Charles Powell #1

           Charles(1) Powell, is our first known Powell ancestor as this is the name listed as the father on  Charles(2) marriage document.  Until recently I knew nothing further about him, except that he was a labourer (from same marriage document), which certainly covers a wide range of occupations. Having said that, after 30 years I realized I had a hint right under my nose. Preparing the family history to publish, I was making sure I had dotted my I’s and crossed my T’s.  This led me to wonder what the significance was of the inscription on Ann (Lewis) Powell’s headstone: ”wife of Charles Powell(2) of Lion Street”.  Why Lion Street?  Did Charles always refer to himself in this way to distinguish him from the other Powells in Abergavenny?

A list of “all surnames in Abergavenny from the 1881 British census” shows most surnames had 3 – 5 entries whereas Powell had a whopping 130 entries!  Lion Street sounded familiar so I dug out an 1841 census record I had for the wrong Charles Powell family, a family too old to be our Charles, BUT they lived on Lion Street!
This Charles had died in January 1861 at the age of 62 years in the Lunatic Asylum, Abergavenny and he had been a barber.  Is this our Charles’s father?  I had ordered the death certificate for the older Charles(1), which was why I knew the circumstances of his death.  I had sent for his death certificate when looking for the death of his son, not realizing at the time that son Charles(2) had not lived in Abergavenny since he left in 1847 with his young wife.  
Charles Powell(1), barber married Sarah Daniel.  Our Charles had a son James Daniel (after the paternal mother’s maiden name?) and John Lewis (after the maternal mother’s maiden name.

    I also wonder who paid for the headstone for Charles(2) who died in 1857?  It was erected after the death of his wife Ann in 1905.  At that time she was living with her daughter-in-law, Emma.  The only siblings left alive that I know of were James Daniel in England and John Lewis in Vancouver.  Did they supply the inscription and pay for the headstone?  Again, why Lion Street?  Had they grown up being asked which Powell family they belonged to?  Did they make the decision to add this to the headstone as well?   

    So many questions and how to find some answers.  A letter to the library in Abergavenny yielded some help from a local historian.  His information helped to clarify general history in the time period I was searching.  There weren't any local newspapers[1} prior to 1861, so no help there.   The Lunatic Asylum was called Pen-Y-Fal which opened in 1851.  Any inmate that died there could not be buried in consecrated ground and so Pen-Y-Fal has its own graveyard. I wrote to the Asylum hoping for some information but was told that in the early years of the Asylum detailed notes were not kept.[2]

Charles(1), the barber and Sarah had 8 children – 4 born at Lion Lane and last four at Frogmore Street.    The 1841 and 1851 census shows them back at Lion Street (name changed to Street sometime between 1799 and 1834).

     Back to John’s letters… in his letter dated Oct 23, 1884 he mentioned visiting his father’s sister in Tydee 

“seeing my brother-in-law about my niece, and after that went over to a place called Tydee to see my father's sister.”

No name, but could I find her anyway.  I knew Charles(1) daughters were Mary, Jane, Elizabeth and Hannah.  If I could find someone with one of those first names born in Abergavenny, could I work backwards to see if their maiden name was Powell.  I think the ladies at the research centre thought I should join my relatives in the asylum, but I persevered!

     Success, I think… I searched the entire 1881 census for Tydee (which was only about 10 families) but could not find a woman born in Abergavenny.  Next page though, for Puddlers Lane showed Hannah Hopkins about the right age, born in Abergavenny.  Free BMD showed her maiden name was Powell.  On to parish records and I found the marriage of Hannah Powell & Benjamin Hopkins in 1862.  Her father Charles was deceased.  I had also found Hannah living with Ann, her widowed mother, in the 1861 census.  Charles(1) died January of that year. 

Although I would like more substantial proof, I don't know if I will ever find it, but the above helps to almost confirm the connection between the two Charles.  The only other hint I have unsuccessfully pursued is the Glifford name.  In a letter from Charles(2) he said Glifford was his sister Mary's fancy name.  Did she make this name up, was she married to a Glifford, did she name any of her children Glifford?  My digging so far has not turned up anything but lots of Charles descendants have been given this name.

