More About Daniel Rees (Williams)

Various newspapers reported that Daniel Rees was 14 years old. Daniel's headstone, however, gives his age as only 13. He was an orphan who resided at Prospect Place, Cwmamman, with Thomas Williams and his wife, at the time of his death.

Prospect Place was a terrace on the A474, Cwmamman Road, Garnant. It started next to New Bethel Independent Chapel and extended past what is now the Workmans hall.

The 1881 census lists the following people living at the Williams household at Prospect Place:

• Thomas Williams (Head), born c1830 at Bettws Parish, Carmarthenshire. Occupation: Coal Miner.
• Mary Williams (Wife), born c1829 at Bettws Parish, Carmarthenshire
• William Williams (Son), born c1860 at Bettws Parish, Carmarthenshire
• John Williams (Son), born c1866 at Bettws Parish, Carmarthenshire
• Daniel Griffith (Relative), born c1871 at Bettws Parish, Carmarthenshire
  

It would be fair to assume that Daniel Griffith, listed above, is almost certainly Daniel Rees, given that the year of birth would be the same. Daniel Griffith's occupation is listed as "Scholar."

Looking at the household ten years previously in 1871, we find Daniel Griffiths listed among the family members. At that time, he was only four months old and recorded as "Boarder". It is not clear who Daniel's natural parents are. Further investigation reveals that Daniel Griffiths was born in the first quarter, probably January, of 1871. Whether Daniel lived with Thomas Williams throughout his life or only periodically is again uncertain. Although he was not his natural father, it is clear that Thomas cared for Daniel and regarded him as a son and evidence of this is seen on the headstone inscription where Daniel is referred to as Thomas Williams' Son: "Mab Thomas Williams".

In 1884, Daniel was a boy who was assigned to work with a miner, as was the general practice at the time for boys of his age.

Daniel is buried at Hen Bethel cemetery with Thomas and Mary Williams. Thomas Williams died less than four and a half months after Daniel. The inscription on Daniel's headstone reads as follows:

ER COF AM
DANIEL,
MAB THOMAS WILLIAMS,

UN O'R DEG A CYFARFYDDASANT A'U DIWEDD
TRWY DORIAD RHAFF PWLL Y GARNANT.

BOREU Y 16 O ION. 1884
YN 13 OED.

HEFYD Y THOMAS WILLIAMS
AR ENWYD UCHOD AR FU FARW MAI, 27
1884, YN 54 OED.

HEFYD MARY GWRAIG YR UCHOD
THOMAS WILLIAMS
A FU FARW RHAG. 9, 1894, YN 66 OED

Daniel's Headstone at Hen Bethel

Hen Bethel, February 2006

According to an article in the "Western Mail", the funerals of the men were carried out over the course of the weekend, starting on the first Friday after the accident.

• 1871 census: RG10/5489, Folio: 80, Page: 3
• 1881 census: RG11/5392, Folio: 86, Page 28
• BMD Ref: 1st Quarter 1871, Llandilofawr, 11a 731

Thanks to Mr Alan Thomas for information regarding Daniel and Thomas Williams.