Apparently, the Morgan family was of the Quaker faith. Anthony Morgan married Catherine Evans in 1804. Catherine died before 1840, apparently the last of the practicing faith. Their daughter, Anne Clarke Morgan married Charles Taylor in 1844.
However, they had another daughter, Gwen Morgan, who has survived obscurity because of a romance with a well-known politician, John Bright, MP. The basic story is that John Bright met Anthony Thomas Morgan (brother to Gwen & Anne) at Ackworth, a Quaker boarding school in Rochdale. They became friends and eventually, John Bright met Gwen and fell in love. The feeling appears to have been mutual. Something, however stops their courtship and John Bright marries Elizabeth Priestman up near Rochdale while Gwen marries Richard Humphrey Richards in Llangelynnin (see this poem by John Owen, in Welsh...looking for a translation still). What the "something" was is up for debate. The story becomes a little sadder when we find that Gwen dies in 1841 after just five years of marriage and, years later, John Bright begins to visit her grave regularly until his death.
Now, the big question is what stopped their courtship? Here is an article from North Wales Weekly News in 1932 which gives some insight into the story. Also a few pages from J. Travis Mills' John Bright and the Quakers which also discusses their love story.
Why, if Anthony Morgan was so against Gwen's marriage to John Bright, did he then allow Anne to marry Charles Taylor? Wouldn't that be the same type of marriage? Second, Charles Taylor was listed as "independent" on the 1841 census with Anthony Thomas Morgan...did he misrepresent himself? Was it before he actually started working in the family business? Every census thereafter and every record we find him on states that he was a druggist or chemist. Third, Anne Clarke Morgan only had one child, Mary Collis Taylor, and died 12 years into their marriage. Did she have a bad marriage, too? Mary Anne Moore/Marian DeBarcy lived the longest of his wives, but she left him after 10-15 years. His third wife died young as well, after about 10 years of marriage. Each of his wives was quite young (25ish at the time of marriage) while he kept getting older. What do you think?
Showing posts with label Llangelynnin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Llangelynnin. Show all posts
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Charles Taylor in 1841 Census
He's with Anthony Thomas Morgan in Llangelynnin Parish, Merioneth, Wales!
Now, he isn't listed as a druggist, but as "independent." I guess that means he's got money and doesn't need to work. I wonder if he's through with his schooling and taking a trip before settling down to work at the family business in Cleveland Square? Well, at least it explains how Charles and Anne Clarke Morgan met.
Another researcher has contacted me through the Merioneth Message board who is related to the Morgan family and has considerable research on them. He's found a Quaker connection which also links them to John Bright, a reformer who was raised in Rochdale. Sounds to me as if somehow John Bright introduced Charles Taylor to Anthony Thomas Morgan (whom he met at a Quaker school) which eventually led to Charles and Anne's marriage in 1844.
I need to go through the history of Rochdale some more to find out what else is going on. I did see reference to the Corn Laws and the buying and redistribution of land in relation to John Bright. There is considerable information on John Bright, perhaps it will give us some clues on the Morgans, Taylors and perhaps how in the world Charles met Mary Ann Moore (Marian Debarcy)
Now, he isn't listed as a druggist, but as "independent." I guess that means he's got money and doesn't need to work. I wonder if he's through with his schooling and taking a trip before settling down to work at the family business in Cleveland Square? Well, at least it explains how Charles and Anne Clarke Morgan met.
Another researcher has contacted me through the Merioneth Message board who is related to the Morgan family and has considerable research on them. He's found a Quaker connection which also links them to John Bright, a reformer who was raised in Rochdale. Sounds to me as if somehow John Bright introduced Charles Taylor to Anthony Thomas Morgan (whom he met at a Quaker school) which eventually led to Charles and Anne's marriage in 1844.
I need to go through the history of Rochdale some more to find out what else is going on. I did see reference to the Corn Laws and the buying and redistribution of land in relation to John Bright. There is considerable information on John Bright, perhaps it will give us some clues on the Morgans, Taylors and perhaps how in the world Charles met Mary Ann Moore (Marian Debarcy)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Morgan Family
I searched on FamilySearch for Anne Clarke Morgan, hoping to find a birth extraction for her. I found an Anne Clarke Morgan, daughter of Antony Morgan & Catherine christened 11 Feb 1844 in Langelynnin Parish, Merionethshire. Also a Hugh Morgan same date, place and parents. I speculated that these might be the children of the witness of the marriage, Anthony Thomas Morgan and that was why Anne married Charles Taylor there, as his wife wasn't able to travel. But then I wondered if it was possible that Anne Clarke Morgan, herself was being christened as an adult.
