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Powell Family History

Early Traces - Llantwit-juxta-Neath and Baglan

We find our first traces of the Powell family in the parish of Llantwit-juxta-Neath, in the Neath Valley, in the early 1700's. It is clear that there were Powells in this parish, in particular in and around the hamlet of Melincourt, for several generations before parish records began in 1699, Powell burials being amongst the first entries in those records. There is also evidence to suggest that there were probably links between these Powells and families of the same name in the neighbouring parishes of Michaelston and Llangynwyd, but more research is required on this so for the moment we shall restrict ourselves to the Powells of Llantwit-juxta-Neath.

Of three young men by the name of Powell, who were almost certainly brothers and who grew up in the hamlet of Melincourt in the first decades of the eighteenth century, one,William Powell (#621), a yeoman farmer, was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather. The other two were Rees Powell (#1028), who, after marrying in 1726, left Llantwit for the brighter lights of Neath, and Thomas Powell (#1049), who became a blacksmith and remained in Melincourt hamlet to raise sons who, in their turn, also became blacksmiths.

Our story starts with William, for whom I have been unable to trace records of baptism or marriage, but who, along with Rees and Thomas, was probably the son of another William Powell, yeoman, of Melincourt, and who was definitely the father of the young Rees Powell (#113) who was baptised on 5 December 1729 at the church of St. Illtyd's in Llantwit-juxta-Neath.

William (#621) is the first of no less than nineteen William Powells to appear in our story, and his son Rees (#113), my great-great-great-great grandfather, one of thirteen Rees Powells. So I make no apology for the constant use of numbers in parenthesis, which, I feel, is the only way to be sure that we know who we are talking about! These are the unique numbers assigned to the individuals in the database.

Young Rees (#113) and his sister Anne (#206) and the blacksmith's sons, Thomas (#622) and Timothy (#1068) Powell, separated by less than four years in age, must have grown up together in the tiny hamlet of Melincourt. As a guide to its size, the combined population of all three neighbouring hamlets of Melincourt, Clyne and Resolven, a century later was recorded as only 390. Anne was the first of the four to marry, in 1752, followed by her brother, Rees, who, on 19 January 1757, at the age of 27, married 22 year-old Elizabeth John (#114) of the parish of Margam. Elizabeth's family, who were variously recorded as "John" and "Jones", finally firming up on "Jones" in the early nineteenth century appear to have been a wealthy and influential family who were amongst the pioneers of the non-conformist movement (see Jones Family of Baglan, Aberavon & Michaelston). It seems that Rees and Elizabeth established their home together in the hamlet of Llantwit Isha, a little further down the Neath Valley; they were certainly there by 1763, where one "Rees Powell, Farmer" is located by the Militia Ballot.

Sadly, their first child, baptised William (#203) in December 1757, survived only a few days. A little over a year later, their second child, Mary (#620) was born and baptised in February 1759; again Rees and Elizabeth's joy was short-lived as Mary, too, died in infancy. In 1761 Elizabeth gave birth to another daughter, another Mary, baptised at St. Illtyd's, Llantwit, on 8 June 1761, who survived all the hazards of eighteenth century childhood to reach maturity, and to figure later in our story. She was followed by Elizabeth (#812) in 1763 and William (#417) in 1766, baptised at St.Illtyd's on 18 May 1766. Shortly after that, Rees and Elizabeth and their three young children left the parish of Llantwit-juxta-Neath to settle in the neighbouring parish of Baglan, an even more sparsely populated parish, consisting of two hamlets and a number of dispersed farms, and a population which had reached only 548 by the time of the first detailed census, some seventy years later. It was in Baglan that their second son, Rees (#100), my great-great-great grandfather, was born. He was baptised in St. Baglan's Church on 29 September 1768 , and was followed into the world some three years later, by a brother who was baptised, with the rather splendid name of Jehoshaphat (#16) on 25 July 1771.

The Powell children, Mary, Elizabeth, William, Rees and Jehoshaphat, grew up on a farm in Baglan, but which one is not yet clear and must be the subject of further research. We know that Rees held both freehold and leasehold land in Aberavon, Llangynwyd and Baglan, and his name is associated with three farms in the parish of Baglan - Ty Newydd, Blaen Baglan and Stickle Wen (also written variously as Stycilwen or Sticillwen, meaning "white stile" in Welsh). There are also much earlier references (1584, 1620) to the name Powell in connection with Blaen Baglan, so it is possible that this had been in the hands of Rees' ancestors. It is at Blaen Baglan, according to research by Les Evans, that Rees Powell was living in 1787, a year before he died. Wherever he lived in the parish, it is clear that Rees became a leading figure in this small community; we find him listed in early parish documents as one of the "chief inhabitants", named as a churchwarden and a signatory of Vestry Records, and in Land Tax Records he is referred to as "Mr." implying a certain position of esteem in the community.

See the entries in the database for Rees Powell & Elizabeth John & family

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