Mr Reynolds 'Stonecutter'

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Os ydych wedi talu sylw i’r print mân ar gerrig beddau mewn unrhyw fynwent yn yr ardal, mae’n siwr eich bod wedi gweld mai’r teulu Reynolds fu’n gyfrifol am greu a gosod nifer fawr ohonynt. Bu sawl cenhedlaeth yn arbenigo mewn naddu llythrennau a rhifau ar lechi.

Cafodd James Reynolds ei eni yn ardal Llanychaer tua 1841. Priododd â Sarah Rees, merch Capt Rees a’i wraig Sarah, tua’r flwyddyn 1860. (Yr oedd Capt Rees yn flaenllaw iawn ymhlith sefydlwyr yr achos yng Nghspel Tabor.) Ganwyd i James Reynolds a’i wraig o leiaf naw o blant  – Capt. William Rees Reynolds(1861); David Rees Reynolds(1864); James J Reynolds(1866): Emily Reynolds(1868)- priododd hi â Capt Titus George; Arthur R Reynolds(1870); Capt John W Reynolds(1875) – priododd ag Annie Mendus, merch Capt Mendus, Abergwaun ar 12-10-1901; Ivor Reynolds (1878); Walter Reynolds(1881) a Hugh H Reynolds(1884). Ganwyd y plant i gyda yn y Dinas.

Yn y cyfrifiad yn 1861, disgrifir James fel ‘stonecutter’ yn byw yng Nghilwenen. Erbyn 1871, mae’n ‘stonecutter farming 3 acres’. Yn 1881 mae’n ‘sculptor’ ac erbyn 1991 yn ‘marble mason’. Yn 1891, roedd y teulu cyfan yn uniaith Gymraeg. Bu farw Sarah, gwraig James yn 1908, yn 67 oed, ac erbyn 1911, roedd James yn byw wrth ei hunan yng Nghilwenen gydag Esther Owen yn cadw tý iddo.

Hysbysebodd James ei fusnes yn yr ‘Echo’ lle dywed i’r busnes gael ei sefydlu yn wreiddiol yn 1822.  Ger Cilwenen, Ietybontbren,  Dinas yr oedd gweithdy ‘J.R’. Yn dilyn yn y busnes teuluol daeth ei fab ac wyr iddo – ‘D.R.’ a ‘D.A.’ Reynolds.

Roedd gan David Rees Reynolds safle busnes, ar y cornel, wrth droi am Barc Lota, ym Mhenucha’r Dre, Abergwaun. Tua throad y ganrif ddiwetha , bu farw ei wraig gyntaf a gadwyd ef â phump o blant i’w magu. Daeth merch 18 oed, Eleanor Owen, o’r Slâd, i gadw tý iddo. Yn 1903, fe briodwyd y ddau  a chawsant fab o’r enw Ifor yn 1907. Ni fu Eleanor fyw yn hen. Cofir amdani ar gofgolofn hardd ym mynwent Hermon. Cafodd ei geni ar 2-11-1883 a bu farw ar 5-12-1911 yn 38 oed. Dywedir iddi farw o TB wedi iddi ei ddal tra’n nyrsio. Cofir hefyd ar y gofgolofn am ei gwr, David Rees a fu farw ar Fai 8fed, 1951 yn 87 oed.

Mae papur y County Echo (23-4-1908) yn cynnwys adroddiad angladd Mrs Sarah Reynolds, gwraig James, ac mae’n llawn gwybodaeth am y teulu. Ar y pryd, roedd ei mab hynaf, Capt James J Reynolds adref ar ymweliad, wedi treulio dros ugain mlynedd yn Awstralia. Roedd unig ferch Mrs Reynolds, Emily, ers deunaw mis ar long y ‘Comliebank’, gyda’i gwr, Capt Titus George, ac yr oedd disgwyl iddynt glywed y newyddion am farwolaeth Mrs Reynolds wrth gyrraedd porthladd Sydney. Roedd Capt John J Reynolds yn feistr ar y llong ‘Dalrymple’, ac yr oedd ef hefyd yn teithio’r môr heb glywed am farwolaeth ei fam. Yr oedd mab, wedyn yn Sydney (William R Reynolds?) ac un yn Nhredegar yn gweithio fel saer maen fel ei dad. Roedd yr ifancaf yn gweithio yn Rhymney gyda chwmni ‘London & Provincial Bank’.

