Our Family History

 

Josiah Thomas (b.1849 – d.1925) married Elizabeth Richards (b.1849 – d.1917) on 2nd June 1874 in Swansea. Elizabeth was the daughter of William Richards, a carpenter, who lived at 57 Oxford Street, Swansea.

 

 In 1881 Josiah and Elizabeth were living in Priory Street, Steyton in Pembrokeshire. He was working as a foreman contractor and they had two children named Thomas and Rachel (named perhaps after his parents).

 

 By 1891 Josiah had moved to Rhyndwyclydach in Glamorgan and was working as an Engine Driver on the Railways.  Engine Stoker John Evans (18) was a boarder, and Josiah's sister, Anne Lewis (35) a general servant, also lived with them.  They also had two more sons:  William -who was nicknamed “Wellie” - and youngest son, Johney. 

 

In 1901 Josiah was still living in Swansea with wife Elizabeth, daughter Rachel (21) and son William (19), who was an apprentice engine fitter. Josiah was still working as an Engine Driver on the Railways.

 

In 1911 Josiah and Elizabeth were living at 51 Ysgol St Danygraig Swansea with boarder Mansel Thomas Jones, who worked as a railway fitter. They had been married for over 38 years and although Elizabeth had originally given birth to 6 children, only 4 had lived into adulthood. Elizabeth died on 1st August 1917 aged 68. Josiah died in March 1925 aged 76.

 

Their four children were:

 

1. Thomas Richard Thomas (b.1876 – d.14th Feb 1953) – Thomas started out working on the railways like his father.  In 1901, aged 25, he was working away from home and was boarding at 3 Railway Cottages, Falmouth, Cornwall where he met his future wife Henrietta “Hettie” Peters, who was his landlord’s daughter.  By 1910 Thomas and Hettie had been married for 10 years and were living at Station View House, Dunvant near Swansea. Thomas was employed doing electrical work for the local colliery. They had six children:

 

William Edward Thomas (b.1903 – d.1983) married Gladys May Akrill in September 1934 and had a son, Donald A Thomas (b.1942 – d.2002)

 

Elizabeth Ida Thomas (b.1904) married William T Jones

 

Rosina Iris Thomas  (b.1908 – d.1993) married Cyril J Pike

 

Cecil Lionel Thomas (b.1908 – d.1993)

 

Alfred Brinley Thomas (b.1909 – d.1986) married Nora Barker

 

Smyrna Thomas (b.1916 – d.1985) married a Mr Bone

 

2. Rachel A Thomas (b.1880)

 

3. William “Wellie” S. Thomas (b.1882) – Apprentice Engine Fitter on the Railway

 

4. Johney Thomas (b.1884) went into service aged 15 as a domestic servant