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Elida of Port Royal, SC
purrysburg@islc.net





Year 2008

THE THOMAS FAMILY of ANGELSEY, NORTH WALES, UK




This is the home in Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey known as "Caera"or in earlier years as "Caeru"



EVAN THOMAS
Ty Mawr
Pengraigwen
Llandyfrydog

Just above is the inscription on the Welsh bible belonging to my grandfather Evan THOMAS. He immigrated to the USA in 1882 along with his brother Robert THOMAS. Both Evan and Robert settled in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. Another brother, Richard may have come to America at the same time, settling in Saskatchwan, Canada, but he had returned to Wales by 1921.

They were sons of Richard THOMAS, born 1813 and his wife Jane, born in 1821. The 1881 British Census shows Richard and Jane living in the dwelling known as "Llwynysgo". Richard THOMAS as Head of Household, his occupation listed as farmer, age 68, born in Llanfairynghornwy, Anglesey, Wales and his wife Jane THOMAS as a farmer's wife, age 60, born in Llandyfrydog, Anglesey, Wales. Their household also included: Robert THOMAS, son, age 23, unmarried, born in Llandyfrydog, working as an agricultural laborer; Jane THOMAS, daughter, age 25, unmarried, born in Llandyfrydog; Owen WILLIAMS, son-in-law, married, age 23, born in Llanddyfan, Anglesey, occupation Agricultural laborer; and Hugh JONES, grandson, age, 11, born in Llanfechell, Anglesey, a scholar.




  • ITEMS FOUND in the 1881 BRITISH CENSUS, in VARIOUS PARTS of ANGLESEY, WALES:

    Hugh THOMAS, born 1852 in Anglesey. Occupation of Stone Mason. Living in dwelling known as "Tan Y Fynwent", Llandyfrydog, Wales. Head of Household, age 29 with wife Elizabeth, age 26 and sons: Richard THOMAS, age 7; Rich. Hughes THOMAS, age 6; and Hugh THOMAS, age 6 months. Source: FHL Film 1342342 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5589 Folio 13 Page 2.

    Robert THOMAS, born 1858 in Llanfairynghornwy, Llandyfrydog. occupation as agricultural Laborer. Living in Llwynysgo, Llandyfrydog, Wales. Age 23.

    Evan THOMAS, born 1861 in Llandyfrydog. Unmarried.Occupation as General Servant (Agricultural Laborer). Age 20. Living in dwelling known as "Glangors" in LLangwyllog, Anglesey, Wales. Source: FHL Film 1342341 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5586 Folio 23 Page 5. In household of Hugh LEWIS, age 62, occupation farmer of 101 acres, employing 4 Ag Lab workers, including his wife Ann LEWIS, age 60 and their son Hugh LEWIS, age 26.

    Ellen THOMAS, born 1850 in Llandyfrydog , age 31, with Head of Household as her husband, Richard JONES, age 35, born in Llaneilian with their children all born in Llaneilian: Edward JONES, age 5, Ellen JONES, age 3,and Richard JONES, age 1. Also in household is Jane JONES, age 17, unmarried born in Amlwch.

    Maria Hester OWENS, appears on the 1881 British Census return for Llanfairynghornwy living at "Caera", recorded as a large farm of 305 acres. She is listed as a daughter in the household headed by her father John S. OWENS, farmer, age 61, born in Anglesey, and her mother Mary OWENS, age 58, born in Anglesey. Her parents were actually John Stephen OWENS, son of John OWEN, Rector of Llaneilian and his wife Hester ROOSE, and Mary Jones, daughter of Hugh JONES of Pennrorsedd, Llanrhwydrus.



    The OWENS family was the last to own "Caera". It has a long history, being described by Emlyn Richard in his book, "Yr Ardal Wyllt". It was a manor house Northwest of Llanfair-yn-Nghornwy in Anglesey. The first family to have lived there in 1375 was that of the Welsh poet Gruffudd Llwyd, following that in the ownership of the ROBERTS family from the early 1500's until 1770 when ownership passed to James, Lord Viscount BUCKELEY, of Baron Hill, Beaurmaris, Anglesey upon the death of his wife, Emma, daughter of Thomas ROWLANDS and sole heiress of Caera.
    "Caera" is listed in the book entitled, "Royal Commision on Ancient Monuments" published in 1937. Following the death of Maria Hester OWENS, the property was purchased at auction by the Anglesey Town Council. Following the end of World War II the old "Caera" property was subdivided into apartments for returning soldiers and their families.


    Here is a listing of the beneficiaries who shared in the sale of the property known as "Caera" after the death of its last owner: "In the ESTATE of MARIA HESTER OWEN, deceased, late of Caera, Llanfairynghornwy, in the County of Anglesey - delivered by Hugh THOMAS of Parc Chwarel, Llandyfrydog, Anglesey, the Admisistrator. March 19, 1931, Beneficiary:

    1. Hugh THOMAS, cousin.

    2. Children of a Cousin:

    1. Alfred R. THOMAS
    2. Robert THOMAS
    3. Richard B. THOMAS

    3. Children of a Cousin:

    1. Catherine Jane JONES
    2. Richard W. THOMAS

    4. Mary Jane JONES (a Cousin).

    5. John JONES (do).

    6. Elizabeth Catherine OWEN (only child of a cousin).

    7. Children of a Cousin:

    1. Mary Jane HUGHES
    2. Richard WILLIAMS

    8. Children of a Cousin:

    1. Ellen GRIFFITHS
    2. Richard JONES by his trustee in Bankruptcy

    9. Children of a Cousin:

    1. William ROWLANDS
    2. John ROWLANDS
    3. Catherine Ann ROWLANDS
    4. Ann Jane HUGHES

    10. Children of a Cousin:

    1. Richard G. THOMAS
    2. J. Ivor THOMAS
    3. Gordon E. THOMAS





    Surname Links and Others

    Powell and Parsell Families of Pembrokeshire, SW Wales
    Old Postcards of Pembrokeshire
    The Pennsylvania Dutch Stutzman Family
    The WEARY Family in Pennsylvania