To Bethlehem via the Black Mountain, Carmarthenshire

Description

Bethlehem Chapel Graveyard

The pictures below show details of some of the interesting tombstones in the chapel graveyard.

Image 1:

General view of the graveyard from the northeast corner.

Image 2:

An unusual triangular tombstone

Image 3:

Ornate headstone of Henry Price (see transcription below, and translation below left)

Main surface:
In Memory of HENRY PRICE Cwmdu in this parish Who died Jan 10 1860 Aged 60 Also of ANNE Wife of the said HENRY PRICE - - - who Died May - - - 1862 Aged - - years.		ER COF AM HENRY PRICE CWMDU YN Y PLWYF HWN YR HWN A FU FARW ION. 10 1860 YN 60 MLWYDD OED. HEFYD AM ANNE GWRAIG Y DYWEDEDIG HENRY PRICE - - - A FU FARW MAI - - - 1862 YN - - MLWYDD
Minor surfaces:
Peripheral arch HEFYD HENRY MAB H. AC E. PRICE, CWMDU, BU FARW MEHEFIN 17, 1878 YN 16 MIS. Also HENRY son of H. and E. PRICE, Cwmdu, who died June 17, 1878 aged 16 months.		Central shield HEFYD MARY ANN EU MERCH BU FARW EBRILL 29, 1892, YN 16 MLWYDD OED. Also MARY ANN their daughter who died April 29, 1892, aged 16 years.

Image 4:

Two Thomas family graves (centre).

Image 5:

Tombstone of William Thomas (see also below left and right)

Image 6:

Tombstone of David Thomas (see further details later)

Image 7:

Shrouded urn on tomb of Wm Thomas

Image 8:

Inscription on tomb of Wm Thomas (see transcription below)

In Affectionate Remembrance
of
WILLIAM THOMAS
of Llwyndu in this Parish
who departed this life May 31st 1863
in the 75th year of his age.
ESTHER THOMAS
daughter of the above named,
died May 15th 1861, aged 21 years,
and RACHEL THOMAS, also
daughter of the above named,
died Feb. 3rd 1836, in her 13 year.

"The stars shall fade away, - the Sun himself
Grow dim with age, and Nature sink in years.
But thou shalt flourish in immortal youth,
Unhurt amidst the war of elements,
The wreck of matter, and the crash of worlds.".

Llwyndu is a 100-acre farm a short walk from Bethlehem Chapel. After William Thomas died, his widow Elizabeth and several of their children emigrated to the USA. Elizabeth died in Emporia, Kansas. On her memorial stone in Greenwood Cemetery, Emporia Township, is the same verse as that shown above on her husband's tombstone in Bethlehem Chapel graveyard.
William Thomas is the 4 × great grandfather of Kate Rogers (Mary K. Rogers) of Manitou Springs, Colorado, for whom I photographed the chapel and the Thomas gravestones.

At the time of the 1881 census, Llwyndu was being farmed by 60-year-old widow Sarah Griffiths and her son David.

The final pictures (Image 9) illustrate the inscriptions on the three sides of the tombstone of David Thomas which is shown standing next to the tomb of William Thomas in my earlier photograph. The proximity of the graves suggests these two Thomas families may have been related.

Image 9:

Tombstone of David Thomas, died March 3rd 1875, aged 21 Son of Thomas and Mary Thomas of Llwynmendy Uchaf [sic]. Llwynmaendu Uchaf farm is situated close to Bethlehem Chapel and Llwyndu Farm.

Image 10:

Thomas Thomas, died August 4th 1885, aged 76. Father of David Thomas.

Image 11:

Mary Thomas, died April 3rd 1901, aged 83 Wife of Thomas Thomas (see 1881 census record below).

Llwynmendy Uchaf, Llangadock, Carmarthenshire
NAME and Surname of each Person	RELATION to Head of Family	CON- DITION as to Marriage	AGE last Birthday	Rank, Profession, or OCCUPATION	WHERE BORN
Thomas Thomas	Head	M	70	Farmer of 122 acres employing 1 labourer	Llangadock, Carmarthen
Mary Thomas	Wife	M	63	Farmer's wife	Llanfynydd, Carmarthen
Michael Thomas	Son	U	19	Farmer's son	Llangadock, Carmarthen
Jane Walters	Servant	U	22	Dairymaid Domestic Servant	Llandebie, Carmarthen
Elizabeth Davies	Servant	U	18	General servant Domestic	Llangadock, Carmarthen
William Harris	Servant	U	22	Farm servant Indoor	Llangadock, Carmarthen
Rees Jones	Servant		13	Farm servant Indoor	Llanwrtyd, Brecknock
John Emanuel	Servant	U	33	Farm labourer	Shrewsbury, Shropshire
David James	Visitor	U	23	Farmer's son	Myddfai, Carmarthen

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• http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/archive/040112-2.htm (link opens in new window)