Tyr Sammy’s Farm

Tyr Sammy’s Farm.
Ty Sammy’s Farm was located on the eastern side of Mynydd James, upon the mountain road between Clyn Mawr Uchaf and Coed Castellau Farm.

The 1840 Tithe Map.
Apart from the odd newspaper article there is a lack of early information on the occupants at Tyr Sammy’s Farm. There doesn’t seem to be any record of its history made available until the 1840 tithe map apportionment and the following year’s census of 1841.

Mr and Mrs David Jones.
In 1841 Messrs Joseph and Crawshay Bailey of the Nantyglo Iron Works were the landowners, Mr David Jones was the tenant at Ty Sammy’s Farm, Abertillery.

On the 1841 census Mr and Mrs David Jones were at Ty Sammy’s Farm, Abertillery. Mr David Jones, born in 1811 at Aberystruth and was listed as a farmer. His wife was Mrs Mary Jones, born in 1806. The couple lived at the farm with their children – Master Thomas Jones, born 1832. Miss Sarah Jones, born 1837 and Miss Ann Jones, born 1839.

Somtime in the 1840’s Mr and Mrs David Jones left Ty Sammy’s to work Ty’n-y-Gelli Farm, 120 acres at Cwm, Ebbw Vale. Ty’n-y-Gelli Farm, now long gone, was situated at the eastern edge of Silent Valley.

Mr and Mrs Edward Edwards.
On the 1851 census Mr and Mrs Edward Edwards were resident at Ty Sammy’s Farm. Mr Edward Edwards was born in 1807 at Aberystruth and listed as a farm labourer. His wife was Mrs Hannah Edwards nee Davies, born in 1819 at Merthyr. They lived at the farm with their children – Miss Margaret Edwards, born 1840. Master William Edwards, born 1841. Master John Edwards, born 1845. Miss Ann Edwards, born 1847. Master David Edwards, born 1849 and Miss Dinah Edwards, born in 1850.

The 1861 census shows Mr and Mrs Edward Edwards were still resident at Ty Sammy’s Farm. They had another son that appeared on that census, Master Thomas Edwards, born in 1853.

Mr and Mrs David Jones.
On the 1871 census Mr and Mrs David Jones were back at Ty Sammy’s Farm, Abertillery. Mr David Jones, born in 1811 at Aberystruth and was listed as a farmer of 18 acres. His wife was Mrs Mary Jones, born in 1806. The couple lived at the farm with their granddaughter Miss Mary Ann Edwards, born in 1863.

Mr and Mrs Thomas Thomas.
On the 1881 census, Mr and Mrs Thomas Thomas were at Ty Sammy’s Farm, Abertillery. Mr Thomas Thomas was born in 1841 at Carmarthen, he was listed as a coal miner. His wife was Mrs Mary Thomas, born in 1844 at Dowlais. They both lived at the farm with their nephews Mr William Thomas, born 1861 and Master George Thomas, born in 1867.

Mrs Mary Thomas.
On the 1891 census Mrs Mary Thomas was at Ty Sammy’s Farm, Abertillery. Mrs Mary Thomas was listed as the head and a farmer. Also at the farm were Mr William Thomas, William Thomas, born 1861 and Master George Thomas, born in 1867, both men were listed as adopted sons. Also at the address was Miss Emily Small, a servant from Pontlottyn, Glamorganshire. On the earlier censuses Mrs Mary Thomas was listed as being born in 1844-45 at Dowlais, although on the 1891 census, the same Mrs Mary Thomas was registered as being born in 1845 at Bury Port, Carmarthenshire?

Sometime in the 1890’s Mrs Mary Thomas moved from Ty Sammy’s Farm to live at Clyn Mawr Uchaf Farm. Her son William Thomas moved with her and went to work in one of the collieries.

Mr and Mrs John and Annie Jones.
On the 1901 Mr and Mrs John and Annie Jones were living at Ty Sammy’s Farm. Mr John Jones was born in 1860 at Tregare, Breconshire. His Wife was Mrs Annie Jones, born in 1864 at Pipton, Breconshire. The couple lived at the farm with their children – Master Roger Jones, born 1886 at Abertillery. Master Edwin Jones, born 1892. Miss Isabella Jones, born 1894 and Miss Maruggette Jones, born in 1897. Also at the farm was Miss Mary Ann Williams, a visitor from Brecon.

Mr and Mrs William Bell.
In the early 1900’s William and Ellen Bell and their children lived at Ty Sammy’s Farm. More information on the family below. 

Not Listed.
Ty Sammy’s Farm was not listed on the 1911 census.

The Later Years.
The farm later fell into disrepair and was demolished.

Points of Interest –
Mr David Jones.
During the early 1850’s many of the inhabitants felt it was time to secure better educational facilities for the children. A few got together and decided to appoint a committee to go into the matter thoroughly. The Rev W. Roberts (Nefydd) of Blaina, who was occupying an official position under the British School Society, came to the assistance of the committee which was composed of the following gentlemen – Mr David Jones, of Ty Sammy’s Farm, Abertillery: Mr Watkin Rowland; Mr Phillip Mills, father of Rev Andrew Fuller Mills; Mr Joseph Edmunds of Clyn Mawr Isaf; Mr Joshua Davies; Mr Thomas Bevan; Mr William Prosser; Mr Edward Jones , Postmaster; Mr William Harris and Mr Edmund Williams, father of Rev Thomas Williams, Baptist Minister of Newtown:

This new school was to be built under the auspices of the British Society and named the British School.

Mr and Mrs William Bell and Family.
Mr William Bell.
William Bell (1869-1960) of Bangor, born to Scottish parents George Bell and Jane McMead. William’s father, George, worked as a supervisor at the North Wales Chronicle. William however did not follow in those footsteps.

William was an agricultural labourer originally but later ran a number of grocery shops in Bangor and delivered groceries via horse and cart. He spent some time in South Wales, Abertillery, where some of his children were born. He also served in WWI in the Welsh Regiment, number 26312 and in the Labour Corp, number 346197.

Mrs Ellen Bell.
William’s wife was Ellen Bell nee Jones (1873-1945), born in Liverpool, England. When he and Ellen Jones of Liverpool married, they lived in Tyddyn-y-Waen, Pentre Berw, Anglesey.

William and Ellen Bell (as seen in the images above) had 8 children in total: Alice Bell (1898-1984) Edward and George Bell, twins (1903 both died in 1974). Margaretta Bell (1906-1989). Henry (Harry) Bell (1908-1997). William Walter Bell (1910-2003). Fraser Bell (1911-1995) and Hugh Douglas Bell (1919-2001).

They lived in Ty Sammy Farm with their family. It is not entirely certain of the exact date they arrived in Abertillery however it would have been sometime between the last daughter (Margaretta) being born in Bangor in 1906 and his son, Harry (officially Henry) Bell being born in 1908.

William had a number of different jobs in his time, on the 1901 Census he is listed as a milkman but he later worked in the pit. Whilst at Ty Sammy Farm, William and Ellen’s fifth child was born. On 1st February 1908, Henry (known as Harry) Bell was born at Ty Sammy Farm. Harry remained in Abertillery for the remainder of his life though the rest of the family moved on. He died in 1997.

The family remained in Abertillery for some time but not at the farm. On the 1911 Census they are listed as living at No.5 West Bank, Cwmtillery. William worked as an underground hewer and now has a sixth child, William Walter Bell (1910-2003). William’s half-brother, Hugh Kerr, a saddler lives with them but later moved to Patagonia, South America. William had his nephew, David McBurney of Kilmarnock, lodging with him also. David is buried at St Paul’s.

On the 1921 Census, the Bell family still lived at No.5 West Bank (or Top Rows). William was working for the Lancaster Steam Coal Colliery in Cwmtillery and was joined there by the twins, George and Edward. Two further children have been born, Fraser Bell (1911-1995) and Hugh Bell (1919-2001).

At some point in the 1920’s, William goes up North (England) to work in the pits there but the family returned to their home of Bangor at some stage. William ran a grocer’s shop whilst there.

Information on Mr and Mrs Bell and family was kindly supplied by Morwenna Bell.