The White Hart and a George Street Mystery

On 29 June 2017 the Lost Souls Paranormal Group carried out an investigation at the White Hart.  I was asked if I could find some history about the building for them.

The first mention I found came from the Monmouthshire Merlin in 1829. In November of that year it was advertised that new houses and buildings for business were being let at the upper end of George Street, one of which had a garden attached to it.

It is possible the building with the garden is the White Hart as this garden is mentioned again in a news article from the Pontypool Free Press in June 1867.  It concerned a collier from Pontnewynydd, Isaac Osbourne, who was charged with assaulting Sarah Ann Madley on 23 May.  Sarah was a servant at the White Hart and at midnight her mistress had told her to go and shut the door that led to the skittle alley.  When Sarah got there she found two men lying down there.  One of them was Isaac Osbourne who grabbed her by the neck from behind.  Sarah had been a witness against Osbourne at the trial of the murder of Herbert Morgan.  Sarah became hysterical and the landlady's daughter, Mrs Daniels had to send for the doctor because Sarah was tearing her own hair out.  The White Hart had a garden and Sarah had left the garden gate open allowing Osbourne to hide in the skittle alley without having to go through the front of the house.

In November 1868 the White Hart was attacked by a mob that had formed on election day.  Mrs Jones, a widow, was the landlady.  The windows of the building were smashed in and a stone hit her on the head.  Another stone hit her little grandchild who was in bed.  Three months later, Edward Williams, Alfred Joy and Elijah Elton were charged with assaulting two policemen, P.C. Kendall and P.C. Agg.  Williams was the brother in law of Oliver Evans who had left prison on 6th February 1869 after his part in the election riots and the smashing of the White Hart windows.  The same night he went with the other three and punched Mrs Jones in the face for giving evidence against him.  Williams and Elton were given one month's hard labour.  Joy was fined 20 shillings but Evans didn't show up at court.

There was more fighting at the White Hart in December 1870.  Timothy Desmond, his wife Julia and another woman, Hannah Crowley were charged with being drunk and assaulting P.C. Basham and P.C. Gardner. Timothy Desmond was also charged with trespass and for breaking furniture.  He had been fighting with his wife and a chair was smashed.  Then when the police arrived they attacked them too by beating, scratching and kicking them so they were removed to the lock up.  Timothy was fined £3 or one month's hard labour.  The women were fined £2 each or 14 days in prison.

Things appear to quieten down after this date.  In 1876 the Railway Servants held their annual dinner at the White Hart without incident.  In October 1897 Mr Williams is recorded in the Western Mail as being the landlord.  When he died his wife became landlady until the license was transferred from her to Mr E J Hill, County Court bailiff, in July 1901.

In February 1903, Mr Hill was assaulted by customers William and Robert Bigham who refused to leave the establishment.  Then in September 1903 Mr Hill was summoned himself for selling drink during prohibited hours.

That was all I could find out from old newspapers but then, as sometimes happens when digging around in the past, I was told a story about George Street.  My Great Grandparents lived at 67 George Street which was opposite the White Hart.  My Great Uncle believed the house was haunted.  This wasn't all, a great aunt recalled a body being discovered in the back yard of the property.  The bones were removed and presumably re-buried.  She also said that the area was built on an old burial ground.  How old or big this burial ground was, or if it included the land the White Hart was built on is unknown and so far all attempts to find out more have failed.

Is there anyone else out there who has heard anything similar ... ?

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3329446

The Mason's Arms and a Pontnewynydd mystery

This is some research I did for a local paranormal group.  It began as history of the Mason's Arms but instead uncovered a mystery!

The earliest mention of the Mason's Arms that I could find is on the 1871 census where it is the home of Thomas Jones who was a widow living with his mother, Mary and Sarah, his aunt.  His occupation was a stone mason so this is probably how the pub got its name.

Numerous inquests were held at the pub on unexplained deaths in Pontnewynydd.  Many of them were babies such as the inquest on Laura, baby daughter of Rees Powell who was found dead in bed in November 1878.

