I am trying to find the cottage where my 3xGrandmother Caroline flower, her son John and his wife Maria and children lived in 1874.
I only have vague details from a newspaper report of their trial for the torture and manslaughter of Maria, for which they both received 20 years penal servitude.
They moved to Wales from Bristol after Caroline's husband died in 1870, and John worked at the Aberbeeg colliery smithy as a striker earning 5 shillings a day,most of which he drank away in the Hanbury Arms.
Witness's at the trial held in Blackwood were Ellen and Gareth Lucas "residing at the Trynant, in a row of 12 houses, next door to the Flowers.
Mr.Lewis of Pentwyn.
Eliza and William Bessant "living at the Trynant, near where the deceased lived"
Jemima and Enoch Filer "residing in Trynant Row, two doors from the Flowers house.
I found two Crumlins on the modern map and wondered in which the Flowers lived.
The story cast a blight over the whole village and the account of the treatment of Maria makes harrowing reading.If you are descended from any of the witness's or can shed light on where the house was situated I would love to hear from you.Nobody in the family has ever mentioned this terrible event, and I only found it during family research.
Thankyou
Sheila
