“THE CLERIC, THE CAPTAIN AND A TALE OF TWO SISTERS”.

(Keeping it in the family)

While researching the teachers at Penygelli School, an interesting little story started to emerge
about three families.

The Cleric - Thomas Ellis Thomas

Thomas Ellis was the son of William Thomas born c 1834, a farmer and his wife Jane.
In 1871 he is living with his parents and younger siblings, John, William and Margaret at Ty Croes,
Llandanial Anglesey.
Details from Charles Surman's index of Congregational ministers .
Born: 1 April 1858 Rocos, Llanfair Anglesey. Died: 31 December 1951.
Member of Capel, Cana, Llandaniel.
He served at Abergwynolwyn nr Cwrt, Merionethshire, between 1881 and 1887 he is at
Llanfihangel Merioneth, from 1887-1900 at Seion, Talwrn and also from 1887-1926 at Salem,
Coedpoeth.
By 1887 he had come to Coedpoeth and settled into life in the village. By 1898 Thomas was the
Chairman of the Bersham School Board and was still a Manager visiting the Schools in 1908
In 1889 Thomas married Hannah Rogers, who was a teacher at Penygelli School, but after only
three years of marriage Hannah died early in 1892, she was only 35.

The Captain - Thomas Andrew

The Family
Thomas was born in Illogen, Cornwall about 1838; son of John and Mary Andrew.
In 1851 he is living in Illogen, Redruth with his mother Elizabeth aged 45, sister Mary 15, and
brother John 11.
In 1851 John was already in Minera working as a lead miner, and was lodging with Ambrose
Manuel, his wife Mary and their six children.
Ambrose was another Cornishman; he was an engineer at the lead mines. As Mary had been born in
Holywell, and their eldest son, also named Ambrose had been born in Mold about 1837 the
Manuels had been in North Wales for quite some time.

Sometime between 1851 and 1858 Johns wife and children also moved to Minera, as many Cornish
people did. It seems that the experience the men had gained in the Cornish mines was greatly
needed in this area, but John died and was buried in Minera Church on 6th November 1858 aged 51
His youngest son John was buried also in Minera on 4th June 1868 aged 28.

Elizabeth has been widowed. A few years later in early 1861 her daughter Mary Andrew married
William Jones, a Blacksmith in a Civil marriage.
On 19th July 1861 a son named William was born, at the time they were living at Aberoer, and he
was baptised 16th September 1861 at Wern Chapel.
William died on 8th March 1862, aged only 27, he is buried in Wern Graveyard.

Thomas married Ann Jones in 1863, in the Great Boughton district. It seems that the younger
family members then went to Wern Chapel; there are entries for both Baptisms and Burials in the
Registers.
Wern chapel registers:
Baptism Margaret Elisabeth, Aberoer, born 24th July 1866, baptised14th September 1866,
daughter of Thomas Andrew, Captain and his wife Ann Formerly Jones.
Baptism. Anne Louisa Andrew, New Brighton, born 21st March 1867 bapt 19th April 1870
daughter of Thomas Andrew, Captain and his wife Ann Formerly Jones.
Sadly, Thomas lost his wife and little daughter within the space of six months in 1870
Burials Ann Louisa Andrew, New Brighton aged 2 years 3 months died 04/06/1870
Burials Ann Andrew, New Brighton aged 33, died 23/11/1870, Thomas`s wife.

In 1871 the family are living at New Brighton

Elizabeth Andrew head widow 66, Thomas Andrew, widower 33 mining agent
Mary Jones, daughter, widow 35, William Jones g son 9 b Chester. Margaret E Andrew g dau 4

Elizabeth died aged 77 and was buried in Minera on 17th March 1880 and shortly afterwards in the
same year Thomas married Mary Rogers at St Giles, Wrexham.