I put up a request on the Merionethshire Message Board at Rootsweb for the parish entry for Charles Taylor and Anne Clarke Morgan's marriage. I received a couple of responses and pieces of information, although not the record I had asked for. I asked if it was possible that these christenings could be for adults. The answer I got was it is possible and that there was another christening in the same location for the same parents, a week later, for Margaret Morgan. The parent's residences for all three christenings are listed as Hendre, however, there are no notations that say whether the entry was for an adult or an infant.
In addition, I received a note (see comment) of a will held in the National Library of Wales for an Anthony Morgan dated 1845. He is of Hendre, Llangelynnin, Merionethshire. In tracking down this will I found another for Anthony Thomas Morgan (the witness) in 1855, also a death record for him in both FreeBMD and North Wales BMD in Dolgelly District. Also a marriage in 1850 to a Sarah Coslett or Wood, in Llangelynnin Parish. (see North Wales BMD)
At the National Library of Wales I searched the Will database for Hendre, Llangelynnin & Merioneth. There were several wills. The earliest was in the 1695 and was for a gentleman named Anthoney Thomas. A couple for widows and a spinster through the 1700s and then an Mary Thomas, widow in 1785 which would be right around the time that Anthony Morgan and Catherine ought to be born. The final one was 1809 for Mary Morgan, widow although she was not listed as living at Hendre. Is it possible that Mary Morgan is a daughter of Mary Thomas, possibly the only living child and therefore receives the home estate, thereby passing into the Morgan family? There was also a will for a Evan Morgan of Llangelynnin Parish 1820. How is he related to Anthony? Possibly a father? That means Mary must have been his grandmother, since she was a widow in 1809.
I noticed a Marriage Bond database at the National Library of Wales and searched for Morgan at Llangelynnin and found only two. Anthony Morgan married Catherine Evans 2 Oct 1804 and Richard Humphreys Richards married Gwen Morgan 21 Dec 1835. This database only comes up to 1837, since the Civil Registration started then. So apparently the Gwen christened in 1813 married Richard Humphreys Richards.
So what I have right now on this family is:
Anthony Morgan (b. abt 1780 d. 1845) md. 2 Oct 1804 Catherine Evans (b. abt 1782 d. ?)
children:
Anthony Thomas Morgan (b. 1811 d. 1855) md. 1850 Sarah Coslett or Wood
Gwen Morgan (b. 1813) md. 1835 Richard Humphreys Richards
Hugh Morgan (b. abt 1815)
Margaret Morgan (b. abt 1817)
Anne Clarke Morgan (b. 1820 d. 1856) md. 1844 Charles Taylor
That leaves an awful gap between their marriage and their first child. Hmmm... I'll have to work on that.
I searched for any Ant(h)ony Morgan marrying between 1837 (beginning of Civil Registration; the Marriage Bond Index covers prior to 1837) and 1844. None listed on North Wales BMD site. One listed with FreeBMD an Anthony married Margaret Butler in 1841. But there were no Hugh, Anne or Margaret Morgan in FreeBMD or North Wales BMD that matches the 1844 christening dates. So, this suggests that these three children are the children of the Anthony Morgan & Catherine Evans married in 1804 and are christened as adults in 1844.
I put up a request on the Merionethshire Message Board at Rootsweb for the parish entry for Charles Taylor and Anne Clarke Morgan's marriage. I received a couple of responses and pieces of information, although not the record I had asked for. I asked if it was possible that these christenings could be for adults. The answer I got was it is possible and that there was another christening in the same location for the same parents, a week later, for Margaret Morgan. The parent's residences for all three christenings are listed as Hendre, however, there are no notations that say whether the entry was for an adult or an infant.
In addition, I received a note (see comment) of a will held in the National Library of Wales for an Anthony Morgan dated 1845. He is of Hendre, Llangelynnin, Merionethshire. In tracking down this will I found another for Anthony Thomas Morgan (the witness) in 1855, also a death record for him in both FreeBMD and North Wales BMD in Dolgelly District. Also a marriage in 1850 to a Sarah Coslett or Wood, in Llangelynnin Parish. (see North Wales BMD)
At the National Library of Wales I searched the Will database for Hendre, Llangelynnin & Merioneth. There were several wills. The earliest was in the 1695 and was for a gentleman named Anthoney Thomas. A couple for widows and a spinster through the 1700s and then an Mary Thomas, widow in 1785 which would be right around the time that Anthony Morgan and Catherine ought to be born. The final one was 1809 for Mary Morgan, widow although she was not listed as living at Hendre. Is it possible that Mary Morgan is a daughter of Mary Thomas, possibly the only living child and therefore receives the home estate, thereby passing into the Morgan family? There was also a will for a Evan Morgan of Llangelynnin Parish 1820. How is he related to Anthony? Possibly a father? That means Mary must have been his grandmother, since she was a widow in 1809.
