John Paul Jones Family: They came from Wales to Carbon and Hanna
Page by Bob Leathers
July of 2011: I traveled with my good friend Jim Landen to the United Kingdom looking for some Jones family history. I set out wanting to know where the John Paul Jones family came from and what it was like there. I was interested to know why they left Wales for America and why they stay in America even after experiencing what seemed to be a harsh life in Carbon and Hanna. (Bob Leathers)
1838: John Paul Jones was born in Llanpumpsaint, Carmarthen, Wales, UK (1818 UK Census)
1881: John Paul, age 43 was living in Llanwynno, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was a foreman of underground mine. His birthplace and the birthplaces of his family were listed on the census form. Living with him was his wife Margaret age 42, David age 20, a coal miner; John age 18, a coal miner; Mary Ann, age 15; Caroline, age 12; Maggie, age 3 and James W., age 1. Catherine, his first born, was not listed on the census. (1881 UK Census)
1888: Arrival in the US (1900 US Census)
1900 June: John P., age 62, a coal miner, immigrated in 1888 was living in Carbon with his wife Margaret, age 61, in house #12, immigrated in 1888. Living with them was William, age 20, single, a coal miner, born July of 1879 in Wales, immigrated in 1888; Evans, Tally, age 6, grandson, single, born March 1894 in Wyoming and Evans, John B., son-in-law, age 41, born Oct. 1859, widower, a coal miner, immigrated in 1891. (1900 US Census)
1881: John Paul, age 43 was living in Llanwynno, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was a foreman of underground mine. His birthplace and the birthplaces of his family were listed on the census form. Living with him was his wife Margaret age 42, David age 20, a coal miner; John age 18, a coal miner; Mary Ann, age 15; Caroline, age 12; Maggie, age 3 and James W., age 1. Catherine, his first born, was not listed on the census. (1881 UK Census)
1888: Arrival in the US (1900 US Census)
1900 June: John P., age 62, a coal miner, immigrated in 1888 was living in Carbon with his wife Margaret, age 61, in house #12, immigrated in 1888. Living with them was William, age 20, single, a coal miner, born July of 1879 in Wales, immigrated in 1888; Evans, Tally, age 6, grandson, single, born March 1894 in Wyoming and Evans, John B., son-in-law, age 41, born Oct. 1859, widower, a coal miner, immigrated in 1891. (1900 US Census)
Llanwonno (Welsh: Llanwynno)
Llanwonno (Welsh: Llanwynno) is a hamlet high up in the hills between the historic mining valleys of the Rhondda and the Cynon in Rhondda Cynon Taf, deep in the heart of the South Wales Valleys. Llanwonno consists of St Gwynno's Church and an inn – The Brynffynon Hotel. (Wikipedia Encyclopedia)
In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Llanwynno like this:
LLANWONNO, a parish in Merthyr-Tydvil district, Glamorgan; near the river Taff, and on the Taff Vale railway, 3¼ miles W by N of Pontypridd r. station, and 8 N by W of Llantrisaint. It contains the hamlets of GlynConnon and Havoddryinog; and includes the villages of Home, and Havoddryinog, and part of Newbridge; and its Post town is Pontypridd. ...
Brynffynon Hotel. 2011. (Image by Bob Leathers)
The Brynffynon hotel was a family run business - Bed and Breakfast, Pub and Restaurant - that serves local Ales and delicious food. Brynffynon had a warm and cosy atmosphere. Local mining pictures from days gone by cover the walls The bar and restaurant were nice and we enjoyed the scenery. The hotel and pub was located in a beautiful Welsh hill top surrounded by a forest of trees. The area is beautiful.
Image from the walls of the Brynffynon hotel. (Image by Bob Leathers)
Image from the walls of the Brynffynon hotel. (Image by Bob Leathers)
St. Gwynno's Church. 2011. (Image by Bob Leathers)
The grounds of the St. Gwynno's Church across the way from the Brynffynon hotel were beautiful and mysterious. We wished for more time there, but had to move on.
St. Gwynno's Church. 2011. (Image by Bob Leathers)
1931
Miners digging coal. South Wales. 1931.