Prosser family Ancestry

THE PROSSER FAMILY

This page shows the Prosser ancestors of my grandmother Phoebe Jane Prosser (1869-1944).
The Family Tree is supplemented by more details and notes on individuals and links are provided to transcripts of some of the sources which I have found during researches.
The information relating to the American Branch of the Family descended from Rees Joshua Prosser has been researched by my American cousin - Joane Janega of Tucson, Arizona.

************************************************ 1. Rees Prosser ********************************************** Death Date: 1772 ; Death Place: Merthyr Cynog Rees Prosser, yeoman, Merthyr Cynog, Willdated 16 Jan 1769, probate 4 May 1772. Reference number BR 1772/53 Persons mentioned: Elizabeth Prosser, wife ; William, son; Charles, son ; Elizabeth ; Rees, son, ; John, son, minor ;Benjamin, son, minor ; Samuel, son, minor ; Joshua, son, minor Executor Elizabeth Prosser**, wife Witnesses William Pritchard, John Davies, clerk.
1.7 Joshua Prosser ************************************************ Birth Date: 1768 Birth Place: Merthyr Cynog, Cwm Colyn Farmhouse Death Date: 26 Jul 1849 Death Place: Dowlais Religion: Calvinistic Methodist Marriage Place: Merthyr Cynog Notes: In October 1999 I found a reference to a Joshua Prosser in the card index at Swansea Reference Library. This was an Elegy written in 1850 by Ebenezer Pugh. It gave me the date of death of Joshua Prosser as July 1849. Attached was a small newspaper cutting referring to the Elegy having been deposited by D. W. Prosser of Neath Abbey. This reinforced the possibility that this Joshua was a family member. I visited Merthyr Library but the 1841 Census for Merthyr is not available(lost). The librarian brought out a church history - HANES EGLWYS, HERMON , DOWLAIS By CUNLLO DAVIES 1905 Although written in Welsh I could see that there was information on Joshua and copied several pages. It gave me his birth place and three of his children, mentioning also that Rees (Rhys) had lived in France! A definite connection. His death certificate shows that he was living at Vaughan`s Fields, Dowlais**. I was able to locate a street in Lower Dowlais called Vaughan Street this was a continuation of Mary Street where Rees lived in 1865 . The book also referred to the death of Joshua`s father when Joshua was three. This enabled me to locate a Will from the Parish of Merthyr Cynog mentioning Joshua as the son of Rees Prosser and Elizabeth.
1.7.1 Rees Prosser ************************************************** Birth Date: 1800 Birth Place: Merthyr Cynog, BRE Death Date: Jan 1879 Death Place: Neath Abbey Burial Date: 24 Jan 1879 Burial Place: Merthyr Tydfil, Pant Cemetery Occupation: Fireman Religion: Anglican Notes: The first reference to Rees appeared in Charles` marriage record in Cadoxton, i.e." Father Rees Prosser,Fireman". In January 1998 I received an e-mail from Joane Janega in Tucson, Arizona who had seen my interest in the Prosser surname on the Glamorgan Surname Interest List. It transpired that her ggf was a Rees Joshua Prosser and that his father was also a Rees Prosser, Fireman. R J had been born in Decazeville ,France and had emigrated in 1862 from Dowlais. This led me to Merthyr to look for Rees. He and his wife Ann were living at White Street, Dowlais in 1861and his birthplace of Merthyr Cynog BRE confirmed the family story that the Prosser family was originally from the Brecon area. I was later to find Rees` and Ann`s burial in Pant Cemetery, Merthyr Tydfil. They were present at the marriage of their daughter Ann Elizabeth to George Crighton in Neath Abbey confirming family references to Aunt Crighton. Their time spent in France was later confirmed in the book "Hanes Hermon, Dowlais" where information relating to his being an Orchestra leader was also found. Spouse: Ann Davies Birth Date: 1805 Birth Place: Pontypool Christen Date: 18 Jan 1808 Christen Place: Trevethin, Pontypool Death Date: 1868 Death Place: Merthyr Tydfil Burial Date: 15 Dec 1868 Burial Place: Pant Cemetery, Merthyr Religion: Anglican Spouse Father: Thomas Davies Spouse Mother: Ann Marriage Place: Trevethin Church, Pontypool Marriage Date : 8th August 1827
