Welsh place names in a will

[Annbee]

Hello, hoping there's someone who is a whiz at wills This one is from 1827. It would be very helpful to know the place names in particular. I am posting a single slab of the will and then I have broken it down into 3 sections in case that makes it easier to read. Grateful for your knowledge.

It reads "... John Powell of Ponyty-X? (Pontyruthon?) within the parish of Llanvihangel  ...X? Llewern in the County of Monmouth, Gentleman being of sound mind and memory and understanding at the time of the making hereof first ....X? that all my first debts shall be fully paid and satisfied within twelve? months after my decease or as soon as can routinely? be done and that my funeral expenses be paid and in as? ....x? as soon may be but not until six months after my decease. I give and bequeath? unto to my dear wife Jane Powell the whole of my share? and interest in all those? three? fields ...x? ...x? parcels? of meadows? of pasture land situated and being at P...X? Cawsty? within the parish of Abergavenny in the said County of Monmouth formerly the property of my uncle Mr William Powell deceased ETC"

[horselydown86]

The first placename begins:  Llanvihangel yestern...


...making hereof first I will

and desire that all my just debts shall be fully paid and satisfied within twelve months next after my

decease or so soon after as ^can^ conveniently be done.....be paid and

discharged as soon as may be.....decease I give and devise unto my...

...Powell the whole of my share and interest in all those three fields pieces or

parcels of meadow or pasture land situated and being at Penny* Cawsey within...


*  Reference to Pen a Cawsey in the hamlet of Clytha at Gwent Record Office here:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/download/GB0218%20D%201078

This might be the place but ideally you should confirm with a local expert.

ADDED:

Pontyruthon looks to be correct.

[Annbee]

Thank you horselydown and Pen a (or y) Cawsey in the hamlet of Clytha is a real possibility.

Did you have any ideas for the beginning of the will: "...John Powell of Ponyty-X? (Pontyruthon?) within the parish ETC"? That one really had me stumped. I can only find Pontypool and Pontypridd in Ponty names. It is possible perhaps that the property John Powell resided in had its own name and wasn't a location as such.

[horselydown86]

                                                            ...John Powell

of Pontyruthon* within the parish of Llanvihangel yestern Llewern**...

*   I can't rule out:  Pontyruchon

**  The end of this word is barely legible.  Certainly it begins Llew_.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanvihangel-Ystern-Llewern

[Annbee]

It has to be Llewern because it naturally follows the Llanvihangel Ystern.

Re Pontyruthon/ruchon, I think it might signify the name of the farm. Maybe the entrance road went over a small bridge to the farm - and I'm thinking this because 'ponty' means bridge.

On google map, there seems to be a few houses in the area which have a bridge over a stream.

Thank you!

[bluesofa]

Pont yr ychain perhaps??

in the parish of Llanvihangel-ystern-Llewern, Monmouth(shire)

• https://historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk/placenames/recordedname/8719b737-9ef6-4369-9b52-7234e21bc6ca
• https://www.genuki.org.uk/gaz/MON/LlanvihangelYsternLlewern

[Annbee]

Bluesofa, your suggestion could be a real contender too. The map is fantastic, thank you for the link.

I might have to get back to you all with more from the will; I'm trying to work out John Powell's finances He may mention another property.

Thank you for this.

[Gadget]

I agree with Bluesofa. It's to the north west of  Llanvihangel yestern Llewern

http://streetmap.co.uk/map?x=341874&y=214927&z=115&sv=341874,214927&st=4&ar=Y,y&mapp=map&searchp=ids&dn=828&ax=341874&ay=214927&lm=0

[Gadget]

I'm thinking this because 'ponty' means bridge.

Being a bit pedantic, 'Pont' means bridge. 'y'  or 'yr' just means the

Add - My rusty Welsh suggests it means the bridge of the cattle  or oxen. This would fit as there looks to be mainly farming land around there.