Wagstaffe family Ancestry 1700-1850 Many of the Family spell the name without the `e`. The program used to produce these trees uses the first spelling that is input.
 
 Thomas Wagstaffe
First recorded in Neath when his daughter Jennet is baptised, Nov.1st 1716. The name is written with an `e`.
In a list of "resiants" of 1731 he is living in "High Street."He is also recorded on a list of occupants of Gnoll Estate Property on a Pre-nuptual settlement of April 1730. 
The children were baptised in St. Thomas but those who died and their mother Ann were buried in Llantwit. 
Where did he come from? The Severn Valley was the centre of the Iron and Coal Production and skilled people were brought in by the Mackworths. Roads were poor and the Severn was used for transport. The christian name Allen occurs in  WORCS.
 Allen Wagstaffe
Burial Date: 12 Nov 1761               Burial Place: Llantwit
Notes:  We have no baptism for Allen but it is highly likely he was the son of Thomas. Did he use the name Allen in place of Abell? The names Thomas & Anne were carried down through the generations. His name appears in an indenture of 1763 i.e. "Allen Wagstaff late of Neath aforesaid deceased" where a house in Water Street is being demised to his widow Elizabeth.		 Descendents of Thomas Wagstaffe
Elizabeth Leyson
We have her baptism, (12/9/1731)the daughter of William Leyson.
Four children were baptised naming William as the father between 1731 and 1736. Only the last Solomon is given as the son of William & Mary.No marriage record was found for this couple but in D.Rhys Phillips` book he refers to a marriage between William Leyson 1703-1775 and Mary the daughter of Richard Love. This fits with the baptisms. This William then fits as being the son of
William Leyson & Elizabeth William.
         Pedigree of Elizabeth Leyson
In "History of The Vale of Neath" D.R.P. gives an additional pedigree for the family; the Solomon William Leyson equates to the William who married 25/6/1702 but there is no Parish register evidence for this pedigree. He refers to the Family "Lleisoniaid Nedd"as being descended from ancient stock -"The Lysans say, That theire Family was there in Fame afore the Conquest of the Normans."
          More Leysons
 William Wagstaff

Christen Date: 20 Nov 1753    Christen Place: Neath
Burial Date: 20 Jun 1830          Burial Place: Neath
Occupation: Mason
William is mentioned in the Indenture of 1763 (see Allen).
At his wedding the two witnesses were William Jenkins and George Walters ( who was possibly a brother of Catherine).
In the 1779  Manorial Records William is recorded as living in New Street and is a Mason. 
In the 1811 Gnoll Estate Rent Roll William Wagstaff is in Wind Street. The cottage is numbered 39 on the plan and is on the site now occupied by Neath Market. The Antequarian Transactions  record the property being in the possession of William Wagstaff ( his son ) in 1835 when it was purchased for the "New" Market.
    " The Schedule of Land to be taken gives :
1. Dwelling House, Shop, Store Room and garden occupied by William weston Young.
2. Garden Occupied by Matthew Whittington.
3. Cottages Occupied by George Rees, Alice Thomas, Henry Lewis  and Wm. Wagstaff.
4. Croft, Occupied by David Powell, Gentleman.
5. Garden Occupied by John Bentley".

Edward Wagstaff

Christen Date: 25 Jun 1797        Christen Place: Neath
Death Date: 12 Aug 1849
Burial Date: 13 Aug 1849            Burial Place: Neath
Occupation: Mason

He is recorded as living at "Rhyddings" when the first children are baptised in Cadoxton Church.
The later children are baptised at Neath where the last child, Jane was buried followed by her mother and later Edward. The large tombstone was erected in the early 1850`s a couple of years after Edward`s death. It stands today, close to the side of St. Thomas` Church facing the "Square"; it is used by the younger element of the Town as a "table" for their lunchtime snacks - the irreverance of youth!!
Edward `s will shows him to have been a successful businessman . In the 1850`s we find the family spreads :  Lucy to  Pontrhydyfen, Mary to Merthyr Tydfil, David to Aberdare with his brother William, Catherine to Baglan and John to America. Thomas staying the closest to Neath in Melincryddan.
   The eldest daughter Ann (Francis) was to die within a month of her father in September 1849. Her brother Edward died in 1855. There were several major outbreaks of Cholera at this time and these deaths probably had a major influence on John`s decision to emigrate.
 
      Descendents of William Wagstaff (1753-1830)
It took some digging to define Ann`s parents, there being two John Richards at this time. Fortunately Edward had been a witness to the marriages of some of Ann`s siblings. Helen Sofchalk was later to find that "Allis Richard" was still alive in 1841 and living as an undertenant next to the "Walkstaff" family. (The 1841 equivalent of a granny flat??)
                   Pedigree of Ann Richards