The story of Edward Nicholls and his family is very sad. Edward died tragically alongside fellow worker Matthew Berryman in a rock fall at Vaynor Quarry 10th February 1896. Edward was a widower, his wife Ellen died only 18 months before. The couple had 9/10 children the older of which found work locally after Edwards death, whilst some of the younger children were taken in at a local farm where life was not rosy.
I have some notes on Edward Nicholls which I made several years
ago when going through census and parish records for some research on for Vaynor , essentially they are just pencil jottings but hope they help.
Also I dont know if you are aware but there is an excellent website on the
history of the Berryman family which gives an account of Matthew
Berryman who died in the same accident and includes the sobering report of the accident from the
Merthyr Times February 13th 1896. berryman.uk.com/matthew.htm
These are the notes I have for Edward Nicholls. I hope they help in
some small way.
Edward Nicholls Born C 1844 Devon. Died Tragically at Vaynor Quarry
10th Feb 1896. Buried Vaynor Churchyard 15th February 1896.
Edward Married Ellen Born abt 1847 Devon. Ellen was buried in Vaynor
Churchyard 19th May 1894.
1891 Edward, Ellen and children lived at
Heol Las /Rhiwlas /Tyn Y Bedw Vaynor, Heol Las is situated between Cwmmoel Farmstead and
Blaenyglais Farm.
Children of Edward and Ellen Nicholls.
William Born about1873 Ilfracombe.
Walter B abt1875 Cornwall.
Eliza Jane B abt 1877 Ilfracombe.
Emily B abt1880 Kettering Northants.
Frank B1882Coleford Glos.
Ruth B abt 1884 Cole ford Glos.
John B abt1886 Cardiff.
Mary B1888 Llantwitfadre.
Isabella Ellen B1890 Vaynor.
According to the the Merthyr Times 'Edward lived at Rhiwlais, a lonely
homestead on the height of Kilsanws mountain'. The parish burial
records for Edward 15th February 1896 however list his address as
Ty'nybedw. The 1891 census lists Edward, Ellen and their children at
Heol Lais, I know the area and believe Ty'nybedw and Heol Las are the same dwelling but
given different names as they only appear independently on the census with the repeated farms either side., there’s also a large variation in spellings
from T y'n Bedu , Tyn Tyn Fedw , Bedw and Heol Las, Heol Lais.
Burial Record for Edward Nicholls in the Vaynor Parish Registers.
Nicholls. Edward. Killed at Vaynor Quarry. Address Ty'nybedw.
The Vaynor parish records also have a burial record for Ellen 19th May
1894 age 47 Address Heol Las.
other records from the parish registers for the Nicholls family are
Baptism record for Isabella Ellen Nicholls 24th November 1889,
Father forename Edward, Mother Forename Ellen address Heol Las late
Devon.
Marriage record 5th August 1900 Walter Nickolls age 21, Fathers
forename Edward. Deceased. Bride Eliza Sharman age 24. Fathers
Forename George. Deceased.
*Marriage record 9th April 1899 Eliza Jane Nicholl age 23 Fathers
forename Edward. Deceased. Groom John Griffiths age 23. Fathers
Forename John. Deceased.
Edward was a widower when he died in 1896, his wife Ellen sadly died 18 months previously and life must have been very hard for Edward and it was desperately sad when he died so tragically leaving so many children. The Rev. J Edmund Jenkins recror of Vaynor who would have officiated at the
funerals of both Ellen and Edward and would have known them and the children. I am sure it must have hit a chord with the Rev Jenkins whose wife Ruth died in 1889 aged 47 same age as Ellen Nicholls and he took 3 of the orphans in at the rectory.
Hope this helps
vaynor71
