Bevan & Co.

Overton

Gower

June 9^th 1880

Dear Brother

You seem to be in a great hurry for good advice which is certainly a very good sign & I hope you will profit much by it when you get it.  But having many things to write unto thee I would not on paper and ink but I trust shortly to see thee, and speak to thee, face to face, that our joy may be full.  Miss Nicholas has been here and has taken the order for your things so you may expect them soon for anything under [under]  taken by Liberals is soon accomplished, whether its Turkish reforms, shirt making or the demolishing of gooseberry cakes or any other difficult (for the last mentioned you Conservatives deserve some credit).

The present protraction (which you term Liberal selfishness) has originated from following too much the devises of the Tories, and thereby, exhausted our finances, so we are bound to retrench, & home requirements are delayed as well as those abroad.

On Saturday morning last as Dutch Galley Yatch the same rig as a Dandy was abandon off our coast in a sinking condition the crew came in to the quay and got on board the lass & on hearing their report Capt. Tom and Will Chalk, & Phil Hopkin went off, & withe the help of 2 men from another vessel brought her in to the Quay she has on board about 90 tons of knife bricks, the Salvagers claime £60 and the Insurance Company has ofered them £10 she is going to Swansea tomorrow in charge of the Salvagers.

We expect to finish sowing Swedes tomorrow.  It is getting very late so Good night

          I remain Your affection Bro.

                    Silvanus Bevan

In the 1880s Silvanus was a member of a family salvage firm about which he writes “Bevan & Co (comprising C & S Bevan, J. Steven Overton, J. Stephen Porteynon, J. Hughes.) “

Do not let anyone see this letter

An awkward little letter written by Morgan in response to George’s message of condolence.

22 George St.

Swansea

June 3^rd 1880

Dr George

         

I received your letter this morning & was indeed pleased to hear from you.  I have been expecting a letter from you for a long time & at the same time was thinking of writing to you but could never make up my mind to do so you know what sort of man I am of a timid disposition still there is some acts of bravery about me one for, instance, Getting Married & that seems so far to answer pretty well indeed so that I ought to be incouraged & not feel so timid.

Well George it is all very well talking foolishly still I do not believe in going half way to meet troubles it is true enough when it comes.  You spoke about my sad loss yes a great loss when mother goes it almost speaks to me in words look out for yourself home appear broken up there appear no ruling shepherd to keep us all together because it always was Mother Mother  no one to say Morgan be careful over this or that no the voice is not to be again.  She hath done what she could for every one of us & her end was peace I hope everlasting.  

You refered to buisness in your letter. I do not know what to do but I think I shall make an attempt when I can get a suitable shop & in a propper position but I may have to wait for a long time.  If I cannot get a good situation I had better stay where I am I have no dout but I should do very well because as you know I am a respectable young man have a respectable wife & we are respectable connected infact we are respectable alltogether.  Buisness keeps very quiet there is no stir here whatever.  If it would revive a little it would give a man a little encouragement. 

I scarcly know what I have put on this letter in the first place.  I have been cutting the grass in the front of the house & triming the hedge that my hand is shaking very much & Jane have been talking all the time so you can take it as it is & will promise to do better next time. Jane is first rate now since she come to Swansea & Hannah is very well. 

Do not let anyone see this letter.

From yr aff.

                                                  Bro. & Sisters

                                                        J.H. & M. Bevan

We can do sums and write in coppy

George’s two younger brothers write to him, showing their prowess at arithmetic.  

Overton

May 24^th 1880

Dear brother 

Eddy and I have been very ill we are quite well now we have four cats, four cows, four horses, fifteen hens, sixty three chickens, forty six lambs, one hundread and four sheep, one dog, four ducks, twenty one geese and three pigs, seven cattle and th colt are gone to Muzzart.  I and georgey Went with them and we expect to sow Swedes in a couple of weeks.

mother and father send their love to you mother is going to write to you to night

rember me to gorge and hedley

 I remain

                    your affectionate

                                        brother

                              Robert Bevan

Overton

May 24^th 1880

dear brother

robert and I have been very ill we have had measles and had to stay in bed three days we are quite well now and mother lets us go out again, we washed the sheep as on friday and if the weather is fine we expect to shear them on tuesday your strawberys are in blossom georgy took the trap to killay station to meet jane and morgan on friday tell georgy and hedley we can do sums and write in coppy give our love to them and them them we hope to see them in gow soon.

