My paternal direct Line
1. James Hamer c1707 – 1785
2. David Hamer 1739/40 – 11th May 1828
3. Thomas Hamer c1780 – 23rd May 1858
4. David Hamer c1811 – 11th January 1848
5. David Hamer 31st March 1848 – 18th November 1920
6. William Hamer 15th February 1870 – 18th November 1960
7. Margaret Ann Hamer born 6th November 1899 my grandmother
I have continued the Hamer family on this second page starting with David Hamer who was the son of Thomas and Ursula. It was easier from David’s birth to build a picture or story of the family as a lot of the family history is of public record. By the time we get through to David’s son also called David there were family members who either remembered or knew the family. This means that I could build a more thorough picture without just relying on recorded facts and figures.
DAVID HAMER c1811-11th January 1848
I now know that David was the eldest son of Thomas and Ursula. He was born about 1811 possibly brought up in Trefeglwys. David worked as a Miller living at Talgarth Mill Trefeglwys. On the 17th November 1840, David married Hannah Evans of Bryndderwen, Trefeglwys by Licence. David aged 28, when he married and Hannah aged 25, witnesses were William Evans and Giles Mills. At this time I do not know if William Evans was Hannah’s brother or father. The Evans’s of Bryndderwen will be covered on their own page.
The first record I had of any children being born was in 1845 when their daughter Ann was born. It seemed to me inconceivable that they did not have any children between 1840 and 1845. I since discovered that David and Hannah had a daughter Sarah born c1842 and on the 1851 census, Sarah was living with Thomas and Ursula Hamer. Both David and Hannah appear on the 1841 census at Talgarth Mill with no family. Source: HO 107/1436/10.
In 1847, their third daughter Hannah was born and on the 31st March 1848, their son David was born, as far as I am aware all four children were born at Talgarth Mill. David’s birth certificate shows that he was. Questions rose from the information I have. Why did Sarah live with Thomas and Ursula Hamer her paternal grandparents? Why did Ann, Hannah and David stay with their maternal grandparents after their mother died?
David and Hannah had a tragic life. On the 11th January 1848, David died of Typhus Fever at the age of 36, at Talgarth Mill. His death registered by John Ashton who was present at the death at Talgarth Mill. This was 11 weeks before his son David was born. There is a discrepancy between the date of death on David’s death certificate and that of the Memorial Inscription. The death certificate shows he died on the 11th January, 1848 and the Memorial Inscription shows David’s death as the 8th of January, 1848.
TIMELINE – Public Health Act 1948 introduced whereby the election of local Public Health Boards would oversee the supply of water, sewerage, drainage, cleansing and paving. This extended to all landowners and ratepayers at that time. Board members had to live within a seven-mile radius. The Public Health Act ruled that every new house had to have a ‘water closet, privy or ash pit’. This Act was brought in due to a Cholera epidemic how many other deaths did it prevent?
Hannah died on the 9th February, 1849 at Bryndderwen, aged 33. The reason for her death was ‘declined’ and not certified. Her death registered by William Evans and at the time of her death she had gone back home to her parents with her children. Again, there is a discrepancy between the death certificate and the Memorial Inscription; on the death certificate, her age shown as 33 while the MI shows her age as 35. The romantic in me would like to think that she died of a broken heart. None of us can imagine what it was like to lose her husband, when she had two little girls and a baby due. The last twelve months of her life must have been filled with despair and heartache.
On the 12th February, 1850 tragedy struck again for the Hamer/Evans family when 3 year old Hannah died. All three of them are buried in a family grave at St Michaels Parish Church, Trefeglwys. Also buried with them is Margaret Evans who died 27th August 1792, aged four. Margaret was the daughter of David and Sarah Evans of Redhouse Trefeglwys and Ursula’s sister. Memorial Inscriptions (MR/MI/60) published by Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society.
Note – The Ashton’s, Meddins and Mills where well known families in the Trefeglwys area.
Ann and David were brought up by their grandparents, William and Hannah Evans at Bryndderwen. Both appear on the 1851, 1861 census as living with their grandparents at Bryndderwen . So my Gt Gt Grandfather David never met his father because he died before he was born, his mother died when he was 11 months old and sister Hannah died when he was 2. For someone who had such a tragic start in life David Hamer as we will see went onto become a very successful man.
David married Sarah Evans of Oerle on the 18th March, 1871 they married at The Parish Church Trefeglwys by Licence. Both David and Sarah’s fathers where listed as Farmers; however, David’s father was a Miller so again we have a discrepancy. Witnesses were Thomas Evans and Hannah Jones. Their children all lived in the Parish up until 1898.
This notice appeared in the Montgomery Express 21st March 1871, page 5, column 5 BMD section.