In July 1879, an inquest was held on John George, aged 74 who had died suddenly and in October 1880 an inquest was held on Anne Radway, aged 75 who had fallen downstairs and broken her neck.

In January 1882 another inquest was held on Florence Watkins, one month old who had died suddenly.  It was stated she was one of twins and had been sickly from birth.

In January 1886, an inquest was held on Nathaniel Rosser, aged 57, from River Row.  He had been drinking heavily over the Christmas holidays and had been suffering from delirium tremens for several days.  At 7 p.m. on a Tuesday evening he left his house and did not return.  A search was made and he was found dead in the river next morning.  His throat was cut.  An open verdict was recorded. He left a widow and nine children.

The most interesting case though happened in November 1874.  A puddler, Joseph Evans, 33,  known locally as Yankee Joe was found lying on a narrow part of Canal Parade overlooking the railway about a hundred yards from the bridge over which the road leads from Pontypool to Abersychan.  He had been shot through the head and died the following day after lingering in an insensible state. A gun lay near him and it was thought he had attempted suicide but had first attempted to murder a woman he was pursuing, Ann Joshua.  Evans had a wife in America and by coincidence, Ann had a husband in America and so the two became friends.  Evans offered Ann money and free passage to America if she would go with him.

At the inquest, Dr. Thomas, surgeon of Pontypool said he had found a wound on the right side of Evans's head penetrating the temple bone and the brain.  The wound was circular and the bullet had travelled through the brain, splintered the inside of his skull and rebounded back into the brain. There was no burning of the hair and Evans never spoke or recovered consciousness after he was discovered.

A witness, James Chaplin, stated he was returning home from work at 10 p.m. along the canal bank when he stumbled over the arm of Evans who was lying under the fence beside the railway.  Chaplin called for help and a man named Campbell helped to carry Evans to his lodgings with Jane Snell and her husband.

Earlier that evening, about 9.30, Evans was having supper with Mrs Snell when someone knocked the door.  Evans got up to answer but Jane jumped up and got to the door first.  On opening the door, Jane saw it was Mrs Joshua.  Evans asked who was there and then said 'Come in Annie, dear'.  Mrs Joshua said she wouldn't and ran away.  Evans then said that if she didn't come in he would 'have his revenge'.  With that, he got up and ran out after her.  Mrs Snell also ran out after them both, but paused to lock the door and in doing so lost them.  She heard two shots being fired and someone scream.

Superintendent Macintosh stated on the afternoon of the 10th, Evans had gone to Newport and bought a six barrelled breech-loader revolver pistol at the shop of Mr Nibblett in Commercial Street.  All the chambers of the gun were loaded at Nibblett's and Evans had a spare four bullets he put in his pocket.  After the shooting it was found three chambers had been emptied, two were still loaded and one had dropped out.

Anne Joshua was questioned at the inquest and said Evans had offered her ten pounds to go to America with him but she never saw the money.  On the night of the 10th she went to see Mrs Snell to find out when Evans intended leaving.  She claimed she heard no scream and saw no more of Evans until his body was carried home.

Mrs Nash, Mrs Snell's neighbour stated that when Ann had heard of Evans injuries she behaved quite strangely.  She said 'Perhaps he intended to shoot me'  She would not go to see Evans but instead laughed about the situation and said 'Perhaps he is in labour, perhaps he is ill'.

The coroner concluded though that Ann's behaviour was not that of someone who had committed murder and there was no evidence to bring any suspicion upon her.  She could account for her movements on leaving Mrs Snell's house until Evans was brought home.  The coroner recommended to the jury to return an open verdict and suggested it should be that on the 10th, Joseph Evans was found insensible in the parish of Trevethin with a wound on the temple penetrating the brain and that he died the following day but there was no evidence to show by whom that injury was inflicted.

The coroner also remarked that it was strange that there were no marks from burning on Evans's head as would have been the case if the gun had been fired close to his head.  To demonstrate what he meant, he fired the revolver at a piece of rag which was set alight and became blackened.

So what happened that evening to Evans.  Did Ann Joshua shoot him?  Did she run off from Mrs Snell's house knowing Evans would follow?  Was there another person involved who fired Evans's gun?  It remains a mystery.

The Pegasus Pontnewynydd, formerly The Mason's Arms.

William 'Blackwood' Jones, Pontypool RFC

In May 2014 I gave an interview to the South Wales Argus regarding the experiences of my ancestors during WW1.  An article was published and I was also invited to the launch of the Torfaen at War exhibition.  This is a copy of the article -

"A WOMAN has spoken of her shock at finding out that her great great uncle was a part of the WWI Christmas Day truce - where a copy of the Argus' sister paper The Free Press was used as a make shift flag.

Carol Lewis, 45, a member of Cwmbran Writers Group, started researching her relatives who fought in the war and has collected their stories into a book entitled Tell Them of Us.

One of the stories is of her great great uncle, William Jones, who was born in Blackwood in 1879, but lived in George Street, Pontypool from 1900.

Mr Jones was a rugby player and member of Pontypool RFC, going by the name of Blackwood Jones.

During her research, which took around ten years to complete using books and websites, she discovered her great great uncle, a sergeant, had taken his Pontypool roots to war with him.

She said: “One of the soldiers including William got hold of a copy of the Pontypool Free Press and attached it to the top of a rifle as a flag of truce."

The Germans were the 7th Bavarian Regiment, and they exchanged food and cigarettes while giving them all the chance to bury the dead, Ms Lewis' research suggests.

Author of the book, They Fought with Pride, David Nicholas confirmed the tale from a soldiers written account from the time.

It reads: “We spent Christmas Day in a rather unique position... as soon as it was daylight we stopped firing and sang ‘Hark!’ the Herald Angels Sing in real Poolian style.

“The Germans were astonished, so me and Segt Jones (Blackwood) got a copy of the ‘Press,’ dated December 11 and struck it on top of a rifle as a flag of truce.

"They stopped firing... there they were on top of their trench waving for us to come, and asking for cigarettes.”

Mr Jones lived at 29 High Street, Pontypool, with his wife Mary Elizabeth and their two children, Elsie and Pansy.

But in 1914, Mr Jones and his two brothers, Richard and Percy, were called up to fight.

Mr Jones served in the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (militia) and the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.

He was mobilized on August, 5 1914 and was in France on November 6 at Le Havre.

In December, the 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment occupied the same trenches as the Essex Regiment, rotating every four days, near Frelinghien.

Ms Lewis also researched the history of her other great great uncles. Richard's body was never found, while Percy, is buried in Calvaire (Essex) Military Cemetery. Their stories also feature in her book.

But Mr Jones survived the war, returning to Britain after sustaining facial injuries, and was discharged in 1917. He died in 1936.

Her book is available on www.amazon.co.uk and also on Kindle."

You can read the article here

 http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/11218846.Pontypool_uncle_rsquo_s_war_exploits_retold/

Anyway, after watching tonight's episode of Who Do You Think You Are, I decided to delve again into the family tree and while doing so found this article from the British Council, regarding the Football Remembers Week back in December 2014.  It seems that Great Great Uncle William was one of the men remembered by the Football Association of Wales  and it is his name specifically mentioned in British Council Wales's article -

"Gwyn Derfel, Corbett Sports WPL Secretary, said: “On 17 November the Wales international squad visited Artillery Wood Cemetery in the village of Boezinge near Ypres to pay their respects. 1307 soldiers are buried there, many of them are Welshmen.                    

“The FAW is pleased to participate in the Football Remembers project and it is believed that a number of Welshmen were involved in the historic football match. 

“Local reports in Ypres suggest that the 1914 Christmas truce was started by a Welshman; William ‘Blackwood’ Jones who held up a copy of the local Pontypool newspaper as a white flag to start it all and that a Welsh regiment played in the match.”