                    I remain your affectionate brother eddy

  

May 24^th 1880

Dear George

I am glad to say the little boys are quite well again.  I had to keep them in Bed three days they were very tired the last day.  I have not sent them to school & this afternoon they have been writeing to you.  Eddy has sent you plenty of Ink.  Jane and her Husband went back to Swansea this morning they came down on a sad errand poor Mrs Bevan died so suddenly it is a great grief to them all.  I had had your drawers made but not the shirts the Dressmaker is gone from home for a week or so I will send them to you as soon as I can get them made we are glad that you are going to stay with your Uncle this year.  I hope you will get on well & may the Lord be with you in all your goings.  I have been up since 4 oclock & cannot write a long letter to night.  We expect to Shear the Sheep to morrow if it is fine the weather has been very cold for the last few days & rain is much needed.  Sill will write & Tell you all news & with our kindest love I remain Dear George your ever

                              afft. Mother.

Gowerian Farmers

Family letters are abuzz as George comes to the end of his apprenticeship and Sill wants him to read the marriage advertisements.

                                        Overton Gower

May 4^th 1880

Dear Brother

I received your letter duly but cannot comply with your request as I never attempted anything of the sort, and do not know what form you would require it in, please send me a copy of yours and then I shall see, and may try at some future one, such a plan has been proposed in Horton Sunday School, for some of the big scholars to prepare papers on the lessons, but I do not think it ever will be practised. 

Pitton tea meeting will be held on Thursday next & some two or three of us are thinking to go, if all is well.  I expect to spend the Whit Sunday & Monday in Swansea with Jane to rest a bit after working so hard sowing barley etc.  The crops are looking very promising about here & the dry fine weather, with yesterdays rain has done not a little to cheer the drooping hearts of the Gowerian Farmers.  Uncle George has had a misfortune, in losing one of his horses (Boxer) on Saturday night, they have one young one 3 years old, besides old Pedlar he is very feeble & I think Uncle is going to Swansea fair on Saturday to buy another.

Our Lyster & Bright are in foal this year, & Boxer is very quiet in saddle, harness being free from vice.  We are well in advance with out work.

I shall like to know whether you & Uncle have made any arrangements, and from what date you receive wages and the amount.

Father and Mother are gone up to Castle this afternoon, as the school board meets at Oxwich this evening & Father is an Hon: Member,

Hoping you & all are quite well again, with kindest love

                              I remain

                                        Your loving Brother

                                                  Silvanus Bevan

P.S. Don’t forget to look over the marriage advertisements in the Camb after the sixth time of asking

N.G. The letters you send to me that you don’t wish Father to see please address to _ _ Jun without which of coarse I cannot open them.

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

Scarlet Fever is very bad in Swansea

Overton

Feb 16^th/80

Dear Brother

We were glad to hear by Uncles letter which we received to day that you are all getting better and hope you will soon be able to resume your usual duties.  We have nearly all bad colds at home.  Sill has a swelled face with the toothache.  The scarlet fever is very bad in Swansea.  One of Margaret little boys has died in it.  He was buried in Port Eynon today.  Margaret was up here she inquired kindly after you and was sorry to hear you had been so ill. 

We heard from Frank yesterday he seems to be getting on pretty well.

I suppose you have heard that Jane has left us.  She is getting on very well but misses the noise and row at home.  Mary Gibbs has run away from home again her son has been brought up to Overton to save expense and Mary did not like it and so she went away.  Miss N. Beynon of hills has also started.  She has got a situation in London.  So we are two less in the village.

