William Morgan (abt. 1894 - abt. 1943)

Born about 5 Jan 1894 in Cwmsymlog, Penrhyncoch, Aberystwyth, Wales

Ancestors

Husband of Ann Ellen (Roberts) Morgan — married 1912 in Aberystwyth, Wales

Descendants

Died about 1943 at about age 48 in Penrhyncoch, Aberystwyth

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William Morgan 1894-1943

Willie's GRO Birth Certificate reads: "440 / Fifth January 1894 Syfydrin Melindwr R.S.D. / William / Boy / Father - blank / Margaret Morgans / Father's Occupation - blank / Margaret Morgans Syfydrin Melindwr / Thirteenth February 1894 / J. Morgan Registrar."

Both censuses of 1901 and 1911 corroborate his year of birth, but things become more complicated by the time he enters school, where his date of birth in 1899 is given as the 5th of July, 1893 - a perfect six months earlier than above. Was this a way of gaining early entry into school? The census of 1939 continues the narrative of a July birth, although the year is 1892. Finally, William's Monumental Inscription just states 1893.

William was born out of wedlock and his mother reputedly kept the father`s name a secret throughout her life. Margaret and Willie lived with her mother Anne in Cwmerfin, near Penrhyncoch. His birth was registered at Aberystwyth as William Morgans in the 1st Quarter of 1894. On March 1st, 1899 Willie started school. His School Admission Record gives the following information: “No.78 Willie Morgans. Guardian: Anne Morgans, Cwmerfin.” Willie completed the 7 years of infant education in six years, but had to wait until he was not under legal obligation to attend before he could leave, which he did on the 6th of June 1907 – supposedly a month before his 14th birthday.

In 1900 Willie`s mother Margaret married John Pugh in Aberystwyth District. On the Census of 1901 Willie is living at Darren in the civil parish of Parcel Canol (Ecclesiastical parish of Llanbadarn Fawr). He is living with his grandmother Anne and her sister Eliza, and his mother Margaret and her sister, also called Eliza. John Pugh`s name does not appear though.

Margaret and John had two children. Lewis Pugh was born in 1902 and Martha Anne Pugh in 1905. Tragically, Margaret died in 1908. Throughout this period William and his family lived at Llettycaws in Cwmerfin, but at some point after his mother's death, William and his half-siblings moved back in with their maternal grandmother.

By the time of the 1911 Census Willie Morgans now appears as William Morgan, and he is working as a lead miner. This census also tells us that he was born in Cwmsymlog, about 3 or 4 miles up the Silo Valley from Penrhyncoch. In 1911 the address is given as Darren Bank, Penrhyncoch, Bow Street. William`s grandmother is still head of the household and her sister Elizabeth is still there too. His mother`s sister Elizabeth is still there, but the household now includes William`s two half-siblings Lewis and Martha. John Pugh was still living at the time, but his whereabouts are not known.

The next year William married Ann-Ellen Roberts of Penrhyncoch who was working as a dairy maid on Glanrafon Farm. The two 18 year-olds went on to have 17 children. Around this time William left the lead mining industry and became an Electrical Engineer, working at Plas Gogerddan Manor House in Penrhyncoch. The family home was called `Ty Haearn` or `Iron House` and was clad in corrugated iron sheets.

William took part in WW1

William died in 1943, aged 50. Ann-Ellen passed away nine years later and joined her husband in the St. John`s Cemetery, Penrhyncoch. Buried with them are the four of their children who died as infants: Gwladys Mary (d.1921, 11 months), Sarah Elinola Lilian (d.1926, 1yr and 2 months), and the twins Islwyn (d.1931, 1 day) and Thomas James (d.1931, 5 months).

UK Census 1901 for Darren, Parcel Canol, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.

1. Anne Morgans. Head. Married. F. 66. Farmer. Parish of Llanbadarn. Welsh spoken.

2. Eliza Morgans. Daughter. Single. F. 32. Servant (Domestic). Parish of Llanbadarn. Welsh spoken.

3. Margaret Morgans. Daughter. Single. F. 30. Servant (Domestid). Parish of Llanbadarn. Welsh spoken.

4. Willie Morgans. Son. Single. M. 7. In School. Parish of Llanbadarn. Welsh and English spoken.

5. Eliza Williams. Lodger. Single. F. 64. Retired. Parish of Llanbadarn. Welsh spoken.

UK Census 1911 for Darren Bank, Penrhyncoch, Bow Street, Parcel Canol, Cardiganshire, Wales.

1. Ann Morgan. Penteulu. 76. Gweddw. Ponterwyd, Ceredigion. Cymraeg.

2. Elizabeth Morgan. Merch. 49. Sengl. Bontgoch. Ceredigion. Cymraeg.

3. William Morgan. Wyr. Sengl. Lead Miner. Gweithiwr am waith dros feistr. Cwmsymlog. Ceredigion. Y Ddwy.

4. Lewis Pugh. Wyr. 9. Sengl. Ysgol. Darren, Ceredigion. Cymraeg.

5. Martha Ann Pugh. Wyres. 6. Sengl. Ysgol. Cwmerfin, Ceredigion. Cymraeg.

6. Elizabeth Williams. Chwaer. 74. Sengl. Ponterwyd, Ceredigion. Cymraeg.

UK Census 1921 for Iron House, Penrhyncoch, Bow Street, Cardiganshire.

1. William Morgan. Head. 28 years. Married. born Cardiganshire. Fitter / Lead and Zinc Concentrator at Bwlch glas Mine, Talybont. Welsh and English spoken.

2. Ann Elin Morgan. Wife. 28 years. Married. born Cardiganshire (sic). Home Duties. Welsh and English spoken.

3. Beatrice M. A. Morgan. Daughter. 8 years, 6 months. Female. Welsh and English spoken.

4. Jennie M. Morgan. Daughter. 7 years, 2 months. Female. Welsh and English spoken.

5. Hugh W. Morgan. Son. 6 years, 2 months. Male. Welsh spoken.

6. Elizabeth G. Morgan. Daughter. 4 years, 8 months. Female. Welsh spoken.

7. Robert M. Morgan. Son. 1 year, 8 months. Male.

8. Gwladys M. Morgan. Daughter. 8 months. Female.

UK Census 1939 for Court Villa, Penrhyncoch, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales.

1. William Morgan. 05 Jul 1892. M. Builders Labourer (Heavy). Married.

2. Anne Elin Morgan. 05 Jun 1892. F. Domestic Duties. Married.

3. Undisclosed.

4. Undisclosed.

5. Undisclosed.

6. Undisclosed.

7. Undisclosed.

8. Annie Muriel Morgan (later Ewart). F. 03 Feb. 1936. Single. At School

Sources

• Birth Certificate

• UK Census 1901, 1911, 1921, and 1939.

• GRO death registered 1943