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CHAPTER 5
DRAIN-DUON
This chapter builds on prior chapters to prove by a preponderance of evidence that
Elizabeth Evans, wife of Roderick Williams, was born in about 1738, and that she was
buried 28 Aug 1832 in Llandeilo’r-fân, Breconshire, Wales.
Exhibit 31
Source: This is from Frank Esshom, Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah (Salt Lake
City: Utah Pioneers Book Publishing company, 1913), p. 383. See also p. 1251.
Explanation: In Wales it is customary for people to name their houses and farms.
Blackthorn (Black Thorne) is an English translation of Drain-duon, a 110-acre farm in
Llandeilo’r-fân parish, Breconshire, Wales.
Accuracy: It is unlikely that John Jones Williams was born at Drain-duon (Blackthorn)
farm. I have found no record of his parents, Daniel Williams or Ruth Jones, ever living at
Drain-duon. Daniel probably lived at Cefn-gwyn until 1805. According to the Parish
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Registers of Llandeilo’r-fân, Daniel lived at Brunant in 1813 and 1816, and at Nant-y-
gwrdu in 1820. Sometime between 1820 and 1839, Nant-y-gwrdu became a field annexed
to Bryn-Melyn farm. In 1840 and subsequent years Daniel Williams and his family lived
at Bryn-Melyn. Therefore, the documents of Wales suggest that John Jones Williams was
born at either Nant-y-gwrdu farm or Bryn-Melyn farm.
Application: Although this record is probably mistaken as to the birthplace of John Jones
Williams, it correctly suggests a family connection to Drain-duon (Blackthorn) farm.
Exhibit 32
Source: This is a passage from David W. Howell, “Estate Records,” which is Chapter 11
in Welsh Family History: A Guide to Research, Edited by John Rowlands and Others
(1993, Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.), pages 113-114.
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Explanation: The trend in Wales was to keep land in the family. This was true not only
of land ownership, but also tenancies on land owned by someone else. Although
subsequent ownership or occupation of land is not enough, by itself, to establish family
relationships, it does suggest the possibility. When other evidence is inconclusive,
subsequent occupation of the same land may be enough to settle questions of family
relationship.
Exhibit 33
1 Mar 1771 John Jones of Drain Duon was buried (BT).
7 Jul 1773 John Thomas of Drain was buried (BT).
21 Jul 1773 Anne wife of John Thomas of Drain was buried (BT).
16 Jan 1798 Morgan Evan of Drainduon wrote his will: wife Susannah Evan (WP).
5 Jun 1804 Priscilla Jones, a spinster, wrote her will, conveying Tyr drain dyon to
her brother Thomas Jones (WP).
3 Aug 1819 Mary Morgans of Drain-duon, age 1, was buried (PR, BT).
29 May 1820 Joan Williams of Draindyon, age 57, was buried (PR, BT).
17 Nov 1822 Isaac Evans of Drainduon, age 1, was buried (PR, BT).
21 Nov 1822 David Evans of Drainduon, age 38, was buried (PR, BT).
18 Jan 1824 Margaret Davies, daughter of John & Mary Davies of Drain-duon
was baptized (PR, BT).
28 Aug 1832 Elizabeth Williams of Drainduon, age 93, was buried (PR, BT).
9 Jul 1834 Rees Davies, son of David & Mary Davies of Drainduon was
baptized (PR, BT).
21 Nov 1837 Mallt Williams, daughter of Howell & Margaret Williams of Drain-
duon was baptized (PR, BT).
1839 In the Tithe Apportionment, Drain duon was owned by Rees Powell and
occupied by Howell Williams (TA).
7 Jun 1841 Draindion was inhabited by Roderick Williams, age 25; William
Williams, age 60; Anne Williams, age 60; Margaret Price, age 15; Rees
Price, age 13; Ann Powel, age 5 months (CR).
19 May 1843 Mary Williams of Draindion, daughter of William Williams, was
married to Evan Evans (PR).
23 Nov 1843 Elizabeth Williams of Draindion, daughter of William Williams, was
married to Rees Price (PR).
