George# Powell

  Notes:

George Powell was born in 1833, possibly his mother died in childbirth, she certainly died shortly after his birth and his father remarried the following year. His father died when George was 16 and by the time of the 1851 census he is living, aged 18, as a boarder at the house of John Lewis, who was one of his fathers executors.
In his father's will Platch Farm was divided equally between his wife and legitimate children (as decreed by his mothers will), which would mean that George would only have a 1/8th share. George also received from his father "all that my leasehold land adjoining to Ewyas Harold Common at present in the occupation of William Levis (Lewis?)", quite why he should be singled out to receive this 'additional gift' (in preference to his elder brother for example) remains to be seen.
George eventually started farming on his own account, quite how he raised the money I'm not sure, although it appears that the first farm at Cwm Dulais was shared with his in-laws (who retained their own farm at nearby Craswell) so perhaps the money came from them. Possibly this farm was rented, although he certain owned his final farm Lower-Cwm (pictured) as he is listed as a freeholder in 1873.
By 1881 we find the family staying at the farm George's brother-in-law managed on the outskirts of Cardiff, although the in-laws are back at Lower-Cwm, listed as retired farmers, so possibly George still owned and farmed this property (although is listed in census as Retired Farmer). George was still at Lower Cwn in 1879 but we know that is was sold (or perhaps rented out) by 1885 and in 1891 and 1901 George and his wife are living with their daughter in Llangyniew and then Wroxeter, Shrops. He died at Wroxeter in 1903, although I have not yet been able to find any grave for him.

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Parental logic is; George's 1/2 brother Ambrose's birth cert shows his father as George, and (presumably) this George is living with that Ambrose (and their father George) in '41 at Platch Farm. Ergo the George Powell at Platch Farm in '41 is the correct person for this George's father.
BUT; There are 2 x George's of roughly the correct age in '41, however the one I've gone with is in Dulas, which is where this George says he was born most of the time.
Also there is only 1 George Powell of the correct age and PoB in all subsequent census', unless in Wales of course ....
Also in '51 he is living with someone who has the same name as the George Powell of Platch Farm's executor. So all hangs together, if a little confusing. Also have his marriage cert which confirms his father is George Powell, freeholder.
Can't find his baptism on http://www.familyhistoryonline.net/

Got his precise birthdate from Family Bible info from Rosemary Elmes.

Originally thought he was son of George and Elizabeth (as living with them in '41). Possibly thought that he was illegitimate as born ~1834 and G&E married Sept 1834. However then discovered that his father was a widower when he married Elizabeth. Also there is a Ann Powell, abode of PLATCH, buried in Clodock on 27 May 1833 age 26. So this is almost certainly his mother. Possibly she died in child birth.

1841 Census (age 7) living with father and step-mother and 1/2 siblings at Platch Farm, DULAS.

1851 Census; Age 18; Living as boarder in Longtown, Herefordshire on farm belonging to John LEWIS (presumably the same person as his fathers executor), but is definately a boarder not a servant, as they are listed as such. Occupation not given, PoB is CLODOCK (same as everyone else in house, so probably just lazy!).

29th May 1857; Lease between George Powell and the Earl of Abergavenny for "Cottage, garden and land on Ewyas Harold Common" . James Powell on same lease summary at http://www.ewyaslacy.org.uk/doc.php?d=rs_ewy_0070

1860 Marriage cert; 27 Oct 1860 in the Parish Church at Clodock;
George Powell, 26, Bachelor, Farmer, Resident of Clodock, father George Powell, Freeholder.
and
Mary Ann Williams, 20, Spinster. Her father not given !
Witnesses; Richard Williams (presum her father or brother) and Martha Parry (who's she?).

Hereford Journal; Wed 31 Oct 1860; Marriages; Powell - Williams. Oct 27 by license, at Clodock Church by the Rev.Chas.Roberts, vicar, Mr George Powell, Cwmdulas, in the township of Longtown, to Miss Mary Ann Williams, only dau of Mr.Richard Williams of Cwmdulas Farm.

1861 Census; Age 28; Living as Head at 'Cwm Dulais', Longtown with wife, no children. However also living at same address are his in-laws, the WILLIAMS. There appears to be a line between the two groups (and 2 'Heads'). Perhaps cottage attached to farm or similar? NB: On this census George gives his place of birth as DULAS. Occupation; Farmer.
Cwm Dulas is about 2 miles East of Longtown - very close to Platch Farm, unfortunately I didn't realise this on my visit to the area - so have no photographs!
Cwm (pronounced 'Come') means a shallow valley and appears all over the place on maps of this area.

