Jane gets all the letters now

Castle Square

Feb. 26^th 1880

My Dear Brother

 I was very sorry to hear that you were down in the scarlet fever and hope that you are well and strong again and all the others.  I have been to Jane’s this evening and she told me to say that she had been in Swansea a month and you had not written to her yet.  We have been very busy in the shop this week taking down stock we have been in until 12pm every night and I have got very tired at it and am very Glad its over.  When will you be out of your apprentice and will you come home before you begin to work as an assistant.  I wrote to you about 3 weeks ago but I suppose you were too Ill to answer my letter.  I have not Heard from Home for the Last fortnight.  Jane gets all the letters now and I have to go out there to get all the news.  I have no more news now.

                              From your

                              affectionate

                                        Brother

                                        F. Bevan

The clock has warned for eleven

Some of the most evocative letters are those written by Anne.  Imagine her sitting at the kitchen table, writing by lamplight, probably the only one still up so late at night.  She recalls those in the village she knows to be ill and warns her son, recovering from scarlet fever, to take good care of himself.  A mention of the movements of other members of the family and then a glance at the clock, with an early start the next morning she sends her love and prayers to the son she sees so seldom.

Overton

Febry 26 1880

Dear George

We have not heard from Llandudno this week & I have got anxious about you but I hope no news is good news & that you are all nearly well again you must take care of yourself & not take cold it is very dangerous after Fever there has been some case of Scarlet Fever at Burry & Mr Thomas’es son of Lake is ill with it.  I hope we shall escape it this time we have had bad colds.  I have made Sill some Gruel & given him a cough mixture to night Elizzie is not very well your Father is very well & very busy he has been out at some Job or another every day during the week. 

I heard from Jane she wants to know how you are we shall be glad to hear from you we are thinking to go to Swansea on Saturday & Jane is coming home for a few days.  Frank is quite well we are very busy when the weather is fine & food is very short for the Sheep.  Father says we shall have hard work to keep them alive until the Spring as the Sweeds are nearly done.  I have no news to tell you.  

Poor old John Bevan is very Poorly keeping his Bed the other neebours are pretty well the clock has warned for eleven & we are going to kill two Pigs tomorrow morning for the Butcher so I must conclud with kind love to you & all & may God bless & keep you from all evil

from your affectionate

Mother A. Bevan

Paraffin 10d per gall

Cardiff

Oct 30 1879

My dear Cousin

In answer to your last note I have to say that Mr Thomas does not intend having a new hand as the one he thought of having (a relative of his) remains on, I should have written at once but he has only lately decided, if there is any opening in the neighbourhood I shall certainly let him know.  I think Messrs Cross Brothers St. Mary St are in want of one or two hands, some of theirs have been dismissed lately I know, perhaps your friend had better write there.

I am sorry dear cousin that I have been negligent as regards corresponding with you, however we are now in more comfortable apartments and have better facilities for writing etc.

I am getting along very nicely our shop is much improved and enlarged since I came here, it is not one of the first class shops but we do an immense trade.  You may imagine when there are sometimes more than 500 customers served in one day we are now 11 counter hands and have an apprentice coming on next Monday, we cut things very fine down here.  Paraffin 10d per gall, cut nails 1½ on everything which comes in there is a certain discount put on & we have to stick to our price, which saves us no end of barney, especially with foreigners & Irishmen they often go out without purchasing, but invariably come back again for the goods so we loose [nothing] in the end.

I like Cardiff, much better than Swansea and I am sure you would too, the only objection I have is to the long hours, I hear that next month we are to fined for all mistakes.

How I hope you will write me soon for I know nothing of Llandudno news, who of my old friends are still there what sort of a season have you had, have you had all your money in etc

From your affectionate Cousin

R.J. Bevan

Share your kind regards to Uncle Aunt Florence George Hedley Jeni Arthur Miss Perry, Miss Symonds the Franklands all the Jones family & all the rest

Sea Serpent spotted in Bristol Channel?

Overton  

Gower

July 12th 1879

Dear Brother,

You seems to have a very bad season in Llandudno and no doubt you will have many black looks but take care you do not get a black pair of peepers, when you are round with your bills.

It is very bad times on the farmers everything is so low.  I brought home Brights two year old colt from Swansea fair only being bid 20£ when two year's ago we had 30£ for just the same sort of beast.

I was in with the wool last Wednesday to Mr. Rock.  Charles Bevan put one of their horses with Jolly in Capt Stevens brake and we took our wool together which realized for sheeps 10d per lb and lambs 8d much lower than it have been for a great many years.