The weather has been very wet and stormy here.  Sill went away to day with two cattle to Parkmill he got a thorough wetting.  Hannah had a valentine on Saturday from Rowland.  We havent seen or heard of him for a long time.

Mr Ellis is the Editor of a circuit Magazine of which I enclose you a copy.  It may drive away a weary hour.  I must now conclude with love from all.

I remain Your affecte. Sister E. 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

10 years penal servitude

Castle Square

Aug 14 1879

Dear brother

I am quite well and I hope you are the same.  And I hope you have not forgotten me here.  I wrote to you a little time ago and have not received an answer yet if my letter was lost I cannot blame you but if on the contrary you received it and have been paying to much attention to the young Ladies lately to answer it back I shall give you a good reprimanding and 10 years penal servitude.

I saw Rowland this morning and he share my views of the case he is coming home for his Holiday and is going down to Killay by train and is going to walk home.  I was home last Saturday week and I am going home in the harvest time for a weeks Holiday.

                   From Your Affectionate

                             Bro. F. Bevan

P.S. Please write to clear your self of those grave charges

                                                Good night

Too cold to cut the corn

July and just when George thought he was forgotten he receives letters from Jane and Elizzie.

Overton

Sunday Evening

My dear Brother

We are all most by ourselves to day.  Sill went into Swansea yesterday afternoon to go to Neath Fair with the cold and to day George Bevan and Robert is gone with Father & Mother to meet the 3 oclock train at Killay.  They are going to stay until Saturday at Mr Roberts they intended going yesterday but had not finished a bout the hay.  We have all in but one load it came on to rain or we should have finished. 

Mr. John Hughes of Newton was married yesterday to Miss Bevan of Pitton the youngest daughter of his Cousin. I suppose it was rather a grand turn out old Mrs Hughes has been living at Long Ash near the Mumbles for some time with David. They keep a pony and a cow they have a splendid house and garden like a gentlemans.  The school that is tomorrow at Porteynon they expect a large gathering.  The parents of most of the Children are invited Sill & Eliza so if all is well I shall be by myself to morrow night. 

I am a little better but far from well now.  Mother will write in a few days.  Eliza Bevan is going home on Saturday.  Aunt Harriet of Porteynon is not very well all besides enjoy good health hopying you enjoy the same

                   I am

                             Your aff. Sister

                                      Jane Bevan

Overton

Monday evening

Dear Brother

I suppose you think we have forgotten you.  I daresay we are not gifted with such long memories as you Llandudno people.  For you have been thinking of us very often this last month or so.  We have been very busy lately therefore you must excuse us.  

Hannah & Georgie were very disappointed last Wednesday.  The weather was stormy father was afraid to venture so far as Swansea so they all had to stay home.  Sil took the colt but missed to sell it horses were very cheap and he brought it home again.  He is going to Swansea tomorrow with the wool.  We have had new potatoes this long time we sent some to Swansea on Saturday but I dont know what they were sold for.

We have not begun to cut hay yet.  It is so cold that I dont know when the corn will be ripe.  We have no gooseberries now so I think you had better wait until the apples come before you send home your parcel.

We are all quite well and hoping you are the same

I remain

          Your affecte Sister

                   E. Bevan

P.S. I could not send the letter for want of a stamp.  There was none to be bought in Port Eynon.

Image - Kennixton Farmhouse for more information visit http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/

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.

Eliza and Hannah milks 28 ewes on the Clift

Early summer heralds a busy time on the farm as a letter from Sill reveals.

 Overton Gower

May 21^st 1879

Dear Brother

We are all quite well except Jane.  She has been suffering very much in the tooth-ach.  The weather is very mild and sultry and makes everything look like summer.