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[1] No newspapers at the time of Charles the barber and Charles the candlemakers deaths.  Papers are missing for 1897 so no obit for Charles the baker. No obit for Ann Powell

[2] "The time you are looking at for asylum records, 1861 and before, is very early in the history of the Joint Counties Asylum, in Abergavenny. It was only erected in 1851. The main source which would have been useful to you would have been Case Records. Unfortunately, we do not have Case Records any earlier than 1865. Using the Index Book, 1852-1894 (D3202/37) and the Admission Registers, 1851-1865 (D3202/30/1-2) it may be possible to establish when the Charles, who died in the asylum on 16 January 1861, was admitted and what he was suffering from, and from which parish he was admitted. It is up to you, however without more information at this stage, I would advise against you making a special journey to Ebbw Vale or paying for us to carry out research."

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Powell Family Tree

GENERATION 1 Descendants of CHARLES1 POWELL

CHARLES1 POWELL was born about 1800 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales and died on 16 Jan 1861 in Abergavenny. He married Sarah Daniel on 22 Apr 1819 in Abergavenny. She was born about 1797 in Towcester, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Charles Powell and Sarah Daniel had the following children:

i.   CHARLES2 POWELL was born in 1820 in Abergavenny. He died on 20 Jun 1857 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales

ii.  JAMES POWELL was born about 1821 in Abergavenny.

iii. MARY POWELL was born about 1823 in Abergavenny.

iv.  ELIZABETH POWELL was born about 1825 in Abergavenny.

v.   LEWIS DANIEL POWELL was born about 1828 in Abergavenny.

vi.  JOHN POWELL was born about 1830 in Abergavenny.

vii. JANE POWELL was born about 1831 in Abergavenny.

viii. HANNAH POWELL was born about 1834 in Abergavenny. She married Benjamin Hopkins, son of Evan Hopkins, on 21 Dec 1862 in Trenethin, Monmouthshire, Wales. Benjamin was born about 1827 in Abergavenny.

GENERATION 2 Descendants of CHARLES2 POWELL

CHARLES2 POWELL (Charles1) was born in 1820 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales and died on 20 Jun 1857 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He married Ann Lewis, daughter of William Lewis, on 08 Mar 1848 in Llanellen Church, Llanellen, Wales. She was born in 1817 in Llanvapley, Monmouthshire, Wales. She died on 03 Jan 1905 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales.

Charles2 Powell and Ann Lewis had the following children:

• CHARLES3 GLIFFORD POWELL was born on 30 Jan 1847 in Bermondsey, London, England. He died on 01 Nov 1897 in Abergavenny. He married EMMA PINNER. She was born in 1851 in Capel St Mary, Suffolk, England. She died about 1910 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales.

• MARY ANN POWELL was born in 1850 in St. Mary's, Haverfordwest, Wales. She died in Jul 1870 in Newport M, Glamorgan, Gwent, Monmouthshire. She married William Davies Credgington, son of William Credgington and Jane, in Jul 1868 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. He was born in 1849 in Bridgworth, Shropshire, England. He died in 1916 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales.

• JAMES DANIEL POWELL was born in Dec 1850 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He died on 08 Dec 1921 in Burley, Wharfedale, Yorkshire West Riding, England. He married MARY ANN GOLLAND. She was born in 1849 in Redford, Nottinghamshire and died on 02 Jan 1929 in Riding, Northumberland, England.

• JOHN LEWIS POWELL was born on 13 May 1852 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He died on 06 Jun 1909 in Yakima, Washington, USA. He married Sarah Elizabeth Oakley, daughter of Samuel Oakley and Mary Ann Nobes, on 28 Jan 1885 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She was born on 07 Feb 1860 in Kingston, Frontenac, Ontario, Canada. She died on 05 Oct 1923 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

• ALFRED WILLIAM POWELL was born in Jul 1856 in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

• WILLIAM POWELL was born in March 1861 in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales and died 9 Jan 1862 in Abergavenny. (Not sure who the father was)

GENERATION 3 and their descendants

Charles3 Glifford Powell and Emma Pinner had the following children:

1. CHARLES4 GLIFFORD POWELL (Charles Glifford3, Charles2, Charles1) was born in 1875 in Abergavenny. He married Lottie in 1905 in Abergavenny. They had the following children:

              i. IRENE5 POWELL was born in Wales.                                  ii.MILLIE5 POWELL was born in Wales.