1871 Census; Age 38; Living at Lower-Cwm Farm, Llanveynoe, Herefordshire with wife, 3 children and 3 (indoor) servants - all called WILLIAMS. Occupation; Farmer of 100 acres. Gives PoB as DULAS.
Shown on old maps there is a Low(No 'er') Cwm below Upper Cwm, however on the 1871 Census Lower Cwm is listed next to Middle Cwm - and there is only one of those, so I'm confident the property we have photos of is the correct one - ie the one still known as Lower Cwm to this day. It is now the holiday/weekend home of a well known London surgeon and has been separated from it's land.
Lower Cwm described thus; 2 storeys with cellars, built of rubble, late C17. Altered in C18 when roof was prob rebuilt & covered with slates. In modern times the entrance front has been altered. The outbuilding 15yds SW of the house, is of 1 storey with granary loft. Of rubble built late in the C17, remodelled & partly rebuilt in the C18. at http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/db.php?smr_no=8783
NB; In Clodock graveyard there is a William Powell of Middle Cwm who died in 1929 aged 62.

1873 Owners of Land for the county of Herefordshire listed as owner (Llanveynoe) of 104.1 acres, with estimated annual rental of £78.15. There are some other George Powell's listed who may be the same person but not substantial amounts of land (1 acre in Longtown for instance!).

Littlebury's Directory and Gazetteer of Herefordshire, 1876-7, listed as farmer at Lower-Cwm.

Post Office Directory of Herefordshire, 1879, Llanveynoe, Farmers; Lower Cwm [George Powell]

1881 Census; Age 48, visitor along with his 2 children at Great House Farm, Whitchurch, Llandaff, Cardiff Union, Glamorgan. Head of house is his brother-in-law James Williams. His other son James George Powell is also living here, but as as a servant (ie to his uncle), not a visitor. George gives his PoB as DULAS. Occupation; Retired Farmer.
1881 Census Mary (age 39) is visitor at Black Lion Inn, Llanfair Caereinion, Montgomeryshire - home of Evans family.
1881 Census; Lower Cwm is STILL occupied by Richard and Mary Williams. However George gives his occupation as 'Retired Farmer' on this census. Not sure whether this is still also main Powell residence at this point, probably.

Post Office Directory of Herefordshire, 1885, Llanveynoe, Farmers; Lower Cwm [JOHN PRICE], so he's definately gone by then.

1891 Census; George was living in Llangyniew, with a v odd census return (he is shown as 'Head' but is listed near the bottom and the household has 2 'wives' - one of which is actually his daughter Sarah!). Living (aged 58) with wife (aged 50), daughter Sarah Ann and her children. Address unreadable. Gives George's occupation but that also unreadable, might be 'living on own means' or similar as wife is a ditto. NB on here gives place of birth as MICHAELSTOWN, Montgomeryshire - this only few miles from Clodock etc.
1891 Census; Lower Cwm was occupied by a John Price (an Edward Price of 'Lower Cwm Farm' died in 1887 aged 78 - grave in Clodock Graveyard)

1901 Census; Living (Aged 68) with his daughter Sarah A. and her family at Norton Cottages, Wroxeter, Shrops. Widower, so Mary Ann must have died sometime between 1891 and 1901 - later found death record for 1898. PoB is back to DULAS.

Presumably he is the George Powell who died in Q3 1903 in Atcham (about 2 miles from Wroxeter) age 70). Have looked in graveyards in Atcham and Wroxeter, but not found anything for George or Mary Ann Powell.
Sent for death cert ;
19th Aug 1903 at Norton, Wroxeter. George Powell, Male, 70, Farmer. Cause; Pneumonia 6 days. Informant; Arthur Powell, son in attendance, of 87 Owen Road, Wolverhampton. Registered 21st Aug 1903. So that's very conclusive, as was living in Norton in 1901 (with his daughter and her family) and we have son Arthur living at 87 Owen Road, Wolverhampton in the 1901 census. Funny that he's down as 'Farmer' rather than 'Retired Farmer'.

According to Shrops CRO his will WASNT proved in Shrops between 1892 and 1908 ?

George# married Mary Ann# Williams, daughter of Richard# Williams and Mary# Hoddell, on 27 Oct 1860 in Clodock, Herefordshire. (Mary Ann# Williams was born on 14 Sep 1840 in Clodock, Herefordshire and died Q1 1898 in Atcham, Shropshire.)