Abergwynfi Suicide

[Romilly]

Is this your David Thomas?
A tragedy of unemployment was revealed at the inquest conducted on Saturday by Mr. B. Edward HOWE on David THOMAS, 62, builder's labourer, of Scotch-street, Abergwynfi, who was found hanging by some copper wire in an outhouse at the back of the house on Thursday morning. The widow, Mary Ann THOMAS, said her husband had not worked since Wednesday week, and could get a turn only now and again.He went out on Wednesday to see the pit manager, but failed to get work, and on his return told her, " It is very hard; I am out all day and can't get work " The question of work was on his mind, and he was happy when working. He appeared to be a little depressed the day before. She had noticed that for the past few weeks he had been a little quiet and strange. A verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was returned.
This was taken from:
Western Mail Monday May 19th 1924.

Btw welsh - angel,

Is the 'Western Mail' available on-line?

Cheers, Romilly.

[joshuadwilliams]

@halfasheep, yes i do live very local, i live at blaengwynfi and croeserw, so that would be great, thankyou.

@romilly, yes it is quite a sad story, but im glad to get to the bottom of it, my next point will be to look for his grave, possibly at Cymer cemetry, so when this rain eases up, ill pop down, and hopefully, his wife will be buried in the same plot so that i can find the roundabout date when she died

Thanks, Joshua

[Romilly]

Hi Again Joshua,

Should you want to get a copy of the Death Cert, - here are the references:

Deaths Mar 1924
 
Thomas David, 62yrs,  Swansea, Volume:11a Page:1368

Let us know how you get on with finding the burial. (Cwmgelli Cemetary couldn't have been more helpful when I was trying to locate my late Uncle's plot. I phoned them and they were able to tell me straight away where he was, plot number and location etc. They even sent me a map with the exact location marked; which helped no end when I visited a few years back).

Best Wishes, Romilly.   

[halfasheep]

No worries Joshua - I'll see what I can find and PM you on the weekend

[welsh_angel]

Sorry for the late response, but for some reason I couldn't post a reply. Anyway, I am happy that I could have been of help.

I am not aware of the Western Mail archives being on line, but that's not to say it's not.

[welsh_angel]

Hi, I am curious as to why someone who died in Abergwynfi, would be registered in Swansea. I have a feeling that this David Thoms isn't the David Thomas who died in Abergwynfi. A death is registered in the district the death took place.
I have looked in the Neath district for a David Thomas, who would have been born in 1862, if he was 62 when he died, in 1924. There doesn't appear to be one, unless he had a second name. There is a David Thomas, born in 1862, and died in the April-June quarter, registered in Pontypridd. Could this be your David Thomas?

But as you say, Thomas is an extremely common name, so one has to be careful they don't end up with lots of death certificates for a David Thomas, who isn't the one you are looking for.

Hi Again Joshua,

Should you want to get a copy of the Death Cert, - here are the references:

Deaths Mar 1924
 
Thomas David, 62yrs,  Swansea, Volume:11a Page:1368

Let us know how you get on with finding the burial. (Cwmgelli Cemetary couldn't have been more helpful when I was trying to locate my late Uncle's plot. I phoned them and they were able to tell me straight away where he was, plot number and location etc. They even sent me a map with the exact location marked; which helped no end when I visited a few years back).

Best Wishes, Romilly.   

[joshuadwilliams]

Hm, I am just looking again at the quote from the newspaper, it does say hes 62 in 1924? My grandfather would have been 52 at this time. Although, everything else does seems to fit, and i do know that Mary ann died in scotch street (thanks to a relative) and thats where they were living at, at that time, so possibly a misprint?

Looking on freebmd, there is a David thomas, aged 52 who died neath district June quarter 1924.

[welsh_angel]

Hi Joshua

I don't know how much you know about your David Thomas family, but I believe that David and his family lived in High Street, Abergwynfi, in 1901. The family are as follows:

David Thomas age 29, Collier, born in " Carm Lanelly"
Mary A           age28               born in Pembrokeshire
Mary or May H  age 4              born in Pembrokeshire
Lelian  M?         age 2              born in Pembrokeshire

They appear to be living with another family in 31 High Street Abergwynfi. So, as you have already stated, this family must have come to Abergwynfi within a few months of the 1901 census being take, as the youngest child, who is only 2, was born in Pembrokeshire.

I don't know if this is of any help, and my gut feeling is you already have this information, but just in case you don't, here it is.


And as you mentioned, you believe your ancestor was born in 1872, not 1862 as suggested in the Western Mail, by giving his age as 62 when he died. Therefore, the Neath entry would be the correct entry, as your ancestor died in Abergwynfi, so his death would have been registered in the Neath district

[joshuadwilliams]

Hi, yes you have the right family in the census, but thankyou regardless!
I think I shall go with this one and order the death certificate, as it sounds promising.

As ive only ever ordered certificates online, to do it in person, can i order it directly from the register office in neath?

regards, josh.