More About Thomas Bevan

The poem by David Aubrey Lewis tells us of Thomas Bevan's willingness to help, with a cheerful, amiable face.

It was reported incorrectly, that Thomas Bevan had three children. On looking at the 1891 census, it emerges that he was in fact the father of 4! His wife was probably pregnant at the time of Thomas' death and so he, like Thomas Michael, would not have seen his youngest child.

At the time of the1881 census, Thomas was living at Prince Albert Cottage, Garnant, with his wife Jane and his two sons, Thomas and John. The head of the household was Esther Rees, Jane's mother. Also at the address was John Rees, Jane's bachelor brother, who was aged approx 26.

The 1891 census shows Jane Bevan, Thomas' widow as the head of the household. The address listed was Prince Albert Row, probably the same abode as that on the 1881 census. This terrace is on the A474, Cwmamman Road, Opposite the Colliers Arms in Garnant.

There were 9 people living at this address; these being;

When Thomas Bevan died at Garnant Colliery, his children were aged as follows:

Name
Approximate Age
John Bevan
6
Tom Bevan
4
David Bevan
2
Esther A. Bevan
Yet to be born

Thomas is buried at Christchurch, Garnant, with his wife Jane. The inscription on his headstone reads:

ER
COF AM
THOMAS BEVAN
UN O'R DEG A CYFARFYDDASANT A'U DIWEDD
TRWY DORIAD RHAFF PWLL Y GARNANT
BOREU YR 16 O ION 1884
YN 33 OED

HEFYD AM JANE EI WRAIG
A FU FARW TACHWEDD 8 1916
YN 58 OED

DEATH DIVIDES BUT MEMORY CLINGS

There is also a memorial to Thomas on the adjacent grave, where his wife's parents lay. The inscription on this memorial is as follows:

IN MEMORY OF
THOMAS REES, PRINCE
ALBERT, WHO DIED JAN 19 1862
AGED 39 YEARS

IN MEMORY OF
THOMAS BEVAN
(PRINCE ALBERT COTTAGE) DIED
JAN 16 1884 AGED 33 YEARS

IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE IN DEATH

ALSO OF ESTHER REES
DIED MAY 31 1908
AGED 95 YEARS

Memorial to Thomas Bevan, left and his headstone, right.


Christchurch, Garnant, 2006.

The Christchurch burial records state that Thomas Bevan of "Prince's Cottage" was buried on 20th January 1884, aged 33. The ceremony was carried out by David Griffiths - Vicar.

By the time of the 1901 census, Thomas' widow, Jane had married a man by the name of William Jenkins. The census shows that Jane had two more daughters, Hannah Jenkins, born in 1896 and Mary J. Jenkins, born in 1898.

Thomas' children, Tom, David and Esther Bevan were still living with their Mother in 1901, again at the same address. Apart from Jane's new family, also listed there was her mother, Esther Rees and brother John Rees.

There was, however, no mention of Thomas' eldest son, John Bevan, at the household in 1901 and my search for him has so far been unsuccessful.

Thomas had an elder brother, James. He and his family were listed as the keepers of the Half Moon Hotel in Garnant on the 1881 census. Thomas and James were the sons of John Bevan (born 1805 at Llandilo Talybont, Brecknock). He was a miller living at Pedol Mill house in 1851 and 1861.

Thomas' brother James had a son named Evan John Bevan, who was aged 23 in 1901 (the same age as Thomas' son, John), and he is listed at Tircoed Cottage, Glanamman at that time. He was living with his wife, Mary and son Thomas Owen Bevan, who was aged just one month. This John Bevan, was a colliery engine driver, above ground.

Evan John Bevan had three sons, Tom, Dai and Jim. Tom and Dai won prizes at the 1916, 1918 and 1919 eisteddfods.

Census Doc Refs: