Benjamin Powell.                                                        

Benjamin Powell was born about 1813 at Brecon in Brecknockshire, Wales. His occupation is given in the 1851 census as a boatman. This would have been on the Monmouthshire to Brecon canal. which ran between Newport and Brecon. He met Elizabeth Jenkins from Llandovery, Camarthenshire, Wales and they were married. They had six children and their names were....John Powell, born 1834, Benjamin Powell, born 1837,  Rees Powell, 1841, William Powell, born 1843,  Thomas Powell, born,1846 and Mary Powell, 1849.

The details of the family in the 1851 census is as follows...

Powell Benjamin, head, aged 37, boatman, born Brecon

   Elizabeth,       wife, aged 40,            born Camarthenshire

John,                 son,  aged 17, boatman,        born Brecon

 Benjamin,         son,  aged 13, boatman,        born Brecon

 Rees,                 son,  aged 10,                          born Brecon

                  William,           son,  aged  8,                           born Llantarnam, Mon

                   Thomas,           son,  aged  5,                            born Llantarnam, Mon

        Mary,               dau, aged 2,                             born Bettws, Mon

Some of their children were I believe born aboard the canal barge's or at the canal wharf's and Mary was born at Bettws, Monmouthshire where the canal still run's through.   In those days the area was countryside with few houses and it is possible that she was born aboard the barge on the canal in this area.

Mary Powell went on to marry John Gillard from Taunton, North Devon.

(many thanks to Gwynneth Wright for the census information)

Watton Wharf, Brecon

Whatton wharf is in Brecon town, Powys. Depending from where you start, it is either the beginning  or the end of a journey on the Brecon - Monmouthshire canal.  It was in this area that Benjamin Powell's first children were born (see census's).

Some views of Watton wharf.

(click on all images to enlarge)

Ty Coch, Llantarnam, Gwent.

Two views of the Monmouthshire to Brecon canal  in the Bettws - Llantarnam area where it is believed Benjamin Powell lived and some of his children were born.

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John Gillard

John Gillard married Mary Powell at the St. Michael's and All Saints church in Llantarnam, Monmouthshire on  December 24, 1877. The given father's names are William Gillard, an agricultural labourer and Benjamin Powell, a labourer.

Until recently, other than the marriage certificate, the first record of John Gillard and his family that I had is taken from the 1881 census (as below) but other information has now come to light.

John Gillard and his family are living in Albion Road, Trevethin, Monmouthshire. He is aged 31 and his occupation is given as a wire cleaner and he was born in Devon

Following on from the above, further information has been obtained from the 1851 census and the IGI records. It is known that John Gillard record in the 1901 census says that he is from Church, Devon  and that on his marriage certificate his fathers name is William. John's birth year varies with his age in different census's but can be put between 1848 - 1850 and so the following information is loosely based on these records until definite proof is found.

William Gillard was born in 1820 at Churchstanton, Devon and married Sarah Wide in Wellington, Somerset about 1845. In the 1851 census the family are living in Churchstanton with their son John aged 3 and William's father and mother in law. As well as the information about John Gillard and his family that is in the 1881 census as above, this census also lists a Samuel Gillard and gives his place of birth as Church Saunton. It also gives his occupation as a wire cleaner and in all probability, he his John's brother. John's occupation at that time was also a wire cleaner. There is also a William Gillard living in the same area as Sam and John, his name is William, aged 22 and comes from Devon.

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