Williams Berry Rulison

200 Shellstone Road

Amsterdam, NY 12010

USA

lrulison@hotmail.com

Above: At the grave of Thomas and Elizabeth Williams of Melin-y-Coed are John and Ruby Berry with their daughters Carolyn Waggoner and Lori Rulison (brown hair) and Mr Rulison.