[original, p. 00]

Family History Information
About the Tyrer-Terrar-Tyrrell Family

In Amlwch (Anglesey), North Wales, The Rhonda Valley, South Wales
and Lancashire County, England, 1750-1970s

Edward (Toby) Terrar and Family
(301) 598-5427
15405 Short Ridge Ct.
Silver Spring, MD 20906
tobyterrar@aol.com
(October 29, 1970, converted to digital 6 June 2010)

Contents/Partial Index

[The below index is according to original 1970 pagination. The present digital
formatting makes the pagination somewhat longer than the original].

Map Showing Migration of Tyrers-Terrars in the 1700s and 1800s. 1.1

Origin of Name.............................................................................. 1.2

William Tyrer (1740s—1830s)....................................................... 1.2

Edward Tyrer (1794—1855)............................................................ 2

Edward Tyrer, JR. (1829—1890s).................................................... 4

David Terrar (1862—1952).............................................................. 7

Relationship Chart........................................................................... 11

Sketch of Amlwch Port................................................................... 12

Tyrer-Terrar Family Tree................................................................. 13

Amlwch Harbor in 1815.................................................................. 14

Amlwch Vestry Book Signed by Wm Tyrer (1823).......................... 15

Sketch of Amlwch Church (1740)................................................... 16

Map of Amlwch (1868)................................................................... 17

[original, p. 1]

If by chance you should get to visit Amlwch, the first person to look up is Margaret Ann Tyrer (Fisk). She is, to my knowledge, the last of the Tyrer’s of Amlwch, the end of more than 200 years of Tyrer associations with Amlwch. The Tyrers and their descendents are scattered all about now--in tie Rhondda Val1ey, in London, Cardiff, Pennsylvania, Chicago, Australia, etc. Mrs. Margaret Tyrer Fisk is married to Mr. Wi1liam Fisk, and they live at:

“Nythfa”
70 Salem St.
Amlwch, Anglesey, .Wa1es

Mrs. Margaret Tyrer Fisk is the daughter of William Tyrer (1859-1902), who was the son of Hugh Tyrer (1832-1890), who was the son of Edward Tyrer (1794—1855), who was the son of William Tyrer (l750s?-1830’s?). She is a second cousin twice removed to me. Maybe with the enclosed chart you can figure out what relation she would be to you.

I am hoping that this will be the first attempt at a much longer work, filled with a lot more facts and relatives--but that will have to wait until I learn more about the relatives, and do more studying in the libraries and archives in Wa1es.

I want to thank all you cousins and relatives who filled out forms on your branch of the family, and those who told me facts and Information, and those who led e to the different places in Aberdare and Tylorstown where the ghosts of our beloved ancestors hold court. In the next edition of this family history, I am going to try to get up a complete listing of every single cousin, dead and alive--but to do that I will have to get a good deal more information. Also I would like to say a bit about what each cousin does, and that sort of thing. But that may be a year or more away.

[original, p. 1.1]

Map Showing Migration of Tyrers-Terrars in 1700s and 1800s.
[Not available in HTML version].

[original, p. 1.2]

The family name “Terrar” was first spelled this way by David Terrar (1862-1952). The most common spelling of the name is “Tyrer”. The “Tyrer”t family name originates in several parishes located In Lancashire County, England.[1] The name derives from the Middle English word, atir, atyr, which mean dress and head dress, and atiren., atyren, to attire, adorn. The Old French word atirier, is from the same root, and means to adorn. A tyrer or tyerman was one who was a dress dealer, a costumier, a head-dresser or one who dealt in ornamental clothing.[2] The name was probably first used as a surname by our ancestors in the sixteenth century.

William Tyrer, born most likely in the 1740s or 1750s, is the earliest ancestor I have been able to trace so far. He was probably born somewhere in Lancashire County. He moved to Amlwch, Anglesey, Wales in 1768-1769. The reason William Tyrer came to Amlwch was to work in the new Parys Mountain Mine which was opened up on 2 March 1768. William was one of a relatively large number of Englishmen who came to Amlwch at this time to work in the copper mines. Most of the Englishmen who came to Amlwch came from Cornwall, where there was a long tradition of copper mining.

The importance of the Englishmen in Amlwch is witnessed by the fact that in 1773 the Amlwch vestry records indicate that the curate was paid a special allowance from this time forward to provide an English service every Sunday.[3] By 1773 there were 1500 employed in the copper mines. The mines as well as most of the property in and about Amlwch were owned by two families at this early date: the Nicholas Bayly and the Edward Hughes families.

On 27 July 1771 the Amlwch Parish Registry Book records that William Tyrer was married to Margaret Parry. I have found no reference to any children he may have had by this marriage, nor to her death before 1788. In 12 September 1788, William Tyrer, listed as a widower, married Margaret Hughes, listed as a widow. Sometime before this date William had taken up residency at Penrallt, Amlwch, and was a farmer. It was common for a man to both work in the mines and run a farm at the same time. William would live at Penrallt for the next forty years.

William Tyrer and his wife Margaret are recorded in the registry books of Amlwch Parish Church as having a son on 31 October 1789. They named him William. On 23 August 1794 they had another son whom they named Edward. Both were baptized there at the parish church, which was dedicated to St. Eleth. I have found no reference to any other children which William may have had. In addition I have not found out what became of William’s oldest son, William.

