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Celia Gwynneth Miles

Born 29th August 1903 - Died 1981

                                   1st Husband - Thomas Minta Cusse 1888-1928         2nd Husband William Brace 1893-1962

                                          marriage St David's Bettws 1920                                marriage 1930

                                                               l                                                               l

                                      One child Thomas Minta Miles Cusse                     One Child (daughter) died at Birth   

                                           Born 6th December, 1921

                                           Died  1993

                                                                                             Daughter of

                                                            Mary Jane                                               

                                                                       and                     

                                                          Micah Miles    

            Sister to :   David John           Mary Beatrice          Hetty Ann          Arthur Micah          (Celia Gwynneth)          Ricy Gwyn

                                   1893                     1895                    1896                  1898                        1894                            1905  

Celia Gwyneth Miles

When Celia Gwynneth was born in 1906 at the time of her birth the family ran a shop in Caerau (Maesteg) and throughout her life she objected to be the one that was born in Caerau.  Her Father was the local Band Master.

Celia was named after her Grandmother Celia Jones Miles born in 1834 who emigrated with her husband Henry Miles to Plymouth, Luzerene County, Pennsylvania, America Celia Gwyneth's father Micah had emigrated with his parents in 1881 returning to Wales and marrying Mary Jane Thomas Celia's Mother in 1891, her Miles grandparents are buried in Pennsylvania.  Her Mothers parents Dafydd and Ann (Jones) Thomas both settled in Glamorganshire from Carmarthenshire.

In 1911 the family ran and lived at the Oddfellows Public House, Bettws before moving to Toryfron Farm, Llangynwyd. She adored her Father Micah and regularly told stories of her childhood with him and the trips he would take her on.

Celia (Ciss) married Thomas Minta Cusse in 1920 in St David's Church, Bettws she was 18 and Thomas was 33.  The marriage ceremony was officiated by Rector MorganThomas.

Thomas father built and owned Bryn Terrace, Lletty Brongu and the houses on Llangynwyd mountain, he lived in a detached house that he had built for himself and family at Letty Brongu currently called Bridge House. 

Thomas Minta Cusse was a solider of the Great War and service in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1914-1920

The 1891 Census record shows Thomas Snr. as a Grocer and Road Contractor on the 1911 a stone quarry owner - census information of Thomas Cusse and Louisa Minta Cusse listed below.

1881 Census Record for Thomas Cuss living 5 Greenfield Terrace, Llangynwyd

1891 Census Record for Thomas Cusse living 1 & 2 Greenfield Terrace, Llangynwyd

interesting address has Celia's brother Arthur later lived number 1 and her sister Beatrice number 2

1901 Census Cusse family, Bryn Terrace is listed as Bettws, it's in the parish of Bettws but postal address is

Llangynwyd Thomas Snr. and Thomas Jnr are away on census night, they are recorded below staying with Thomas Snr.

sister Rachel in Sailsbury, Wiltshire

1911 Census Cusse family, Bryn Terrace, Llangynwyd

1939 Register - Cusse family - Council Area Ogmore & Garw UDC - Living Letty Brongu House

Only one daughter of Thomas and Louisa married :  Sarah Elizabeth Cusse was born 8th August 1895 and died Porth in the

Rhondda Valley 10th August, 1943.  Sarah married John Henry Williams they had a daughter Sarah and son Lionel Williams

born 13th May 1920, he was the eldest grandson and inherited the bulk of Thomas Miles estate although Thomas Minta Miles

was provided for. The 1939 Register records the family living 9 Gethin Terrace, Porth, Rhondda Valley.  John Williams

occupation is recorded as Colliery Roof control official.   My Mother collected rents in Bryn Terrace for Thomas Minta Miles

Cusse inherited from his grandfather and often spoke to Lionel as he owned many of the houses.

Bryn Terrace, Letty Brongu

Bridge House, Letty Brongu

Made of Sterling Silver and enameled engraved on rear The Great War Presented by Bettws Friends 1914-18 Thomas Minta Cusse

Thomas Cusse senior was president of Maesteg Cricket Club who presented him with a gold pocket watch, his name is recorded in the cricket club.

