This branch of the Jones family originated from Llandefeilog, Carmarthenshire where they were mainly inn keepers and farmers.  Thomas and Sarah moved to Morriston soon after they married.  Sarah was also a Jones, and I have separated their 'trees'. 

This is an aerial photo of Llandefeilog.  St Maelog's Church can be seen surrounded by trees in its 'Llan'.  The white rectangular building to the South East of the church is the Red Lion Inn.

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM¹ JONES was born Abt. 1785 in Llangunnor, which is a parish very near to Carmarthen. He married CATHERINE HERBERT, daughter of Peter Herbert and Mary Thomas. on September 14, 1810 in Llandefeilog. They were married in Llandefeilog, witnesses were Thomas Davies and Evan Richard.  Catherine was born Abt. 1785, and died Bef. 1851.  At the time of their marriage William was a labourer.  By 1820, their son's christening records show that William and Catherine were living in Croes y Ceilog (possibly at the New Inn); William is recorded as a victualler.

1851 census: William (aged 67) and his daughters Sarah (30) and Catherine (24) are living at the New Inn, in Llandefeilog. (This Inn is no longer there). His wife, Catherine, is not present - probably she is deceased by then.

1861 census:  William (aged 77) is still at the New Inn.  He is noted to be a retired publican.  Living with him are William REES (age 36), a butcher and publican, Catherine Rees (32), his wife, and their children William (5), David (3) and Catherine (1).  Also Jane Richards (21) a housemaid.

Children of WILLIAM JONES and CATHERINE HERBERT are:

i. SARAH² JONES, b. January 1815, Llandefeilog.

ii. JOHN JONES, b. October 1817, Llandefeilog.

2. iii. WILLIAM JONES, b. June 13, 1820, Llandefeilog.

iv. CATHERINE JONES, b. April 1823.

v. THOMAS JONES, b. October 1825, Llandefeilog.

The water pump given to the village in commemoration of Queen Victoria's reign.  It stands just outside the churchyard, a few yards from the Red Lion

Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM² JONES (WILLIAM¹) was born in 1820 in Llandefeilog (he was christened there June 13, 1820) and died December 7, 1899 at Pentre Farm, near Llandefeilog.  His first wife was Margaret REES; they married December 25, 1840.  At that time his marriage records note William to be a bachelor, aged 21, and a weaver.  He was living at Gil-gadam, and his father was William, a labourer (although his father had been described as a victualler in 1820 and seems to have continued this trade all his life).  Margaret was a spinster; her father was David REES and she lived at Coed ?Ueinan.  Witnesses to their marriage were John Jones and Thomas Herbert.

1851 census: William and Margaret are living in the Pontfaen factory in Llandefeilog. This was a wool spinning factory somewhere in the hills behind the church. At the factory there are William and Margaret, their 4 children, and 6 servants, as follows:

Herbert Jones age 9 

Catharine Jones age 7

Susan Jones age 5

John Jones age 2 months (By 1881 John had become an Inn Keeper at the Farmers Arms, Llangendeirne)

Servants: Mary Brown age 26; Isaac Morgan age 16 (1881: Head of the Woolen Factory, Llangadock, Carmarthen); Thomas Rees age 17; John Jenkins age 16; John Jones age 13; Dan Davies age 12.

They had one more child after this, Anne, born about 1855.  Margaret died in 1866 and was buried February 27, 1866.

William married his second wife, also a Margaret (JENKINS) about 1867.  They had two children fairly quickly.  Margaret was aged about 38 (according to the census) and was born in Newchurch parish, just north of Carmarthen.

1871 census:  at 20, Pontfaen

William age 50, Farmer and weaver

Margaret, 42, wife

John, 22, son, farmer

David (18) son, wool weaver

William (17) son, wool spinner

Susan (25) daughter

Ann (11) daughter

Sarah (12)

Jane (23) farmer's wife

1881 census: they are Farmers and Publicans, living with 3 children (now including Sarah) at the Red Lion in Llandefeilog. 

Anne Jones age 26

Sarah Jones age 13

Eliza age 12

Also living with them in 1881 at the Red Lion were Thomas Edwards Ag Lab/Gen servant age 22  and Catherine Davies Dom Servant age 17             

         Photo:   The Red Lion - note the blue sky - this was taken in Feb! Wales has great weather                                              

William Margaret were still at the Pontfaen factory in the 1871 census.  They seem to have moved to the Red Lion between 1871 and 1877 (when Herbert died of typhoid fever at the Inn).  By 1891 the Jones had moved (probably to Pentre Farm).  The 1891 census reveals the Red Lion Inn was tenanted by another family, John and Hannah Walters and their children. 

Curiously, Hannah Walters is also the name of Thomas' mother - but Walters is a common name in that area. Indeed, many Walters still live in the area, and they are a prominent family according to Mr Davies, who we met in the churchyard and was a wealth of information.

