Brecon, Breconshire Family History Guide
Brecon consists of the following parishes:
- Brecon, St David – Lower Division (Llanfaes)
- Brecon, St John The Evangelist – Upper Division
- Brecon, St Mary
Nonconformists include: Independents, Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Roman Catholics
Table of Contents
History
Brecon
Beeton’s British Gazetteer 1870
BRECKNOCK, or BRECON, the county town of Brecknockshire, a municipal and parliamentary borough, and market and post town, situated at the confluence of the rivers Usk and Hondhu, 0r Hondey, 14 miles S. from Builth. It is irregularly built, consisting principally of three streets, and the houses in general are of very indifferent structure. There are three parish churches—St. John’s, restored in 1862, St. David’s, and St. Mary’s—within the precincts of the ancient wall, and several other places of worship for nonconformists. It has a pump-room and baths erected on the site of a mineral spring recently discovered, and some educational establishments, the principal of which are Christ’s College and Independent College. It also possesses the remains of a fine old castle, built in 1094. Mrs. Siddons was born here in 1775. Manf. Chiefly cloth and cotton stockings. Mar. D. Wed., Fri., and Sat. Pop. about 6000. It is a telegraph station, and a station and terminus on the Brecon and Merthyr, and Mid-Wales Railways.
Source: Beeton’s British Gazetteer 1870. Ward, Lock & Tyler, Paternoster Row, London.
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
BRECKNOCK, or Brecon, a town, two parishes, a subdistrict, and a district in Brecknockshire. The town stands at the confluence of the Honddu and the Usk, 18 miles E by S of Llandovery, and 19½ WNW of Abergavenny. A canal connects it with Abergavenny and the sea; a railway, connecting it with Merthyr Tydvil, was opened in 1863; another railway, to connect it with Hereford, and with junction lines N and S, was opened in 1865; and another, to connect it with Neath and with the Central Wales, was opened to Devynnock in 1869. It was anciently called Brycheiniog; and is now sometimes called Aberhonddu. The ancient Britons had a post or town on its site; the Romans built a station at Caer-Bannan, on the Via Julia Montana, in its western neighbourhood; and the native princes long continued to make it a centre of strength, and were called from it Princes of Brycheiniog. Bernard de Newmarch, a Norman baron, obtained from the English crown, in 1092, a grant of a large tract around it; took possession of this by force of arms; and built at the town, in 1094, a strong castle to maintain his power. The castle passed to the Braoses and the Bohuns, and was eventually resumed by the Crown; and, together with strong walls and other fortifications which were erected around the town, it was used for ages to repress the turbulence of the native tribes; and both it and the town walls were dismantled by the towns-people, in the civil war of the 17th century, to avert the horror of the siege. The keep of the castle was made the prison of Morton, Bishop of Ely, under charge of the crafty Duke of Buckingham, and became the scene of the intrigue of these two dignitaries for dethroning Richard III. and enthroning Henry VII.; and hence is called the Ely tower. Buckingham’s main motive for joining in the intrigue is alleged to have been resentment of what he thought too small reward from Richard; and therefore is he represented as saying,-
And is it thus? Repays he my deep service
With such contempt? Made I him king for this
O let me think on Hastings and begone
To Brecknock while my fearful head is on.
The town lies in the heart of the grandest part of South Wales. The tract around it is an assemblage of vales and mountains, picturesque by nature and embellished by art, with the twin alpine peaks, called the Brecknock beacons, culminating 6 miles to the SSW. The town consists chiefly of three streets on the left bank of the Usk, and the flat suburb of Llanfaes on the right bank; and is altogether about a mile long. The remains of the ancient castle, consisting of two square towers in the garden of the castle hotel, not older than the time of Edward III., and of a lofty mound on which the keep stood, are on an eminence in an angle between the Honddu and the Usk. The original structure is believed to have been built of materials from the Roman station of Caer-Bannan; and the completed castle formed an oblong of about 300 feet by 240. Remains of an ancient Benedictine priory, comprising an embattled gateway, the refectory, and part of the cloisters, are on a height a little N of the castle. The priory was founded in 1096, by Bernard de Newmarch, in compunction for his deeds of violence; and was made subject to Battle Abbey. A mansion, now called Brecknock priory, a seat of the Marquis of Camden, stands adjacent to the ruins, and was built out of the demolished parts by Sir Charles Price, whose son Richard was Shakespeare’s “Sir Hugh Evans.” Charles I. was sheltered here by Sir H. Price after the battle of Naseby; and George IV. spent a night here in 1821, after his return from Ireland. The priory walks, connected with the mansion, are extensive, wooded, and picturesque, and are open to the public; and another fine walk lies along the banks of the Usk, under the old town walls. Three bridges span the Honddu; and one, the Usk. The upper Honddu bridge leads to the priory, and is very old, narrow, and inconvenient; the middle one formerly led to the castle and supported a drawbridge, and has two arches with a vastly thick pier in the centre; the lower one was widened in 1794. The Usk bridge connects the main