Ciss and Thomas Jnr. had one child Thomas Minta Miles Cusse who was born on the 6th December 1921 unfortunately Celia’s husband Thomas Jnr. died in 1928.  Thomas Snr. generously provided for his daughter in law and Grandson throughout his life,

William Ernest Brace was Born Worcestershire 31st October 1893 to William and Fanny (Cooke) Brace.  William died Sutton Coldfield 1962 he appeared to have lost contact with his Brothers and Sisters as only Ceclia, Thomas, my Mother Margaret Thomas and one neighbour attend his cremation.

William served his country in the Great War - World War I in the Royal Field Artillery he received an accommodation (oak leaves) which appeared in the London Gazette 18th May, 1917.

1901 Census the Brace family are livMaing 1 Padmore Street, Worcester

1911 Census the Brace family are living 30 Rogers Hill, Worcester

Ciss is buried with her first husband Thomas Minta Cusse at St David’s Church Bettws and their son Thomas Minta Miles ashes are also in the grave.  To the rear of the grave Gertrude always called Gerty and Marion Edith called Edith are buried they were both spinsters no one attends the grave.  Sarah was the only daughter who married.

Throughout her life Ciss and Tom (Thomas Minta Miles Cusse) stayed close to the Cusse family and often visited her cousin in law Letitia (Letty) in Rickmansworth, Letitia had been an actress she married Guy Wynne Peyton who was at one time Private Secretary to Parliamentary Secretary, War Office. His brother was General Sir William Eliot Peyton.  Guy’s nephew was Lord Peyton of Yeovil

Thomas Minta Miles Cusse attended Neath Grammar School, Glamorgan and when the family moved to Kidderminster King Edward V1 in Birmingham.  Tom worked for English Electric when the family lived at Sutton Coldfield before returning to work in the Petroleum Industry and moving to Chatham to be in commuting distance of the City of London.  He was a big fan of the Opera and would enjoy attending different productions and owned a large collection of operatic records.  Thomas never married he had when young wanted to marry but his step-father William Brace who was a hard man refused to sign the consent papers.  My Mother felt that losing his only child had made William hard and bitter.  I have William's first world war medals and feel sad that no blood relative has ever come forward wishing to keep them safe.

During Thomas Minta Miles Cusse service in the Royal Air Force he worked on codes/

Ciss and Tom were very close to my Grandmother Hetty Ann Garfield and my Mother Margaret Thomas, Tom as best man in my parents wedding, my God-Father and God Father to my son Anthony John Morgan.  Ciss was like a second mother to my mother and Tom another brother.  Tom death was sudden like his grandfather Micah Miles.

Anglo-American Oil Co. Ltd.,   Esso began life as the Anglo American Oil in 1888.  In 1972 Esso's parent company,

StandardOil changed its name to Exxon Corporation in 1999 Exxon merged with Mobil creating Exxon Mobil Corporation

Cusse Family recorded 1861 census as Cuss

1861 Census Record - Bishops Down Farm, Milford, Alderbury, Wiltshire

Minta Family

1861 Census, Private House, Marnham, East Retford, Nottingham

Cusse family

1871 Census Record no records the family as Cusse living Milford Lane, Milford

Minta Family

1871 Census Records living Heath Farm, Normanton, Grantham, Lincolnshire nearby farm in also Minta's and

records I belive Thomas Minta's Mother - Mary recorded as an Annuitant

                                                        Thomas Cusse and Louisa Minta

                                                                           Married 1883

                                                   on the 1881 Census they are in very different locations

                                                                 I wonder how they met !

Cusse Family 1891 Census Milton Cottage, Elm Grove, Alderbury, Wilshire.

Samuel Cusse Father of Thomas Cusse who built Bryn Terrace, Letty Brongu and Great Grand Father

of Thomas Minta Miles Cusse

Cusse Family 1901 Census Kelsey Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Thomas Cusse built Bryn Terrance and was Father in Law to Celia Miles - Thomas Minta married Celia

Miles Father of Thomas Minta Miles Cusse - all buried St David's Church, Bettws (Bridgend)

Headstone below for Florence Anne Cusse and Florence Letita Laurence Peyton - formely Florence Letita Cusse