Life can be so sad

[Don1232]

Hi Colin,
I am very interested in your posting concerning Martha Llewellyn. If we are talking about the same Martha, and I think we are, she was my great g.mother. In a way she is a mysterious character. She was certainly living in Rosemarket at the age of 7 but I don't think she was born there. Her birthplace is something of a conundrum since she states it as varying places throughout her life. She didn't have five illegitimate children but had eight that I have traced. Three of them I've met, though they are now all dead. She was certainly a charwoman all her life and moved around from Rosemarket, to Johnston to Haverfordwest. I, too, ended up as having her death at Bridgend Lunatic Asylum but this is wrong. She died at Cinnamon Cottage, Cinnamon Grove, Hamlet St Thomas, Haverfordwest on 14th. Aug. 1918, of a cerebral haemorrhage that had lasted 14 days. What confirms this as being the correct Martha is that the informant at the death registration was my uncle, and her grandson, John Llewellyn of an address I used to visit frequently.

I do think we are talking about the same Martha, my mother's maternal g.mother. I think she was a remarkable woman. The impression I am left with is that she was, very much, her 'own woman' Although illiterate she saw that her kids had a good education. She was a woman of spirit and independence. Every year, when I was a child, we used to visit some of her adult children, Sabina at Rosemarket, William at Mathry and Maria at Johnston etc. They were all held in affection by the legitimate descendants. I have fond memories of long summer holidays being spent with Maria and her husband.

I think that Martha had a hard life but she had a good one. I do recall, again as a child, that when she lived at Bolton Hill, Johnston, that she was well thought of by the neighbours.

I hope I've lifted your spirits a little. She wasn't a down-trodden wretch who ended her days in an asylum but someone with spirit and I wish to God I'd known her.

What may be depressing for you is the fact that if you're related to her then you're also related to me!

I do have more information should you need it

With best wishes

Don

[Colin Rowledge]

Hi Colin,
I do recall, again as a child, that when she lived at Bolton Hill, Johnston, that she was well thought of by the neighbours.

I hope I've lifted your spirits a little. She wasn't a down-trodden wretch who ended her days in an asylum but someone with spirit and I wish to God I'd known her.

What may be depressing for you is the fact that if you're related to her then you're also related to me!

I do have more information should you need it

With best wishes

Don

Hi Don
1st of all a warm welcome to B-G. You will, I am sure, thoroughly enjoy the experience.

You have definitely raised my spirits [particularly if we are talking about the same Martha].

Her connection to me is purely by marriage and is very distant - so distant in fact, that as for you and I being related, don't sweat the small stuff.

I will send you a private message later so that we can compare notes.

Cheers
Colin

[Colin Rowledge]

Hi Colin,

I do think we are talking about the same Martha, my mother's maternal g.mother. I think she was a remarkable woman. The impression I am left with is that she was, very much, her 'own woman' Although illiterate she saw that her kids had a good education. She was a woman of spirit and independence. Every year, when I was a child, we used to visit some of her adult children, Sabina at Rosemarket, William at Mathry and Maria at Johnston etc. They were all held in affection by the legitimate descendants. I have fond memories of long summer holidays being spent with Maria and her husband.

I think that Martha had a hard life but she had a good one. I do recall, again as a child, that when she lived at Bolton Hill, Johnston, that she was well thought of by the neighbours.

Don

She sounds like a wonderful lady - loved, respected by all and a 'treasure' to her family and their descendants. You have every right to be proud of her.

Colin