In an earlier post I mentioned that Richard Richards, my great-great grandfather who came over from Devon to Neath around 1870 (I think), held the licence of the Duke of Wellington pub in Old Market Street in that town. Until now, I was not sure when he took over the pub but with the help of some knowledgeable people in Neath*, I have now established the date as sometime in May 1893 - the 12th May 1893 to be exact (I think again!).
The Cambrian newspaper of 19th May 1893 reports the transfer of the licence from a Richard Morgan to Richard Richards. It can be viewed here under "Neath County Police - Friday" and then under "Transfers" http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3339959/3339966/58/ reads:
"The licence of the Duke of Wellington Inn was transferred from Richard Morgan to Richard Richards"
As the date of the newspaper was Friday 19 May, I am assuming that the Neath County Police arranged/facilitated the transfer the previous Friday 12 May.
A more recent picture of the Duke of Wellington is below and I hope to find some older pictures of the pub nearer the time Richard was there. It has a good reputation for live music these days. A quick review of the same newspaper as the above statement appeared suggested Neath towards the end of the 19th century could be a rough place - another article mentions a prostitute, married woman and the wife of a rag and bone collector being fined by the local court for being drunk and disorderly (though there is no evidence it was outside the Duke!). On the other hand, having experienced regular nights out in Neath in the 1980s and 90s, nothing much changes......
In researching this, I also came across several other pieces of interesting and useful information about the Richards family.
Firstly, that Richard and his wife Margaret (nee Morgan) were living at a "farm" in Tonna in 1905, and probably earlier. The Cardiff Times dated 29th April 1905 relates to an accident between a trap & cart driven by Richard (with Margaret as a passenger) and a grocer's cart; Richard and Margaret were "pitched out of their trap and received injuries which, though not serious, required medical attention". The article goes on to say that the "trap was wrecked and the cart damaged". ( http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3432724/3432726/20/)
Secondly, a sadder story of Margaret's brother. It appears that her younger brother Isaac (Morgan) had emigrated to the United States but met a tragic end at a relatively young age. The Cambrian dated 22 September 1905 reported the following:
"Neath Tinplater's Tragic Death.
A well-known tinplater, who formerly belonged to Neath, and named Isaac Morgan, brother to Mrs. Richards, of the Duke of Wellington, Neath, and who went out to America some years ago to Elwood, U.S.A., and afterwards to Greencastle, U.S.A., has met with a tragical death by drowning. It transpires that he went out fishing with party of friends in Big Walnut Creek, a mile west of the city. Here he was caught in a seine net, his foot becoming entangled in the meshes, and he gave one loud cry. It being very dark at the time his friends became alarmed and hastened to pull the seine to the bank of the creek, which only made death more certain to the unfortunate man, he being dragged through 7ft. of deep water. The party were fishing for bass. Deceased was greatly liked by everybody he came in contact with. He was only 35 years age therefore in the prime of life. He is survived by a widow and four children and was buried the City Cemetery. Rev. - Julian, of the Baptist Church offi- ciated. The members of the McKinley lodge of tbp Amalgamated Association escorted the bodv to the cemetery He was a share- holder in the Western Tinplate and Sheet Metal Company. His relatives in Neath and district are in deep sorrow over this far-off disaster, and deep sympathy is extended to his widow and children." (http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3347873/3347875/28/)
* Thank you to the Neath Antiquarian Society and Mr David Michael for pointing me towards this information and its sources.
The Cambrian newspaper of 19th May 1893 reports the transfer of the licence from a Richard Morgan to Richard Richards. It can be viewed here under "Neath County Police - Friday" and then under "Transfers" http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3339959/3339966/58/ reads:
"The licence of the Duke of Wellington Inn was transferred from Richard Morgan to Richard Richards"
As the date of the newspaper was Friday 19 May, I am assuming that the Neath County Police arranged/facilitated the transfer the previous Friday 12 May.
A more recent picture of the Duke of Wellington is below and I hope to find some older pictures of the pub nearer the time Richard was there. It has a good reputation for live music these days. A quick review of the same newspaper as the above statement appeared suggested Neath towards the end of the 19th century could be a rough place - another article mentions a prostitute, married woman and the wife of a rag and bone collector being fined by the local court for being drunk and disorderly (though there is no evidence it was outside the Duke!). On the other hand, having experienced regular nights out in Neath in the 1980s and 90s, nothing much changes......
In researching this, I also came across several other pieces of interesting and useful information about the Richards family.
Firstly, that Richard and his wife Margaret (nee Morgan) were living at a "farm" in Tonna in 1905, and probably earlier. The Cardiff Times dated 29th April 1905 relates to an accident between a trap & cart driven by Richard (with Margaret as a passenger) and a grocer's cart; Richard and Margaret were "pitched out of their trap and received injuries which, though not serious, required medical attention". The article goes on to say that the "trap was wrecked and the cart damaged". ( http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3432724/3432726/20/)
Secondly, a sadder story of Margaret's brother. It appears that her younger brother Isaac (Morgan) had emigrated to the United States but met a tragic end at a relatively young age. The Cambrian dated 22 September 1905 reported the following:
"Neath Tinplater's Tragic Death.
A well-known tinplater, who formerly belonged to Neath, and named Isaac Morgan, brother to Mrs. Richards, of the Duke of Wellington, Neath, and who went out to America some years ago to Elwood, U.S.A., and afterwards to Greencastle, U.S.A., has met with a tragical death by drowning. It transpires that he went out fishing with party of friends in Big Walnut Creek, a mile west of the city. Here he was caught in a seine net, his foot becoming entangled in the meshes, and he gave one loud cry. It being very dark at the time his friends became alarmed and hastened to pull the seine to the bank of the creek, which only made death more certain to the unfortunate man, he being dragged through 7ft. of deep water. The party were fishing for bass. Deceased was greatly liked by everybody he came in contact with. He was only 35 years age therefore in the prime of life. He is survived by a widow and four children and was buried the City Cemetery. Rev. - Julian, of the Baptist Church offi- ciated. The members of the McKinley lodge of tbp Amalgamated Association escorted the bodv to the cemetery He was a share- holder in the Western Tinplate and Sheet Metal Company. His relatives in Neath and district are in deep sorrow over this far-off disaster, and deep sympathy is extended to his widow and children." (http://newspapers.library.wales/view/3347873/3347875/28/)
* Thank you to the Neath Antiquarian Society and Mr David Michael for pointing me towards this information and its sources.