7 Apr 1851 Draindion was inhabited by Roderick Williams, age 40; William
Williams, age 72; Ann Williams, age 73; Elizabeth Price, age 44; Ann
Powell, age 10 (CR).
17 Jun 1851 Margaret Williams of Drain duon, daughter of William Williams, was
married to Thomas Prosser (PR).
Source: This is from Kyle Williams’s summary of events at Drain-duon farm up to 1851.
The events were gathered from the Parish Registers (PR), Bishop’s Transcripts (BT),
Wills and Probate (WP), Tithe Apportionment (TA) and Census Records (CR) of
Llandeilo’r-fân, Breconshire, Wales.
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Application: Starting at the end of the list, the inhabitants of Drain-duon between 1841
and 1851 were the family of William Williams, son of Roderick Williams and Elizabeth
Evans, as already noted in Chapter 4 (especially Exhibits 29, 26, 16, 30, and 22).
The inhabitants of Drain-duon in 1837 and 1839 were the family of Howell Williams.
Future chapters will show that Howell Williams was a brother-in-law of a granddaughter
of Roderick Williams who married Elizabeth Evans.
The inhabitants of Drain-duon in 1834 were the family of David Davies. Exhibit 34
will show how David Davies, who lived at Drain-duon in 1834, was related to Roderick
Williams and Elizabeth Evans.
An inhabitant of Drain-duon in 1832 was Elizabeth Williams. Exhibit 35 will show
how she was related to Roderick Williams.
Exhibit 34
Source: Parish Registers of Llandeilo’r-fân, Breconshire, Wales. The originals are kept in
the chest at the Parish Church in Llandeilo’r-fân. This copy was made from microfilm at
the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion County, Wales. A microfilm
copy of the Bishop’s Transcripts, showing identical information, is available on FHL
104,471, item 4.
Transcription: BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Llandilo’r fane
in the County of Brecon in the Year 1834
Parents Name.
When
Baptized.
Child’s
Christian Name. Christian. Surname. Abode.
Quality, Trade,
or
Profession.
By whom the
Ceremony was
performed.
1834
July 9th.
No. 329
Rees
son of
David
and
Mary
Davies Drainduon Farmer John Evans
Curate.
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Explanation: In this record, Mary Davies and her husband David Davies, a farmer at
Drain-duon, had their son Rees baptized on Wednesday, 9 Jul 1834 at the Parish Church
in Llandeilo’r-fân, Breconshire, Wales.
Application: Recall that Rees Davies and Ann Jones had a son named David Davies who
was christened 22 Feb 1807 (Exhibit 14). Three men named David Davies could possibly
have been the son of Rees Davies and Ann Jones:
One David Davies was a cooper who married Ann Powell (1808-1847). I don’t know
much about him, but he may have been from Llangammarch, Breconshire.
Another David Davies was a labourer of Bryn-ty-mawr farm who married Mary Price
12 Oct 1826 and had at least three children – John christened 8 Dec 1829, David
christened 29 Jun 1834, and Thomas christened 21 May 1837. Although it’s possible that
the son of Rees Davies and Ann Jones married in 1826 at age 19, the legal age for
marriage was 21. This David Davies, then, is not the best match for the son of Rees
Davies and Ann Jones.
The David Davies in the above record was a farmer at Maes-gwyn and Drain-duon
farms. His wife was also named Mary (possibly Mary Williams who married David
Davies 17 Jan 1832 in Llanwrtyd, Breconshire, Wales). They had at least two children –
David christened 9 Sep 1832 and Rees christened 9 Jul 1834. I favor this man as the son
of Rees Davies and Ann Jones for three reasons: (1) He would have been about age 25
when he was married. This was a normal age to marry in nineteenth century Wales. (2)
He named a son Rees. It was common to name a son after his grandfather. (3) He lived at
Drain-duon in 1834. This indicates that he may have been related to the family of
Roderick Williams and Elizabeth Evans. Exhibit 7 proves that Elizabeth Evans had a son
named Rees Davies. Exhibit 14 proves that Rees Davies had a son named David Davies,
christened on 22 Feb 1807. In 1834 David Davies lived on the same farm as other
relatives of Roderick Williams and Elizabeth Evans. This fact brings these records
together, proving by a preponderance of evidence that Rees Davies of Chapter 3 was a
son of Elizabeth Evans who married Roderick Williams.
