RootsChat.Com

Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Glamorganshire Lookup Requests => Glamorganshire => Wales => Glamorganshire Completed Lookups => Topic started by: pippylong on Tuesday 04 November 08 07:23 GMT (UK)

Title: Skewen Moths COMPLETED
Post by: pippylong on Tuesday 04 November 08 07:23 GMT (UK)
Can anyone help please? 

I have my great grandmother Margaret Darney married to a George Moth in Skewen (her second marriage).

Apparently George died after a wall collapsed on him during a bombing in Skewen in 1948 but I can''t find a record of his death.  I think he might have been born in Somerset and lodged in Skewen with his work. 

I would be interested in any information someone might have.  They lived in New Road, Skewen and had a newsagents and later a billiard Hall, Timber yard and tea rooms,

many thanks,


Pip
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: Tati on Tuesday 04 November 08 07:43 GMT (UK)
Hi (fellow 8)) Pip,

Any idea how old George would have been?

There's
Sep 1948
George J J Moth age 68
Neath 8b 332

Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Tuesday 04 November 08 18:52 GMT (UK)
Hello!!!

You could be right!  He would be 68/69.  He was married aged 30 in 1909.  Can I ask where you found the info please.  I'm obviously missing something somewhere - I usually check ancestry and free bmd.

thank you :D

Pip
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: Tati on Tuesday 04 November 08 18:55 GMT (UK)
It's from the complete GRO index (available on several sites but not free :-\)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: bernard_lewis on Tuesday 04 November 08 19:12 GMT (UK)
Why would Skewen be 'bombed' in 1948? The war ended in 1945.

Bernard
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Tuesday 04 November 08 19:23 GMT (UK)
Hi Bernard,

This is according to family stories.  Apparently a bomb went off or there was an air raid (?) and George hid beside a wall, unfortunately the wall was caught up in the blast and he was beneath it - now saying that - there was money involved so that might not be entirely correct.  It was in the local paper a year or to ago, asking people if they had a local history story of Skewen they remembered and that tallied with the family story ???. 

Skewen had an oil refinery at Llandarcy which would have been a target during the war - my Dad can remember running up Skewen park with the boys to watch the bombers fly overhead.  Could time be playing tricks I wonder - I will have to recheck this.  Thanks for that anyway - I will investigate further!

thank you for your time,

Pip
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Tuesday 04 November 08 19:25 GMT (UK)
Thank you Tati,

I knew there was a good reason that I missed it, can you recommend a site?

thanks,

Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: Tati on Tuesday 04 November 08 19:28 GMT (UK)
Ancestry or Findmypast have the records. Opinions vary on which is better :P
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Wednesday 05 November 08 05:33 GMT (UK)
thank you Tati,

i will try those out, perhaps I will just have to part with the money  :(- that would solve a lot of problems!

thank you again,

Pip :D
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Wednesday 05 November 08 05:34 GMT (UK)
Hi Bernard,

just a thought but it could have been an unexploded bomb! hhhmmmhh! now that's a thought, must go an check it out later today,

thanks,

Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: bernard_lewis on Thursday 06 November 08 18:42 GMT (UK)
If you could find his exact date of death I could have a look at the local press to see if there was any coverage of the incident. If it was an unexploded bomb it would be covered; even a fatal accident would get some coverage, I think.

If you turn up the date send me a message please, as I may forget to look here in a few weeks!

Bernard
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Saturday 22 November 08 07:12 GMT (UK)
Hi Bernard,

Thank you so much for that.  If you have time I would be very grateful if you could check any local papers for me.


He died 4th September 1948 in Skewen.  His death certificate states he died by other means, with no mention of any accident, so this is puzzling!

Isn't this what family research is all about though!!

Many thanks Bernard for your time, I hope you're lucky, no rush,

Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: bernard_lewis on Sunday 23 November 08 18:42 GMT (UK)
I hope to be at the library this week so I shall have a look.

Bernard
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: bernard_lewis on Tuesday 25 November 08 18:42 GMT (UK)
Drat! All the paper says (deaths column) is that he died at home (1 New Road). In fact the paper of 1948 is very thin. I've not looked at other days to see if there was any story (not much time today). Seeing how thin it was I doubt if there is anything but I'll have a look in the next week or so.