I noticed a Marriage Bond database at the National Library of Wales and searched for Morgan at Llangelynnin and found only two. Anthony Morgan married Catherine Evans 2 Oct 1804 and Richard Humphreys Richards married Gwen Morgan 21 Dec 1835. This database only comes up to 1837, since the Civil Registration started then. So apparently the Gwen christened in 1813 married Richard Humphreys Richards.
So what I have right now on this family is:
Anthony Morgan (b. abt 1780 d. 1845) md. 2 Oct 1804 Catherine Evans (b. abt 1782 d. ?)
children:
Anthony Thomas Morgan (b. 1811 d. 1855) md. 1850 Sarah Coslett or Wood
Gwen Morgan (b. 1813) md. 1835 Richard Humphreys Richards
Hugh Morgan (b. abt 1815)
Margaret Morgan (b. abt 1817)
Anne Clarke Morgan (b. 1820 d. 1856) md. 1844 Charles Taylor
That leaves an awful gap between their marriage and their first child. Hmmm... I'll have to work on that.
I searched for any Ant(h)ony Morgan marrying between 1837 (beginning of Civil Registration; the Marriage Bond Index covers prior to 1837) and 1844. None listed on North Wales BMD site. One listed with FreeBMD an Anthony married Margaret Butler in 1841. But there were no Hugh, Anne or Margaret Morgan in FreeBMD or North Wales BMD that matches the 1844 christening dates. So, this suggests that these three children are the children of the Anthony Morgan & Catherine Evans married in 1804 and are christened as adults in 1844.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Llangelynnin Parish Church
So here's a Google map of Llangelynnin.
View Larger Map
As you can see, the church isn't very far from the beach.
Hendre, Anne Clarke Morgan's residence, is a little harder to explain. There is apparently a house named Hendre across the bay from Llangelynnin. But it looks very new and is in the middle of a row of houses, so that doesn't make sense. There is another house apparently in Dolgelley on Well St. But the only town named Hendre that I come up with is in Mid-Glamorganshire. But that is quite a distance away and how would they have met?
View Larger Map
As you can see, the church isn't very far from the beach.
Hendre, Anne Clarke Morgan's residence, is a little harder to explain. There is apparently a house named Hendre across the bay from Llangelynnin. But it looks very new and is in the middle of a row of houses, so that doesn't make sense. There is another house apparently in Dolgelley on Well St. But the only town named Hendre that I come up with is in Mid-Glamorganshire. But that is quite a distance away and how would they have met?
Anne Clarke Morgan IS Mary Collis Taylor's mother
So today's mail was a really large bundle. The internet is a wonderful thing...a week and a half ago I ordered the certificates and they were in the mail today!
To start with:
Mary Collis Taylor was born 17 June 1846 at 13 Wilton St, Liverpool. Her father was Charles Taylor, Chemist and Druggist. Her mother was Ann Clarke Taylor formerly Morgan.
Next:
14 Feb 1844 married by license in the parish church of Llangelynin, county of Merioneth by Thos. Jones, Curate
Charles Taylor, gentleman, full age, bachelor, residing in Liverpool, Father: John Taylor (no occupation) and
Anne Clarke Morgan, full age, spinster, residing in Hendre, Father: Anthony Morgan, gentleman
Witnesses: Anthony Thomas Morgan & Jane Lewis
Third:
Anne Clarke Taylor died 14 Apr 1856 Sidney Rd, Tranmere, female, 36 years, wife of Charles Taylor, Chemist, of Chronic Headache & Apoplectic fit - certified
So we have clearly found Charles' first marriage.
I searched on Llangelynin and found the correct spelling is Langelynnin. The other spelling is located in Caernarvonshire. In searching for this I found a new resource: A Vision of Britain Through Time. It is a comprehensive gazetteer and mapping system about all places in Britain. You gotta try it!
To start with:
Mary Collis Taylor was born 17 June 1846 at 13 Wilton St, Liverpool. Her father was Charles Taylor, Chemist and Druggist. Her mother was Ann Clarke Taylor formerly Morgan.
Next:
14 Feb 1844 married by license in the parish church of Llangelynin, county of Merioneth by Thos. Jones, Curate
Charles Taylor, gentleman, full age, bachelor, residing in Liverpool, Father: John Taylor (no occupation) and
Anne Clarke Morgan, full age, spinster, residing in Hendre, Father: Anthony Morgan, gentleman
Witnesses: Anthony Thomas Morgan & Jane Lewis
Third:
Anne Clarke Taylor died 14 Apr 1856 Sidney Rd, Tranmere, female, 36 years, wife of Charles Taylor, Chemist, of Chronic Headache & Apoplectic fit - certified
So we have clearly found Charles' first marriage.
I searched on Llangelynin and found the correct spelling is Langelynnin. The other spelling is located in Caernarvonshire. In searching for this I found a new resource: A Vision of Britain Through Time. It is a comprehensive gazetteer and mapping system about all places in Britain. You gotta try it!
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