You can read the whole article here

https://wales.britishcouncil.org/en/about/press/welsh-football-honours-centenary-christmas-truce

I wonder what he'd make of it all if he were around today :)

Driver John Hancock, Royal Field Artillery, of Cwmffrwdoer

Back last year I published a book called 'Tell Them of Us', detailing my ancestors involvement in the First World War.  One of the chapters concerned my great grandfather John Hancock of 42 Plasycoed Rd, Cwmffrwdoer who had won a Military Medal for bravery in 1917.  However his service records didn't give any information as to why he was awarded the Military Medal but recently further information has come to light, this was published in a local newspaper.

Driver J Hancock MM

The gratifying news was received by his wife on Saturday morning

that Driver J H Hancock, 29953, Div. Ammunition Column, RFA, was awarded the Military Medal

for 'gallant conduct and devotion to duty in the field on

October 7th 1917 near St Julien', a report of which from his

Regimental and Brigade Commanders was read 'with great pleasure', by

Major General R P Lee, commanding the division according

to the parchment certificate to hand.  Going up the line the truck was blown up and 

Driver Hancock, by means of a pontoon bridge got his horses

and mules safely over.  Driver Hancock who is 32 years of age, has

a wife and four children  residing at 42 Plasycoed Rd, Cwmffrwdoer, and so far as is known

he is the first one at Cwmffrwdoer to win the MM. He voluntarily joined

the army on September 2nd 1914 and 

went out to France in July 1915.  He was recommended

for distinction once before.  He was formerly a timberman's helper

at Blaenserchen Colliery and his many friends will

offer him congratulations on the official

recognition of his bravery. He was home on leave about three months ago"

The closest battle I could find prior to his being awarded the MM is the Battle of Broodseinde, part of the Third Battle of Ypres.  It commenced on 4th October 1917 when the 7th Division units attacked the Germans at 6 am.  Over the next five days they suffered 1500 casualties.

The Broodseinde battlefield 1917

Caption reads 'What the Flanders roads were like during the Battle of the Swamps.

You can buy 'Tell Them of Us' from Amazon or download it to Kindle.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tell-Them-Carol-Ann-Lewis/dp/1495442802/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428682247&sr=8-1&keywords=tell+them+of+us

Llanerch Colliery Inquest: Evidence of Dr Mulligan

"Dr J W Mulligan of Abersychan said he had been surgeon to the colliery for a number of years.  He was called to the pit's mouth on the morning of the explosion about 8.55 am.  He saw most of the bodies as they were brought to bank  The majority seemed to have been burnt and died by the force of the shock of the explosion.  From 26 to 30 men appeared to have been killed by the after damp.  About 60 appeared to have died from injuries.  Many were considerably mutilated by the force of the explosion.  Most of the bodies were covered in coal dust and they must have been in a coal dusty place.
Coroner - "You mean that it was apparent on their faces?"
Witness - "Yes the majority were burnt a brown colour.  Their hair was singed and in many cases the clothes were burnt or blown off and the bodies were as brown as the top of that rail (pointing to a brown painted rail in front of the coroner)
All that might take place purely from firedamp without any quantity of coal dust?
Witness - "It would have to be a slow fire to char bodies like that without coal dust but really I am not in a position to form an opinion on the question.
In reply to Mr Greene QC the witness added that the bodies were burnt all over, not on one side more than another.  About 26 died from suffocation alone.  He went down the pit to see if he could aid any wounded but he did not examine the workings."

Cardiff Times 1 March 1890

Llanerch - the funerals

The days that followed the Llanerch Colliery disaster were covered in detail by newspapers, the following article was published in the Cambrian on the 14th February 1890.