[original, p. 2]

The Amlwch vestry books record that William Tyrer took a very active interest in the governing of Amlwch in the 1790’s. At this time in history the parish vestry was the most important administrative body in the parish. The vestry consisted of the parson, two churchwardens, clerk and chief parishioners. The parish vestry was held every first Sunday of the month after evening prayers. Its main work was to look after the church, highways and poor. The signature of William Tyrer appears frequently among those of “chief parishioners” who signed their names as having attended the parish vestry and are in agreement to the minutes of the vestry as recorded above their names. For example on 3 April 1790 William signed his name to the following statement: “At a vestry held this day it was agreed that the sum of sixpence in the pound be levied on all landholders within this parish towards repairing the roads in the parcels of Penbol and Gwredog pursuant to an order made by Holland Griffith and Herbert Jones, Esq., two of his majesty’s justices of the peace for this county dated 13 March 1790.”[4] Signed by William Tyrer and some eight other men.

On 13 October 1792 William Tyrer played his part in the decision to build a new church, The decision reads: “At a vestry held this day it was the unanimous opinion of the parishioners that on account of the very ruinous state of this church it is necessary to erect a new one, that the increased population of the parish renders it expedient, that the new church be of the following dimensions, namely, in length 66 feet and in breath 40 feet with galleries; etc.”[5] This was signed by William Tyrer and 13 others. This parish church which William had some little part in helping to build still stands today as Amlwch’s parish church. It was completed in 1800.

William is seen to vote all during the l790’s for a tax of 6 pence or one shilling to the pound to take care of the poor of the parish. In the period from 1800 to 1820 William did not take as active a part in parish life as he formerly did. However in the 1820’s, probably as an elderly man in his 70’s, William once again became a very active in the Amlwch parish life. According to the vestry books, “At a vestry meeting held Tuesday 18 March 1823 William Tyrer is appointed select vestryman f or the ensuing year for the purpose of carrying into execution a certain Act of Parliament, ”An Act to Amend the Laws for the Relief of the Poor”.[6] The vestry book indicates that he was reelected to this position in the following year. On 26 October 1826, William was overseer of the highroad and spent 18 shillings 10 pence in repairing it.[7] I have not yet found out when William or his second wife.

Edward Tyrer, Sr. (1794-1855)

Turning to William’s second son, Edward Tyrer, who was born 23 August 1794, we see that Edward, as a small child, witnessed Amlwch at the top of its economic prosperity. The copper ore from the mines was taken by ship out of Amlwch harbor to be smeltered in Liverpool. As many as 38 ships were engaged in this trade at one time. At an early age Edward also witnessed the fear which spread throughout Eng1and concerning the possibility of an invasion by Napoleon. The Chester Chronicle of 18 May 1798 records that a large number of miners from Amlwch had volunteered to fight the French. Amlwch was no longer a hamlet inhabited by fisherman, but a fair sized town of 4977 people in 1801. In 1793 an Act of Parliament was obtained for the formation of a harbor; in 1814 a pier was built and in 1822 a breakwater was constructed.[8]

[original, p. 3]

Edward was not as well educated as was his father. Unlike William, Edward could not write his own name. He used an X mark when he had to sign his name. When his name was written by others, they spelled it in a variety of ways. For example I have seen it spelled: Tryrer, Teyren, Teyrer, Tyror, Tyran, Terer, Terror, Teran, Terrer (but never Terrar). There was such variation because the Tyrer name was not familiar to Welsh writers. They would try to write it the way it sounded. Edward was probably the first of the Tyrer’s to speak Welsh fluently. His mother would have taught it to him, as she was Welsh. Edward spent most of his life working in the copper mines of Amlwch. He did not get much, if any, schooling, and must have begun work in the mines at a very early age.

When he was 21 Edward married Elliner Hughes on 27 January 1815 at St. Eleath Parish Church. He later married Ellen Williams. I have not found the date of death of his first wife nor the date of marriage to the second wife. Some time after the marriage in 1815 Edward and his wife started attending Salem Baptist Church on Salem St., Amlwch. To the present day his descendents in the Rhonda Valley and In Amlwch attend the Baptist Church.

By his two wives Edward had at least 10 children, all of whom were born at Amlwch. The records of the Salem Baptist Church have been misplaced, and I was not able to see them. For this reason I was not able to get the exact dates of birth of the children of Edward. However from the Census records of 1841, 1851, 1861, from death and birth certificates and from tombstones, I was able to learn a good deal about his children.

1) Margaret Tyrer was born in 1821 and married William Owen on 6 February 1844. They had at least one daughter named Sarah.

2) Hannah Tyrer was born in 1825 and probably married a mariner named Bothms.

3) Mary Tyrer was born in 1827.

4) Edward Tyrer was born in 1829 and married Esther Griffiths on 7 July 1852 in Aberdare.

5) Hugh Tyrer was born in 1832 and married Ellen Jones about 1856. He died 12 May 1890. Hugh was a miller in Amlwch for the most part of his life, although he had his profession at times listed as a copper smelterer and journeyman, he and his family lived during most of their lives on Wesley St., Amlwch. He had 10 children.

l) Ellen Tyrer (27 April 1857-25 January 1885).