   2. FREDERICK JAMES POWELL was born in Jul 1878 in Abergavenny.  He married Gwen Williams.  They had the following children: 
              i. GWENDOLINE MARY5 POWELL
              ii.MADELEINE ELUNED5 POWELL

   3. WILLIAM CLIFFORD POWELL was born in 1882 in Abergavenny.  He married Elizabeth Ann ? They had the following child: 
              i. CLIFFORD5 THOMAS POWELL

   4. FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE POWELL was born on 26 Sep 1885 in Abergavenny. She died on 02 Mar 1985 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England. She married Harold Albert Ernest Barker on 04 Jun 1908. He was born about 1882 in Northants, Northampton, England. He died on 19 Nov 1920 in London, England. They had the following children:
             i. HAROLD GLIFFORD STEVENSON5 BARKER was born 01 May    1909 in St Pancras, London, England.
            ii. HILDA E. BARKER was born on 02 Mar 1911 in St Pancras, London, England.
           iii. WINNIFRED BARKER was born on 11 May 1913 in London, England.
           iv. DENNIS CHARLES BARKER born 27 Apr 1915 in London, England. He died on 10 Nov 2007 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.
            v. CLIFFORD LAWRENCE BARKER was born on 03 Aug 1917 in London, England. He died in Dec 1992 in Brighton, Sussex, England.

MARY ANN POWELL and William Davies Credgington had the following child: 
           1. MARY ANN4 CREDGINGTON was born in Jul 1870 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales. She married John William B Burns, son of James Burns and Mary J. Burns, on 01 Jan 1891 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales. He was born in 1868 in Herefordshire, England. 


JAMES DANIEL POWELL and MARY ANN GOLLAND had the following children:

           1. LOUISA4 POWELL was born in 1876 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. She married JACK THOMPSON. Jack Thompson and Louisa Powell had the following child: 
           JOHN LESLIE5 THOMPSON

           2. MARY ANN POWELL was born on 16 Dec 1876 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. She died on 18 Jul 1941 in Riding, Northumberland, England. She married THOMAS BYARD. He was born on 29 Dec 1871 in Wingerworth, Derbyshire, England. He died on 21 Jan 1953. They had they following children: 

• i. WILLIAM JAMES5 BYARD was born on 03 Jan 1899 in Walton Nr Chesterfield. He died on 13 Oct 1985 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England (Age: 86). He married Constance Cartwright in Dec 1921 in Sheffield, Yorkshire West Riding. She was born on 15 Apr 1897. She died on 07 Jun 1976.
• ii. TOM LEWIS BYARD was born on 18 Jan 1901 in Ashover, Derbyshire, England. He died in Sep 1903 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire (Age: 2).
• iii. ROBERT ALFRED BYARD was born on 26 Jun 1902 in Stonedge Nr Ashover, England. He died on 01 Apr 1984 in England. He married BEATRICE MARY BERRESFORD. She was born on 26 Jun 1902 in England. She died on 18 Apr 1971 in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.
• iv. ELSIE MAY BYARD was born about 1905 in Old Brampton Nr Chesterfield, England.
• v. CONSTANCE JULIE BYARD.
• vi. CELIE GRACE MARY BYARD. She married WARDLE.
• Vii. MALCOLM JAMES BYARD.

           3. SON POWELL. 

John Lewis Powell and Sarah Elizabeth Oakley had the following children:
      1. ALICE MERCY4 POWELL was born on 09 Nov 1885 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She died on 17 Oct 1966 in Richmond, British Columbia. She married (1) HOWARD BARKER, son of Richard E Barker and Tilly Grainger, on 20 Apr 1904 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was born on 12 Mar 1875 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada. He died on 17 Feb 1955 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She married (2) SYDNEY BULLOCK in Oct 1956 in British Columbia, Canada. He died in 1969. Howard Barker and Alice had the following children:

• DOROTHY MAY5 BARKER was born in May 1906 in British Columbia, Canada. She died on 29 Aug 1992 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. She married Christopher Dick on 14 Aug 1929 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 
•  GWENDOLYN IVA5 BARKER was born on 22 Dec 1909 in British Co7lumbia, Canada. She died in 1997 in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. She married William Henry Anderson on 08 Aug 1934 in Richmond, British Columbia. He died in Richmond, British Columbia.
  