Funeral was Tuesday (forgot to check what day that was). Didn't say where.

Can you confirm exactly what the cause of death bit of the cert says and where the death was registered? Did it go to the Coroner (you may not know).

I don't know much about certificates but I know someone who might add a bit. 'Other means' is pretty wide isn't it? Not a suicide is it? (that is a wild guess). Maybe he had an accident and died at home?

Curious...

Bernard
 
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: thomask01 on Saturday 13 December 08 23:41 GMT (UK)
hi just reading your questions re george moth,my dad john thomas  whoose mother was annie darney m finished up with 1 new road and timber yard,he has since passed away but he alwayys told us about george moth,i am in contact with one of his sons richard moth who was brougt up by my gran at 1 new road please contact if you need to
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Sunday 14 December 08 08:31 GMT (UK)
Hi thomask,

thank you so much for getting in touch, are you researching your family tree?

Pip  :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: thomask01 on Sunday 14 December 08 15:38 GMT (UK)
hi would love to family tree just havent got time,i was looking on skewen history and it linked to you
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Sunday 14 December 08 21:53 GMT (UK)
Hi thomask,


If you were to be doing your family tree prehaps I could help,

Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Sunday 14 December 08 21:58 GMT (UK)
Hi thomask,

There is a strong possibility that our tree is the same, so far anyway!............ let me know if you are interested and I will send you a PM and let you know,
Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Tuesday 16 December 08 20:52 GMT (UK)
thomask,

what can you tell me about George Moth?

I only know that he was married to my great grandmother Margaret Shaw and that he,  as the story goes, was killed when a so called bomb went off in Skewen and he hid beside a wall and was killed in the blast!  He must have brought up my grandfather and his siblings!

Anything you can tell me would be wonderful!

thank you

Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: thomask01 on Wednesday 17 December 08 19:08 GMT (UK)
hi i was speaking to richard moth today, he says his father was killed  when he was going to the doctors  in skewen ,during the war ,when the house next door collapsed,he had two sons richard and peter ,they were then brought up by my gran annie darney at 1 new road skewen,he also said that his grandfather jack moth came to skewen when he was  bare nuckle boxer ,he used to box in the fairground booths,they say that the darneys were some family,i will contact you when i find any more info,if you want to contact me 
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Wednesday 17 December 08 20:15 GMT (UK)
Hi Keith :),

you should take your number out of here,  you don't know who will contact you!

thank you so much for getting in touch - I think we should continue this by PM,  there are lots of things to tell/say here! I like the idea that he was a bare knuckle fighter!! - he would have to have been to be involved with the Darney's I think! ;D,  Our annual fair is a very big deal in the town, many remember the boxing booths on the old Bird in Hand Field on the site of the old civic centre, now demolished and a car park - more revenue for the council!!!

Or was it opposite the current Rugby Ground where George's Newsagents is?

Talk soon,

Pip :D
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Wednesday 17 December 08 22:54 GMT (UK)
Hi Keith,

Where did Richard's father live if the house next door collapsed?  My Dad remembers George being taken to the first aid centre at the bottom of PenyrAlley avenue by the chap who lived next door because he was a first aider and first at the scene?  I don't know the truth of this, there is much speculation here,

Pip :-\
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: infinityann on Wednesday 29 July 09 13:57 BST (UK)
Hi Pip

Not sure if you're still checking here as the discussion is quite old - but, my father is Bartholomew Darney (son of Bartholomew and Margaret's eldest son).  I seem to remember him telling me that he was home on leave from the RAF when the accident happened and he was one of the first at the scene.  He still remembers a lot but it was a long, long time ago!!
Also, I was chatting to him the other day and he was saying he had really good memories of Mr Moth (Jack)
If you have any photos of the old people I would be really grateful.  I am currently researching all areas of the family (and also my husbands) so it's quite a task.  Any help would be gratefully received.
Infinityann :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Thursday 30 July 09 07:36 BST (UK)
Hi InfinityAnn,

