Historic Cardiganshire Homes and their families by Francis Jones

Garthfrefi, Llanddewi Brefi.

 Now the farm called Garth, to the west of Llanddewi Brefi village and near the banks of the river Teifi. There are three farms named Garth within one and a quarter miles of Llanddewi Brefi marked on Colby’s map of 1831 and on the modern OS maps; the history of each is some what confused.

We know that Evan Dhu was of Garth Vrevi and Garth Ystrad and that his great grandson the Rev. Thomas Davids, clerk, who married Grace, daughter of John Hall by  Jane Laugharne. Their eldest son James married Frances, daughter of Thomas Mores of Hollwell, Oxfordshire by Hester, daughter of William Johnson of Wydford, Oxon. Dates are lacking.

Francis Jones notes that Daniel Evans, Quaker, of Garth, son of Anne died c. 1783. His descendant, Daniel John Evans of Gorwydd, and later of Garth married Margaret Milne. Their children died tragically young – a son in childhood and a daughter, who married Dr John Rowland of Pontrhydyfendigaid, and died in 1890, aged only 23, having given birth to three sons and a daughter.

Daniel inherited the Garth estate died in 1901. Rowland John, who was of Argoed died a year before his elder brother in 1900. The third son, Robert, who lived at Garth and served as a Cardiganshire County Councillor died in 1928 aged 60, his wife having pre-deceased him by six months aged 55.

References: Colby map, 1831; Llansteffan M.S. fo. 43; D Ben Rees Hanes Plwyf Llanddewi Brefi  p 66.

 

Werndriw, Llanddewi Brefi.

Marked on Colby’s map of 1831 as Werndrew and located on modern OS maps, three quarters of a mile SW of Llanddewibrefi.

In the 17th and 18th centuries Werndriw was the home of a prominent Quaker family. The children of David George Jenkins, an anglican, “would not pull their hats, not go to church, but did sit together without preaching.” John George Jenkins, the elder son, was first to be buried at the cemetery at Werndriw in 1718. His younger brother Samuel became a Quaker minister for nine months before his early death at the age of twenty-five in 1712. Their sister, Anne, married Thomas Evans of Llanfihangel Rhydeithon, Radnorshire.

Towards the end of the century, the children of John and Anne Jenkins of Werndriw, all  but one of whom pre-deceaced their parents. The survivor, David Joel Jenkins, erected the memorial to his parents and siblings at Werndriw.

Daniel Evans of Werndriw and Garth, son of Anne and Thomas Evans was buried at Werndriw in 1790. He and his wife had two children, Daniel, later of neighbouring Troed-Y-Rhiw and William, owner of Garth on the banks of the river Teifi.

  References: D. Ben Rees Hanes Plwyf Llanddewi Brefi; Colby’s map 1831; TCAS, vol 1. Pt 2. pp 95-6.