2) William Tyrer (2 February 1859-12 September 1902), who married Jane Roberts and had at least nine children:

William (b.7 April 1878).

Robert (b. 22 Nay 1880).

Hannah (b. 6 July 1832).

Ellen Jane (b. 29 October 1886-1887).

Evan (b. 8 January 1888).

Robert (1 June 1891-27 November 1920).

Richard (23 October 1893-l2 November 1893).

Margaret Ann (b. 7 February 1895), who married William Fisk and still lives in Amlwch today--I had the pleasure of visiting with her this past summer.

Robert (22 November 1876-19. May 1879)

3) Edward (26 May 1861—23 December 1861).

4) Edward (10 November 1862-20 January 1863.

5) Richard (1863-5 Match 1908), married Ellen Wynne and had six children.

6) Hugh (14 June 1864-9 October 1915), lived at 31 High St., Llangefini, Wales in 1901.

7) Margaret Ann (b. 23 January 1867), married a man named Webb.

8) Edward (b.19 May 1869).

9) Mary Elizabeth (b. 5 February 1871).

10) Robert (l6 May 1875-16 March 1942), married Ann E.

[original, p. 4]

6) Ellen Tyrer was born in 1835.

7) Sarah Tyrer was born in 1836 and died 25 December 1837 of congestion.

8) Sarah Tyrer was born 21 January 1839 and died 7 March 1843.

9) William Tyrer who married Grace Williams on 6 April 1846.

10) Elizabeth Tyrer who married Owen Lewis 17 September 1839, and had four children. Owen was a mariner.

Edward (1794-1655) worked in the copper mines at Amlwch until about 1844 when he was 50 years old. During these years the copper mines of Amlwch were on the decline and the wage and working conditions of the miners were poor. Part of the reason for the decline was that the richest and most easily reached copper ore had been removed by 1800. In addition other mines had been opened elsewhere. As a result there was a continuous exodus of miners from Amlwch in the first half of the 1800s.

Edward (1794-1855) and his ever-growing family lived on a street named Rhos in a home which was owned and rented by St. Eleth Parish Church. All 70 or so homes along this street were owned by the Parish and rented, for the most: part, to the miners of Amlwch. About 1844, perhaps because he was getting old, perhaps because the mines were cutting back on labor, Edward became a mason. He continued in this calling until 1852, when he was 58. He then worked as a dock laborer until his death on 27 September 1855. He died of paralysis, which he had had for the previous five months. Edward was burled in the churchyard behind Salem Baptist Church in Amlwch. Today the churchyard is overgrown with weeds, but one can still see his grave marker and the date of his death, written in Welsh.

Edward Tyrer, Jr. (1829-1890s?)

Edward Tyrer (1794-1855) named his fourth child and first son, Edward. This son was born in 1829 at the house on Rhos. It is quite possible that the only language which Edward Jr. learned to speak was Welsh. Like his father, he could not spell his own name and used an X mark. Edward Jr. probably had no school and started to work at a very early age. The 1841 census of Amlwch shows that Edward, 12, was still living with his parents at Rhos, but two of his older sisters, Mary, 14 and Hannah, 15, were already living in other households working as housekeepers. Edward Jr. was either working in the copper mines with his father at this time or shortly thereafter.

It was sometime between this 1841 census and the 1851 census that Edward Tyrer, Jr. came down to Aberdare in Glamorgan County, Wales. He came to work in the mines there which were so much more prosperous than those in Amlwch. The 1851 census lists Edward, 21 years old, and unmarried, as a lodger at 245 Wind St. in the village of Hirwain, which was four miles northwest of Aberdare. His birthplace in the census is listed as Amlwch, Anglesey. This is where I first discovered our connection with Amlwch. Living just up the street at 233 Wind St. was a young girl of 19, Esther Criffiths. She was born in 1833 at Llangynid, Carmarthen, the daughter of David Griffiths, a labourer. It was only a year later that Edward took Esther to the altar as his wife on 7 July 1852 at Carmel Baptist Chapel on Monk St., Aberdare.

[original, p. 5]

Edward and his wife (and their children as they came) lived in Aberdare for about 25 years, until around 1875 when they moved to Tylorstown. While in Aberdare they lived at a number of different addresses: in 1859 they lived at Rhigos, a township near Aberdare; in 1861 they were at 3 Be1l St., Cumdare, a hamlet 2 miles west of Aberdare; and 5 miles west southwest from Merthyr Tudflyl; in 1862 they were at 9 David St., Aberdare; and by 1869 they lived at 6 Boud Place. Edward worked at the Hirwain Iron works from the time he came to Aberdare until about 1860, when he started mining coal instead of iron ore. Probably because the mining was better, he moved his family down to Tylorstown about 1875. Tylorstown is 7 miles north northwest from Pontypridd. As a miner Edward would have to leave for work by 6:00 in the morning and wouldn’t get home until after 4:00 in the afternoon. He, and his sons as they became of age, would load around 10 tons of coal per day, six days per week. They were paid for each prop they put up--3 pence per prop. While in Tylorstown Edward worked mostly in number 6 pit.

