The sun is ever so bright!!!

Seven young men happily posing for the local photographer – location not pinpointed but likely somewhere in Fishguard or Lower Town as all were local lads.

Thanks to the notation under the photograph,  their identities are known and with the exception of Arthur Owen ***, it is possible to give a little bit of information about them.  One thing they have in common is that they were all sons of relatively “well to do” families – at least three of the young men having attended Llandovery College.

Johnny Jenkins of West Street – was born in 1853 and was the son of William and Mary Jenkins who lived in West Street – William was a merchant. Johnny went to sea and qualified as  a Master Mariner and sailed on trips to the South Pacific and America. He didn’t marry and upon retirement returned to his family home in West Street. He died in 1933 aged 80.

James Harries West Street – was born in 1864 and lived with his uncle and mother on Fishguard Square. His uncle was the Reverend James D  Symmons who, as well as running an ironmongers and grocers  store, was the Minister of Berachah Chapel for 35 years.  James’ mother was widowed when James was a young boy but despite this, perhaps with the support of his uncle, James was able to attend Llandovery College as a boarding pupil.  Census records show that he went onto become a Solicitor and articled Clerk. Unfortunately he cannot be traced in the census records after 1891 so what became of him in unknown.

W H Thomas was born in 1866 and lived in Kensington House in Kensington Street. He too went to Llandovery College and went on to play rugby for Wales. (see also William Henry Thomas )

Willie Clay  born 1863 was the son of William Clay, a Master Mariner of Lewis Terrace in Fishguard. (see also Captain William Clay ). His father died at sea in 1875 when Willie was 12 years old. In the 1881 census, he was recorded as a  pupil teacher however he did not continue in the teaching profession, instead he was ordained at Chichester Cathedral in 1889. He was the curate of Hailsham.  Rev. William James Clay died aged 74 in 1937 in Weston Super Mare.

Willie Owen (Bryn y Môr) was born in St Nicholas in 1866 – the son of John Owen who was a medical practitioner.  He too attended Llandovery College.  His family home was Bryn y Môr  at Windy Hall, which remained in the Owen family for many years with other family members also serving the area as GPs. He married in 1893 but sadly he died just 2 years later in 1895 aged 29 years and was buried in Manorowen Churchyard.

Arthur Owen  no information known

Seth Owen – born 1863, son of Seth Owen who was a tailor in the town. Like, Willie Clay he too was recorded as a pupil teacher on the 1881 census. He continued with his teaching and became an assistant master at St Paul’s school in Hastings. Following an illness, he died in Hastings in 1889 aged just 27 years.

Based on the approximate ages of the young men the estimated date of this photo is around 1882.

This photo is part of an album of images believed to be the work of Henry Jackson of Fishguard which has recently been lent to Ein Hanes on Fishguard Square.

***  Although no there is no actual evidence, it is quite possible that Arthur Owen was actually Arthur Frederick Owen, son of Sir Hugh Charles Owen who lived in Goodwick. He was born in 1864 and like a number of the young men in the photograph, firstly attended the National School in Hamilton Street. At around the time the photograph was taken, Arthur Frederick Owen was employed as a bank clerk – what happened to him after this time is unknown.