We began to cut hay yesterday but it is raining hard now we have but very few fine days there are very good crops of hay but slight crops of corn and a very late harvest.  We began to thin a few white turnips to day some of the late farmers have scarcely finished sowing yet we have finished a good while.

Cousin Elizabeth and Edith, from Swansea are down for a visit for a fortnight at our house.

The young draper likes his business pretty well.  We are all quite well and I hope you are the same.

I conclude with kindest love

I remain
              Your affect. Bro.
                                 Silvanus Bevan

P.S. Remember me to Florey - Do you believe in the Sea Serpent seen in the Bristol Channel.

Rowland gets on nicely

Another ‘shop talk’ letter from cousin Rowland, out to impress and asking for word of home.  

34 St. Mary St.

Cardiff

Feby 20 1879

My dear Cousin

I feel sure you must think me very unkind indeed in not writing to you before in your last note you wondered wether I was alive or not and now I fancy you must really think I am gone to the happy hunting grounds but I am still alive I am and have been in good health and spirits ever since I have been at Cardiff.  I am getting on very nicely I have been here now just over 12 months and in that time I have had my salary raised twice our shop is now one of the finest Ironmongers in South Wales it is now 150 feet long and 3 stories high & it was only one before.  We have not finishd the alterations commenced by our new master Mr Thomas yet.  I hope however we shall be all right by July for it is really very troublesome and aggravating to have ones shelves pulled about by workmen and having the dust and dirt to clear away so often.  Joiners are now fixing a patent Lift to carry goods from the ground floor up to the stock and show room.  I will try to give you some description of the shop.  One window is always filled with tools it is now filled with trowels of all descriptions and for some distance the shop is occupied with tools of all descriptions on command of the tool man as he is called then comes a department of ods & ends wire, Taps & Trimins fittings of all Kinds.  Then comes the Builders department which I had for some time now in command of another young man.  Opposite him is the Oil Paint & Color departm. as that counter we have to patint Pumps which draws the oil about as fas as T. Jones Yard to your shop and measures it at the same time one for Bingolene another for Paraffin which we sell @1½Pt. then comes to the furnishing departments which occupies the 2 sides of the shop as is bigger than any other two in the shop.  I am in command of this branch which is I suppose the most important in the shop.  I have a boy under my care who I keep employed in changing the things and dusting a villain he is I caught him one day mangling S Hooks if you please of course he spoilt the [illegible] and I had to take them off and get them turned.  Then out in the back beyond the shop are the workshop etc the second story is one long show room where we show Boxes Bedstead etc the next and largest is a stock room where we keep all sorts of thing from german flutes to penny whistles.  I can tell you George I have had to keep my eyes open & learn a thing or two since I came here, and I should advice you to employ all your spare time in getting at the prices of things, discounts number etc when I was in the Building department I was supposed to know the numbers and prices of all the sash Fasteners, lach Pullies, Locks, Hinges etc and so I did nearly.  I had to order things too as they were wanted and keep up stocks and as I have now.  I should like very much if you could just pop in for an hour some day and see us what a different master we have to the old one our present one gives us rather too much liberty whereas we did not have enough before he is quite a young man his father comes down for one thing nearly every day he is a [illegible] and we have to mind what we are doing when he is down. I now sleep out with an apprentice for company we are most comfortable together he is a nice little chap.  I much prefer sleeping out to indoors for the young men are such a noisey lot and cannot read or talk quietly in the house.  You have been home lately.  I am sure you were pleased to see your dear father so far recovered.  I had expected he would [illegible] prayer has had a good deal to do with his recovery. All the Llandudno news I have received for a long time has been from somewhere in the –dlands I believe it is a little town in Staffordshire called – what about all of my old pals M. Thomas Morris M Powell Mark & Co mind and write soon and tell me all and not [illegible]  as I have seen all you as you [illegible] for correspondence.  You may tell my friends [illegible] talk about [illegible]. Tell Florey I shall write to her soon and give kind love to her and George Hedley Uncle Aunt James & Arthur also to M. Thomas M. Powell Miss Symmond & Miss Perry of your affection. Cousin R Bevan

The last page of the letter has been reversed and Rowland continued writing across what he had previously written.  Unfortunately this renders it almost illegible.

Happy Christmas

And after Christmas sister Elizabeth writes to her brother to tell him how it all went.