"Some 65 of the bodies of the unfortunate miners who were killed in the disastrous explosion at Llanerch Colliery near Pontypool were on Monday buried.  Thousands of people assembled to witness the solemn ceremony, the whole of the valley from Pontypool to Talywain being a scene of the deepest mourning.  The weather was beautifully fine.  The most striking procession was that which was organised in Broad Street, Abersychan, opposite the police station, the dead bodies being carried thither from the neighbouring cottages.  The funeral was headed by a united choir, more than 100 in number who sang with impressive effect as they paced slowly along the well known Welsh hymn 'In the deep and mighty waters'.  Amongst those present were Mr T P Price, M.P. for North Monmouth, Mr Partridge, Head of the Llanerch Colliery Company and Mr E Jones managing director of the colliery. The coffins containing the victims were brought into the procession at various points along the route until the funeral extended to about three quarters of a mile in length.  There were at least 50 coffins carried on biers, each followed by its mourners and in most cases by friends of the deceased who gave their arms to the bereaved widows.  At Pontnewynydd the roads to the burial grounds parted and the choir joined that portion which went to the Noddfa Baptist Chapel, Talywain, in the cemetery of which 13 were buried.  Here the service was conducted partly in English and partly in Welsh.  The bulk of the procession walked to Trevethin parish church, about a mile from Pontypool where the service was conducted by the Rev J C Llewellyn, the vicar and his curates.  As the mournful gathering entered the church, the organist played the 'Dead March' from Saul.  In the graveyard attached to this church 33 bodies were interred.  The scenes as the bodies were lowered into the ground were painfully affecting.  Seven other bodies were buried at the Penygarn Baptist graveyard and other funerals took place at the Ebenezer and Pisgah Chapels in the neighbourhood of Abersychan.  Members of the friendly societies in mourning costume followed a number of the bodies.

The explorations at the colliery were continuing during the day and three more bodies were recovered.  It is now supposed that all the dead have been got out of the pit, except one body, that of a boy.

Mr Edwin Grove of Newport, the Chairman of the Monmouthshire County Council, has telegraphed to the Lord Mayor stating that 174 bodies in all have been recovered and that a large number of widows, orphans and dependent relatives will have to be  maintained.  Consequently a large fund will be needed.

Remembering the Llanerch Colliery Disaster 6th February 1890

This poem was written by S Jefferson and was printed in the Weekly Mail  on 15th February 1890

Llanerch Pit Disaster

Twas about the time of sunrise

One bright February day

Down the pit three hundred miners

Made their customary way.

 Merry jests and happy laughter

Rose upon the morning air

In the cage, the shaft descending

Young lads went, devoid of care.

Underground the hardy workers

Stripped then to their arduous toil

Far more wearying their labours

Than to plough or delve the soil.

Then Llanerch pits at Abersychan

Soon beheld disaster dire

Far away deep in the workings

Burst the sudden fatal fire.

Up the shaft the red flames rushing

Smashed the gearing and the stays

Whilst the sun, then slowly rising

Paled before their angry blaze.

Rolling smoke clouds, sombre, ebony

Darkened the fair sky of morn

And the men upon the pit bank

Thought of friends from life swift torn.

Then in many a miner's cottage

Was the dread explosion heard

Like an earthquake came the tidings

"Some disaster hath occurred"

Miners wives, pallid and trembling

Sped swiftly oer the fields that morn

Well they knew, while terror led there

Many would return forlorn.

Wives and children round the pit head

Gathered in a mournful crowd

Some in anxious grief were silent

Others wildly sobbed aloud.

Soon a sturdy band of heroes

Humble miners, bravely dared

Deadly choke damp might oppose them

They would see how comrades fared.

They would rescue the survivors

Bring them to the upper air

Gladden hearts now filled with sorrow.

Dauntless they will danger share.

Groping mid the gloomy wreckage

Of the passages below

Horrent sight of dead and wounded

Meet them as they onward go.

Naked bodies, burnt and mangled

Shock them as they sadly grope

Brother toilers, killed whilst toiling

On they pass with scarce a hope.

Crowned is their quest for, ere, the night

Snatched from death to light and life

Near half on who that morn descended

Are restored to child and wife.

O ye who scarce know aught of labour

Seated round your household fire

Think of those now filled with sorrow

Brought by this disaster dire!

Let your pity bear a fruitage

Aid the widow and the child

'Reft of all support and comfort

That your fire grate might be piled.

S Jefferson.  February 7th 1890

An engraving from the Graphic newspaper 15th February 1890