By 1881 living Thomas is living at “White Lion”, New Brighton, he is described as a lead mine
agent. His new wife Mary Andrew aged 30 is a School Mistress born in Minera.
Also in the house are his daughter Margaret Elizabeth Andrew aged 14 and his nephew, William
Jones 19 who is by now a carpenter.

Thomas died on 4th June 1888 and was buried at Wern on 6th June 1888
By 1891 Mary Andrew had moved back to Coedpoeth and was living at High St, with her son
Thomas Emlyn Andrews son aged 9

In1891 Margaret E Andrew 24 b Minera is working as a cook for Josiah Ball aged 38 and Agnes his
wife, Josiah was a lead mine agent from Devon, so probably knew Margaret’s father Thomas.

The Sisters - Mary and Hannah Rogers

Both were daughters of Thomas Rogers born about 1821 a coal miner, and Jane his wife who was
from Brymbo.
Mary was born in Wern about 1853. Hannah was born in Wern, about 1857.
The girls attended Bersham and Adwy Schools and taught there themselves in later years.
Apart from Mary and Hannah, there was another child, John born about 1843,
By 1871 the whole family are living at “T.Roger's House” John is a miner, Mary is a “Pupil
Teacher in British Schools” and Hannah is still a scholar.
John died in August 1874; an entry in school logs states that “ Hannah Rogers away from school all
week owing to the sudden death of her brother”.

In December 1873 Mary left school to try the Examination in Swansea College as a candidate for
Queens Scholarship, she was successful and in January 1874 terminated her engagement as a Pupil
Teacher. Dr George Gibbons, one of the members of the School Board presented her with a writing
desk, a gift from the teachers and school children, and addressed the children at some length
followed by words from the other teachers.
In 1875 Miss Mary Rogers returned to the school as Assistant mistress
In Sept qtr 1880 Mary married Thomas Andrew at St Giles, Wrexham. On 4th June 1888 Thomas
died.

Hannah also became a pupil teacher in 1871, by 1874 she has passed her Examinations and her
Indenture was made out. In January 1875 she left the school, but returned as an Assisted Teacher
until April 1882 when she left the school once more.
In 1881 Hannah is still living with her parents in “Bryntirion”, Adwy.
In 1889 Hannah married Thomas Ellis Thomas, he was a Congregational Minister from Anglesey.
Hannah died in 1892
Keeping it in the Family

In 1893 Thomas Ellis Thomas married Mary Andrew in Chester. In 1895 a son John Euryn was
born on 14th April 1895, he was baptised at Salem Chapel on the 14th May 1895 but sadly he died
aged 2 years and 6 months old.
In 1901 living at “Bryntirian” Adwy are
Thos E Thomas 43 Congregational Minister b Anglesea.
Mary 47 b Esclusham Above.
Jane Rogers H widow 76 living on own means b. Bersham. (double mother in law !!!)

The Rev Thomas Ellis Thomas had married both sisters Hannah and Mary.
It seems that this was not legal, is that why they chose to marry in England, rather than in their local
area.
“ In the UK it was illegal to marry your dead wife`s sister until 1907 when the Deceased wife`s
Sister’s Marriage Act was passed. Until this time Canon Law had prevailed. Canon law is basically
Church law and this took the point of view that if a man and woman marry then the husband is
relate to the wife’s family and any marriage would be improper.”

It looks like the people of Coedpoeth just accepted the couple anyway, Rev Thomas continued to
serve at Salem, and was still checking the registers and visiting the schools.
From my Great Aunt Bertha`s obituary we can see that Rev Thomas, was now at Old Colwyn.
“On April 20th 1930 the funeral service took place at the house, the internment took place at
Coedpoeth Cemetery and among the officiating ministers was Rev T E Thomas, Old Colwyn,
an old friend of the family”.

Mary was buried on 1st February 1937 aged 83 yrs, Thomas Ellis lived till he was 93 and died on
31st December 1951 in Beaumaris. They are buried together in Coedpoeth Cemetery with their son
John Euryn who was buried 25th October 1897 aged 2 years 6 months

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