Edward and his family attended the Haron Welsh Baptist Church at Pontygwaith. The building still stands but has been converted into a factory. The congregation now meets at the Horeb Baptist Church. The miners would get the following holidays: Whitsun, Easter, May Day and August Holiday--which was two days long. On the August Holiday, Edward would take his family down to the beach at Barry for the day. It was one of the best days of the year for everyone. At Christmas the family would bundle up jn’their warmest and best clothes to attend the services commemorating our Lord’s birth at Haron, and then would follow a great family dinner with plenty of turkey, pork, duck, puddings and cakes, and in their stockings the children would find sugar pigs.

Edward, as most of the miners, would spend many an evening at the Tylerstown Hotel, where he was a member of the Workingmen’s Club. At the Club there was always good talk, plenty of bitters, darts and pool for the tired working man to relax. More than a hundred years later the story is still told that Edward’s deep voice would be heard late into the night booming from the Club up and down the valley. It is said that he had his fair share of the prizes for winning the drinking contests, and like most of the miners of his day, he wouldn’t be one to run from a fight. In appearance he was a tall man with a great shaggy beard. I was not able to discover the exact date on which he died, but it is probably during the 1890s. He is buried with his wife, Esther, at Aberdare Cemetery in Aberdare. Esther died 21 December 1910 at 76 East Road, Tylorstown.

Edward and Esther had at least six children, all of whom were born in Aberdare. From what I have been able to gather, most of the children spelt their name Terrar. I do not know why they settled on this particular spelling. The children were:

1) Edward Terrar who was born in 1854. Some say he migrated to Australia or New Zealand. I have not been able to find out anything about him as yet.

2) Mary Terrar who was born in 1857. She was 19 years old and living at Blaenllecha, which is near Tylerstown, when she married James Rosser on 17 April 1876 at St. David’s Parish Church, Llanwonno Parish. James Rosser was a collier and the son of John Rosser, a blacksmith. Some say that Mary Terrar Rosser had as many as 23 children, but I have only been able to learn of 8:

1) Martin

2) William

3) David

4) Edward

5) Elizabeth Mary

6) Esther

7) Sushanna

8) Bronwen

Mary died about 1949 and is buried at Lledyrdde, Porth, Wales.

[original, p. 6]

3) Hanna (Anna) Terrar was born about l859 at Rhigos, near Aberdare. She married William Thomas and adopted their only son, David William as a baby. Hanna worked as a cook at Newport Hospital, Caerphlon, Monmouthshire, Wales. She lived her last days at Cwaman, near Aberdare, with her nephew, John Bevan and his wife, Annie. She is buried at Newport, Wales.

4) David Terrar was born on 12 June 1862 at 9 David St., Aberdare. He married Ann Elias on 9 Nay 1882 and died 18 February 1952 at Tylorstown. I will say more about him later.

5) Sarah Ann Terrar was born in 1863. She was living in Pontygwaith when she married Thomas Bevan on 20 June 1882 at the Parish Church of Llanwonno. Thomas Bevan was the son of Robert Bevan, a collier. Sarah also worked at the Newport Hospital, Caerphlon. Sarah also lived a good deal of her life in Aherdare, and some of her children are still there. She died about 1952 in Aberdare. She had 9 sons and 1 daughter, so I am told, but I have the names of five of these children:

1) David William Bevan.

2) Edward Bevan.

3) John Bevan.

4) George Bevan.

5) Stanley Bevan.

6) William Luther Terrar (Tyrrell) was born 28 August 1669 at 6 Boud Place, Aberdare. When William came out to the States about 1907, he changed the spelling of his name to Tyrrell, so that now all his descendents go by the name of Tyrrell. This is the most recent variation in a name which certainly has had its share of change. William died 12 May 1929 and is buried at Brookside Cemetery. Carbondale. Pennsylvania. His first wife was Sarah Jane Goodwin and they were married in Wales about l894. By her he had his first six children:

1) C. Edward (9 February 1896-30 January 1970). He was born at 27 Brynbedw Terrace, Tylorstown, and married Helen McNulty. They had two boys. He is buried at Glen Rock, New Jersey.

2) Esther Mary (b. 26 August 189?). She married William R. Verrill and had two children, Clifton K. and Marlean Jene.

3) William Luther (b. 4 July 1898). He was born at 36 East Road, Tylorstown and married Isabell Allen on 2 February 1926.

4) Theresa (b. 31 August 1899). She was born at 42 Brondeg St., Tylorstown. I don’t think she lived to adulthood.

5) David J. (b. 11 September 1904). He married Loise Painter and had 3 boys and 1 girl.

6) Alice (b. 17 July 1903). She had two sons by her first husband, John F. Vail. The sons are: John F. and William L., both born in Carbondale. She married her second husband on 8 July 1937.

William Luther Terrar (Tyrrell) worked in the mines during these years. About 1907 William came to the United States with his children. And on 12 June 1908 he took his second wife in marriage at Providence Church, Scranton, Pennsylvania. Her name was Elizabeth Ann Edwards, and by her he had at least two more children. They lived in Carbondale, Pennsylvania, where Wi1liam mined coal. Many of his descendents still live there to this day. The names of William Luther Terrar (Tyrrell)’s children by Elizabeth are:

7) Stanley C (b. 1 December 1910). He married Dorthy Lee Buck on 10 December 1949, and has one child by a previous marriage to Helen M. Tallett. The child’s name was Paul and he was born 29 October 1932. Stanley is a retired Major in the U.S. Army. His son Paul has 7 children.

