Bowen family of Newchurch, Carmarthen

[tenterfieldjulie]

I had almost given up on finding anything about the baptism of my ancestor Mary Bowen, as I thought she was Non Com.
She was born at Newchurch, Carmarthenshire around 1805. (Census records)
On a recent visit to the RO at Carmarthen, Terry found recorded at Newchurch (Llannewydd) - Mary Bowen, d of Richard Bowen, Vollowen-land, by Jane his wife, was baptised March 1 1807.
Mary, who married John Davies, named their 3rd child Richard and when he died, another child was given this name, one of their older daughters was also named Jane.
While I know that is not positive proof of parentage, Newchurch, was and is, a very small rural area that has probably never had a population more than a thousand people.
Terry told me that Richard is not a common Welsh name. I see that the Welsh equivalent is Rhisiart, but that is not a common name either.
What I found of interest is the spelling of where they lived - Vollowen-land, as recorded by the minister. Terry said that the minister was obviously not Welsh and spelt it as he heard it, because there is no V in the Welsh language. It should have been spelt F and that it would have been - lan not land.
If that is the case, can anyone locate Followen-lan in Newchurch, (Llannewydd) Carmarthenshire, or suggest where I might find a map of the area for the early 1800s?
I see that there were banns called for a marriage of a Richard Bowen to Jane Williams on 23/5/1794 at Llanllwehaearn, Montgomeryshire, but have no way of connecting my Richard and Jane.
There are also about 8 children who name their father as Richard Bowen, when they marry at Llangynwyd, Glamorgan from 1846 to 1869.
Any thoughts on how to proceed much appreciated. Julie:D

[Langley Vale Sue]

There is an 1831 Ordnance Survey map of the area here.
http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/sheet/first_edition/sheet41

I've had a quick look, but I think it might need more than that! ;)

[Shona]

Could it be Foelcwan?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Foelcwan+Farm/@51.875292,-4.342619,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x486ee0bcf5ec0295:0x4805d 3e99bbdc7be

From Genuki:

Places, villages, farms etc within Newchurch as shown on the online parish map from the CD of Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. (Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R.). (Extracted by Gareth Hicks)

Newchurch (43); Allt-y-ffarm; Blaen-eigiau; Bronwydd Arms Sta.; Bryn; Bwlch; Bwlch-newydd; Clyn-gwyn; Crug; Cwm-dwyfran; Cwm-gloewddu; Esgair-fechan; Esgair-hir-isaf; Foel; Foel Cwan; Forge Fm.; Garn fawr; Goetre; Golf Course; Knights Ford; Llech-Eigion; Mill(2); Nant Cynnen; Nant Hir; Newchurch; Pistyll-gwyn; Plas-bach; Res.; Rhyd-y-marchog; Sch.; Traws-mawr; Tre-newydd; Waun-llanau

There was also a Baptist Chapel at Foelcwan according to Genuki:

Nonconformist Chapels:

Noddfa Baptist chapel, Henfwlch Rd / Foelcwan
SN38072272
Formed 1880
Still open 1998

[kiterunner]

Julie, you do know that the Welsh parish registers are on Findmypast, don't you? So you can view the image of Mary's baptism entry on there; you don't need someone to go to the RO to look at the Welsh PR's.

[kiterunner]

These are other children of Richard and Jane Bowen baptised at Newchurch:
Elizabeth Feb? 1809
Anne 5 May 1811 - cooper
Margaret 2 Oct 1814 - innkeeper, abode Bwlch
Esther 20 May 1824 - farmer, abode Plough & Harrow

[tenterfieldjulie]

Thanks ladies that is all very interesting and helpful.
Richard certainly had a variety of occupations and places of adode.
Thanks Kate, I didn't know that the Welsh PRs were on FMP. When I am home and settled I will definitely be taking out a sub. If I am lucky I might even find a marriage or deaths and even more helpful a will. There doesn't appear to be any son and heir.
I wonder if the parents would be on a Census. If Mary was the oldest born 1806 - parents born 1780s .. possibly still alive 1841?

[kiterunner]

The pre-1858 Welsh wills are free on the National Library of Wales site, Julie:

http://cat.llgc.org.uk/cgi-bin/gw/chameleon?skin=profeb&lng=en

I had a look but I couldn't find Richard or Jane on there.

[kiterunner]

And here are Richard and Jane on the 1841 Welsh census:
1841 census on ancestry (http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/8979/CMNHO107_1383_1385-0043/13140997?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3duki1841wales%2 6rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1% 26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn%3dric*%26gsfn_x%3dXO%26gsln%3 dbow*n%26gsln_x%3dXO%26dbOnly%3d_F0003039%257c_F00 03039_x%26dbOnly%3d_F000303A%257c_F000303A_x%26dbO nly%3d_F00032DB%257c_F00032DB_x%26dbOnly%3d_F00029 96%257c_F0002996_x%26dbOnly%3d_F000303D%257c_F0003 03D_x%26dbOnly%3d_F000303E%257c_F000303E_x%26dbOnl y%3d_F000391C%257c_F000391C_x%26uidh%3dvm5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults)
Plough & Harrow, Newchurch, Carmarthenshire
Richard Bowen 60 Publican Y
Jane Do 55 N
Esther Do 15 Y
David Thomas 12 Ag Lab Y