                                 St Maelog church and part of the churchyard

To summarise, the children of WILLIAM JONES and MARGARET REES are:

i. HERBERT³ JONES², b.  August, 1841 at Bry y Gwyney, Llandefeilog, d 1877 at Red Lion Inn of typhoid fever and congestion of the lungs.  His brother, David, notified his death.  Herbert left a wife, Emily, and 2 children one of whom was born after his death.

ii. CATHERINE JONES, b. 1844.

iii. SUSAN JONES, b. 1846.

iv. JOHN JONES, b. 1848, Llandefeilog.

(IGI: John, William and David were all christened on 13th June 1856)

v. WILLIAM JONES, b. 1854.

vi. DAVID JONES, b. 1854.

vii. ANNE JONES, b. 1855, Llandefeilog.

The children of WILLIAM JONES and MARGARET JENKINS are:

3. viii. SARAH JONES, b. July 31, 1868, Factory, Llandefeilog.

ix. ELIZA JONES, b. 1869.

 

Generation No. 3

1. HERBERT JONES was born about 1840.  He married EMILY about 1875.  In the late 1870's Herbert and Emily were living at the Red Lion Inn, probably with his parents, William and Margaret.  Children of Herbert and Emily are

                            i. WILLIAM REES JONES b. 1876

                            ii. EMILY REES JONES b. 1878, d 1878 age 3 months.  Herbert had died before she was born.

4. JOHN³ JONES (WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) was born 1851 in Llandefeilog. He married JANE³ Abt. 1873. She was born Abt. 1850 in Llandefeilog.

1881 census: John is the Inn Keeper of the Farmers Arms at Llangedeirne. They have a servant, Mary Harris.

Children of JOHN JONES and JANE are:

i. SARAH J JONES, b. 1874, Llandefeilog³.

ii. WILLIE H JONES, b. 1877, Llandefeilog³.

iii. MARGARET JONES, b. 1879, Llandefeilog³.

3. SARAH³ JONES (WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) was born July 31, 1868 in Pontfaen Factory, Llandefeilog³. She married THOMAS JONES⁴ June 9, 1891 in St Mary's Church, Kidwelly⁴, son of JOHN JONES and HANNAH. He was born 1869 in Llandefeilog, and died Bef. 1913⁵.

1881: Sarah is living with her parents at Red Lion Inn, Llandefeilog.

1891: Sarah was married from Pentre Farm aged 23. This lies about 2 miles SW of Llandefeilog. In 1881 a widower aged 69 lived there with his farm servants, it is possible that during the following 10 years he died or retired and Sarah's father, William, moved from the Red Lion pub to take over Pentre.  Certainly, the farm seems to have played a significant role in William and Margaret's lives; they both died here.  I visited the farm in July 2002 and the farmer there was very helpful, despite being very busy trying to bring in the harvest!  

The main building of Pentre farm - not sure when it was built.

1899: William died, aged 77, at Pentre.  David Jones, his son, notified his death.  He died of a chronic stomach ulcer which he had suffered for a year (Could it have been cancer??) and haematemesis, and syncope (fainting) for 2 days.  William is buried in the St Maelog churchyard at Llandefeilog with Margaret Jenkins.  Margaret continued to live at Pentre until her death in 1911 from chronic bronchitis which she had had for a year.  Lydia M Jones notified her death (Lydia was living at Preswylfa  Village, Llandefeiolog).

                                 Older building at Pentre (next to newer one) said to be the original farmhouse

Soon after their marriage Sarah and Thomas moved to Morriston, probably to get better jobs as they were both from large families that farming must have been difficult to support.  David Rees Jones was born in Morriston 8 months after the wedding.

Some time after 1919 Sarah and Thomas moved back to Carmarthen to live with a Margaret and David Jones, David may well be Sarah's half brother.  The electoral register does not show Sarah and Thomas there in the 1920, but they were present at Roman Villa in 1934, where Thomas died  in 1936.  Sarah was living there until very old age (a neighbour remembers her as an old lady needing attention from the district nurse) but she did not die at Roman Villa; it is likely she went to relatives for the last few months of her life.  She may have gone to John Thomas Harries and his wife Hannah Margaretta, of Garrec Farm, Kidwelly.  JTH died April 24, 1971, aged 82 and HMH died Aug 10, 1979 aged 87.  Sarah died in 1956.

The Harries, Thomas and Sarah are buried in the same grave at LLandefeilog. 

None of David Rees Jones' children ever mentioned their grandmother, Sarah, who was still alive when some her g-grandchildren were around.  Possibly she had returned to Carmarthen before Beryl and the others were old enough to remember her of Thomas and communication was not continued, for whatever reason.   Thomas and Sarah lived at Roman Villa, a house on the outskirts of Carmarthen, for many years.  I visited the house in July 2002, and the Mrs Jones (no relation) who now lives there was kind enough to give me a photo of the house, decorated for the jubilee.

Children of SARAH JONES and THOMAS JONES are:

4. i. DAVID REES⁴ JONES, b. February 20, 1892, 4 Midland Terrace, Morriston, Swansea; d. June 18, 1934, Swansea Hospital. Living at 120 Clydach Rd, Morriston.

ii. RACHEL JONES

Generation No. 4

4. DAVID REES⁴ JONES (SARAH³, WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) was born February 20, 1892 in 4 Midland Terrace, Morriston, Swansea⁶, and died June 18, 1934 in Swansea Hospital. Living at 120 Clydach Rd, Morriston (this later became Sway Rd). He married MARY ANNE CLARKE May 24, 1913 in St Davids Church, Morriston⁷. She was born March 18, 1893.