Thank you for getting in touch.  I haven't checked this for a while, as like you, I am researching all my family tree.  I am always on the look out for photographs but I don't have many.  What I have I will gladly pass on.  If I can help in any way please ask and I'll try my best.  If you have any you could pass on that would be great too, I'll see what I can find,

happy hunting,

Pip :D
Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: infinityann on Thursday 30 July 09 15:12 BST (UK)
Hi Pip

I have a few pictures - and various copies of documents that my Uncle has passed onto me but no pics of Granny Darney (Margaret) or Jack (George) Moth.  I think you have been chatting to Claire Darney?? and she probably has the same pictures that I do.  I havent been in touch with her but I know that my Uncle chats to her regularly.
My Dad has no pictures but lots of memories and I keep chatting to him about his young days as he remembers more and more as we talk.
I guess we are some sort of cousins as Margaret Darney was my Great Grandmother too!
Might take a trip back to Skewen soon to have a look round.  I have never been down to New Road or seen where the businesses were.  We did check out the cemetary quite a few years ago so I have seen where both Great Grandparents and my Grandfather are buried.
Is it possible to communicate offline?  This is the first time I have used Rootsweb!
Ann


Title: Re: Skewen Moths
Post by: pippylong on Friday 31 July 09 07:55 BST (UK)
Hi Ann,

I shall send you a PM with my email address,

look forward to hearing from you,

Pip :D
Title: Skewen Moths COMPLETED
Post by: pippylong on Saturday 26 September 09 09:31 BST (UK)
Hi  :'(,

Just a note to tie up this thread and a big thank you to everyone who took the time out to read it.

It appears that it was George Moth's son, Philip George Moth, that was killed by an unexploded bomb in Skewen.  Apparently he was with a friend/family member in Skewen when the air raid warning went off. His friend went across the road to shelter but Philip George decided to crouch beside the wall.  The bomb went off the other side of the wall, collapsing on him.  One of the Darney Boys was home on leave from the Air Force (hope I got that bit right :-[) at the time and dragged him from underneath the rubble and took him to the first aid station that was at the bottom of Penyralley Avenue. 

His death certificate says he died aged 32 years on the 21st May 1941 'Due to War Operations'.  The informant was his father George Moth!

How very sad,

Pip :)
Title: Re: Skewen Moths COMPLETED
Post by: essexgirl2 on Thursday 14 July 11 16:46 BST (UK)
Hi, my name is Jan,

I have been reading your posts with interest!....I think  there are a few who have posted on this site that I might be related to.
My Great Grand mother was Margaret Shaw (Darney) and my  Grandfather was Thomas Darney.

I know these posts are old, but I have  only just started tracing the family,and came across this site by acccident.

So if anyone has any information of the  Darney family from Skewen
I would be very interested in communicating more and sharing information?

Kind regards
Jan

Title: Re: Skewen Moths COMPLETED
Post by: infinityann on Saturday 16 July 11 13:30 BST (UK)
Hello Jan
Nice to hear from you.  Margaret Moth was my Great Grandmother too - my Grandfather was Edward William (known as Billy).  Was your grandfather a twin (I have Annie as being born the same year)??
I have been piecing the family tree together as well (with help from my close family and a lot of help from another cousin who I havent met yet but hope to very soon).  Happy to share info with you - do you belong to any of the 'ancestry' websites?
Let me know if you want to chat further.
Ann
Title: Re: Skewen Moths COMPLETED
Post by: infinityann on Saturday 16 July 11 13:31 BST (UK)
Sorry, Jan, I should have said Margaret Shaw/Darney/Moth!!
Ann
Title: Re: Skewen Moths COMPLETED
Post by: essexgirl2 on Saturday 16 July 11 21:04 BST (UK)
Hi Ann,
Many thanks for replying, I was surprised to get a reply as the posts had been posted for such a long while,any way many thanks.  I do believe that my grandfather and Annie were twins. It's only since I have been doing the tree which has only been a couple of months, that memories from childhood are coming back and one of those is I'm sure they were twins.

The Darney is from my mother. Thomas and Violet had three children Raymond
Rosemarie(my mother) and Delphine sadly they have all past on.  I do belong to
Ancestry.co. I don't know much about the family,but I would like to keep in touch.
Many thanks once again,
Jan