Nid yw’n hymchwil i’r teulu yn gyflawn eto, o bell ffordd. Dim ond darnau o’r jigso sydd gennyn, ond mae croeso i chi gysylltu os ydych yn gallu cynnig help gydag ambell ddarn arall…

Un darn hanesyddol iawn o waith y Teulu Reynolds yw’r gofeb i forwyr y Ragna a ddrylliwyd yn Aberfelin, ger Trefin yn 1900. I weld y gofeb,- gwasgwch yma

If you have paid attention to the small print on gravestones in any cemetery in the area, you will surely have seen that the Reynolds family was responsible for creating and installing a large number of them, years ago. Several generations of the family specialized in carving letters and numbers on headstones.

James Reynolds was born in the Llanychaer area around 1841. He married Sarah Rees, daughter of Capt Rees and his wife Sarah, around the year 1860. (Capt Rees was among the most fervent in establishing the cause at Tabor Chapel.) At least nine children were born to James Reynolds and his wife – Capt. William Rees Reynolds(1861); David Rees Reynolds(1864); James J Reynolds(1866): Emily Reynolds(1868)- she married Capt Titus George; Arthur R Reynolds(1870); Capt John W Reynolds(1875) – married Annie Mendus, daughter of Capt Mendus, Fishguard on 12-10-1901; Ivor Reynolds (1878); Walter Reynolds(1881) and Hugh H Reynolds(1884). The children were all born at Dinas.

In the 1861 census, James is described as a ‘stonecutter’ living in Cilwenen. By 1871, he is a ‘stonecutter farming 3 acres’. In 1881 he was a ‘sculptor’ and by 1991 a ‘marble mason’. In 1891, it is noted that the whole family spoke Welsh only. Sarah, James’s wife, died in 1908, aged 67 years, and by 1911, James was living by himself in Cilwenen with Esther Owen keeping house for him.

J Reynolds advertised his business in the ‘Echo’, stating that the family firm was established in 1822! His workshop was near Cilwenen, Ietybontbren, Dinas. Following on the family business were his son and grandson – ‘D.R.’ and ‘D.A.’ Reynolds.

David Rees Reynolds had a business premises on the corner turning from High Street in to Lota Park, Fishguard. About the turn of the last century, his first wife died and he was left with five children to raise. An 18-year-old girl, Eleanor Owen, from the Slade, came to keep house for him. In 1903, they were married and had a son called Ifor in 1907. Eleanor did not live to old age. She is commemorated on a beautiful monument in Hermon cemetery. She was born on 2-11-1883 and died on 5-12-1911, aged 38. It is said that she died of TB after contracting it while nursing. The memorial also remembers her husband, David Rees Reynolds, who died on May 8th, 1951 aged 87.

The County Echo paper (23-4-1908) contains the funeral report of Mrs Sarah Reynolds, wife of James, and is full of information about the family. At the time, her eldest son, Capt James J Reynolds was home on a visit, having spent over twenty years in Australia. Mrs Reynolds’ only daughter, Emily, had been on the ‘Comliebank’ ship for eighteen months, with her husband, Capt Titus George, and they were expected to hear the news of Mrs Reynolds’ death on arrival at the port of Sydney. Capt John J Reynolds, master of the ship ‘Dalrymple’ was also at sea, unaware of his mother’s passing.  Of the remaining sons, there was a son living at Sydney (William R Reynolds?),  and another  at Tredegar, in business as a stonecutter. The youngest was working in Rhymney with the ‘London & Provincial Bank’.

Our research into the family is by no means complete. The jigsaw is begun, but feel free to get in touch if you can help us with more pieces of the puzzle……

One very historic piece of work by the Reynolds Family is the memorial to the Ragna sailors who were drowned in Aberfelin, near Trefin in 1900. To see the memorial, – press here

16-8-1894 – TRAP ACCIDENT. On Sunday evening last a serious accident befel Mr D. Reynolds sculptor, and his wife and family, who were accompanied by Mr John Reynolds, of Mountain Ash. It, appears that they were driving home from Dinas Cross, and when near Garngelly Quarry one of the shafts came loose, and as Mr Reynolds was unable to stop the trap with the brake, they were taken down the hill at a terrible pace, when suddenly one of the wheels gave way with the result that the occupants were thrown headlong into the roadway. Mr Reynolds received a severe cut on the forehead, and the other occupants were more or less injured, but the most serious being that of the little daughter, she having received severe injuries to her knees. The others are progressing favourably under the attention of Dr Owen.

1901 – MARRIAGE. On October 12th, at Trinity Chapel, Swansea, by the Rev W E Prytherch, John Reynolds, fourth son of Mr J. Reynolds, Dinas, to Annie, eldest daughter of the late Captain John Mendus, Fishguard”.