8) Haydn (30 September 1913- April 1961). He is buried at Tampa, Florida.

There are two additional children and I am not sure by which wife William Luther Terrar (Tyrrell) had them, nor am I sure of their date of birth. They are:

9) Hannah Jane who married Stanley C. Thompson and had 2 boys and 1 girl. She is buried at Brookside Cemetery, Carbondale, Pennsylvania.

10) Sarah Louise who married Mounty Harris and had a boy and a girl.

[original, p. 7]

David Terrar (1862-1952)

David Terrar was born 12 June 1862 at 9 David St., Aherdare. As his brothers and sisters, David went to school very infrequently, perhaps no more than eight weeks in his entire life. The reason for not more frequent attendance was that schools were not free, as they now are. Each lesson would cost two pence and this was more than most miners could afford. Nevertheless David learned how to read and write, and in his later years would think nothing of writing off a 12 page letter to his son, Edward Luther Terrar, who had come out to America. Not only were David and his brothers and sisters the first Terrar’s since William Tyrer (1750s?-1830s?) to be able to read and write, they also were the first to be able to speak English since their great grandfather William came to Wales. Of course I am not taking into consideration some of the Tyrer collateral descendents who lived in Amlwch and apparently could read and write.

David went to work in the mines at the age of 9; this was while he and his parents were still living in Aberdare. David and his brothers worked along side their father, and about 1875 the whole family moved to Tylerstown. David worked in number 7 mine and later in number 8 mine. By the time he was 20 David was living in the Ban11echa section of Tylerstown and listed his trade as that of a hauler. It was in this 20th year of his life that he married Ann Elias on 9 May 1882 at Llanwonno Parish Church by an Anglican minister. Ann was the 8th of 9 children of Jacob Elias (1819-1880s?) and Martha Thomas (l82l-2 Feb. 1907). Jacob was born at Whitchurch, which is now part of Cardiff. He was a tilor. Both Jacob’s father and grandfather were also born in Whitchurch parish, on 20 May 1782 and 1736 respectively. Both were named William Elias (or Ellis). Martha Thomas was the daughter of David Thomas, a miner, and she was born at Merthyr Tydifl. Martha Thomas had married Jacob Elias on 16 April 1844 at tie Registry Office, Aberdare. The children of Jacob Elias and Martha Thomas were:

1) Rachael Elias, born 1845, married John Jones and then a Mr. Morgan, and had 10 children: Gwilym, Gomer, Walter, Jacob, Hannah (born l9 Sept. 1879, married William Bevan, and died at Tacoma, Washington on 27 March 1959), Mary, Sarah, John Oliver, Martha, Daniel John, Edward). The first six children were by Jones, the rest by Morgan.

2) Richard, born about 1846 at Merthyr Tydifl.

3) Margaret was born about 1849.

4) William, born 14 January 1852, married Ann Lewis, had six children, George, Elizabeth Ann, Martha, Mary Jane and William Lewis. William died 21 April 1912 at Streator, Illinois.

5) John, born 5 April, 1853 at Aberdare, married Ann Maddocks about 1873, had four children, Catherine M. (18 November 1875- 24 December 1955), Martha (b. 22 December 1878), Rachel (27 Feb 1885—1964), Sarah, (b. 1876-l878?), an died about 1930 in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

6) Mary, born 15 August 1855, married Josiah Williams on 25 April 1872, had seven children, Martha (b. 24 August 1880), Elias (13 January 1882-18 August 1958), Margaret (17 June 1887-31 Aug. 1952), Mary Anne (November 1888-December 1888), Marion (b. 28 December 1889), Sarah (b. 15 March 1891), Howard (28 March 1893- 28 October 1918). She died 12 November 1930 at Frostburg, Maryland.

7) Margaret, born 14 June 1859, married John C. Lee and had six children: William (1 May 1879-6 July 1945), Martha (7 May 1881-Sept. 1952) David Morgan (12 Feb. 1884-3 Feb. 1963), Elizabeth Ann (b. 26 November 1886), Mary (22 June 1889-28 December 1962), Sarah (b. 4 August 1892). Margaret died 25 Feb 1907 at Mystic, Iowa.

8) Ann.

9) Jane, born 29 Jan. 1871, married Alfred Mitchell, had five children: Margaret (b. 10 March 1894), George(b. 25 April 1895), Arthur (9 July 1897-5 March 1968), Pauline, John. Jane died 19 January 1964 at Arkansas City, Kansas.

[original, p. 8]

To make any more mention of the hundreds of descendants of Jacob Elias and Martha Thomas, who are scattered throughout the United States and United Kingdom, will have to be the subject of my next attempt at history writing. David worked all his life in the coalmines. His wife Ann also worked in the mines. She pushed and greased drums at number 8 mine. David, and later his children as they got old enough to work with him in the mines, would bring home their wages at the end of the week and put them in the skirt of Ann who would stand by the door. David earned about two pounds or six dollars per week. Ann would take care of buying the food and fixing it. She washed the clothes, mended them, and bought new one when necessary.