Overton

Dec. 31^st/78

Dear Brother

We enjoyed our Christmas very much Although it was snowing all the morning and very cold.  We were all so sorry that you could not come home.  We were down to Aunt Harriets to tea yesterday evening and Jane and Sill are gone down to Uncle George Gibbs to tea this evening.

I am afraid you will be too late for the tea meeting it is to take place to morrow evening.  There has been a sad accident it happened a few days ago.  Uncle George’s Brother Captain Joseph was knocked of the vessel and drowned the crew didnt know he was gone till they missed him.  We are going to sent Uncles box next week so you may expect a bit of Christmas pudding and a few apples.

                   I must now conclude

                             And Wishing you a happy

                                      new year I remain

                                                Your affectionate sister

                                                          Elizabeth

First Edition Frontispiece and Title Page of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol published 1843

George Gibbs was the son of Harriet nee George, (Ann’s mother Jane’s sister) and Samuel Gibbs.  After working in London under the guidance of his uncle Robert, George returned to Gower and married Ann Hughes of Newton in Llanddewi.  George was employed for many years as Lloyd’s Agent (the shipping firm) in Gower and farmed 59 acres at The Rectory, Porteynon.

Wishing George was home

Ann squeezes in one more letter before Christmas, obviously thinking of her absent son.

Overton Monday morning

Dec 23^rd 1878

Dear George

Just a line to say we are all quite well your father has gone off the Club & seems in very good spirits but his legs swell a little now he does not feel the Cold weather so much now as when it first set in.  The children are quite delighted with the sleding on the Splol Pool & are wishing George was home.  

We are all sorry you cannot be with us perhaps you will be able to stay the longer when you do come.  I hope you will be able to injoy your Christmas at Llandudno as we are very busy to day & I must Finish with our kindest love & may God bless & keep you from all evil from your Ever affectionate Mother & Father

                             S & A Bevan

Jane wants you to send her the Christmas number of the [Methodist] Recorder if you can get it.

Believed to be one of the first mass produced Christmas cards published in 1843 for Henry Cole.

New hotel at Llandudno is good for trade

Silvanus was incapacitated for nine months following the typhoid outbreak in September - the illness appeared to have a debilitating effect upon him for much longer as is revealed in Ann’s letters.

Llandudno May 30^th

Dear Mother

I was very glad to hear from Uncle this morning that father was much better and liked to be able to sit up soon.

I shall send the Box to day (Thursday) Passenger train so you will have it on Saturday if you ask William to call at Killay.

There is a teapot, & the 2 spoons a piece of canvass & 2 sacks which Uncle thought would come handy for you.

And my Jacket & waistcoat & trousers, the jacket is gone too small & is nearly worn out and I am afraid I shall want a new one, and the waistcoat is gone too small but I have plenty of them.  The trousers is gone rather small and worn a good deal but I think I can manage with it when it is cleaned & Repaired.

The teapot will be about 4/- and the spoons 3/- but I cannot say what he will charge you exactly.

Has grandfather had his bedstead all right yet uncle was asking me if I had heard anything about it the other day?

We are very busy here.  I have just been counting how many bedsteads we have sold this spring and I find we have sold 70 and about 60 more on order for this new Hotel so we shall have plenty to do for some time yet.

                             I remain

                                      Your aff: son

                                                George Bevan

an old picture postcard of the promenade at Llandudno

Shop Talk

George's elder cousin Rowland had also served his apprenticeship with Uncle William in Llandudno.  In this incomplete letter the two young ‘ironmongers’ enjoy some shop talk.


34 St Mary St.
Cardiff

Ap. 8th 1878


My dear Cousin

I was very pleased to receive your note this morning.  I can assure you your letters are always very welcome, the only fault I find with them generally is the last word come too soon you justly accuse me of negligence but I think I can justify myself as I proceed.  It grieved me very much to hear about the disturbance in Chapel.  I hope things will soon better.  Wm Bowden told us once in Class that he had a bad temper but he had felt nothing of it for this last 30 years.  I fear it has mastered him again now about the books you ask for.  I am very sorry to say I left them at home.  I only brought some of my books here with me the rest I carefully packed in boxes at home.  I will however write home to mother and ask her to send it you.  I fear however she will be unable to find it if she does you may keep it until I ask for it.  Perhaps you would like the Dictionary as well if so please let me know.  I was very pleased to hear what you said about your father whenever you write me let me know how he is for you know better than they do at Horton.  I dare say you would like a little of Cardiff news.  I came here on the 9 of Feby. Just one day more would have been the anniversary of my 5 year at Llandudno.  Aunt Margaret lives 13 miles from here & seeing Mr Hernes advertisement I came to Cardiff to see him.  I was at Hingead a week before he gave me an answer.  I find Mr Herne is not as bad after all rather curious sometimes but withal a thorough business man of sound principles he will not have us talk too much to our customers he says it is not business like & they dont like it and I quite agree with him.  We have only one price except wholesale when we take 10% for cash that is an excellent rule it saves no end of trouble & confusion sometimes there are exceptions when the articles are damaged or old stock. When foreigners come in and he get a great many we always tell them before we commense ‘one price’ but they will try and beat down then the master comes and tells them to go about their business but they invariably buy for they too like it we sell all kinds of oil & paints etc but the assistants are not allowed to touch any Iron, wire felt flash oil & anything of that sort there are boys who have to attend to these things I dont think I can do better than…….