13-6-1907 – Successful Property Sale at Fishguard. Mr W. R. Carver conducted a very successful sale of freehold property at the Commercial Hotel, Fishguard, on Thursday, comprising of dwelling house, stable and coach-house, and valuable building sites, situate in High street, being the property of Mrs James, of Nevern House, Fishguard.The following were the buyers and prices realised:

Lot 1 -Stable, coach-house and yard, situate in High-street, Fishguard, and now in the occupation of Mr David Griffiths was purchased by the tenant for £300.

Lot 2-A dwelling house, with outbuildings, yard and garden, known as “Meadow House,” also in the occupation of Mr David Griffiths was purchased by the tenant for £202 10sh.

Lot 3—Plot, piece or parcel of ground adjoining Lot 2, with a frontage to High-street of 21 feet, together with the joint use of the pine-end wall on the west side, was purchased by Mr D R Reynolds, sculptor, Fishguard, for £60.

Several lots of building sites were sold by private contract before the sale. Building sites Nos. 4 and 5 were purchased by Mr D R Reynolds for £ 95. Building site No 6 was withdrawn at £ 39, but afterwards sold by private contract to Mr D B Phillips, sanitary inspector, Fishguard. Building site No. 7 was purchased by Mr Francis George for £ 40.

Mr W J Vaughan, solicitor, Fishguard acted for the vendors.

12 March 1908 Sickness.—We regret to record the serious illness of Mrs Reynolds, Cilwenen, wife of  J Reynolds, stone-cutter, and mother of Capt W R Reynolds and Mr D R Reynolds, Fishguard. Two of her sons who were away, one at Rhymney and the other at Tredegar, were sent for.

1908 – Funeral.—On Friday last, one of the most ideal wives, and one of the most tender and beloved of mothers ever carried to the grave was accompanied to her last resting place by a grief-stricken husband and children, by sorrowing friends and sympathetic neighbours. We refer to Mrs Reynolds, of Cilwenen, wife of Mr James Reynolds, monumental sculptor. Mrs Reynolds had been ailing for upwards of twenty years, at times able to go about a little, at other times confined to the house for months. Recently, she had a severe attack of intluenza which developed into pneumonia, which proved fatal. She bore her illness and acquitted herself in the struggle for life as only a Christian can do. She was in her 67th year and had been a respected member of the church at Tabor for the long period of 51 years. She was a daughter of the late Capt Rees, Cilwenen, who during his later days, was the leading member of Tabor. She was married to Mr James Reynolds, then of Llanychare, when in her twentieth year, a union which lasted for nearly 49 years and one which proved most happy. Besides the stricken husband there are seven children to mourn her irreparable loss, three of which, viz., Mr James Reynolds, Mrs George (wife of Capt T George, master of the ship ‘Comlie Bank’), and Mr John Reynolds, master of the ship ‘Dalrymple,’ were unable to be present, being far away in foreign lands and as yet unaware of their mother’s death. The funeral was a large one, and was attended by friends from far and near, and took place amid manifestations of deep sympathy and sorrow. At the house the Rev S Thomas read a portion of God’s word appropriate to the occasion, the Rev J Evans, Gideon, offered a most fervent prayer, and the Rev J W Maurice, pastor of the deceased, delivered an address founded on the 23rd Gen., 2nd verse. At the graveside the Rev Dan Davies, Fishguard, delivered a touching address, and the Rev Glynfab Williams, rector of Dinas, closed the service with a very telling prayer. The bearers were the Deacons of Tabor. The mourners were :•—Mr J Reynolds (husband), Capt W Reynolds, Mr W Reynolds and Mr H Reynolds, Mr D Reynolds (sons), Mrs Reynolds (daughter-in-law) and grandchildren. Mrs Richards (niece), Mrs Rees (sister-in law), Mrs George, Fishguard, Mrs Phillips, Garden Terrace, Mr and Mrs Evans, Holly Bush, Mr and Mrs Phillips, Moylgrove. Among those present were noticed Capt T James, J.P., C.C., Mr W E Bennett, J.P., Mr B J Llewhelin, J.P., Fishguard, Mr J John, Llanychare, Capt J Harries, Castle Terrace, Messrs E 0 Evans, Rose Wall, J Thomas, Castle Green, T Howells, Roseneath, T G Evans, Newport, W J Yaughan, solicitor, Fishguard, G Davies, Garn, E Davies, Ponty-cymmer, and W Evans, Bodmor, Fishguard.