body of the town with the Llanfaes suburb; has seven arches, and commands a fine view. The county hall was built in 1843, at a cost of £12,000; has a tetrastyle Doric portico; and contains an Ionic crown court, 60 feet long, 45 feet wide, and 35 feet high. The county jail was enlarged in 1858; and a new one was projected in 1869, to cost £6,300. There are a borough hall, a market house, extensive barracks, a theatre, an infirmary, and a workhouse. A statue of the Duke of Wellington, 8 feet high, on a pedestal of 10 feet, was placed, in 1854, on the Bulwark. St. John’s church was originally the church of the Benedictine priory, extensively rebuilt in the 13th century, and much altered afterwards; is cruciform, with a massive tower; shows the characters of early English in the chancel and transepts, of decorated English in the nave, and of decorated and perpendicular in the tower; measures 62 feet by 29 along the chancel, and 136 ½ by 28½ along the nave; has a wooden screen, dividing the chancel from the transept, and a fine circular Norman font, with intersecting arches; and contains numerous monuments, some of them remarkable. St. Mary’s church was originally Norman; has a tower in good perpendicular English; and was enlarged in 1858. St. David’s church fell down in 1852; was rebuilt in 1860; is in the early decorated style; and consists of nave and chancel, with tower and spire. Christ’s college was originally the chapel of a Dominican friary; was changed, in 1531, into a seat of learning, under a dean and nineteen prebendaries; is now attached to the diocesan college of Lampeter; has an antique stone cross, and monuments of several bishops; and includes buildings in the monastic style, of imposing aspect, erected in 1864, at a cost of £10,000. There are chapels for Independents, Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Roman Catholics; a grammar school, at which Jones, the county historian, was educated; a theological academy for Independents; and an endowed day school, alms-houses, and an hospital, possessing jointly, with other charities, an income of £517.
The town has a head post office, four banking offices, and three chief inns; is the seat of assizes and of quarter sessions for the county; and publishes a weekly newspaper. Markets are held on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; and fairs on the first Wednesday of March, 4 May, 5 July, 9 Sept., and 17 Nov. Races are run in September. The chief trade has connexion with agriculture, and with the manufacture of iron, and the smelting of copper and tin. The town has sent a member to parliament since the time of Henry VIII.; was chartered, in 1556, by Mary; and is governed by a mayor, a recorder, four aldermen, and twelve councillors. The municipal and the parliamentary boroughs differ in extent; and the one measures 3½ miles by two, exclusive of a portion, about 10 miles distant, in the parish of Llywell. Direct taxes in 1857, £3,621. Real property in 1860, £26,413. Electors in 1868, 293. Pop. of the in. borough, 5,235. Houses, 1,133. Pop. of the p. borough, 5,639. Houses, 1,227. The notorious Dr. Dodd was at one time Prebendary of St. Mary’s; and Mrs. Siddons and Charles Kemble were natives. The town gives the title of Baron to the Marquis of Camden. Two extra-parochial tracts, called Christ’s-College and Castle-Inn, are included in the town.
St. John’s parish consists of the lower division, or chapelry of St. Mary, and the upper division, which includes the hamlet of Venny-Vach. St. David’s also consists of a lower division, or Llanfaes, and an upper division. Acres of St. John, 3,637; of St. David, 2,789. Both are vicarages in the diocese of St. David’s; and the former has united to it the p. curacy of St. Mary. Value of St. John, £160; of St. David, £141. Patrons of St. John. not reported; of St. David, the Bishop and Dean and Chapter of St. David’s. The subdistrict contains also the parishes of Llanspyddyd, Aberyscir, Battle, Llanthew, and Cantref, and part of the parish of Llandefeiliog-fach. Acres, 43,018. Pop., 7,054. Houses, 1,504. The district comprehends also the subdistrict of Merthyr-Cynog, containing the parishes of Merthyr-Cynog, Garthbrengru, and Llanfihangel-nant-bran, and the chapelry of Lanihangel-fechan: the subdistrict of Devynnock, containing the parishes of Devynnock, Llandilovane, Llywell, and Trallwng; the subdistrict of Penkelly, containing the parishes of Llanvigan, Llanvrynach, and Llanthetty; and the subdistrict of Llangors, containing the parishes of Llangors, Llangast-Tal-yllyn, Cathedin, Llansantfraid, Llanhamlach, Llanywern, Talachddu, Llandefalley, Llanvillo, LlandefeiliogTre-Graig, and Llanfihangel-Tal-y-llyn, and part of the parish of Gweun-ddwr. Acres, 196,793.-Poor-rates in 1866, £10,682. Pop. in 1861, 17,279. Houses, 3,605. Marriages in 1866, 151; births, 526, of which 41 were illegitimate; deaths, 385, of which 84 were at ages under 5 years, and 18 at ages above 85 years. Marriages in the ten years 1851-60,1,324; births, 5,182. deaths, 3,769. The places of worship in 1851 were 41 of the Church of England, with 6,290 sittings; 14 of Independents, with 3,112 s.; 12 of Baptists, with 2,329 s.; 18 of Calvinistic Methodists, with 2,619 s.; 5 of Wesleyan Methodists, with 815 s.; and 1 of Roman Catholics, with 150 s. The schools were 20 public day schools, with 1,198 scholars; 21 private day schools, with 541 s.; 62 Sunday schools, with 3,545 s.; and 1 evening school for adults, with 12 s.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850
Brecon, 171 miles N.W. London. Market, Wed. and Sat. P. 5354
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850.