St Mary Street, Cardiff

Letters of condolence

Ann keeps a further two letters of condolence.  One from her brother in law William and the following from M.A. Cocks.

Lafronda Villa

Oct 12^th /77

My dear Mrs. Bevan

                   How dark your path and how sad your lot at this time.  I have wept with you in your troubles and prayed with you, but have refrained from sending you a line not knowing what sympathy I could offer.  Dear Little Willie gone from you, darling boy taken from his suffering and safely housed in his Fathers house above.

                   I share with you in thankfulness that dear Mr Bevan’s life is spared to you and trust your lives may be given to each other many, many years.  It is with great anxiety I hear of dear Lizzie’s state oh, I do trust that she, Jane and the other members of your family it may be God’s will to give back to you.  However you have managed and still manage to nurse them I cannot understand.  Do support yourself with all the nourishing food you can possibly make use of.  God’s ways are indeed mysterious but I often think of his condescension in promising us that what we know not here we shall know hereafter, yes some day these things that appear to us so inexplicable and almost cruel, will one day be so shown to us that we shall see it was all done out of love, and we shall wonder that we could ever have thought otherwise.

                   Dear Little Willie will be much missed by you.  The first gap in your family circle is it not?  I know from conversations we have had you think deeply of the immortality of your precious ones, and on that account would be thankful that God has not taken the one in regard to whom having attained years of responsibility, of their souls welfare there might be a shade of doubt.  Give my kindest love to Lizzie if she is strong enough to receive a message, and I hope if she has not already she will give her affections fully to Jesus.  His good spirit has often striven yes God the father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost are all loving and doing what they can to woo us.

                   My love to Mr Bevan, Miss Bevan and all the dear sufferers with much love to yourself.

                   I remain,

                             Yours affectionately,

                                      M.A. Cocks

Llandudno

Novr 5^th 1877

Dear Brother & Sister

                   Now that I have commenced writing I scarcely know what to say, but I am anxious you should know we had not forgotten you we hear through George and Harriet often writes we are glad to hear so favourable news of you all.  I trust you will all continue to improve, and that we shall soon hear of you being able to be out as usual, but after all God knows what is best for us he cannot err what a blessing it is that our lives are in his hands.  We daily remember you at the Throne of Grace that He will sustain and comfort you in this your time of need.  I hope Ann will have strength bear up under her continual anxiety and toil and that she will soon be rewarded by seeing all the sick ones restored to their usual health.

                   We are all well and all join in much love and sympathy and wish you and shall at all times and as often as convenient like to hear from you.

                   I remain

                             Dear Brother & Sister

                                      Yours etc

                                                W Bevan

George is worried

Ann keeps the full extent of the situation from young George, far from home in Llandudno.

Llandudno

Sept 7^th

Dear Mother

I am very sorry to hear that father is ill and I hope that by this time he is very much better and Eliza and Jane.  Please write and say what is the matter with them all as we are all anxious to know.

It is very cold here to day and the visitors are nearly all gone away.

I enclose 3 of my witnesses and hope you will be pleased with them and that all the sick ones is much better.

                                      I remain

                                                Your Affectionate

                                                          Son G Bevan

A view of Mostyn Street, Llandudno where George worked as an apprentice in his Uncle William's ironmongers.

All is not well at home

The first intimation that all is not well at home comes in George's letter dated September 7, 1877.

Llandudno

Sept 7^th

Dear Mother

I am very sorry to hear that father is ill and I hope that by this time he is very much better and Eliza and Jane.  Please write and say what is the matter with them all as we are all anxious to know.

It is very cold here to day and the visitors are nearly all gone away.

