Thomas Griffiths, Jr

Thomas Griffiths, Jr (b. Nov 1818), the oldest known son of Thomas and Eleanor Griffiths, was born at Cefn Coed, Gwynfil, Cardiganshire and baptized on 2 Dec 1818.

At the start of 1851, he was working as a drover and living with his widowed mother, and then in Jul/Aug/Sep 1851 he married a Hannah Lewis (b. c1826), who was born to Micah and Elizabeth Lewis in Gorwydd, Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire. About a year later he and Hannah had a daughter Elizabeth (b. 1 Jan 1852, Gorwydd). By at least 1861, he was working as a Grocer and Draper and living with his small family in Llanddewi Brefi. Since Hannah's father Micah was a shopkeeper, it appears that Hannah and Thomas inherited the store after the death of her parents. [Note: Micah Lewis died in Jan/Feb/Mar 1859. In the 1859 Slater's Directory there was a Anna Betha Lewis Grocer, Draper, and Saddler in Trgaron; Anna Betha may be Micah's wife Elizabeth.]

Thomas and Hannah disappear from the census records after 1861, so it is uncertain if they were just not counted, or had died or moved. One thing is certain, however, their names were not listed as Tregaron grocers in the 1868 Slater's Directory.

Thomas Griffiths

Thomas Griffiths (b. c1785/86, d. bef 1851) may have been the Thomas Griffiths who was born on 14 Apr 1785 in Tregaron, Cardiganshire, Wales.

The only census entry for Thomas was in 1841, which listed him as living at Bronhelem, Bettws Leiki, Cardiganshire. However, from his children's baptismal records we gain further insight into the places the family lived.

Thomas married Eleanor Evans, daughter of Roderick Evans and Margaret Davies and baptized on 30 Nov 1790 in Llandewi Brefi. They were married on 17 Oct 1810 in Llanddewi Brefi parrish. They had the following children:

Jane (b. c1813)

Winifred (Gwenifred) (bap. 20 Dec 1813, Gwynfil, Cardiganshire)

Elizabeth (bap. 3 Apr 1816, Cefn Coed, Cardiganshire)

Thomas (bap. 2 Dec 1818, Cefn Coed)

Mary (bap. 9 Jun 1821, Cefn Coed)

Roderick (bap. 26 Nov 1823, Cefn Coed)

Griffith (bap. 13 Mar 1826, Glandyffryn, Lampeter, Cardiganshire)

Martha (bap. 28 Dec 1828, Cefn Coed)

Rodrick (bap. 15 Sep 1834, Llygaddyffryn, Cardiganshire)

Jane (b. c1834/36)

[Note: While the family was in Glandyffryn, three year old Roderick died in May 1826, a few months after the birth of his brother Griffith.]

According to the 1841 census, Thomas was a cattle drover by trade, and would have traveled across the country driving cattle to grazing spots and onto the market.

Thomas died at the age of 60 on 13 Jan 1845 in Rhos, Cardiganshire. Rhos is likely Rhos Bettws, since Thomas and his family lived at Bronhelem (Bron-yr-helm) which is right next to Rhos Bettws.

His wife Eleanor lived a long life, many years as a widow. By 1851, she was living at Tan-y-gouallt, Llanddewi Brefi with her son Thomas, who like his father was a drover. In 1861 Eleanor's residence was just listed as Gorwydd, Llanddewi Brefi. Her son Roderick, whose employment was listed as laborer, was living with her at the time. In 1871, the octogenarian Eleanor was listed as a pauper living at Bridge End, Gorwydd. Her unmarried daughter Jane resided with her and was employed as a dressmaker. Eleanor joined her husband in death at the age of 85 in Jan/Feb/Mar 1875.

Where the Griffiths Family Lived

Llanddewi Brefi Thomas Giffiths' Known Descendents

1 Thomas Griffiths (b. c1786, Llanddewibrefi) m. Elinor b. (c1791, Llanddewibrefi)

[Thomas was a farmer and cattle drover.]

2 Winifred (b. Nov/Dec 1813, Gwynfil, Llanddewibrefi)

3 William Jones ? (b. c1837)

2 Elizabeth (b. Feb/Mar 1816, Cefn Coed, Llanddewibrefi)

2 Thomas (b. Oct/Nov 1818, Cefn Coed, Llanddewibrefi) m. Hannah (b. c1826, Gorwydd, Llanddewibrefi)

[Thomas was a grocer and a draper.]

3 Elizabeth (c1852, Gorwydd, Llanddewibrefi)

2 Mary (May/Jun 1821 Cefn Coed, Llanddewibrefi) m. William Williams (b. c1816, Llanddewibrefi)

3 (See http://welshwilliams.blogspot.com for Mary’s descendents)

2 Roderick (b. Oct/Nov 1823, Cefn Coed, Llanddewibrefi – d. May 1826, Glandyffryn, Llanddewibrefi)

2 Griffith (b. Feb/Mar 1826, Glandyffryn, Llanddewibrefi) m. Margaret (b. c1828, Llanddewibrefi)

[Griffith was an inn keeper of Stag’s Head, and had 12 acres of land.]

3 Catherine (b. May/Jun 1854, Pentrerhew, Llanddewibrefi)

3 Elinor (b. Jan/Feb 1857, Stag's Head, Llanddewibrefi)

3 Margaret (b. c1860, Gwynfil, Llanddewibrefi)

3 Thomas (b. c1861, Gwynfil, Llanddewibrefi)

3 William (b. c1864, Gwynfil, Llanddewibrefi)

3 Mary (b. c1866, Gwynfil, Llanddewibrefi)

2 Martha (b. Nov/Dec 1828, Cefn Coed, Llanddewibrefi)

2 Rodrick (b. Aug/Sep 1834, Glandyffryn, Llanddewibrefi)

2 Jane (b. c1834/36, Llanddewibrefi)