| Description | Who Mrs Leah James was is not entirely clear. She married David James, a farmer of Llys yr onen in St Nicholas parish, at Manorowen parish church on 31/01/1867.
She married David James, a farmer of Llys yr onen in St Nicholas parish, at Manorowen parish church on 31st January 1867. Her maiden name was given as Francis but the space for her father's name was left blank. In the 1861 census she is Leah Thomas, a 19 year old living at Trebrython, the house of her uncle, David Francis. David Francis was one of the witnesses of Leah's marriage. In the 1851 census she is down ast Leah Howells, a 9 year old niece of David. In both censuses her place of birth is given as Manorowen but there is no baptismal entry in the Manorowen register round the year 1842. In the 1871 census she is married of course but still living with her husband at David Francis' house. On 23rd November 1875 David Francis died. In his will Leah is described as his niece, the daughter of his sister Margaret and William Thomas of Fishguard, ironfounder. She inherited all her uncle's estates. Her husband David James took over the running of the farm. David and Leah had one daughter, Mary Maria, who, however, died young just after reaching her 21st birthday. David James died on 24th August 1905, aged 61 and was buried in the cemetery of Tabernacle Chapel, Fishguard. Leah died on 2nd May 1924. Owing to a series of failures by other families to produce heirs David Francis had become the owner of land in the Herefordshire parish of Ledbury. This was sold off soon after his death in 1875. Many of the item in this collection relate to the Herefordshire property. |