Cymdeithas Hanes Mechell
The Demography of Llanfechell 1851 & 1901
William Bulkeley and the poor of Llanfechell
Llanfechell in the early 19th Century
Kt., M.P., D.L., J.P 1858-
1858-
With thanks to Mr Robert Thomas Williams, Neuadd
Born in Carrog, Llanbadrig – 1858
Son of Owen Thomas, Carrog & Ellen, d. of William Jones Roberts of Storehouse, Cemaes
One of four brothers and seven sisters.
Mrs Ellen Thomas
Symudodd y teulu i Neuadd o Garrog tua 1867.Family moved to Neuadd from Carrog about 1867.
Owen Thomas took over tenancy with his mother following the death of his father, c1876.
Owen Thomas’ younger sister, Hannah’s descendents still live there.
Established the Cemaes Life Saving Apparatus with other local farmers and businessmen.
He was appointed Chief Officer at age 18 and served until 1889.
The Brynddu-
Colonel Charles Hughes Hunter was commodore of Cemaes Regatta and Owen Thomas the Honourable Secretary.
In Cemaes Owen Thomas met his future wife when she came on holiday.
Capel Bethel, Cemaes. Late 1800’s
Deacon and Sunday School Teacher
Memorial to Sir Owen Thomas above pulpit
*************************************************
Won farming awards for:
Best Stocked Farm – Anglesey Agricultural Society (1881)
Best Fertilised Farm – Llanerchymedd Show (1882)
Neuadd Jumbo -
Neuadd Jumbo weighed nearly a ton and a half.
*************************************************
Became Land Agent to Brynddu-
His Brother Huw Thomas of Carrog followed him as Land Agent of this area.
Lieut. Owen Thomas 1886
Joined 3rd (Militia) Battalion Manchester Regiment
Became a Lieutenant in 1886
Formed the only company in Anglesey of volunteers – the “K” Company, Cemaes Rifle Volunteer Force, a unit of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Volunteers in camp at Valley
Rifle Range at Cemaes
Practice Rifle Range over Neuadd fields, the beach and onto the headlands.
Cemaes Volunteers won the Plas Newydd Challenge Cup in 1898 and the Counties Challenge Cup and Capt Owen Thomas himself won the Officer’s Cup.
Frederica Wilhelmina Skelton Pershouse
Owen Thomas married Frederica in August 1887 at Llanbadrig Church following her holiday visits to Cemaes.
She was the only daughter of Frederic Pershouse, a gentlemen of Bowden, Cheshire. Descended from an esteemed family of Pen Hall, Staffordshire.
Together, after a short stay at the Fron, Cemaes they were given a lease on Brynddu, Llanfechell with 94 acres of land for £100 per annum.
All of their five children were born at Brynddu.
In this period he became a member of Ebenezer Chapel, where his great grandfather had been a minister.
Brynddu, Llanfechell
Col. Charles Hughes-
Col. Charles Hughes-
His main interests were the Militia, Politics and the Mason
This lead to Owen Thomas founding the Cemaes Volunteers, his involvement with the Liberal party in Anglesey and the formation of St. Eilian’s branch of the Masons at Amlwch and the Odd Fellows at Llanfechell.
Anglesey County Council
At the formation of the first Anglesey County Council, Owen Thomas was chosen as the representative of his area.
He was on numerous committees and eventually became an alderman.
Anglesey Trading Company
He expanded this company together with two shareholders, A.R. Barkworth and Capt H.R. Maxted to form Anglesey Trading Company Ltd.
They took over many small local businesses eventually employing up to 80 people. .
Among the buildings they built were houses, a chapelhouse and the Gadlys Hotel, Cemaes Bay. l.
In the meantime, together with Lady Hughes-
At the same time the Anglesey Trading Company was having financial difficulties and the company was eventually wound up. Owen Thomas had to hold an auction at Brynddu to raise money to meet the debts of the company.
The building of the Gadlys Hotel, Cemaes
Owen Thomas, Wife and Children,1897
Farmer
Life saving apparatus at Cemaes -
Agent for Brynddu-
Odd Fellows 1881
Masons 1885
Volunteers 1886
Anglesey County Council 1889
Anglesey Trading Company c1890
Brickworks1899
High Sherriff of Anglesey 1893
Justice of the Peace
Boer War 1899-
By Special Proclamation the Cemaes Volunteer Force were called upon to join up with the military campaign of the Boer War in South Africa.
After the winding up of the Anglesey Trading Company, Capt. Owen Thomas, together with 25 other locals joined the campaign and left Brynddu along with his family.
His leadership qualities quickly came to the fore and with Royal permission he formed the Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment, consisting of 1,300 Horsemen.
After the war, his knowledge of South Africa leads him to get involved in the running and management of vast East African estates.
Owen Thomas’ Family 1906
Royal Commission on agriculture, and agricultural depression.1905-
Cecil Rhodes, Empire Builder.
Agricultural Prospects of Rhodesia.
East African Estates 600 sq.miles Managing Director, London Office.(Regent Street)
Bought Cestyll in 1909 to come back to Anglesey. Steam launch in Cemaes.
Arbitrated in dispute between Lady Hughes Hunter and Cemaes Parish Council.
Recruiting soldiers for service in the 1st World War.
