My grandfather was born Thomas Morgan in Llantwit Fadre but added Oswald as a middle name. He lived in 101 Oxford St Pontycymmer from about 1900/01. He married Mary Thomas whose family lived close by and he had a boot and shoe shop there. His brother had the shoe shop in Blaengarw. My grandparents had 6 children losing 1 who was buried in the cemetery. My father was their 2nd child. Mary died 6 months after the birth of the last child Gwyn, on 31/3/1910. He did not re-marry but employed a housekeeper to look after the 4 children, Gwyn being brought up in Aberfan by a sister of his and her husband. All of his children had the option to go to University and 4 did so. He lived in Pontycymmer until he retired in the late 1920’s I think, after which he moved with a daughter to Porthcawl. His dates were : 9/4/1872 – 8/12 1963. He was a staunch chapel deacon and I believe it was the Calvinistic Methodist one in Pontycymmer featured in the Glamorgan family History 50th anniversary edition.
What I would like to know is where the records for this chapel are so that I can look at his record there if on line but I failed find them. I have in the past visited the old shop when I was driving and looked around the area. My parents also took me as a child up there to see where Dad was born but that is many years ago and the shop was shut then. My last visit was a few years back and I had access to the living area below. My grandfather’s name was still on the shop entrance floor then. There are some stories about my father’s life in Pontycymmer and I do have photos of my grandfather if you are building a social history of those years.
Thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story. If you need assistance with your query about the chapel records, please feel free to contact us through our enquiry form here: https://www.garwheritage.co.uk/wordpress/?page_id=155
My grandfather was born Thomas Morgan in Llantwit Fadre but added Oswald as a middle name. He lived in 101 Oxford St Pontycymmer from about 1900/01. He married Mary Thomas whose family lived close by and he had a boot and shoe shop there. His brother had the shoe shop in Blaengarw. My grandparents had 6 children losing 1 who was buried in the cemetery. My father was their 2nd child. Mary died 6 months after the birth of the last child Gwyn, on 31/3/1910. He did not re-marry but employed a housekeeper to look after the 4 children, Gwyn being brought up in Aberfan by a sister of his and her husband. All of his children had the option to go to University and 4 did so. He lived in Pontycymmer until he retired in the late 1920’s I think, after which he moved with a daughter to Porthcawl. His dates were : 9/4/1872 – 8/12 1963. He was a staunch chapel deacon and I believe it was the Calvinistic Methodist one in Pontycymmer featured in the Glamorgan family History 50th anniversary edition.
What I would like to know is where the records for this chapel are so that I can look at his record there if on line but I failed find them. I have in the past visited the old shop when I was driving and looked around the area. My parents also took me as a child up there to see where Dad was born but that is many years ago and the shop was shut then. My last visit was a few years back and I had access to the living area below. My grandfather’s name was still on the shop entrance floor then. There are some stories about my father’s life in Pontycymmer and I do have photos of my grandfather if you are building a social history of those years.
Thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story. If you need assistance with your query about the chapel records, please feel free to contact us through our enquiry form here: https://www.garwheritage.co.uk/wordpress/?page_id=155