Brecon, St David
The British Gazetteer 1852
David’s (St.) or Llanfaes, Brecon, a parish in the hund of Defynnock, union of Brecknock, South Wales, on a branch of the river Usk: 170 miles from London, 1 from Brecon, 16 from Hay. (For access, see BRECON.) Money orders issued at Brecon: London letters delivd. 9 a.m.: post closes 3 p.m. The parish contains two divisions, upper and lower; the former is situated in the hundreds of Defynnock and Penkelly, and the latter in the hundred of Merthyr. That part of the parish called Llanfaes is within the borough of Brecon, and is in fact a suburb of Brecon, separated from it only by the river Usk, and lying on the west bank of it. The living is a vicarage in the patronage of the Archdeacon of Brecon: pres. incumbent, Rees Price, 1846: contains 400 houses: pop. in 1841, 1,422: probable pop. in 1849, 1,450: assd. propy. £651 : poor rates in 1849, £700. Dinas, the residence of John Lloyd, Esq. — Ffrwdgrech, the residence of Lieutenant-Colonel Pearce.
Source: The British Gazetteer, Political, Commercial, Ecclesiastical, and Historical: Showing the Distances of Each Place from London and Derby–gentlemen’s Seats–populations … &c. Illustrated by a Full Set of County Maps, with All the Railways Accurately Laid Down. Benjamin Clarke 1852; Published (for the proprietors) by H. G. Collins.
Parish Records
Brecon (All Parishes)
FamilySearch
Use for:
Wales, Brecknockshire, Brecknock
Brecon St. David
Also known as Llanfaes
Powys Archives
Powys archives hold the following records:
Microfilm 1
- bap 1730-1763, bur 1730-1763, mar 1730-1763
- bap 1768-1812, bur 1768-1812
- bap 1813-1846
- bap 1847-1944
- bur 1813-1850
- bur 1850-1873
- bur 1873-1895
- mar 1754-1810
- mar 1811-1812, banns 1811-1812
- mar 1813-1837
Microfilm 2
- banns 1823-1851
- banns 1904-1965
- bur 1895-1921
- bur 1921-1969
- bur 1925-1967
- mar 1837-1921
Digital – shuttle 8
- mar 1921 – 1940
- mar 1941 – 1947
- mar 1947 – 1955
IGI Indexes: bir/bap 1813-1844 mar 1813- 1837
Findmypast: Vols 1- 10, 13-16
Brecon, St John The Evangelist
Powys Archives
Powys archives hold the following records:
Microfilm 3
- bap 1727-1734, bur 1727-1734, mar 1727-1734
- bap 1735-1772, bur 1735-1772, mar 1735-1772
- bap 1772-1802, bur 1772-1802, mar 1772-1802
- bap 1803-1812, bur 1803-1812, mar 1803-1812
- bap 1813-1852
- bap 1852-1924
- bur 1813-1834
- bur 1834-1851
- mar 1770-1785, banns 1764-1782
- mar 1787-1812
Microfilm 4
- mar 1813-1837
- mar 1837-1875
- mar 1875-1920
- mar 1920-1927
Microfilm 5
- banns 1787-1823
- banns 1870-1903
- banns 1903-1921
- bap 1924-1939
- bur 1851-1963 (1860 – 1877 missing)
- mar 1927-1937
- mar 1937-1944
- mar 1945-1952
- banns 1921-1945
- mar 1952-1961
- mar 1961-1970
- mar 1970-1971
- banns 1945-1956, 1983-1988
IGI Indexes: bir/bap 1813-1840 mar 1813- 1837
Findmypast: Vols 1- 19
Brecon, St Mary
Powys Archives
See Brecon St John for burials post 1693.