As a young man about 1885 David came to America with the idea of having his wife, Ann follow him out. But the story goes that she would not leave her mother in Wales, and so David returned to Wales to live out his life. Until 1904 David frequented the Queen’s Hotel and Tylorstown, where was located the pub. He and his fellow miners would drink bitters sing songs play ludo--a card and dice game in which four people play, play a game called cat and dog, and generally have a fine time until late into the night. However about 1904 when he was 38 years old, David was converted by the great evangelist, Evan Roberts, at the Ebenezer Welch Congregational Church and baptized in the Taft River. From that day until his death 48 years later, David never touched another drop of liquor, and became a preacher. He first preached at the Horem Baptist Church, which later was the Horeb Baptist Church. He also frequented the Apostolic Church in Pontygwaith, from which he was buried in 1952. His remains are at Penrhys Cemetery, Tylorstown. beside him is his beloved wife, Ann, who died 6 November 1937.

David and Ann had 13 children and every Sunday and frequently during the week they would go to Horeb Baptist Church for services. The children were baptized when they were 16 or 17 years old, as is the custom in the Baptist Church. David’s youngest daughter, Mary, says she remembers well the pride of her father when she was baptized in a deep pool in the Horeb Baptist Church. It was also the custom for David to take the family on the train to Barry for August Holiday. Barry was not far and was by the sea. All the children were sent to Tylorstown School which was built in 1880. Most of the children went until age 11 and had finished six years of school. This was the usual time for leaving school in those times, and then the children would go to work in the mines, or in the shops about Tylorstown, All of David’s sons worked in the mines, at least for some period of their lives.

David and Ann Terrar had the following children, all born in Tylorstown:

1) Esther M., born 9 Feb. 1883, married Thomas Morgan, then John James Lewis, and then Mr. Mainwaring in 1954. She had the following children:

Maggie Morgan (6 June 1902, married Jarvis, died 6 April 1931 at Slough, England; had 2 children: Richie and Hair).

Thomas David Morgan (June l905-l930, died at Inf Hi Hai, China).

Elizabeth “Betty” Jane Morgan (b. 10 March 1907, married Howel (Hoywel) Williams, has four children (including Ester Ann Williams Mead).

Elias William.

John James Lewis (b. 22 Feb. 1915), married Maureen Mulvaney. Their children are John, Ann, and David. John James Lewis died about 1962 in Slough, England).

David Thomas Lewis, (b. 6 April 1913), married Cecilia Dorthy Moxon on 22 July 1950. They have one child, Stephen David).

Catherin “Kitty” May Lewis, (b. 18 March 1920), married Thomas Harry Dempsey, and then Terence Clifford Ryan on 14 March 1953. She has the following; children: Brenda Ann Dempsey, (b. 20 June 1942); Margaret Ann Ryan, (b. 30 April 1954) and Catherine Elizabeth Ryan, (b. 20 June 1956).

[original, p. 9]

2) Jane Terrar, born 17 April 1885, married Thomas Davies in April 1902. Jane died on 17 March 1969 at Parc Hospital Bridgend Hospital, Bridgend, Wales and is buried at Penrhys Cemetery, Tylorstown, Wales. Jane and Thomas Davies had 12 children:

David Charles Davies (1 December 1903-November 1969). His children are John, David and Pam, all by his wife Cessie Davis.

Elizabeth Mary Ann Davies (b. November 1905), married Len Bramish and had Beryl, Ronald and Mair).

Thomas Henry Davies (b. 1906) has one son Ronald.

Gladis May Davies (b. 1910) married Hugh Thomas and had Glennis, Thomas H. Glanville, Ira, and Ann.

Edith Davies (b. 1912) married David Pugh, has one child Dianne.

Gwendoline (b. 1914) married Trew Jones and had Betty Elizabeth.

Lillian Mabel Davies (b. 1916) married Idris Morgan, and had at least two children: Irwin and David.

Jane Dabies (b. 1918) married Albert Tavener, and had Robert, and two other children.

Edward Luther Davies (b. 1920).

Ronald Elias Davies (b. 1922) has three children, Raymond, Ronnie and Ronanna.

Vincent John Davies (1926).

Ronald Kenneth Davies (1923-1965).

3) Jacob Elias Terrar was born 20 July 1887 and married Elizabeth Nears and then Eunice Mary Lewis on 19 August 1919. He died at Cardiff 9 Sept. 1963. He had ten children:

David John Elias Terrar (b. 25 June 1908) married Nelly Harvey in 1937 and has Paul and Gary, both born in 1945.

Esther Ann Terrar (b. 4 August 1911) married George Griffith and has three children Mary, David and Elizabeth.

Edward Luther Terrar (b. 15 May 1914).

Victor Norman Terrar (b. 15 March 1920) married May in 1954 and has Allen, Clive and Jane.

Anita May Jane Terrar (b. 20 March 1921) married Albert Chandler in 1945 and has Marylyn, Anita and Eillen.

Alban Hugh Terrar (b. 25 July 1922) married Helena Ragola in 1945, and has Maureen and Marion.

Aaron Lewis Terrar (b. 1 March 1924) married Peggy in 1943.

George Granog Terrar (b. 26 Dec. 1926) married Beryl Wright in 1945 and has Linda and Julia.

Hilda Marion Terrar (b. 20 June 1929) married Trevor Harries in 1948 and has Robert, Richard Anthony, Michael, Christopher, and David.

Gillian Roberta Terrar (b. 25 May 1938) married Graham Smith in 1953.