We have a very fair prospect of a good crop of apples, and pears, there is plenty of blossom.  The cattle and the 1 yr old colt went to Muzzard last Saturday.  We have not one this year the white face colt we are going to keep and he does a good deal of work and has eaten a good deal of oats the other we are preparing for wool fair the second day of July.  We are thinking to wash the sheep on Saturday.  Eliza and Hannah milks 28 ewes on the Clift and they are to have eight more tomorrow we have 57 lambs and have about half-a-dozen more young ewes to have lambs we only lost one and sold four late thanks to the young draper’s perseverance.

Mother was to Swansea on Saturday and Frank intends to stick at the drapery.  Today the trial is to come off about the Mary Stenhouse George Gibbs and 7 or 8 of Rossily people for and against him went to London yesterday.

We have just had a band playing before the door this evening the second this spring I should think a sign of poor times.

I had a couple of craks with the gun to day, the first since you were home and killed four pigeons.  I have not seen many rabbits on the clift this year.  Hoping this will find you in good health.

I remain,

                   Your affection. Brother

                             Silvanus Bevan

George Bevan sends his kind regards to you and hope you will envite him to your wedding.

Frank likes his work

Frank seems to like his work and George Stevens intends to try harder.

Overton

April 14^th

My dear Brother

We have been looking out for a letter from you for a long time we were just beginning to think some thing was wrong.  Frank was down on Friday he seems to like his work very well he said he felt very tired by night we had a very good tea at Horton there was a bout one Hundred less there this year than last perhaps that was why those that was there had such a good tea.  We had a letter from M—le on Saturday he seems to enjoy himself.  George Stevens is home he is going to school in Swansea to try and pass this time.  Father was down to Porteynon Chapel last night for their first time he walked down and up and is no worse for it today we are all pretty well have you heard of poor Elizabeth Thomas’s death of G---she died ---sudden in a fever the same as we had.  I think that is all the news good night

                   I am your

                   Aff. Sister Jane Bevan

Frank leaves home

Ann and Silvanus farmed 140 acres, employing one man and one boy and  growing a variety of crops, corn, oats, barley and hay – turnips, Swedes and potatoes.  The children talk about George’s strawberries, the gooseberries and apples.  Their main income would seem to come from the sheep and their wool.  They also keep a few cows, some fowl and sell a horse once a year at Swansea market.

April 2d 1879 

Dear George

I have been up early this morning & have a little time to write you a few lines.  Frank has just left by the Buss to begin his apprenticeship at Mr. Jenkins your Father & I feel his leaving us very much he has been a great help to mind the sheep this winter & has been very careful & attentive to his flock.  We have 56 young Lambs & never lost one I believe we were never so fortunate before.  My Prayer is that all our children may live in [in] the fear off the Lord and do their duty truly & honestly in whatever situation they may be placed I am glad to say your Father is much better since the weather alter’d it is very fine here today & we are very busy.  We have planted the Potatoes & sown the Oates.  Sill is going to Slade Cross to Fetch a calf we are rearing Six this year.  

Dear George Elizzie is wanting me to come to breakfast so I must conclude George Stevens is home again all well some of the youngsters must write & tell you all the news 

with kind love & may God bless & keep you 

                                           from your ever affectionate Mother

                                            A.   Bevan.

Head Man on the Farm

At the beginning of the New Year sixteen year old Francis writes to his brother about how he is ‘head man’ at the farm at Overton.

Overton Gower

January 6^th 1879

My dear brother

I am quite well and I hope you are the same. I have had a very hard time of it to day almost enough to make me wish myself back to school again owing to Silvanus is very bad in his legs and he is obliged to stay in bed and the servant boy went home this morning very bad and I have just returned from being after medicine.  Jane and Father have also been very poorly but are getting better now.  So you see that I am head man just now.  I do not think that I am going back to school.  Mother was into Swansea last Saturday to look out for a place for me but she failed to get one.  Mr Jenkins cant take me until March but I hope to get a birth before then.  Mother says that we are going to send the box on Wednesday from Killay station so you may look out for it.  I have got no more news to tell now.  So long

                   From

                             Your affectionate

                                      brother

                                                F.J. Bevan

A modern view across Overton Bay