The Harries family of Porthgain
Porthgain was mainly known for it’s quarry throughout the late 1800’s – 1930’s. In it’s history, many families set up there to work in the quarry industry. One of them was the Harries family.
The first Harries to live in Porthgain was William. William moved away at the age of 10 to live with his uncle John in Solva. They lived in Gwar Y Coed. William, who originally was from Boulston, Haverfordwest moved there to get an education. Once he finished school, he moved to Porthgain to work on the quarry.
It was in Porthgain where he met Mary Ann Tegan. They got married on December 14th 1902, William was aged 27. Mary had previously had two other children named James Tegan and Thomas Tegan. William took them in as his own and made them a part of the Harries family.
Later on in 1904, they had their first son together. They named him David (Davie was his given nickname). David went on to have his own family whilst staying in Porthgain to work on the quarry. After David, they gave birth to a daughter named Margaret Hannah (Maggie for short). She was born on April 9th, 1906. She also went on to have a family of her own, with one of her daughters ‘Iris’ being the last member of the Harries family to live in Porthgain up until 2021. William and Mary’s third child together was named after William himself. They named him William Henry. He was born on November 27th, 1908. Their fourth child together was Francis John (Frank for short). He was born on March 4th, 1915. Frank went on to also have a family of his own. They also had another daughter named Edith.
Mary Ann sadly passed away on February 23rd, 1957. Whilst William lived on until June 29th, 1962.
William’s third son William went on to marry a lady named Betty Owen. They met each other in the northern area of the county. William and Betty got married in July 1939 and lived in the street named Parc Y Shwt, Fishguard. William was a carpenter who worked in the same town where he lived, Fishguard. William and Betty went on to have three children. These were named Tony, Stuart and Dorothy. William was only aged 57 when his beloved wife Betty passed away in July 1966. William went on to live a long life and continued to live in Parc Y Shwt until he died in June 1983, aged 74.
The Harries family name lives on and is still living in the northern part of Pembrokeshire, and will do so for many years to come.
If you have any connection, photos or information on the family please get in touch.
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