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| Ornate gates, Talbot Terrace, Maesteg cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Jaggery - geograph.org.uk/p/3005790 The gates have two oval motifs each depicting four daffodils. Across the top of the gates is PUDDLER'S COTTAGE. |
David Williams married Rhoda Wilkey, daughter of Thomas Wilkey and Eliza Flew, in Q2 1879 (Vol 11A Page 617), in Bridgend, Glamorgan. The marriage certificate should reveal the venue, as well as clues to David's origins.
David and Rhoda had four children:
- Thomas Williams b. 1880 S Qtr in BRIDGEND Vol 11A Page 513
- William Williams b. 1882 J Qtr in BRIDGEND Vol 11A Page 567
- John Williams b. 8 Jul 1884 S Qtr in BRIDGEND Vol 11A Page 610
- Eliza Mary Williams b. 1892 S Qtr in BRIDGEND Vol 11A Page 709
In 1881 living at 7, Treharne Row, Cwmdu, Bridgend, Glamorganshire, Wales, were David Williams (36) Puddler (An iron puddler (often merely puddler) was a worker in iron manufacturing who specialized in puddling, an improved process to convert pig iron into wrought iron. The strenuous labor, heat and fumes caused puddlers to have a short life expectancy, with most dying in their thirties.); Roda Williams (30) and Thomas Williams (0).
In 1891, David Williams (47) Colliery Labourer and Rhoda Williams (42) and two of their sons: William Williams (9) and John Williams (6) were living at Talbot Terrace, Cwm Du, Glamorgan, Wales.
In 1901, David Williams (64) Water Pumper (Colliery) Below, this time his birthplace is listed as Ystalafern, Glamorganshire (presumably Ystalyfera) was still living at Talbot Terrace, Cwm Du, Maesteg, Glamorganwith Rhoda Williams (listed as 50), William Williams (19), John Williams (16), Elizabeth [Eliza] M Williams (8) and Patsy Regar (19) (Male) Boarder.
Rhoda Williams, with age over estimated to 58, died in 1908 M Quarter in BRIDGEND Volume 11A Page 569.
The rest of them are harder to locate going forward. Rhoda Wilkey was listed as the mother's name on a Social Security Application in the United States relating to John Williams in Mar 1937, which provided his date of birth and from which we can deduce that he had emigrated at some point.