I enclose 3 of my witnesses and hope you will be pleased with them and that all the sick ones is much better.

                                      I remain

                                                Your Affectionate

                                                          Son G Bevan

George's clothes

After a visit home a year later, George returns to Llandudno, the following list packed with his clothes.

A Year's March Nearer Heaven

Health concerns are a constant theme throughout the letters.  The year begins with two letters regarding ‘cousin Frank.’  With a plethora of Francis Bevans' in the family it is difficult to pin this one down.  Miss Wheeler is obviously some connection within the church, possibly a Sunday School Teacher.  Again, Rowland is also a popular family name.  The Rowland who writes this letter is most likely the son of Morgan, another of Silvanus’ brothers, and his wife Jane nee Tucker.

11 St. Georges Crescent

Llandudno

January 8^th/77

My dear Frank,

Since my return from Cheshire I have been so sorry to learn you were not well & I should have written to you before but waited to see whether you returned to Llandudno last week.  I sincerely trust you are now recovering & shall be so glad to see you in our Class on a Sunday afternoon again yesterday we numbered eleven & had a very happy time together our lesson was the 3^rd chapter of St. John’s Gospel since we saw each other dear Frank we have commenced a “New Year” I do trust it will be a very bring & happy year not only to yourself but also to each member of your family, how lovingly & tenderly our “Heavenly Father” has been caring for us though the past twelve months. Many have gone to the “Better Land” some that we knew & loved but God has work for you & I to do yet, let us each try by God’s grace to spend this “New Year” in the Saviours service & if we are spared to see its close will it not be sweet to feel “We are a Year’s March nearer Heaven.”  Arthur Cooke has been very poorly but is better again you must write & tell me how you are & when I may hope to see you.

They are getting on so fast with the “New Pier” I expect Llandudno will be very full when the season arrives.   I only came home a fortnight ago being away almost nine weeks.  I saw Mr. Roland today he seemed quite well & was going to the funeral of poor Miss Jones who died last Thursday what a blessed thought to know she was quite ready to go Home may we all dear Frank be found with our lamp trimmed & brightly burning whenever the Bridgroom cometh Accept the enclosed with my kind love again hoping you are quite better.

                   Believe Me to Remain

                             Affectionately Yours

                                      Marie C. Wheeler

“May the Lord guide

thee continually.”



The new pier at Llandudno replaced an earlier one built in 1858.

Designed by Charles Henry Driver in partnership with James Brunlees, the pier took just over a year to complete and was opened to the general public on August 1, 1877.

Llandudno

Jany. 15^th 1877

My dear Cousin,

By Uncle’s note on Saturday we were rather surprised to find that you had been so ill.  I just drop you this note fearing you will be troubling about my coming home. They certainly dont expect you here until your are quite well they think with me that you will run the risk of renewing your cold on your journey.  Miss Wheeler frequently asks after you. I expect she has written to you for she has had your address for some time.  I shall probably relieve your mind of some anxiety when I tell you that the Range is sold & paid for there is rather an amusing incident connected with it (in reference to the stand) which I will tell you of again travellers are calling thick & fast we expect a Brooksbank & Owen & Fendelow here to day if they come we shall be very busy.

                             I am dear Cousin

                                      Yours affectionately

                                                Rowland Bevan

George is getting on very well indeed

After approximately ten months at school, George leaves to begin a five-year ironmongery apprenticeship at Llandudno with his uncle William - Silvanus’ brother.

Llandudno

May 13^th 1876

Dear Brother & Sister

According to promise I write to say that George is getting on very well indeed.  I am quite pleased with him and his Aunt has quite taken to him we are only afraid that as he came just in our busy time that he will think it too hard work for him but I know he has not been brought up idle and indeed my experience has been that there is nothing like plenty of work when you set out in life it stamps ones character and then greater will be the pleasure if any time we can do without it.  You would be amused to see him go up to some of the Welsh customers to serve them and when he cannot understand what they say he looks up at them and says “dina cymraeg.”  I do not think on the whole we are quite so busy this year as last.  We are all well but my Sister in Law is very ill confined mostly to her bed there is no hope of ultimate recovery although she may linger for months.  I have heard of Mary’s trouble but do not mention it in any of your letters for I do not want Ellen to know until she is obliged to.

I am now going to beg you will see by the enclosed book what we are doing we now want at least £300 to build the School and as we are all very poor I hope you will give us a lift.  I enclose a stamp’d envelope to return the book and would suggest if you can get a £5 note enclose it in the book or if Sovereigns you can do the same and tie a piece of thin paper round the book before you put it in the envelope it cannot then come out.  With kind love to all and everyone in which Ellen Join.