4) Edward Luther Terrar was born 6 January 1891 and married Margaret May Gergen 19 June 1917. Edward Luther died on 11 October 1964 and is burled at Cavalry Cemetery, Coffeyville, Kansas. Edward Luther and Margaret May had four children:

Edward Francis, Jr. (b. 17 March 1920) married Hazel Hogan and had two children: Edward, and David Byron.

Rosemary Ann (b. 20 November 1921) married John I. Foster on 20 January 1946 and had John I. Foster, Jr. and James Edward.

Margaret Louise (23 August 1923-17 August 1924).

Mildred Arlene Terrar (b. July 1925) married Ray I. Throckmorton on 4 August 1946 and had Ray I. Jr., Richard Terrell and Mildred Anne.

5) David William Terrar was born 16 June 1893. He married Elizabeth McCarty in 1915. David William died on 14 July 1939 at Cardiff. David William and Elizabeth had the following:

David William Terrar (b. 3l.October 1917) married Beryl Alicia Hill, and had David William, Ann, Marcia Susan, Christine, Ian Roger and Angelia Joy.

James Edward Terrar (b. 16 January 1920). He married Deanne Piper in August 1945 and has Marilyn and Keith.

Doreen Margaret Terrar (b. 24 May 1923) married William Clement Lewis in October 1943 and has Evelyn, Elaine, Alan, Pamela and Patricia.

Henry Mervyn Terrar (b. 3 Feb. 1927) married Pamela Pitt in 1948.

6) Daniel Terrar was born 27 September 1895. He married Elsie Matthews on 19 April 1914. They have the following children:

David Glyndwr Terrar (b. 26 January 1915) married Audrey Steele and has David, Jr.

William Elias (b. 26 May 1924) married Beatrice June Brackett, and has Steven John and Andrew Clive Terrar.

[original, p. 10]

7) Martha Terrar, born 5 January 1898, married Fred C. Smith. They had the following:

Myfanwy May, who married Henry Charles Pegler on 10 Feb. 1940.

David Frederick James (b. 17 March 1920) married Lillian Mae Evans and has David Raymond and Jeffery.

Edward Luther married Catherine Ann Phillips on 21 June 1947 and has Michael, Rose Marie, John, Anita, Malcome and Peter.

Ellene Rose married Josuha Jones and then Frank Bennett and has Patricia, David and Gwyneth Jones and Allison June and Carol Bennett.

Mildred Doreen married George Clements on 5 Sept. 1953, and has Christine Mary, Lyillian Ann, Loraine, Angela and Sherley.

Muriel married Cyril Lloyd in 1952 and has Anthony, Alma, Graham, Susan and Angela.

Leonard Elias married Mary Elizabeth and had Kim, Paul, Leslie and Andrew.

Ann married Arthur Rees and died 11 Mar. 1965 Ann and Arthur had the following children: Keery John, David William, Stephen, Susan and Allen.

8) Gwilym Terrar was born 26 November 1899. He married Margaret Thomas on 15 October 1945.

9) Mary Hannah Terrar was born 16 July 1902. She married James Miles on 14 Feb. 1923. They had the following children:

Leslie (14 June 1924-14 November 1929).

Olwen May (b. 22 June 1925) married John Roberts on 1 April 1950 and had Martin and Huw.

Emrys Cyril (b. 17 November 1929) married Tegwen Evans and had Steven David, Julie Yvonne and Andrew Jonathan.

10) Rachel Ann Terrar was born 13 Jan 1904.

11) Thomas Henry Terrar was born 30 August 1905.

12) Rachael Ann Terrar.

13) Thomas Henry Terrar.

[original, p. 11]

[Relationship Chart]

The below information is from The Improved How Book for Genealogists (Logan, Utah: Everton Publishers:1959):

[Not available in HTML version, but the following explanation is available].

COMMON OR CANON LAW RELATIONSHIP CHART

B = Brother or Sister

C = Cousin

CP = Common Progenitor

GGN = Great Grandnephew or Great Grandniece

GGS = Great Grandson or Great Granddaughter

GS = Grandson or Granddaughter

N = Nephew or Niece

2 = Times removed

S = Son or Daughter

The printed material to the right in the chart above may be difficult to read, so it is repeated below.

As additional aids to understanding terms used in relationship descriptions we give the following:

The parents of your father or mother are your grandfather or grandmother and you are a grandson to them. (GS).

The parents of your grandfather or grandmother are your great grandparents and you are a great grandson to them. (GGS)

The parents of your great grandmother or great grandfather are your second great grandparents and you are a second great grandson to them, etc., etc., (2GGS)

The children of your brothers and sisters are your nephews and nieces (N) and you are uncle or aunt to them.

The children of your nieces and nephews are your grand—nieces or grandnephews (GN) and you are granduncle to them.

The children of your grandnephews and grandnieces are your great grandnephews or great grandnieces (GGN) and you are great granduncle to them.

Your father’s brother or sister is your uncle or aunt and you are a nephew or niece to them. (N).

The children of your uncle or aunt are your first cousins and you are also their first cousin. (1C).

The children of your first cousins are first cousins once removed to you and you are the same to them. (lC lR).

The son of your third great grandfather is your second great granduncle and you are a second great grandnephew or niece to him.

The children of your second cousins are your second cousins once removed and you are the same to them.

