Jolly Forgeman Inn, Newbridge

[JamesDMcBust]

Hello

Does anyone know whether the Jolly Forgeman Inn, Newbridge still exists?  Census information says that the publican at the turn of the 1900's was my partner's ancestor, William Evans.  It would be interesting to know exactly where the inn was relocated.  Can anyone help?

regards
James

[wrjones]

Well James there is no Inn of that name in the area today.I can't say as I've heard it mentioned either.the only one of a similar name in the area today is one called the Jolly Masons but that is in Rhosymedre.

Regards
William Russell Jones.

[Morganllan]

Hello 

On 1901 census, at Jolly Forgeman:

George Tomkins Head age 55 Inn Keeper born Bridgenorth, Salop
Mary Tompkins Wife age 39 born Bulby, Lincolnshire
Eliza Tompkins Dau age 13 born Bourne? Lincolnshire
Walter Tompkins Son age 6 born Newbridge
Victoria Tompkins Dau age 3 born Newbridge
Edward Davies Visitor age 41 Labourer in Coal Mine  born Rhos

RG13 Piece 5218 Folio 147 Page 19

Nearby addresses are: Waterloo Tower, Old Toll Gate, Black Lion cottage, Havelock? House, Denver House, Penynant, and then Welsh Baptist Chapel, Penynant View, and Middle Street. All Newbridge.

Kind regards
Morgan

[Morganllan]

Jolly Forgeman Inn was on Jolly Bank in 1891 

David Jones Head age 33 Collier born Cefn Bychan
Alice Jones Wife age 30 born Cefn Mawr
Mary Jones Dau age 5 born Rhosymedre
John Jones Son age 2  born Cefn Bychan
Annie Jones Dau age 6 months born Cefn Bychan

also
William James Head age 54 Coal Miner born Chirk
Harriet James Wife age 53 born Chirk
Mary Ann James Dau age 20 Dressmaker born Ruabon
Charle W Sidney Visitor age 10 born Shrewsbury
Emily Brellisford ? age 12  Domestic  born Ruabon
Rupert Davies Boarder age 41 Draper Assistant born Llanycham?

RG12 Piece 4613/143 Page 12

Sorry I can't lookup 1911 but if you can find the address, the site is pay to view.

Best wishes
Morgan

[Morganllan]

This picture shows the area, and includes the Welsh Baptist Chapel:

http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~oss403/benpowell/cefn/05051029.html

[Morganllan]

Does anyone know whether the Jolly Forgeman Inn, Newbridge still exists?  Census information says that the publican at the turn of the 1900's was my partner's ancestor, William Evans. 

Was it William Edwards by any chance? 

[JamesDMcBust]

Thanks for everyone's response.  I thought I should go back to my original notes and I am embarassed to find that the information regarding William Evans being the publican originated from a conversation with his living grand-daughter who said that her mother had been born at this Inn in 1903.  It looks like I wrongly assumed that her father had been running the place!

I have found the family on the 1901 census living in Gwersyllt with one child and in 1911 living in Summerhill nr Wrexham with 7 children.  The 1911 entry states that Elsie Evans was born in Cefn parish.  I have searched the 1911 census for Newbridge and Evans but unfortunately cannot find them but interestingly it does give the place Cefn as being a district of Newbridge so there's a slim chance that Elsie could have been born at the Inn, I suppose. Perhaps they were either living under the same roof or boarding there.  By 1903 the couple already 2 other children, one born in Broughton parish and the other in Gwersyllt parish.  Any thoughts.

James

[Morganllan]

Hello James 

Elsie's birth certificate should show where she was born, so if you contact Wrexham register office to order the certificate, specify Elsie Evans born 1903/4 in Cefn Mawr/Newbridge (Ruabon sub-district of Wrexham registration district).

Free bmd has a Wrexham Civil Marriage of William Evans and Florence Jones in 1899 (June quarter)

Kind regards
Morgan

[Morganllan]

.... Cefn as being a district of Newbridge....

Cefn Mawr and Newbridge (Cefn Bychan) were both in the Parish of Rhosymedre, St John after 1844. Prior to that they were in the Parish of Ruabon.

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/DEN/Rhosymedre/

Another child, William Stanley Evans, was born in the same district as Elsie in 1904, and died in 1905. Perhaps William was publican at "Jolly Forgeman" briefly around 1903-5, or maybe they were staying there....

Modified - 1895 Slater's Directory has George Tompkins at Jolly Forgeman, Cefn Bychan. It also mentions other Cefn Bychan public houses: Royal Oak, Black Lion, Rock Inn, and Masons Arms.