                                      Yours etc W Bevan

Bay View Farmhouse, Overton pictured in 2007.  The house where George grew up has been much altered and extended.

A postcard view of Overton village dated 1910.  The farm can be seen in the top right hand corner.

George's First Letter

George, aged fourteen, writes home to let his parents know that he has arrived safely at Weston School.  Having passed his scholars certificate at Port Eynon School, he was to spend a further year in education before beginning a five year apprenticeship at his Uncle William's ironmonger's shop in Llandudno.

Weston School

Thursday July 22^nd 1875

My dear father and mother

We arrived all saftly and the first thing we did was to go to the baths and have a bathe, after that we came to the school and had to take off most of our things for the masters to see if they were marked and then we had to slip our shirts down to our middle and wash and then we had to stand before Mr. Browning for him to see wether we had washed clean and at half past eight we had to go to bed, me and Saunders slept together and the bed was rather hard.

At 7 o’clock we got up and at quarter past we had to be in the school room for breakfast we had half a pint of coffee and a good piece of bread and butter then we had to learn the tables.  And then we had to go to the baths and have a bathe and then we had to stand all naked before the master to see if we were clean and then we came home to dinner we had so much potatoes and meat as ever we could eat. and a good piece of pudding. I should have written last night only they had the key to see if all my things were marked so no more from your affectionate Son

                                      George

 His mother wrote on the bottom of the page 'George's First Letter'

George's birth certificate

How it all began

Several years ago I acquired an archive of family letters and books collected and preserved by Dr Mary Bevan (pictured below).  Mary was born in 1925 in Colwyn Bay, the only child of George Herbert Bevan and his wife Constance. Having graduated from Oxford University, she went on to Medical School in Manchester where she qualified in 1950.

After the sudden death of her mother in 1962, Mary decided to travel, ending up in Mildura, in North Western Australia, where she settled and retrained.  It had always been her intention to retire to her old home in North Wales, but apart from an occasional visit, she failed to return.

Although Mary never married or had children, she left the most extraordinary heritage, over 200 family letters,  dating back to 1839.

Mary's grandfather, George Bevan, was born in 1861 at Bay View Farm, Overton, Gower, the third of Silvanus and Ann Bevan's eleven children.  In 1876 George left the family farm to begin an ironmongery apprenticeship at his Uncle William's shop in Llandudno.

The Bevan family roots in Gower stretch back over 350 years to Jenkin ap Evan, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Peter After in the parish church of St. Mary's at Rhossili c.1620.  Jenkin anglicised his Welsh surname creating the new one of Bevan.

One branch of the family moved to Swansea, a descendant of whom was Silvanus Bevan (1691-1765) an apothecary who created the Plough Court Pharmacy in Lombard Street, Cheapside, the foundation of the 21st century global conglomerate GlaxoSmithKline.

Another Silvanus Bevan (1743-1830) son of Timothy and his first wife Elizabeth Barclay, joined the Quaker family bank of Barclay, Bevan, Tritton & Co and was also a sleeping partner in the takeover of Henry Thrale's famous Southwark Bankside brewery, paying a quarter of the total purchase price of £135,000 in 1781.

However Mary's great-grandfather, yet another Silvanus Bevan, led a more prosaic life.  Farmer and Methodist lay preacher, Silvanus kept close to home, marrying his cousin Ann and raising his large family on the farm overlooking the tempestuous Gower coastline.

George was the first to fly the nest.  He planned to return to his childhood home after completing his apprenticeship with the intention of building a business in Swansea.  However, like Mary, he was also to put down new roots, opening a shop in the developing seaside resort of Colwyn Bay.

George was first elected on to the Local Board in 1890, the beginning of a political career lasting forty-two years.  In 1908 he became a Justice of the Peace for the county and towards the end of his life he was awarded the Honorary Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his services to the town.

Entering the gateway of St. John's Methodist Church for Sunday worship in March 1935, George collapsed and died shortly afterwards.  Opening the eulogy at his funeral the Rev. A.J. Costain said:

"We are met to pay our last tribute to the memory of George Bevan.  He touched the life of the community at many points."

The letters that Mary so carefully preserved, chart the events of George's life and one Victorian Welsh farming family.  I hope she would have approved of this account.

Dr Mary Bevan

Constance Bevan - Mary's mother

George Herbert Bevan - Mary's father