      2. GRACE RENETTA4 POWELL was born on 16 Jul 1887 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She died on 31 Aug 1972 in Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA. She married James Chester Brault, son of Louis Brault and Mary Elizabeth James, on 01 Sep 1914 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was born on 29 Mar 1886 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA. He died on 04 Oct 19674 in Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA. Chester Brault and Grace had the following children:

• MADELEINE ROMA5 BRAULT was born on 17 Jul 1916. She died on 24 Apr 2003 in Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA. 
•  HAZEL ELIZABETH5 BRAULT was born on 06 Oct 1922. She died on 06 Apr 2006 in Tucson, Pima, Arizona, USA.

       3. JOHN GLIFFORD4 POWELL was born on 17 Dec 1889 in Vancouver, British Columbia and died on 15 Aug 1893 in Vancouver.
       4. JAMES LESTER4 POWELL was born on 17 Feb 1893 in Vancouver and died on 09 Feb 1971 in Vancouver. He married Vera Belle Tebb, daughter of Arthur R. Tebb and Mary Jane Sharp, on 03 Oct 1918 in Vancouver. She was born in 1893 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. She died on 28 Apr 1984 in North Vancouver, British Columbia. Leck and Vera had the following children:

• DONALD GLIFFORD5 POWELL was born on 15 Mar 1923 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He died on 23 Sep 1982 in New Westminster, British Columbia(Age:59). He married Joyce Mary Butcher on 30 Dec 1959 in Vancouver. 
• JOHN DAVID5 POWELL was born on 21 Feb 1925 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He died on 20 Sep 2014 in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada. He married Jessie Mona Main on 02 Jun 1950. She was born on 31 Jan 1928 in Vancouver. She died on 21 Dec 2008 in White Rock, British Columbia, Canada.

      5. GEORGE SAMUEL4 POWELL was born on 29 Feb 1896 in Vancouver. He died on 24 Aug 1963 in Vancouver. He married Aggie May Pattullo, daughter of Victor Norman Pattullo and Luella Jane Griffin, on 24 Jun 1920 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was born on 01 Oct 1893 in St Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota, USA. She died on 19 May 1987 in Vancouver.  George Samuel Powell and Aggie May Pattullo had the following children:

• PHYLLIS JACQUELINE5 POWELL was born on 15 Dec 1922 in Vancouver. She died about 1997 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. She married Arthur John Ernest Sutton, son of Thomas John Sutton and Margaret Lucy Hardcastle, on 20 Oct 1950 in Vancouver. He was born on 01 Jan 1905 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England. He died about 1992 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. 
• DOREEN GWYNETH POWELL was born on 13 Jan 1924 in Vancouver. She died on 28 Aug 2011 in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. She married Stanley Caswell Todhunter, son of Stanley Todhunter and Delle May Donnan, on 24 Jul 1948 in Vancouver. He was born on 17 Aug 1918 in Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada. He died on 21 Apr 1981 in Vancouver.

The Powell Family of Abergavenny, Wales

Staring my research in 1973, I was fortunate to be able to talk to older family members.  Some mysteries might never have been solved without the help of the senior Powell’s.  I might never have known the circumstances around Great Grandfather John Lewis Powell’s death.  His son Leck had the Powell family bible, which was shared with me.  Great Grandmother Sarah had made a notation in the bible regarding the death of her husband, John.  Without this note I would not have found his death in Washington State.  John’s obituary from the Vancouver papers makes no mention of the circumstances surrounding his death or where he died.

Mom’s cousin Madeline Brault had letters from John that were sent to Sarah (before they married), when he returned to Wales to visit his family.  Again, from these letters I was able to establish who his siblings and mother were.  Powell being such a common name in Wales it would have been nigh impossible to find John’s family without these letters.

Powell is a traditional Welsh surname thought to be a patronymic form of the Welsh first name Howel. The Old Celtic term "ap" means "son of", hence ap Howel was eventually spelled as Powell. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powell_(surname))