Mr William Willis James – Glass Bottle Crumlin

Mr William Willis James – Glass Bottle Crumlin.
A glass bottle from Mr William Willis James, Mineral Water Company, Crumlin.

Made from glass, moulded with an internal screw top with a vulcanite stopper. Size 8″ x 2″ 1/2″.

Mr William Willis James.
Mr William Willis James was born in Ebbw Vale in 1873 and later moved to Abercarn and Crumlin. In a report from 1891 he had connection with Crumlin House and his sister was stated as being Mrs E. G. Morgan from that place.

In 1896 Mr Willis James married Elizabeth Mary Jones – Born 1876 and they had a daughter called Miss Verena James – Born 1898.

In the late 1890’s Mr W. Willis James was mentioned as being very involved with the Crumlin Rugby Football Team and was chairman of the league, he was a very keen sportsman and took great interest in the sport.

On Saturday 26th February 1898 at a meeting of the Monmouthshire Rugby Football League held at the Viaduct Hotel, Crumlin, a Monmouthshire County Team was proposed and Mr W. Willis James and Mr A. E. H. Benson were deputed to attend meeting at Newport in connection with the proposal.

Member of the District Council.
In March 1901 Mr James became a member of the District Council of Abercarn and was also elected onto the Mynyddislwyn School Board.

Sadly it is not recorded when Mr W. Willis James started his brewing business and it’s not reported in any newspaper from the time.

On the 1901 census Mr W. Willis James was living with his wife and daughter at 2 Glen View Terrace, Crumlin. His occupation is stated though illegible.

Mineral Water Company.
In 1905 there was a court case involving the South Wales Mineral Water Association and many Mineral Water Companies, during the case it was stated that Mr W. Willis James had recently purchased the old company of Mr Charles E. Ricketts of Crumlin.

In the 1911 census Mr W. Willis James is listed as living in Mayfield House Crumlin with his wife Elizabeth Mary aged 35 and their daughter aged 13. Mr James’ occupation was a mineral water manufacturer.

In the 1914 Kelly’s Directory of Monmouthshire Mr W. Willis James is listed as being a mineral water manufacturer and living on High Level Road, Crumlin. I am not sure if Mayfield House was on High Level Road but he had resided at Mayfield House and continued to do so until the mid 1920’s.

The Welsh Football Union.
In the early 1920’s Mr W. Willis James became a member of the Welsh Football Union.

In January 1923 Mr William Willis James put his household furnishings, an electrical plant and trap and other effects from his home Mayfield House up for auction with Messrs Gregory & Phillips as he was leaving the area to reside in Newport, Monmouthshire.

There was no more information reported on Mr W. Willis James after this point in time.