1.7.1.1 Charles Prosser ************************************************** Birth Date: 2 Oct 1828 Birth Place: Nant Y Glo Christen Date: 2 Nov 1828 Christen Place: Aberystruth Death Date: Dec 1888 Death Place: Bridgend Burial Date: 31 Dec 1888 Burial Place: Cadoxton Occupation: Mechanic Religion: Anglican Spouse: Elizabeth Rule Owen Birth Date: 25 Dec 1840 Birth Place: Neath Abbey Spouse Father: David Owen (1807-1881) Spouse Mother: Margaret Jenkins (1811-1904) Marriage Date: 4 Apr 1859 Marriage Place: Cadoxton References to him in “The Cambrian” newspaper : 5/7/1861 -- Concert by 15th Glam, Volunteers Band, Townhall Neath,4th July, Chas. Prosser, Bandmaster – P5 17/8/1866 -- Eisteddfod at Neath : Violinists include Mr. C. Prosser, Neath 15/1/1869 -- Band of 4th Glam. Rifle Volunteers, Leader Mr. C. Prosser, to perform at Grand Circus, Swansea. 30/7/1869 -- Band of 5th G.R.V. under C. Prosser play at Morriston for R.A. Morris`s Coming of Age P8 12/11/1869 – Letter praising performances of Mr Rowland`s & Mr. Prosser`s Parties & Miss Watts at Swansea Music Hall Concert P8. !7/12/1869 -- Swansea Hospital Benefit Concert:Mr. Prosser among instrumentalists In 1881 the Family were living in Neath Road, Neath Abbey ( Houses were opposite what is now Tregelles Court and were knocked down when the road was widened). On 19/7/1975 he signed a Lease on land at Dan y Graig Cadoxton for the erection of Two Cottages. In the Father`s Occupation section of the marriage certificates of his children he is recorded as a Fitter or Roll Turner. In the 1875 Lease he is referred to as a Mechanic. Other information has been passed down through the family: He was an accomplished musician, who wrote music. Much of the music was said to have been kept by someone with a shop “on the Bridge” i.e. the road leading into Neath from the old river bridge. He is reputed to have written “The Ash Grove”. He could speak several languages and would be called in to interpret if any foreigners came to the area. The children were kept away from the room where his music was written. His family (query whether his own family or that of his father) were in Frances during a Seige and a child who died there had to be buried in a cellar. ( Later research indicates that this may have been about 1849.
1.7.1.2 Rees Joshua Prosser ************************************************** Birth Date: 7 Dec 1834 Birth Place: Decazeville, France Death Date: 6 Feb 1912 Death Place: Altoona,Blair County, PA Burial Place: Oak Ridge Cemetery,Altoona,PA Occupation: Machinist Spouse: Eleanor Collins Birth Date: 15 Sep 1842 Birth Place: Liverpool Death Date: 22 Nov 1896 Death Place: Altoona,Blair Co.,PA Spouse Father: James Collins Spouse Mother: Sarah? Marriage Date: 9 Dec 1861 Marriage Place: Chippenham, Wilts Their first child was born in Dowlais just before they emigrated in Dec. 1862. The next three children were born in Lawrenceville,Allegheny Co. and the others in Altoona,Blair Co. The Prosser Family were very successful in the US and the many Prosser descendents are widely spread. Further information from Joane Janega.
1.7.1.3 Anne Elizabeth Prosser ************************************************** Birth Date: 1840 Birth Place: France Death Date: 19 Sep 1922 Death Place: 143 Goldhurst Terrace, Hampstead,Middlesex Occupation: School Mistress Notes: Anne Crighton was referred to by the family as "Aunt Crighton".She was the schoolmistress at Neath Abbey School from about 1862 to 1906, when she retired. She was revealed to be Charles` sister when I found her maiden name in the School Logbook in County Hall, Swansea. I searched for some time to find her death, looking in the Neath area. It was only the discovery of her Will that revealed that she had moved to London and died there in 1922. Spouse: George Crighton Birth Date: 1841 Death Date: 26 Mar 1868 Death Place: Neath Abbey Occupation: Schoolmaster Spouse Father: George Crighton Marriage Place: Skewen, St.John`s

For More information on the Prosser Family with Images of Charles Prosser and Rees Joshua Prosser

For a History of the Neath Abbey Ironworks

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