Pontrewbela

[hencarrai]

Hi,
I have a marriage in 1852 at Mynyddislwyn Parish Church.
Bride is Margaret Jones of Cefn Coch.
The groom is William Jones, residence is given as Pontrewbela.
Does anyone know of Pontrewbela please?

[rosie17]

Nothing coming up on google could it maybe be a name of a house 
Rosie

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Trouble is the spelling of welsh place and house names wasn't that standardised in the 19th century

My first thought is that it is Pont Rhiw [something] or possible Pont yr heol  [something]

[despair]

There are a few residences starting Penrhiw.. in the area,but no ending like ..bela,and there is a "cwrt  y bela",which seems too different iniitially,even allowing for mistranscription.In looking to see if there was an English equivalent,I found that "bela" means "pine marten"-very apt as they are difficult to find!
I can find a Penrhiwbaili,but that's in Carmarthen.

Regards
Roger

[hencarrai]

Ok, another mystery unsolved.
Thanks for trying folks,
Rob

[Joburg]

Hi,
   Have you purchased the marriage cert?

Regards

Joburg

[hencarrai]

Hello Joburg,
I have the PR. Pontrewbela is very clearly written, couldn't be transcribed as anything else.
I wondered if it was near Courtybela / Cwrt y bela, but I cannot find anything.
I guess the name of a farm or house is most likely.

Rob

[hanes teulu]

On the 1861 Census, is your William living with his father in law at "Cefn Coch" - Margaret's address on  the marriage certificate? The Census reference is  RG09  4026  66  5    Willam's PoB is "Mynyddislwyn".
Finding him on the '51 Census is not easy given his name and father's name (John) and occupations (Colliers). Do you have William in '51?
 
As you say it's clearly "Pontrewbela" on the marriage cert - no confusion. I can only find one mention of "Pontrhiw" on Welshnewspapers online under the headline "Monmouthshire Baptist English Association" and mentions the "Rev D. Davies, Pontrhiw".

Re. the "bela" element of "Pontrhiwbela", I cannot see anything on the Glossary of Welsh Place-Name   Elements but I have been treating it as "bellaf" (further/furthest).

[hanes teulu]

Looking at "Cefn Coch" on the 1873-79 map, immediately to the east is "Ton-tir-bel" - I wonder if "Pontrewbela" is an an attempt by a non Welsh speaker to capture "Ton-tir-bel".
In the '41 Census it is recorded as "Tontyrbele".