Philip Watkins 1689-1764
Philip Watkins born ca 1689 in Wales, died January 1, 1764,
near Dolygaer, Llandetty, Breconshire, Wales; married Margaret
born ca 1689, died May 4, 1767, near Dolygaer in Breconshire,
Wales. (Today Dolygaer is located near
Pontsticill, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid Glamorgan.)
Graveyards that were relocated due to the building of a
reservoir were Bethlehem Independent Chapel, Pontsticill, Vaynor
Parish and the Taf Fechan Chapel of Ease, Llanddetty. Although
these were only a short distance from each other in the same
valley, they were in fact two separate parishes in Breconshire.
Both were closed in 1926 to make way for the flooding of the Taf
Fechan Valley to form the new Pontsticill Reservoir. In March
1929, records of the monuments and memorial tablets from both
Bethlehem and Capel Taf Fechan were deposited with the General
Register Office, Somerset House in London. The records named the
remains of deceased persons removed from graves at the burial
ground of Capel Taf Fechan and re-interred by relatives at
burial grounds other than the new burial ground at Pontsticill
are noted on List B. A memorial that had been at the Dolygaer
chapel at Taf Fechan named Philip as the father of one surviving
son, William Watkins. Another son, Watkin Watkin, died young.
Philip is believed to have lived first at Rhiw-y-yrchein, then
moved to Blaen Callen Farm. (The remains of the house at Blaen
Callen can still be seen.)
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Dolygaer 2007 by Connie Street |
Blaen Callen 2007 by Norman Lowe |
There are five known documents relating to Blaen Callan. There
is evidence of the use of the nearby spring as a “health spa”
with walkways and a “bath”, and the stream bed has been covered
with high-quality bricks, presumably to prevent the spring water
from being contaminated with mud, etc. The water is ferruginous
(contains iron) and was reputedly good for the liver so people
from the nearby coalfield used to climb up to the farm to drink
the waters.
Brief details of the documents is provided by Norman Lowe,
Llangorse, Brecon:
1673 (in Latin) From John and Thomas Maddocks to Jenkin John one
house one barn one garden with 10 acres arable land, 4 acres hay
meadow, 10 acres pasture, 2 acres woodland, 4 acres furze.
1733 Previously Jenkin John to Isaac Williams to Mary Williams
his widow, then to the use of Evan and Mary Prichard and their
son Richard for £40 for repair and building houses and walls.
This document to William Watkins for £10pa
1756 Transfer of lease of Blaen Callan for £1 pa from William
Watkins the elder to William Watkins the younger. Landlords:
Mary Williams, Evan Prichard, Mary Prichard, Richard Prichard.
1785 Refers to 1733 document and to a lost 1777 document in
which Mary Watkins mortgages the leasehold of Blaen Callan to
William Meredith for £100 to settle debts of late husband
William Watkins - she later borrows a further £40 on the same
security. This document transfers the mortgage to Richard Watkin
on payment of £150.
1789 Robert Curry leases Blaen Callan to William Watkins of
Abercriban for 5 shillings and annual peppercorn rent.
Abercriban was located northeast of Vaynor where the Pontsticill
Reservoir is today .
Property described as: All that messuage tenement and lands with
the appurtenances formerly commonly called and known by the name
of Tir Blaen Callan and Tir Brin Watkin and since by one general
name of Tyr Blaen Callan situate lying and being in the parish
of Llanthetty in the said County of Brecon on both sides the
brook called Callan and nearing and abutting to the land
formerly of William Thomas to the Common called Bryney Elyson to
a place called Feene Forest Glyn Colloyn and to the other Waste
Ground or Common called Ystrad Vane on all or most parts and
sides thereof and late in the tenure and occupation of William
Watkins deceased and now of Thomas Phillips and Phillip Thomas
Phillips or one of them their or one of their undertenants or
assigns.
It seems there must have been three William Watkins – the elder,
the younger (who seems to have got into debt) and our ancestor
William Watkins who until 1789 resided at Abercriban, just a few
miles down the valley.
Wills found at Aberstwyth and Penderyn prove the line of descent
as the farms were passed from father to son. However, no will
has been found for the first Philip Watkins.
Known children of Philip and Margaret Watkins
are i. Watkin Watkins born ca 1723, died 1730 and
ii. William Watkins born ca 1723, died 1800, married Mary ca
1850.
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