Price family Ancestry
 
James Price (1803-1855) was born in Bristol, St. Michael`s.
His wife Jane was from Bridgend. James was a Painter and decorator by trade. they are buried in Llantwit Old Cemetery but I have yet to locate their grave.
James Price (1828-1883) was also a Painter & decorator and was in business with his brother who did not marry. The first James is recorded at Orchard Street in 1841, at East terrace in 1851. The second James is at Windsor Castle New Road in 1861 and at 81, Windsor Road in 1871 and 1881. His wife Harriet continues at this address into 1891 and is recorded in Directories of the 1890`s when she is taking in lodgers.
My Grandfather Arthur John Price was born in Hay on Wye but I have not been able to find out why. All the other children were born in Neath. Arthur`s sisters were schoolmistresses, one of them died in Lincolnshire (possibly Gravesend) and was buried there. One of my mother`s sisters had in their possession a photograph of her grave. The family agreed to a request from the people of the village where she lived that she be buried there. Arthur John seems to have got into difficulties in business and left the Neath area shortly after he and Phoebe Jane married. The first of their children were born in Porth in the Rhondda before the family returned to Neath where the remainder of the children were born. My mother was born in Glamorgan Street where Phoebe Jane kept a small shop which is recorded in several Directories. Arthur John worked as a Foreman in the Dynevor Engineering Works.
Some of his brothers moved to Swansea and lived in the Hafod area. My mother often spoke of Uncle Frank (Frances) who would visit Neath in the Pony & Trap when she was a young girl.
Much of the information on Frank`s children was given to me by my mother`s cousin Ethel who lives in the Townhill area of Swansea.
My mother lost several siblings while they were quite young, one of appendicitus and one as a result of anaccident on railings. They are buried in Llantwit, and their parents are in an adjacent grave. My two brothers Lyn & Harold who died before their first birthdays are also buried in these two graves.
My mothers sisters remained in Neath and there are many descendents still here. My mother`s only surviving brother George did not have any children; he lived close to my parents in Leonard Street and died in 1939.
George Leach is given as the father of my g gmother Harriet when she marries in Neath. It also records him as a Railway Superintndent. I have found several entries in the "Cambrian" relating to George Leach- Supt. of Railway Police. Harriet seems too old to have been Dinah`s daughter and was probably George`s second wife. Rosa Dinah was baptised in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire; all the others were baptised in Neath but the family must have arrived after the 1851 Census. Two boys are recorded on a gravestone in Llantwit. This headstone was one of those removed and placed on the pathway at the back of the church. The son who died in 1868 is recorded as of "New Milford" - the old name for Neyland which was the Terminus of the Great Western Railway - but I have not found them there as yet.
In 1881 Dinah and the younger children are in Newcastle Hill, Bridgend. Two children, Burleigh & Lucy are in London living with an Aunt and Rosa Dinah has married and is living close to her mother. I have not yet located George`s death.
Catherine & Jessie are recorded on Directories as being Schoolmistresses at "Ivy House School, Newcastle Hill".
I was able to locate the schoolhouse which is now a private residence. It stands facing the gate of Newcastle Church; the family living there are called Church and they kindly allowed me to copy a deed relating to the Property. This mentions Catherine, daughter of Dinah, being willed the property in 1877. Catherine`s will of 1942 leaves the property to her niece Constance Leach. Catherine died in February 1945 and the property was sold in May 1946 to the trustees of The Apostolic Church for £400.
Family stories refer to my grandfathers Aunts in Bridgend being quite wealthy.