Exhibit 35
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Source: Parish Registers of Llandeilo’r-fân, Breconshire, Wales. The originals are kept in
the chest at the Parish Church in Llandeilo’r-fân. This copy was made from microfilm at
the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion County, Wales. A microfilm
copy of the Bishop’s Transcripts, showing identical information, is available on FHL
104,471, item 4.
Transcription: I bring the name of Thomas Price, Perpetual Curate, down to the ditto:
BURIALS in the Parish of Llandeilo’r-fâne
in the County of Brecon in the Year 1832
Name. Abode. When buried. Age. By whom the Ceremony
was performed.
Elizabeth Williams
No. 188.
Drainduon Aug
t.
28th
93
Thos. Price
per. Cu.
Accuracy: Burial records from Parish Registers are generally accurate, although the age
of the deceased is sometimes incorrect. In the absence of contradictory information,
though, the age from a burial record is acceptable.
Explanation: This record proves that a 93-year-old woman named Elizabeth Williams
inhabited Drain-duon farm in Llandeilo’r-fân when she died. She was buried 28 Aug
1832 in Llandeilo’r-fân. Until contradictory information indicates otherwise, it may be
accepted that she was born between 28 Aug 1738 and 28 Aug 1739.
Application: Prior exhibits in this chapter show that relatives of Roderick Williams and
Elizabeth Evans lived at Drain-duon farm between 1834 and 1851. This suggests, then,
that the Elizabeth Williams who died at Drain-duon in 1832 was the same person as
Elizabeth Evans who married Roderick Williams on 28 Feb 1778 (Exhibit 4).
Summary
This chapter shows that between 1832 and 1851 four distinct families lived at Drain-
duon farm in Llandeilo’r-fân parish, Breconshire, Wales. Because it was customary in
Wales to pass tenancies of land to family members, and because it can be shown that
these four families were related to Roderick Williams, it is fairly certain that Elizabeth
Williams of Drain-duon, who died in 1832, is the same person who married Roderick
Williams in 1778.
It may be worthwhile to conduct further research on the inhabitants of Drain-duon. At
first glance, for example, it appears that John Davies who lived at Drain-duon in 1824
was a son of Rees Davies (Exhibit 10). However, the 1841 census and his burial record
indicate that he was too old to be the son of Rees Davies. Also, is it possible that David
Evans who lived at Drain-duon in 1822 was he related to Elizabeth Evans?
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Chapters 3, 4 and 5 build up to a climax in Exhibit 35, which establishes the life span
of Elizabeth Evans, who married Roderick Williams in 1778. It is significant that
Elizabeth was about forty years old when she married Roderick, and that she had already
given birth to at least three children. Considering these facts, it should come as no
surprise if in 1778 Roderick Williams, too, was a middle-aged widower with children of
his own.
Now we know a little more about Elizabeth Evans and her children:
[unknown] Elizabeth Evans
born about 1738 South Wales
buried 28 Aug 1832 Llandeilo’r-fân
Roderick Williams born Breconshire
married 28 Feb 1778 Llandeilo’r-fân
┌──┴──┬────┬┘ └┬────┬───┴──┐
Rees
Davies b. Breconshire
m. 18 Nov 1791
Llandeilo’r-fân
≡
Ann Jones
William
Walter b. Breconshire
≡
[wife] b. South Wales
Rees
Walter b. Breconshire
William
Williams ch. 21 Mar 1779
Llandeilo’r-fân
m. 10 Apr 1807
Llandeilo’r-fân
≡
Ann Price ch. 15 Oct 1779
Llandeilo’r-fân
Margaret
Williams b. South Wales
Daniel
Williams b. 23 Aug 1783
Llandeilo’r-fân
m. 16 Apr 1805
Llywel, Brec.
≡
Ruth Jones b. Mar 1780
Tirabad, Brec.
© 5 April 2010
Kyle Williams
215 W. High St.
Woodbury, TN 37190
(615) 464-7558
