The fact that William was a harpist means that he would need to have been in a position to be able to access a harp to play and a harpist to teach him.
Most of the families who contained harpists listed in the censuses were sons of Inn Keepers or Victualers or harpists actually staying in such premises, presumably being paid to play to entertain customers, so sons of Inn keepers would have access and opportunity to hear the harp and see it played and even be taught.
Another sort of family that whose children became harpists were those who could afford to pay for someone to teach them, so a family would have to be able to afford to do this. In the 1890's there were renowned harp teachers around who had pupils who competed at Eisteddfods, especially in the Caerphilly / Pontypridd area.
There were of course also famous gypsy families who handed down the tradition (such as Abram Wood and his descendants)
In 1881, your family (minus William Senior) are living at 62 Tramroad side. There is another harpist living at number 45.
William junior is aged 16, enumerated as Scholar and written above it - It also says "Student", It was unusual in 1881 for a lad of aged 16 to still be attending school, when he could have been working in the mines or iron works (which I believe were in the area where they lived).
What was he studying ? Music / To become a teacher ? / some other job that needed a higher level of education that most boys got to 12 before going into the mines / iron works etc.....
Could he have gone to America ? The iron works in the Glyntaff / Treforest area closed in about 1876 and families from the area did emigrate to America to iron works out there.
Do you have any further info regarding William senior & Mary's marriage that might help (i.e where it took place, could they write, who were the witnesses?)
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Topic: William Morgan Western Mail (Read 2169 times)