Powys archives hold the following records:
Microfilm 6
- bap 1684-1770, bur 1684-1693, mar 1684-1756
- bap 1770-1812
- bap 1813-1829
- bap 1830-1848
- bap 1848-1878
Microfilm 7
- bap 1878-1900
- mar 1754-1797, banns 1793-1796
- mar 1798-1812, banns 1796-1823
- mar 1813-1837
- mar 1837-1887
Microfilm 8
- mar 1887-1920
- banns 1883-1899
- banns 1899-1913
- mar 1708-1732, bap 1706-1733
- mar 1920-1939
- mar 1939-1959
- banns 1913-1937
- banns 1937-1971
- bap 1900-1958
- mar 1959-1970
- mar 1971-1976
IGI Indexes:
Findmypast: Vols 1-15, 17, 19
Bankrupts
Below is a list of people that were declared bankrupt between 1820 and 1843 extracted from The Bankrupt Directory; George Elwick; London; Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; 1843.
Bass Joseph, Brecon, Brecknockshire, draper, July 16, 1841.
Bevan William, Brecon, maltster, Nov. 14, 1837.
Directories
Kelly’s directory of Monmouthshire and South Wales, 1920
Brecknock or Brecon Brecknockshire Principal Inhabitants Universal British Directory 1791
The following are the principal inhabitants:
Gentlemen
Corrie Robert, Esq.
Hughes Samuel, Esq. Justice of Peace
James William Morgan, Esq. Justice of Peace
Jeffreys Walter, Esq. Justice of Peace
Lloyd J. Bullock, Esq.
Lloyd T. Bullock, Esq.
Macnamara Michael, Esq.
Powell William, Esq. Justice of Peace
Wilkins Jeffreys, Esq.
Clergy
Bevas Rev. James, Curate of St. John’s
Davies Rev. Richard, Vicar of Brecon, and Justice of Peace
Griffiths Rev. D. Vicar of Llandilorvan
Jones Rev. Hugh, Vicar of Llewell, and Justice of Peace
Lawrence Rev. Thomas, Curate of St. Mary’s Chapel
Lloyd Rev. Charles, Rector of Llandvally, and Justice of Peace
Morgan Rev. William, Justice of Peace
Watkins Rev. Thomas, Chaplain to the Duke of Bedford
Wilkins Rev. John, Rector of Disserth, Radnorshire
Wynter Rev. William, Rector of Pendeirin, and Justice of Peace
Physic
Powell John, Surgeon
Pryce Samuel, (F.) Surgeon, and one of the Coroners for the County
Prichard Charles and Son, (F.) Surgeons
Vaughan William, Druggist
Williams John, (F.) Surgeon, and one of the Coroners for the County
Law
Jones Walter, Attorney
Jones James, Attorney
Jones Theophilus, Attorney and Deputy Register and Compounder
Morgan Edward, Esq. Barrister at Law, and Recorder
Powell William and John, Attorneys
Powell Thomas, Esq. Barrister at Law
Wilkins and Maybery, Attorneys
Williams Robert, Esq. Town Clerk
Williams Tho. Esq. Barrister at Law
Williams Thomas, Attorney
Traders, &c.