The grandchildren of your second cousins are your second cousins twice removed and you are the same to them.

The great grand children of your second cousins are your second cousins thrice removed and you are the same to them.

The second great grandchildren of your second cousins are your second cousins four times removed and you are the same to them.

A simple formula for figuring cousin relationships by the above method is this: Call the common ancestor “0” and Count down to the subjects; subtract one from the smaller of the two figures — this is the cousin relationship. Then subtract the smaller number from the larger and this gives you the times removed. Example: one subject is seven steps down from the common ancestor, the other is four steps down — one from four is three, so the cousinship is third cousins, and four from seven is three (three times removed) making them third cousins three times removed (3c3r).

Another example:

Subject No. 1 is 9 steps down from the common ancestor

Subject No. 2 is 6 steps down from the common ancestor

6 – 1= 5th cousin. 9 - 6 = 3 times removed. So they are fifth cousins three times removed. (5c3r).

Of course, if the steps down from the common ancestor are the same you simply subtract 1 from that number and it gives you their’ cousinship and there are no times removed to be figured. Remember also that the common ancestor is never counted when figuring the steps down to the subject, just as it appears on the chart.

[original, p. 12]

[Sketch of Amlwch Port]
[Not available in HTML version].

This is a sketch of Amlwch Port, done by John Warwick Smith. The original is at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. The town of Amlwch borders on the Irish Sea. To the Northeast Is Lancashire, ancestral home of the Tyrer Family.

[original, p. 13]

[Pedigree chart]
[Not available in HTML version].

[original, p. 14]

[View of Amlwch Harbor]

[Not available in HTML version].

This is a view of Amlwch harbour. It was drawn and engraved by Will Daniell in 1815. William Tyrer (1750s?-1850s?), his son Edward Tyrer (1794-1855), and finally Edward’s son Edward Tyrer (1829-1890?) were quite familiar with this sight, and no doubt sailed out to go fishing through this port on occasion. A story has been handed down by the Amlwch branch of the Tyrer’s, that William helped to build the port. And the census records of 1851 list Edward Tyrer (1794-1855) as a stone mason. The original of this print is at the Nationa1 Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

[original, p. 15]

[Document with William Tyrer’s signature, 1823]

[Not available in HTML version].

The above is the way William Tyrer (1750s?—1830s?) signed his name, at least one of the ways he signed his name. The above is spelt TERER. However, his usual spelling was Tyrer. The above signature was made 9 March 1823 in the Parish Vestry book, which can now be seen at the University of North Wales, Bangor. He signed his name to ratify the fact that he had been appointed Select Vestryman for the ensuing year, for the purpose of carrying into execution a certain Act of Parliament. The district in Amlwch for which he was to be responsible was Llatorylian uchaf and Isaf. There were nine other men who also were appointed with him for this district.

[original, p. 16]

[Drawing of church at Amlwch with a description]

[Not available in HTML version].

The above picture is that of St. Eleth Church-not the one which presently stands, which was built in l800, but the one which stood previous to the present St. E1eth. The sketch was found in Henry Row1ands book, Mona Antiqua Restaurata: An Archaelogical Discourse on the Antiquities, Natural History, . . . of Ang1esy. The book was printed in Dublin in 1723 by Aaron Rhames and Robert Owen. The sketch apparently was made on an unprinted or blank page in the book sometime after it was published. The book is at the National. Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

It was in the above church that William Tyrer (1750s?-1830s?) married Margaret Parry on 27 July 1771. And on 12 September 1788 Wi1liam, now a widower, took his second wife, Margaret Hughes, in this same church. Finally it was in this church that Edward Tyrer (1794-1855) was baptized on 23 August 1794. The record books of these events, which were kept within this same church, are now in the new church, and can be seen by any one who would like to take a short holiday to lovely Amlwch. Rev. Hughes, the pastor at St. E1eth, a most generous and helpful man, will be the man to apply to. The above church stood where the present churchyard now stands, according to J. Bennett .Hughes in his History of St. Eleth Church: Amlwch (Langefni: W.O. Jones, Printers, 1958). I might add that Mr. J. Bennett Hughes lives in Amlwch and is most gracious in answering any questions which you might have.

[original, p. 17]

[Map of Amlwch]
[Not available in HTML version].

---

[1]This information was found in Henry Brougham Guppy’s Homes of Family Names in Great Britain (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1963), p. 238.

[2]This was found in several books, for example, Henry Harrison’s Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969), p. 245. There is some possibility that William Tyrer came from Cornwall, as did most of the English miners, in which case the original spelling of the name is probab1y “Tyer.” Tyer is the Celtic word for tiler, one who covers a roof. Variant spellings of this would be tyre, tyar, tyor, tÝ etc. However I think it more likely that William came from Lancashire, as he always spelled his name Tyrer. Further research will tell.

[3]I found this and other information in John Rowland’s “A Study of the Social and Economic Changes in the Town and Parish of Amlwch l750-l850,” University of Wales Dissertation, Aberswyth, Wales, 1960, p. 40.

[4]From the Amlwch Vestry Books, kept at the University of North Wales Bangor, Wales, p. 21.

[5]Amlwch Vestry Books, p. 185.

[6]Ibid.

[7]Ibid., p. 404.

[8]Information from Samuel Lewis’s A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (London: S. Lewis Publisher, 1849).