The Careys of Bedwellty (Tredegar and Blackwood)

Thomas (born about 1793) and Mary (born about 1795) CAREY came to Tredegar from "Tipperary" by 1840. Thomas may have been a fugitive from justice. If this is the case then they most probably came from the Nenagh area of North Tipperary county. They were accompanied by William, their son (and possibly other children). Family legend states that they formed the first school in Tredegar - certainly Thomas was a labourer in 1841 but an "arithmetic teacher" in 1851. Mary, also a teacher, died in 1853 and Thomas in 1854.

William CAREY had been born in about 1820. In 1840 he married Ann WATSON at St. Sannan's, the parish church of Bedwellty, (below).  Ann had been born in Tredegar in 1821, baptised at St Sannan's, and was the daughter of William Watson, coal haulier (alternatively a coal merchant), and his wife Phoebe. In the 1841 census, William and Ann are shown living with Ann's parents at Cwm Rhos, Tredegar. In 1840, 1841, 1851 and 1861 William's occupation is given as haulier, working with horses below ground in the coal mines.

The attraction of Tredegar, of course, was the rapid industrialisation. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary (published 1840) says of Tredegar: "This place, which previously in the year 1800 contained only three houses, has since that period rapidly increased in extent and importance and is become a populous and flourishing market town. For its present prosperity it is indebted to the persevering efforts of Messrs Samuel Homfray*, the late Richard Fothergill, William Thompson and the Rev. Matthew Monkhouse, who, appreciating its advantageous situation in a district abounding with coal and ironstone, established some extensive ironworks, which have been progressively enlarged and improved. Coal of excellent quality is obtained on the spot; the mines of ironstone are of vast extent, and appear, from scoria frequently found on the sides of the hills to have been worked at an early period; a little below the town are slight remains of an ancient furnace, with heaps of half-melted scoria scattered around it. Limestone is also found in the adjoining parish of Llangynidr, in the county of Brecon. A tramway was constructed in 1802 from the above works leading down the valley of Sirhowy to Newport, a distance of 24 miles." The Tredegar Company, founded in 1799 by Samuel Homfray with Fothergill and Monkhouse of Sirhowy, was named after the seat of the landowner, Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar (near Newport). Excavations began in 1800 for three furnaces, and by 1802 the Tredegar Arms Inn and a tram road to Sirhowy were established.

Below: Troedrhiwgwair (Himalaya Range), 2000.

By 1851 William and Ann Carey had five children: William, George, Thomas (1848), James and Elizabeth. The surname was spelt Kerry in the census and birth records at this time. The family were still living at Cwm Rhos. By 1861 they had added Benjamin, Phoebe and John.

In the 1860's work began on a new coal mine (New Pits) a few miles south of Tredegar at Troedrhiwgwair, which became known as Bedwellty )Pits. Six rows of terraced cottages, 96 in all, were strung out along the south side of the valley and they became known as Himalaya Range.  Some of this settlement, including the Fountain Inn, still remains. William, Ann and their family moved there and in 1869 Thomas (1848) married Jemima WILDE at Saron chapel, Tredegar (below).

By 1881 William and Ann were living at 42 Himalaya Range in Tredegar with their unmarried sons James, Benjamin and John. William and George had married and were living nearby.

Thomas and Jemima lived in Troedrhiwgwair until about 1888 when they moved to Blackwood. In 1891 they were living at 121 High Road, Blackwood, and had eight children: Robert, Elizabeth, John, William, Agnes, Sarah, Frances, and Luther (1888). In 1901 Thomas (a colliery horse driver underground), Jemima, Frances, Luther and Reginald (b. 1892) were living at 33 Lewis Street, Blackwood.

Luther (1888) (left), then living at 21 Williams Street, Blackwood, married Annie WATKINS (born Annie VAUGHAN at the Pludds near Ruardean in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire in 1889) in 1910 at Bedwellty parish church.

Luther and Annie had eleven children: Lilian Jemima (1910), Luther (1911), Arthur, Hilda (1916), Dorothy Irene (1918), Sylvia (1921), John (1923), Roy (1925), Dennis (1930), Trevor and Terence.

Dorothy Irene Carey - mother - (left) married Walter Arthur KING in 1942.

[*There are a number of baptisms of children of Samuel and Margaret Homfray in the St Sannan register: Charlotte Jane (1829), Samuel George(1831), Lorenzo (1832).]

11/01/07