Back to my Story |
My research started way back in 1972 well before the invention of the World Wide Web in 1989 and Google in 1996.
I feel it is now time to share and update my findings especially in the difficult time of COVID 19 (2020)
My branch / line of the family have never left the wonderful country of Wales but some have travelled to Wales and many to America and further shores
Growing up as a child my Grand Mother Hetty (Miles) Garfield would talk of her Mamgu's (Grandmother's) family. We would travel to mamgu's birthplace in the Brechfa Valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales and my Grandmother would relate these stories, then in 1972 my cousin Eiryl Garfield was to go on a trip to America with the Carmarthenshire Young Farmers and I thought he could visit farms that family run and wouldn't know so a long continuing journey of research started
The Village of Abergorlech, Brechfa Valley, Carmarthenshire, Wales
The Brechfa Valley, Carmarthenshire runs from Nantgaredig to Llansawel through it's heart flows the River Cothi renowned for it's fishing. In the late 60's the Valley it was threatened with flooding for water for England but strong protest prevented this happening. The village of Capel Celyn in North Wales had been flooded for water for Liverpool - water Liverpool never needed and still don't need, a tragedy, a miscarriage of justice, a village condemned to death by an English Parliament, and never to be forgotten
A view of the Brechfa Valley |
The story begins in the hills above the small seaside village of Llanstephan on the
Towy Estuary in Carmarthenshire, South West Wales in the Spring of 1790.
Penpicillion Farm is the home of the Rosser family, all the family are at home and sitting around the fireside, William Rosser and his Wife Esther (daughter of John Edward of Llangynog) have enjoyed a supper in the company of their four daughters, Esther, Anne, Jennet and Mary and son John.
William is the master Penpicillion his grandfather built the current farmhouse in 1707. But Penpcillion has been in unbroken family possession since the reign of Queen Mary (1558), it changed from the family name of Jones to Rosser by the marriage of John Jones only child a daughter . John Jones of Pistyll, is recorded as a Yeoman, Army General an excellent shot, Royalist and faithful Jacobite. The Rosser family also lived at Trehyddion a few miles away, they have long connections with farming and the sea and in their descent have noble French blood, William is recorded as a Farmer and Gentleman, Mariner and Coal Merchant and he is now the proud master of Penpicillion. William’s daughter Jennet is in love with a gentleman by the name of Rees Jones, it is Jennet’s dearest wish that Rees will be allowed to become her sweetheart. Jennet tells her family about Rees’s family, his Fathers relatives are gentleman farmers and have court connections, his Mother’s Father is a gentleman farmer and two Aunts are married to Vicar’s one at Abergwilli and another at Llandysul.
John Jones, Rees’s father feels he should visit the Rosser family to discuss the future of the young sweethearts, the proposal is put forward to William Rosser who feels that he should discuss and seek advice on the matter with his friend Colonel Ravenscroft of Laugharne, and a letter is drafted.