David had two sisters, Rachel and Elizabeth. I think I remember my mother taking me up to the 'Mount' (??) to visit Auntie Rachel who seemed to me a very old lady.

David Rees Jones was born at 4 Midland Terrace, Morriston and was married 21 years later from there.

Mum remembers her father as a very handsome man, tall and dark, worked in the tin works. Was very kind and enjoyed his pint. She recalls him cuddling her, and often felt his presence for many years after his death. He worked as a tinplate rollerman.

He died aged 41 of cancer of the stomach with intra abdominal metastases, in Swansea Hospital, where his son Garfield had died the previous year. Uncle Willie Williams of 2 Vagwyr Place notified his death.

Children of DAVID JONES and MARY CLARKE are:

i. DEBORAH⁵ JONES⁸, b. October 19, 1913; d. October 20, 1913.

ii. GARFIELD JONES⁸, b. 1918; d. 1933.

Garfield died of mastoiditis. The family was devastated, and blamed the negligence of their doctor who failed to diagnose the condition in time to save Garfield. They considered suing but decided not to as that would not bring him back. Garfield died in Swansea hospital. A few years later David Rees Jones died in the same bed in Swansea hospital.

iii. BERYL JONES, b. June 1920.  Beryl and Trevor brought up Charlotte and Valerie, as their parents died when they were children.  Garfield and Beryl, John and Charlotte used to go every week to Uncle Willy's for pocket money.  The eldest two had 2 pence, the youngest 1 pence.  Garfield and Beryl then used to give John and Charlotte a halfpenny each to make up their pocket money a bit so they could buy some sweets and go to the pictures, at the Odeon.  At the cinema there was always great competition amongst the children to bring in the blind piano player and sit with him (these were the days of the silent movies).  Bringing in the pianist meant free admission for the child, who then had to sit by him and tell him what sort of music he should play, as, being blind, he had no idea what was on screen. For example, when the cowboys came on this was the cue for him to play energetic cowboy music, and during the love scenes he would play sentimental stuff.  When the children fancied causing chaos, they told him the wrong scenes and got thrown out.

iv. JOHN JONES, b. Abt. 1924; d. 1984 of cancer of the bowel.  John used to love to drive.  When I went to visit Auntie Beryl and Uncle Trev he used to drive up on his Lambretta with a spare crash helmet to ask if I fancied a 'spin'.  We went all over the Valleys.  Later he bought a car.  Beryl remembers one day John invited Beryl and Trevor for lunch. When they got there he suggested going instead to the airport restaurant instead of cooking at his place.  They assumed he meant the local airport, but they actually ended up at Heathrow, and didn't get back till the early hours of the morning.  When John started to drive he hated to stop and this used to cause Aunty Betty and Aunty Mary an awful lot of trouble because he wouldn't stop for them to eat, or go to the toilet.  On long distances they used to try to persuade Beryl to go with them so she could tell him to stop. John never married, he used to spoil his nieces and nephews instead!

John and Charlotte

v. CHARLOTTE CLARKE JONES, b. 1925 (On R in photo.

vi. VALERIE JONES, b. 1932. (On left in photo)

 

Generation No. 5

 

6.  BERYL⁵ JONES (DAVID REES⁴, SARAH³, WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) was born June 1920 in Morriston.  She married TREVOR JONES.  He died February 2002 in Morriston.

         

Children of BERYL JONES and TREVOR JONES are:

Trevor, David and Maldwyn at Mumbles

 

7.                i.       DAVID⁶ JONES, b. Abt. 1944.

8.               ii.       MALDWYN JONES, b. Abt. 1948.

 

 

Generation No. 6

 

7.  DAVID⁶ JONES (BERYL⁵, DAVID REES⁴, SARAH³, WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) was born Abt. 1944.  He married SHEILA.  

       

Children of DAVID JONES and SHEILA are:

      i.       RICHARD⁷ JONES.

     ii.       JANE JONES.

 

 

8.  MALDWYN⁶ JONES (BERYL⁵, DAVID REES⁴, SARAH³, WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) was born Abt. 1948.  He married ANGELA.   

       

Child of MALDWYN JONES and ANGELA is:

                   i.       ALEXANDER⁷ JONES, b. Abt. 1985.

 

 

Generation No. 7

 

9.  JANE⁷ JONES (DAVID⁶, BERYL⁵, DAVID REES⁴, SARAH³, WILLIAM², WILLIAM¹) m. KERRY

       

Child of JANE and KERRY is:

                   i.       JONATHAN , b. 2000.

 

Home page  Main names page   John Jones' page

Endnotes

1. childs birth cert.

2. 1851 census.

3. birth cert.

4. marriage cert.

5. sons marriage cert.

6. birth cert.

7. marriage cert.