St Thomas church neath

[S.Harris]

If ones death is recorded at st Thomas church neath. Could someone tell me where they may be buried please. Thank you

There is a plaque in St Thomas’s to Rice Davies (1742-1818), a son Of Neath and grandfather to Rhys Davies Powell who built Craig y Nos. He was a surgeon and magistrate in London for most of his life. Is anything known about his family origins?
Thanks

. Hi , I am a descendant of Rice and Elizabeth Davies . I visited the church about 10 years ago , and luckily there was a church warden who told me they are actually buried underneath the alter , very near the plaque . Evidently they were buried , must have been in a combined tomb , and then later there were alterations to the church , and the alter was built more or less on top of them . I asked the Church Warden where they were , as I was standing in front of the plaque, and he told me I was standing in them!
I have traced my family quite easily back to Rice Davies and Elizabeth ( nee Hickman) . But have come to a brick wall with their parents ! Rice had property in Aldgate , and was a Surgeon and later a Police Magistrate in Lambeth . I am descended from their daughter Elizabeth who married Matthew Knight of Loders Manor in Dorset , and Gun Wharf in Wapping , where he had a sail making business .
I have more info if you would like .
SH

[MattB]

Hello,

I am helping a descendent of Rhys Davies Knight and would be happy to exchange information, and try and work out more about the origins of the Knight family. He also has a dna test on ancestry.

The family story seems fascinating, especially as Rhys senior disinherited one grandson in favour of another, Rhys Powell, who later built Cray y Nos.


The family are also connected to Dora Langlois, the writer and actress.

[S.Harris]

Hi Matt
How lovely to hear from you re Rhys Davies family . Although we know the senior one as Rice Davies , buried in Neath . His Grandson on our side was Rhys Davies Knight , and he had a son also named Rhys Davies Knight !
This Rhys Davies Knight ( Junior) had a large family - his daughter Dora Langlois the author and actress was my Great Great Grandmother . She married a French actor , Hippolyte Langlois.
I have been researching our family for many years , and have got stuck with finding any parents of Rice Davies . I do have lots of info about his life , but not where he was born .
I am on Ancestry , and have a tree titled Langlois . It’s a bit of a muddle at the moment - I need to clean it up !
I can send you some info if you are interested .
I am wondering which family line your friend is from on the Knight side ?
We are from Matthew Knight of Loders, who married Rice Davies and Elizabeth Hickmans daughter Elizabeth Mary Davies .
All for now
Suzanne