Hen Fethel - Betws / Garnant / Glanaman

[hanes teulu]

Marriage FindMyPast (transcript/image)
Solemnised at Christ Church in the Parish of Cwmaman-
May 30 1857, Jacob Jones, 26, Bachelor, Farmer/Collier, address Bryn y Fol, father Thomas Jones, farmer and Margaret Thomas, 28, Spinster, Farmer's daughter,, father Thomas Thomas, farmer.

"Your" Jacob Jones is referred to as "Jacob y Fol" as well as "Jacob y Foel".

The marriage details "fit" the Jacob Jones, father Thomas, on the '51 Census.

[baytree1970]

Thanks for all the info - I have the census returns already so know that the family is Thomas Jones, father, farms at Foel Deg (Bryn y Foel) in the location you describe. He has a number of children including Jacob. all born in 1830s or thereabouts.

Unfortunately that means that the baptism must be incorrect, as we know the father was thomas, a farmer.

Can you please tell me where you found the non-conformist baptism?

[hanes teulu]

That baptism was posted in order to remove from the equation - found on FindMyPast.
A couple of nonconformist baptisms around that time but nothing to fit "your" Jacob. Have searched on a wide YoB to cater for late/adult baptism.

Yet to find possible whereabouts, if they exist, of Hen Fethel registers.

[baytree1970]

I can't find the registers either - apparently they exist, this page refers to them:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Carmarthenshire_Nonconformist_Records
... search 'Fethel' for the two entries in the table - I'm confused because it provides a footnote reference for sources, but no accompanying footnote. I must be being dim!

It does say the archives are at NLW (Nat. Library Wales?) and TNA (The national Archive?) - but I guess that means you have to visit the physical location to see them.

[hanes teulu]

I had found
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/LlandeiloFawr#ChurchRecords
but yet to check.

[hanes teulu]

The Amman Valley Chronicle, 25 Oct 1917, carries an article about the Deacons of Hen Fethel. In the 1880s he describes them as the sons of Anak (giants) and tall enough for the Welsh Guards.. He goes on to say -

"But about Jacob o'r Foel I mean to write today. He sat in the big seat ( y sêt fawr - where the deacons sat) of the giants, but since he was small of stature, you had to look with particular care before spotting him. Little Towyn ("Towyn bach") had the help of the pulpit to appear prominent/obvious, but as for Jacob he sat under the pulpit with six foot two Thomas Walter between him and the congregation. Jacob o'r Foel was the smallest of the deacons, except in the measurement between his chin and the top of his head there wasn't so much difference between him and the others."

Takes me back to my childhood watching, with the utmost respect, the deacons in the "sêt fawr" - all prominent in the town.   

[baytree1970]

thank you, I was just looking over the same article, but I have to rely on google translate so it's not perfect.

Seems 'the genealogist' has the non-conformist records, but it's yet another genealogy subscription...

[baytree1970]

I have a handwritten letter from Towyn Jones to Jacob Jones. By then Towyn Jones was in government and the letterhead is 12 Downing St. It's all in Welsh though and not easy handwriting.

[hanes teulu]

Seems Familysearch has records from 1840
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/1403176