Hen Fethel - Betws / Garnant / Glanaman

[baytree1970]

Does anyone have any info on the Hen Fethel chapel in Betws/Garnant? I have family buried there and also it seems my ancestor Jacob Jones was a deacon there for 50 years up to his death in 1917. I'd love to get some more detail on that.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

[hanes teulu]

Try Welshnewspapers on line (unless you have already done so?) -
https://newspapers.library.wales/

If your search key is more than 1 word eg "Jacob Jones" wrap the search key with "   "  - else it searches for Jacob and Jones separately.

[hanes teulu]

Jacob Jones ("Jacob o'r Foel") was a temperance man along with a Job Phillips. As a result, two horses that pulled the beer drays in Cwmamman were given the names "Jacob and Job".

[baytree1970]

Jacob Jones ("Jacob o'r Foel") was a temperance man along with a Job Phillips. As a result, two horses that pulled the beer drays in Cwmamman were given the names "Jacob and Job".

Thanks, that's great - did you find that using the newspaper search?

[hanes teulu]

Yes - Y Tyst, 10 Oct 1917, a lengthy tribute in Welsh.
Can you manage the Welsh language items?

Re Yr Hen Fethel/Old Bethel, there's a description - in Welsh - of the original building (built 1773) - or is it just in relation to your rellie's time there you want links?

[baytree1970]

Yes - Y Tyst, 10 Oct 1917, a lengthy tribute in Welsh.
Can you manage the Welsh language items?

Re Yr Hen Fethel/Old Bethel, there's a description - in Welsh - of the original building (built 1773) - or is it just in relation to your rellie's time there you want links?

I can't speak Welsh unfortunately - my father grew up in Garnant but moved to England just before I was born. I'll see if Google translate will help.

I'm definitely interested in any history about the chapel, but obviously keen to find out more about my rellies. I found another Jacob Jones clip which says he was at the New Bethel church in Garnant. So I guess he was at both?

I'm also trying to find a baptism for Jacob - it must have been non-conformist as he and several siblings had old testament names. Any idea where I might find that?

Thanks!

[hanes teulu]

1841 Census  ref 1386  3  14  537

There's a 10 yr old Jacob Jones, Llandilofawr with the address "Brynfoel". His 1917 obits/tributes are fulsome in their praise but rather light on biographical detail. One mentions born 1830 in a farmhouse called "Y Foel Uchaf" on the slope of "Y Foel", one of the high cairns of the Black Mountain.

[hanes teulu]

There's a Foel Deg ar Bedol just north of Brynaman and the 1841 family's address in 1851 is "Foel Dêg". The '51 Census shows a 20 year old Jacob Jones born Llandilo.

[hanes teulu]

There's a non conformist (Independent) baptism of -
Jacob Jones, born 25 April 1832, bap 16 May 1832, parents John Jones, mason and Ann Lewis. PoB transcribed as Llandilofawr but original has Llandilofawr crossed out and replaced with Llangathen.

Not the Jacob on the '41/'51 Census and not a strong candidate for "Jacob o'r Foel"?