Hannah PRICE, Llanynys, 1891 Census

[Geoff West Derby]

My grandmother, Hannah PRICE (b. 1880) is recorded as living with parents David & Ellinor PRICE at Llanynys, Denbighshire. (the typed copy of the census shows her as 'Hank' PRICE - not a Welsh lady's name!). The street address is Tynllwyn. Does anyone know if it still exists? I've just spend 3 days in the area and uncovered a story that as a child, she operated a level crossing gate at Rhewl. Could that be it? I found the location of the crossing, now long gone.

We were also told that a local clergyman rescued her from her situation and had her trained as a maid. She subsequently arrived in Liverpool and remained in service until marrying my grandfather and settling in Bootle. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[maidmarion]

Hi Geoff
Tynllwyn wouldn't be a street name but the name of a house or cottage. Try searching on a current OS map or old maps online at this link.
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html

Do you know who David worked for as a Gamekeeper? This may help to locate their home.

[wilcoxon]

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/r/rhewl/index.shtml
I think this is the same Rhewl.

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html
Enter these numbers in the co ordinates boxes, click Go, and  pan down, back towards Ruthin  and to the left of Golf Links Farm ,  there is a green area called Tyn Y Llwyn.
310900  360400

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=311205&y=360485&z=0&sv=SJ11206048&st=5&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

[Geoff West Derby]

The location Tyn-y-Llwn seems spot on for the area. Hannah was born on Christmas Day 1880 at Coed-y-Ganwen Bach (1881 Census- I've seen the house), which then seems to have been part of the Pool Park Estate. The family story is that David PRICE was gamekeeper at Ruthin Castle at some point and his wife Ellinor (nee ROBERTS) was the cook.

Rhewl Station looks like it had a bridge, perhaps there was a level crossing nearby. There is an information board at Rhewl which describes Emrys Ap Iwan, a local minister from that period, who appeared to be a philanthropic character and may have been the one who took her under his wing. Hannah's parents originated from Llaneliden and may GG Grandfathers are both buried in the tiny chapel graveyard there.

Chapel records next, and perhaps a look at the clergyman. Thank you so much for your help, I'm now making real progress.

[wilcoxon]

 Emrys Ap Iwan was a pseudonym ,his real name was Rev R Ambrose Jones , and he was a Calvanistic Methodist from Ruthin but  was much more than just a minister, he was a writer  , and a  man who wanted Home Rule for Wales.  He is recorded as refusing to give evidence in a court of law in English.

[Geoff West Derby]

I've been reading up about him on the internet, a very interesting man. He would have been connected to the right people to get someone trained and employed as a maid, but I don't want to jump to conclusions to make the people fit the story. The tale is that Hannah was 'sold' to a family (she was one of 10 children) and that the clergyman didn't approve.

We got the story from someone who actually knew her in the 1940's and 50's when she lived as a widow in Yscifiog, in a cottage behind the Fox Inn. I think the area needs another visit......