Lord Milner Mission to Egypt.1920
Admitted to the Gorsedd of Bards, Birkenhead 1917
Llandudno, North Wales Brigade
Brig-
He acted as chief recruiting officer for the county together with the Rev John Williams of Brynsiencyn.
It is claimed he recruited 4,000 (maybe an exaggeration) from Anglesey
In 1915 at Llandudno, Lady Boston presented him with a service sword on behalf of the Anglesey Ladies Recruiting committee.
In 1917 he received a knighthood for his services.
Lady Boston
Owen Thomas had four sons and one daughter.
Frederick died of natural causes aged 16 in Skenfrith, Monmouthshire.
Robert Newton Thomas, Killed in action in Gaza.
Mina Margaret Thomas married Gerald Allen in 1918 and had two sons, Robert and Patrick.
Owen Vincent Thomas B.A., Killed in a Flying Accident, Epping.
Trefor Thomas, Killed in Action at Neuve Chapelle
Llanfechell War Memorial
Sir Owen Thomas’ three sons killed in action are named on the memorial
Following previous success and popularity representing the employers and workers of Anglesey he was asked by the Labour Party to be their chosen Parliamentary Candidate in the 1918 General Election.
¡Due to his recruiting duties during the war he had become a very well known figure in Anglesey.
General Election 1918
Sir Owen Thomas, Ind. Lab. 9,038
Ellis Jones Griffiths,Lib 8,898
Majority 140
General Election 1922
Sir Owen Thomas, Ind. 11929
Sir R.J.Thomas, N.Lib. 10067
Majority 1,862
Penbryn near Henley On Thames
As an MP, Sir Owen Thomas had his family home at Penbryn near Henley On Thames.
He lived here until his untimely death after recurring bouts of malaria in 1923, aged 64
Ebenezer Cemetery, Llanfechell
Laid to rest with his parents and family March 1923 Ebenezer Cemetery, Llanfechell
Funeral procession from Neuadd
Included in the picture outside Neuadd are O T Evans and David Pretty’s grandfather and brother W J Pretty.
Between Cemaes and Llanfechell
Ebenezer Cemetary, Llanfechell
Ebenezer Cemetary, Llanfechell
Ebenezer Cemetary, Llanfechell
Throughout his life Owen Thomas was a staunch Welsh Congregationalist, a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Bethel and later a Deacon at Ebenezer Chapel following his move to Brynddu.
He believed in Children’s Sunday Schools and was President of the Anglesey Branch of the Union of Welsh Congregationalists when they met for their annual meeting at Ebenezer, Llanfechell.
At the annual All-
Union of Welsh Independents
Llangefni 1923 – Day Programme
*************************************************
Congratulations from local inhabitants upon receiving a Knighthood from the King (1917).
Dear Sir
As inhabitants of your childhood district we feel glad to have an opportunity to congratulate you on the occasion of being given a knighthood from the King, because of your labour and your brilliant talents in public offices in the kingdom.
As local people we know full well of your personal excellence. You proved yourself
since you were a boy to be kind and thoughtful. Lack of ambition was not apparent
in you. Keen and observant acquaintances would enquire-
Your common sense became apparent in your very early ability to understand people,
your great ability to ‘steer’ people to the best purpose. Three indispensables of
a benefactor are embodied in you, an eye to see a need, a heart to sympathise a need
and an open pocket to help the needy. As local people we feel very proud of the honour
bestowed on you and consider your promotion-
You were appointed very early in life a successor to your dear father as manager
of Brynddu-
When the county councils were first established you were the elected man for our locality, to represent us on this council. Likewise you soon came to prominence as a man who combined strength and gentleness. You were quickly chosen by the council to be a member of many small but important committees on account of your experience and thoughtfulness.
A Royal commission was established to look into land matters and the complaints of the country’s farmers. You were made an honorary member of this
You sat beside Lord Milner and others until a full report was brought out. You were also honoured by the office of High Sheriff of our native county. You moved very effectively to shorten the working hours of the workers and to get them better housing and wages, at a time when great fortitude was demanded. By now you are able to have the pleasure of seeing that seed that you sowed yielding a bountiful harvest
You were at the forefront in the locality in the formation of the Military Volunteers, not unrenowned. Sincethen you have been diligent and successful in this direction.
You achieved a commission as a military officer in South Africa and when this terrible war broke out you were the only suitable man willing to take on the task of bringing together a Welsh Army. You succeeded in this undertaking through your own personal influence beyond the most confident of expectations. Not the smallest of your feats was the brave stand of late that you made for moral purity of your country and nation, and you came out of this campaign like gold purified through fire.
Signed on behalf of the inhabitants of Cemaes and Llanfechell
W H Jones, ‘Bryngwyn’ Chairman, Williams Roberts ‘Fron’, Treasurer
Ivor Jones Morris, Compton House, Secretary.
Reverends:-
M. Jerman R. Williams, Penllyn Shop
W. Richards John Davies Bryn Babo
Evans Jones H. P. Edwards, Awelfryn
T. O. Jones, Vigour
*************************************************
Sources
Material collected and presented by Robert Thomas Williams, Neuadd and shown to Llanfechell Historical Society (Nov 2007) by Robert Thomas Williams, Neuadd
“Rhyfelwr Mon” – David A Pretty
“Life in Pictures of Brig.-
Mr. Robin Grove-
Photos, newspaper cuttings collected by family from Neuadd.
Click on all photographs to see larger versions
Carrog
