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Archiver > POWYS > 2005-03 > 1110517635


From: Anthony Francis <>
Subject: Re: [POWYS] ASHTON/HUMPHREYS
Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 21:10:01 -0800
In-Reply-To: <13c.e51f01c.2f59fbf6@aol.com>


Dear Ruth,
You are probably wondering if there's anybody home here in White Rock?
Well Lynne just got back, on Monday, from a very cold & snowy Buxton,
Derbyshire - visiting her 93 year old Mum.
Yes I have been here, watching this blizzard of Ashton information whip by
- but I don't know what to say, except to thank you again very much for
your ongoing interest in this puzzle.
I have been simply awe-struck by the speed with which you run with an
idea & generate data with it.
Many thanks also, of course, to the several support folks who seem to have
info just at their fingertips.

Lizzie told me that her 25 year old (uncle Dicko, the naughty one)
Richard Humphreys of Llanbrynmair, 20 year old Daniel Ashton's cousin, was
livingat 65 Alderney St, Pimlico on the 1881 census.
I asked if Maglona was born, as reported in the 1891 census, in Pimlico
on 31 Dec.1881, perhaps her mother was living in Pimlico on the census
date, Sun/Mon. 3/4th April 1881.
Jo had previously asked: Have you discounted she (Maglona Ashton) may be
the dau of Maglona Lewis, 17 in 1881 and working in London for the Marquis
of Abergavenny?
You said: Maglona Lewis - a 17 year old housemaid in the household of
the Marquis of Abergavenny at 34 Dover Street, London (in Mayfair - ie the
West End of London). Right age, right place, right background.
Maglona Lewis' home at 12 Dover St, Mayfair, was about 1/2 mile north of
Buckingham palace, whereas Richard Humphries' home at 65 Alderney St,
Pimlico, was about 3/4 mile south of Buckingham palace.
In 1881, what might a Marquis do with a 17 year old housemaid who has
just had an illegitimate baby? Is the Marquis likely to have supported
Maglona with her new baby? What social net did society offer? Presumably
the event had to be hidden from the young mother's parents to avoid family
shame.
Suppose 20 year old Daniel Ashton took 17 year old Maglona Lewis to
cousin Richard's when she went into labour. Might Richard have offered
Maglona Lewis a place in Pimlico to deliver her baby?
You said: I have looked on Free BMD for a birth certificate for Maglona
Ashton or Lewis in 1881 but have not found one. Nor have I found a death
Cert for Maglona Lewis - but Free BMD is not complete yet.
John discovered on <http://www.northwalesbmd.org.uk>; a birth registered
in Machynlleth of a Maglona Lewis in 1863 and living in 1871 with parents &
siblings at 'Caersair', Isygareg - presumably an address near Machynlleth.
He found that Maglona was the third of five daughters of David Morgan and
Catharine Lewis - all born in Machynlleth.
I see Isygarreg on the map at SN7298, presumably a township south of
Derwen-lâs about 2 miles SW of Machynlleth. I wonder about the meaning of
'Caersair', whether it has something to do with the ancient Roman fort
about 1 mile away at SH704002, across the estuary at Cefn-caer. I wonder if
this was the original Roman 'Maglona', or was it the name of the lookout
post on the hill above Machynlleth at Wylfa or Bryn-y-gog. I see another
'caer' about 3 miles SW of Machynlleth at 'Caerhedyn' at SN708976. I wonder
if 'sair' is a mistranscription of 'sais', indicating that the original
owners thought that the ancient remains had been a Saxon fort? If this is
so, then the Lewis' probably lived in a very old place somewhere near to
Cefn-caer, perhaps near Llugwy or Morben Hall?
John said: I have discovered two of Maglona's sisters - Priscilla and
Amelia - living as scholars in the Orphan Home, Jude Street, Wolverhampton
in 1881 - which perhaps explains why Maglona left Wales also. This is a
brilliant find! Who would ever imagine them to be there? Perhaps another
relative of David or Catharine Lewis put them there. Perhaps the older
daughters, Catharine Lora, age 23, and Ann Maria, age 20, are living
nearby? It certainly looks like David M. & Catherine Lewis have died
sometime in the mid-1870s, while the two youngsters were too young to be
put out to work? Thank you very much for all your help John.
You found: From the Northwales BMD :
David M Lewis of Machynlleth died 1879 - presumably Maglona L's father.
There are several deaths registered which could be her mother, Catherine:
1871,1874, 1876 & 2 in 1877.
You also found: In 1881 Caersaer ( home of Maglona Lewis & family in
1871) was inhabited by George H Morgan 37 (ND) Gardener & his wife
Margaret, 38. And Lesley explained that ND usually means non domestic, ie
he was a gardner for commercial gain.
I wonder if he was related to David Morgan Lewis mother's side of the
family but disliked kids?
It's interesting that 'Caersair' in 1871, became 'Caersaer' in 1881 -
which still doesn't translate with much sense.
Then Jo found in 1873, Lewis, David M., of Doll Machynlleth; extent of
holding 38a, 3R, 19 P.
I wonder if this was an anglicized version of 'Dolgelynnen', about 1
mile east of 'Cefn-caer'?

Thank you very much to every one of you: Ruth, Jo, Lesley, and John.
It's quite a story, whether true or not!
I haven't plucked up the courage to tell my 84 year old uncle, born
1921, about it all because I know he was close to his 'Ma' but has only
vague memories of Daniel Ashton. He remembers receiving a shiny new bicycle
from London. I prompted him with 'Selfridges' and he quickly corrected me
with - "you mean Gamages". I think the story would kill my 'very correct'
100 year old aunt.
Of course I could embroider some 'spin' into the picture: Daniel Ashton
might be the hero - the 'fall-guy' taking the knocks for the aristocracy,
who did what they do best - according to my daughter, when I told her the
story. -In the absence of my wife, I just had to tell someone the tale.
Just to reinforce my daughter's theory, Lynne brought back Monday's
'Daily Wail' with the full-page splash concerning Princess Margaret's sad
'adventure'. Uncle says 'Plas Newydd' is in Anglesey, across from Port
Dinorwic - his old stomping ground.
Cheers, Tony in White Rock, BC


---------------------------------------------------------
>Date: Fri, 04 Mar 2005 12:59:18 -0500 (EST)
>From:
>Subject: Re: [POWYS] ASHTON/HUMPHREYS
>X-Mailing-List: <> archive/latest/14831
>For those of you who are getting bored with this thread I promise this will
>be my last word on the subject for a while!!
>
>From the Northwales BMD :
>
>David M Lewis of Machynlleth died 1879 - presumably Maglona L's father.
>
>There are several deaths registered which could be her mother, Catherine:
>1871,1874, 1876 & 2 in 1877.
>
>Regards, Ruth




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