Abram John, (F.) Shoe-maker
Abraham Thomas, Card-maker
Awbrey George, Sadler
Awbrey William, Taylor
Bevan Anne, Baker
Bevan Mary, Lodging-house
Brown Edward, (F.) Skinner
Bowen Penry, (F.) Taylor
Bold Hugh, (F.) Stamp Distributor
Church John, (F.) Cooper
Church Samuel, Butcher
Coleman William, Baker
Davies William, Shoe-maker
Davies William, Shoe-maker
Edwards David, Hat-maker
Evans John, Victualler
Farmer Jeremiah, Gunsmith
Frew Elizabeth, (F.) Tanner
Gilbert Martha, Lodging-house
Griffiths John, sen. (F.) Builder
Griffiths John, jun. (F.) Carpenter
Griffiths Thomas, Leather-dresser
Griffiths Wm. Victualler, (Greyhound)
Griffiths David, Hat-maker
Gilbert William, (F.) Farmer
Hall Richard, Victualler, (Swan Inn)
Havard John, Butcher
Havard John, Shopkeeper
Harry John, (F.) Victualler
Holt Edward, hair-dresser
Hayward Richard, Victualler
Howells Magdalen, Victualler
Howells Charles, Victualler
Hughes William, Hatter
James William, Victualler
Jenkins John, Officer of Excise
Jenkins Morgan, Stay-maker
Jones Evan, Currier
Jones William, sen. (F.) Shoe-maker
Jones William, jun. (F.) Shoe-maker
Jones John, Victualler, (Bear Inn)
Jones Margaret, Victualler, (6 Bells)
Jones John, Officer of Excise
Jones Samuel, Mercer
Jones David, (F.) Chandler & Brazier
Jones Watkin, Shoe-maker
Jones William, Baker
Jones David, Farmer
Jones James, Victualler, (Cock & Horse)
Jones Evan, Wheelwright
Jones Llewelyn, Carpenter
Jones Richard, (F.) Shoe-maker
Jones Thomas, (F.) Baker
Jones Catherine and Tab. Milliners
Jones William, (F.) Victualler, (Star)
Jones James, Watch-maker
Jones Joseph, Shoe-maker
Jones Joshua, Watch-maker
Jones John, (F.) Victualler
Jones John, Officer of Excise
Johnes Wm. Victualler, (Bull’s Head)
Kinsey Matthew, (F.) Shopkeeper
Lawrence Thomas, Clerk of St. Mary’s
Lewis James, sen. Butcher
Lewis Rees, Breeches-maker
Lewis James, jun. Butcher
Lewis Edward, Carpenter
Lewis James, (F.) Carpenter
Lewis William, Victualler, (Angel Inn)
Llewelyn Rice, Victualler and Sadler
Longfellow – , Shopkeeper
Longfellow Thomas, (F.) Victualler
Matthews Mary, Baker
Matthews William, Blacksmith
Martin William, Victualler
Meredith Thomas, (F.) Tanner
Maund E. and A. Milliners
Maund Andrew, (F.) Builder, &c.
Morgan Andrew, (F.) Skinner
Morgan William, Brazier, &c.
Morgan David, Victualler, (K’s. Head)
Morgan John, (F.) Tanner & Skinner
Morgan Joan, Baker
Morgan David, Tallow-chandler
Miller William, (F.) Blacksmith
Morris Joseph, Butcher
North William and George, Printers, Booksellers, Stationers, and Agents to the Phoenix Fire-office, London
Owen Wm. Parish Clerk of St. John’s
Owen Margaret, Schoolmistress
Parry Stephen, Hair-dresser
Phillips Thomas, Victualler, (Bush)
Phillips Thomas, Taylor
Price Thomas, Taylor
Prothero Thomas, (F.) Victualler
Powell Thomas, (F.) Ironmonger, &c.
Powell William, (F.) Carrier
Powell John, Mason
Powell Thomas, (F.) Currier
Prosser John, Victualler, (White Lion)
Prosser Roger, Schoolmaster
Prosser William, Blacksmith
Prosser James, Victualler, (Mermaid)
Prosser Thomas, Shoe-maker
Prosser Mary, Baker
Ransom Thomas, (F.) Sadler
Rice Miss, Boarding-school
Richardson William, Tinplate-worker
Robertson James, Seedsman
Rowlands Timothy, Victualler
Sims James, Peruke-maker
Smith William, Hair-dresser
Thomas Henry, Peruke-maker
Thomas Benjamin, Coach-maker
Thomas Thomas, (F.) Carpenter
Turner John, Victualler, (Bell)
Vaughan Walter, Brazier, &c.
Valentine Peter, Shoe-maker
Voss William, Shopkeeper
Wallers Thomas, (F.) Shoe-maker
Wallers David, Pig-drover
Watson George, Shopkeeper
Waters William, Butcher
Watkins Morgan, (F.) Clothier
Watkins John, Shoe-maker
Watkins Walter, (F.) Shopkeeper
Wellington John, Schoolmaster
Webb Edward, Sadler
Winston Richard, Shopkeeper
Williams Evan, Victualler, (White-hart)
Williams William, (F.) Mason
Williams William, Farrier
Williams Tho. Victualler, (Blue Boar)
Williams Mary, Milliner
Williams William, (F.) Maltster
Williams William, Taylor
Williams Martha, Shopkeeper
Williams Llewel, Bright & Blacksmith
Williams and Thomas, (F.) Mercers
Young John, Victualler, (Sun)
Source: The Universal British Directory of Trade, Commerce, and Manufacture 1791. Vol. 2.
Administration
- County: Breconshire
- Civil Registration District:
- Diocese: St Davis
- Rural Deanery: Brecon
- Poor Law Union: Brecon
- Hundred: Merthyr and Pencelly
- County Court District: Brecon
- Area: South Wales