Marriages
18th inst., at Trefeglwys Church, by the Rev. R. Jones, vicar, Mr. David Hamer, of Brynderwin, to Sarah Evans, daughter of the late Mr. Evans, Oerle, Trefeglwys.
Note how Bryndderwen is spelt with one’d’ and an ‘i’. Thank you to Margaret of Powys.gov.uk for researching and sending me a copy of the above notice.
The 1871 Census for Wales shows that Margaret Evans was ‘Head’ of her family, occupation given as Farmer. The farm Oerle had 89 acres, employed two men, and one boy. The household then Sarah Hamer – Daughter (M) (21), David Hamer – Son-in-Law (M) (23), Mary G Evans – Granddaughter (11), William H Evans – Grandson (1), Richard Gething – Grandson (6), John Evans – Servant (Unmarried) (50), David Jones – Farm Servant (22) and Thomas Evans – Farm Servant (13). Notice here Mary G Evans was Mary Gething Evans and I believe when she moved back with her parents simply became Mary Gething. Her brother shown as Richard Gething. William who was my Gt Grandfather listed as William H Evans and this is how he appears on early documents, but not on his birth certificate. The Evans’s of Oerle I will cover on a separate page. Source: RG10/5910.
What the 1871 census does not show is that David and Sarah had another daughter her name was Hannah Urcilla born mid to later September and died aged 7 weeks on 11th November 1871. Hannah is buried at the Old Gleiniant Cemetery at Trefeglwys. MR/MI/56 Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society.
The 1881 Census for Wales lists David as the ‘Head’ of Oerle (M) (33) his wife Sarah (32) and the following children; William H Evans – Son (11), Margaret Hamer – Daughter (8), David R (Roger) Hamer – Son (7), Hannah Hamer – Daughter (3), Thomas Hamer -Son (2), Sarah Hamer (11 months) and two farm servants John Evans (59) and Griffith Davies (14). William had also had his name at that time transcribed as William H. Evans Hamer. At this time David and Sarah’s family was growing quickly with seven children. David’s occupation then, Farmer of 70 acres. Source: RGH/5482.
The 1891 Census for Wales lists David as the ‘Head’ (43) occupation Farmer then living at Oerle with Sarah his wife (41). Source: RG12/4590.
The family had grown considerably as well as Margaret, David R, Hannah, and Thomas another six children had been born; Evan (12), Sarah (11), Ann (10), John (9), Richard (8), Elizabeth (6) and Mary (3). William had left home and was not living with his parents on this census although his address was given as Rhosyrhaidd in 1896 when he married Sarah Jones. When David and Sarah moved to Rhosyrhaidd is unclear but it was during the period of 1891-1896.
In 1889, Sarah had another baby Henry Maldwyn born early September 1889. Henry died aged 6 weeks on 18th October 1889. There was more heartache for David and Sarah when their son John died at the age of 10 on the 17th March 1892. Both Henry and John are buried together at the Old Gleiniant Cemetery, Trefeglwys. They are in the grave next to their sister Hannah Urcilla. MR/MI/56 Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society.
DAVID AND SARAH HAMER (nee EVANS)
The above photograph of David and Sarah was probably taken early 1900’s, my thanks to Megan for sending me this photograph.
The 1901 census lists David, aged 53, occupation then Farmer, and his wife Sarah, aged 51 and five of their children Sarah, Maggie, Evan, Annie, Richard and Mary living at Rhosyrhaidd, Carno. Source: RG 13/5194.
Oerle had been given to David, Thomas, Sarah and Elizabeth to run. My understanding from another member of the Hamer family is that this was a management role.
David and Sarah moved to Ty Mawr about 1915 then they moved to Moat Farm Llandinam. I believe that David was a J.P. and that he was very much involved with his local church. On the 18th November 1920, David died, aged 72 and is buried in Carno Church with his wife Sarah who died on 14th May 1927.
The slate Headstone reads: In loving Memory of David Hamer, the Moat Llandinam, who died November Nov 18th 1920, Aged 72 Years. “A voice we loved is still.” Also, Sarah, his wife, who died May 14th, 1927, aged 77 years. “I know that my redeemer liveth.” Source:MR/MI/40 Montgomeryshire Genealogical Society.
See right hand column for David Hamer obituary. The Board of Guardians relate to the Workhouses in Caersws, Newtown and Llanidloes Union. There is a very good website maintained by Oxford University and lists surviving records. http://workhouses.org.uk click on Wales. My thanks to Margaret for this information.
Probate for David’s will granted to his wife Sarah and his son Thomas on 4th January 1921 both living at The Moat. The only person not mentioned in David’s Will was his son Evan and I understand Evan had been provided for during David’s lifetime when he helped him financially to buy a farm.
WILLIAM AND SARAH HAMER
mypastonline.uk 