[kiterunner]

And in 1851:
1851 census ancestry (http://interactive.ancestry.co.uk/8861/CMNHO107_2474_2475-0127/15719748?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.u k%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fMS_AdvCB%3d1%26db%3duki1851wales%2 6rank%3d1%26new%3d1%26so%3d3%26MSAV%3d2%26msT%3d1% 26gss%3dms_db%26gsfn%3dric*%26gsfn_x%3dXO%26gsln%3 dbow*n%26gsln_x%3dXO%26dbOnly%3d_F0005DFB%257c_F00 05DFB_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005DFC%257c_F0005DFC_x%26dbO nly%3d_F0005C4F%257c_F0005C4F_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005E 11%257c_F0005E11_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0005906%257c_F0005 906_x%26dbOnly%3d_83004006%257c_83004006_x%26dbOnl y%3d_F0005DFD%257c_F0005DFD_x%26dbOnly%3d_F00079A7 %257c_F00079A7_x%26dbOnly%3d_F0006867%257c_F000686 7_x%26uidh%3dvm5&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults)
Plough and Harrow, Newchurch, Carmarthenshire
Richard Bowen Head Mar 66 Innkeeper Carmarthen
Jane Bowen Wife Mar 67 Cardigan Blaenporth
Jane Rice Granddaur 8 Monmouth Tredegar

[Shona]

1841 Newchurch

Richard Bowen, 60, publican, born in county
Jane Bowen, 55, not born in county
Esther Bowen, 15, born in county
David Thomas, 12, ditto

1851 Newchurch

Plough and Harrow
Richard Bowen, innkeeper, 66, b Carmarthenshire
Jane Bowen, wife, 67, b Cardigan, Blanchworth
Jane Rice, granddaughter, 8, b Monmouth, Tredegar

EDIT: Snap, Kate!

[Shona]

The Plough and Harrow still exists:

http://www.ploughandharrow.com/contact.html

The address is Henfwlch Road, Trevaughan, Carmarthen, SA33 6AA.

In post #3, Genuki refer to the Noddfa Baptist chapel in Henfwlch Rd, Foelcwan.

Maybe modern Foelcwan is the Followen in the baptismal record?

[kiterunner]

FreeBMD lists the death registration of a Richard Bowen Oct-Dec 1858 Carmarthen (which would have been the registration district for Newchurch). And Jane Bowen Oct-Dec 1859 Carmarthen. If these are the right deaths then any wills would be on the National Probate Calendar but I can't see them listed on there.

[tenterfieldjulie]

Oh interesting an Innkeeper - doesn't seem to tie in with Baptist/Methodist roots ..
I wonder if the Plough and Harrow Inn still exists?
They were there from at least 1824 to 1851, you would thought there should be some sort of paper trail.
Great work ladies .. something at last to prove how they lived.
It is a shame there isn't a will, but maybe he was just a tenant innkeeper.

[tenterfieldjulie]

Oh Shona and Kate you posted while I was waffling ..
I am enthralled at what you are finding ... so little so long and now it is everywhere .. yippee ..

[tenterfieldjulie]

Oh goosebumps Shona .. The Plough and Harrow had connections with the Rebecca Riots and I had a gut feeling that my ancestor Thomas Davies left Wales because of involvement in the Riots ... Wowser .. .... yahoo .. Julie

[tenterfieldjulie]

Thanks Kate for those burials .. I will contact Terry and see if he has the Newchurch burials .. I wonder if there would be anything in the Carmarthen newspaper seeing how he was an innkeeper of over 25 years?

[tenterfieldjulie]

Wonders how she can acquire a winning lottery ticket to fund her return visit to Wales ...

[kiterunner]

Thanks Kate for those burials .. I will contact Terry and see if he has the Newchurch burials .. I wonder if there would be anything in the Carmarthen newspaper seeing how he was an innkeeper of over 25 years?

I didn't post up any burials. :confused:

[tenterfieldjulie]

Sorry Kate that was me getting carried away. As you posted possible death registrations, I hope that the RO copies of parish burial registers will match the death registrations and may give me dates and places of burial. Many thanks Julie

[tenterfieldjulie]

Very thrilled with the headway with this family and yes Shona I think Foelcwan is the Vollowen-land that the English? vicar heard lol
Looking at a tree on Ancestry this afternoon - there are records of a marriage of the third Bowen daughter Ann (1811) to a Benjamin Jones in 1832 and they are found in various census records at Travellers Rest, Llanllwch. Benjamin the innkeeper until he died and then Ann takes over. What is most interesting is that Richard Bowen's death is recorded at Newchurch 21 December 1858 (citing Welshroots) which ties in with the death 4Q 1858 Carmarthen that Kate found.
I still have not found the marriage of Richard Bowen and Jane C 1802/6. I am thinking that as Jane was born Blaenporth, Cardigan the marriage may have taken place there? Can anyone see this please. Julie