David Benjamin Davies (1857 - 1914)

Born 20 Jan 1857 in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 24 Feb 1914 at age 57 in Bynmawr Farm, Bettws, Glamorganshire, Wales

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Records

Birth Record

A civil birth record shows the birth in Aberaman on 20 February 1857 of David Benjamin Davies, son of Evan Davies, coal miner, and Elizabeth Davies (formerly Beddoe).

Census Records 1861–1881

David Benjamin was listed as the son of Evan and Elizabeth Davies, living in Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales, in the census of 1861 (4 years old) and 1871 (14 years old). In the 1881 census (24 years old) he lived in the household of his widowed mother.^[1][2][3]

Marriage Record

Marriage record data^[4] shows that David Benjamin Davies married Rachel Ann Hopkins between July and September 1882 in Bridgend.

Birth Records of Children

Birth data of David's children can be found with a search of civil birth records of the General Register Office (www.gro.gov.uk). Knowing that their mother's maiden name was Hopkins, the following are found:

Mary Elizabeth Davies, born Apr–Jun 1883 in the district of Merthyr Tydfil

Beatrice Maud Davies, born Oct–Dec 1889 in the district of Bridgend

John Henry Davies, born Apr–Jun 1891 in the district of Bridgend

Taliesen James Davies, born Apr–Jun 1895 in the district of Bridgend

Gwenfron Davies, born Apr–Jun 1898 in the district of Bridgend

1911 Census

In the 1911 census, he is shown living in Llangeinor, Glamorganshire (a location near Blaengarw). His birthplace is given as Aberdare. He was a checkweight at coal mine. His wife was Rachel. Children in the household were Beatrice Maud Davies (shop assistant in the meat trade), 22, John Henry Davies (butcher), 19, Taliesin James Davies (male, coal mine), 16, Gwenfron Davies (female, school), 12.

Letter Written by David Benjamin

2 Railway Terrace / Blaengarw / Glamorganshire / Aug 24th 1894

Dear Sisters, / I hope that you will forgive us for being so long before writing to you. But we hope that you are all in good health as we are at present. I David was up home yesterday & Mary Elizabeth and I did leave Mary there for to stop a few days for a change to her.

The reason I have been so long before writing was that we wanted to have our likenesses drawn for to send to you and also I have a lot of work to do at home untill I am up untill 12 o’clock at night often to do it. I am the Secretary of the Cooperative Stores now this last 3 years.

Prehaps you should like to know what is my work at present. I am to inform you that I am a Checkweigher this 6 months now. I don’t now do (know if) the workmen there (in the US) keep a weigher or not. If not it would be to there interest to keep one. How is the works going on there? The works is going on here regular but the wages are getting rather low here. The Colliers as an average don’t earned more than 4/- per day. I am happy to say that Mother is just the same as you left her. She do keep very good and all the rest of the family are doing well. We do enclose our photos to you. Don’t be frighten when you see them. John Henry our youngest was three years old on the 5th of last April. We should like to know how are you getting on there and to send youre photos in full next time because we don’t like a half of thing but let us have it complete. How is the family? Are you increasing in number? Give our best respect to Aunt Catharine and her children.

And give my address to Uncle William and tell him that I should like to here from him and if he don’t write ask his son (our cousin) to write as we may keep together through correspondence if we are unable to see each other.

Do you here something from Aunt Sarah? Now if you do let her know that we are still on the land of the living. Our best respects to you all and wishing you every success to raise your family and teach them in the ways of Our Lord and trust yourselves on Him for he is able to keep those that trusteth on Him.

From your Brother & Sister / D. B. & M. Davies

Death Record

A civil death record show the death on 24 February 1914 at Brynmawr Farm, Bettws, of David Benjamin Davies, 58, checkweigher. The record indicates that the cause of death was syncope due to a fatty heart.

Letter Regarding Death

In a letter dated 3 March 1914 to David Benjamin's sister Sarah, who was living in Missouri, a family member delivered the news of David Benjamin's death on "the previous Tuesday" (24 February?) and burial "yesterday" (2 March).

Yesterday, we buried your brother David Benjamin. He died on the previous Tuesday. The death was so sudden. He was talking with Rachel in the garden. She turned round for a second to do something or other, when she heard David fall. It was all over. Heart Failure. Mother took it very badly at first but she seems to be getting over splendidly now.

Sources

1. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1861," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M71G-VTN : 13 December 2017), Evan Davies, Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales; from "1861 England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
2. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1871", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VRMS-JXV : 10 December 2017), Evan Davies, 1871.
3. ↑ "England and Wales Census, 1881," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2W9-D37K : 11 December 2017), Elizabeth Davies, Aberdare, Glamorganshire, Wales; from "1881 England, Scotland and Wales Census," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing p. 10, Piece/Folio 5324/8, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,462.
4. ↑ "England and Wales Marriage Registration Index, 1837-2005," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2DTN-JKC : 13 December 2014), Rachel Ann Hopkins, 1882; from "England & Wales Marriages, 1837-2005," database, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : 2012); citing 1882, quarter 3, vol. 11A, p. 745, Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales, General Register Office, Southport, England.

• Davies family letters, dated 1886–1945, between Agnes Davies (married Peter Schaffer) and Sarah Jane Davies (married Albert Rogers) in Ray County, Missouri, and their mother, siblings, nephews and nieces in Aberdare and other locations in Wales. Digital copies of letters in possession of Arthur Carter Rogers (grandson of Sarah Jane Davies) in 2019.