Glamorgan Lovelucks

From the notes of Janet Hearle et al.

The eldest daughter of John (Carmarthen), she went to Cardiff to work and was described on her marriage certificate to Richard Thomas in 1859 as being a spinster living at Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff. Richard Thomas, aged 21, also lived in Mount Square, whcih was one of the smart areas of the newly established dockland of Cardiff, and is described as a "coal shipper". They were married in the local Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin by the Curate, the witnesses being William George Thomas aand Fanny Thomas, obviously close relatives. His father was described as Richard Thomas, a merchant.

The story of the rise to fame and fortune of Richard Thomas, usually described as being from Lydney, is in essence the rise of the Welsh tinplate industry. He died being the head of many different Companies, and his sons all took a prominent part in all his enterprises, gradually taking over responsibility. Richard Thomas himself died in 1916, aged 79, leaving #92,139. His and Ann's eldest son Richard Beaumont Thomas died a year later, leaving #449,285 in his Will. A far cry from Havod Talog days! Eventually the iron and tin plate industry became nationalised. The successor was the Steel Company of Wales of which Thomas Griffiths, husband of Lilian, granddaughter of James "the Maltster" was the Secretary. Dr. John Thomas, greatgrandson of James the Maltster, was for many years the Doctor of the British Steel Corporation of Scunthorpe.

Richard and Ann had five sons and three daughters.

She died 4 April 1914, and was buried in the family grave at Lydbrook.

There is a magnificent stained glass window in Lydbrook Church to the memory of Richard, Ann and their children who died young.

Obtained from the Web site of Arthur Turner-Thomas http://home.btconnect.com/turthomgenealogy/turner-thomas.htm

Ann Loveluck was born 6th February 1837 in Hafod Hallog, Carmarthenshire. Ann was the eldest daughter of John Loveluck (1816-1892) and Mary (1816-1892), lifelong farmers of Hafod Hallog and later with financial assistance from son in law Richard Thomas, a small fferm of 111 acres, named Ffald, Llangynog, Carmarthenshire.

Ann moved to Cardiff , Glamorgan, to find work . What work Ann found is unclear, in any event her circumstances must have been fortunate or prosperous, Ann was living at Mount Stuart Square, Bute, Cardiff. Mount Stuart Square at this time was the centre of a vibrant dockland community.

Ann described as a spinster began a relationship with Richard Thomas, a fellow resident of Mount Stuart Square, this led to marriage at St Mary the Virgin Church, Cardiff on the 18th February 1859 by the curate, the witnesses were relatives William George Thomas and Fanny Thomas.

A year into the marriage Ann's husbands fortunes took a turn for the worse, in response the couple moved to Oxford. There, on 25 May 1860 their first child Richard Beaumont Thomas http://home.btconnect.com/turthomgenealogy/Thomasbiog/rbt1860.htm was born, he died aged 56 years on 14 February 1917 at Englefield Green, Surrey.

Ann's time spent at Oxford was short lived, within a few months the couple returned to Cymru/Wales seeking better employment and fortune. The whereabouts of abode may have been St. Nicholas, Glamorgan at this time. Ann bore a second son, William George Thomas on 27 January 1862 at St. Nicholas, Glamorgan, he died aged 17 years on 26 November 1879 at Bournemouth.

A third son, Samuel Treherne Thomas was born on 30 Oct 1863 at St. Nicholas, Glamorgan, he died aged 16 months during May 1865 at Neath, Glamorgan. The place of death links to Ann's husbands employment at Melyn Tin and Iron Works at Neath.

Francis Treherne-Thomas was the fourth son , born 17 August 1865 at Neath, Glamorgan. He died aged 66 years on 26 May 1932 at Beaulieu-Ser-Mer, France.

Harold Massey Thomas, a fifth son was born 2 January 1867 at Llangyfelach, Glamorgan. His age, date and place of death are unknown.

Alfred Ivor Thomas a sixth son was born 15 December 1869 at Ynis House, Clydoch, Glamorgan. He died aged 1 month during January 1870 at Ynis House, Clydoch, Glamorgan.

During 1871 the family began the process of moving to Lydbrook, Gloucestershire, along the way Hubert Spence Thomas a seventh son was born on 18 April 1871 at Herne Villa, Watford. He died aged 68 years on 16 January 1940 at Bon hill, Los Angeles.

The family settled at The Poplars, Lydbrook. Wyndham Partridge Thomas was Ann's eighth son, born 29 March 1873 at Beech Grove House, Ruardean, Gloucestershire. He died aged 50 years on 24 October 1923 at 43 Putney Hill, London.

Ann's first daughter Anne Lillian Thomas was born 17 November 1874 at Beech Grove House, Ruardean, Gloucestershire. She died aged 3 years on 24 August 1878 at Lydbrook, Gloucestershire.

A second daughter Fanny Maud Thomas was born 10 Mar 1876 at Lydbrook Gloucestershire. Date of death possibly Dec 1949, place unknown.

A ninth son Sydney Loveluck Thomas was born 31 December 1877 at Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. He died aged 29 on 3 March 1907 at Penarth, Cardiff, Glamorgan

Ann Gave birth to a third daughter Elizabeth Mabel Thomas on 25 April 1879 at Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. She probably died 7 May 1916, place unknown. Ann's last child and tenth son Stanley Rendell Thomas was born on 16 February 1881 at Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. He died aged 20 on 17 April 1901 at Rome, Italy.

Ann Loveluck's marriage to Richard Thomas which spanned 57 years produced 13 children, giving rise to one of the most dynamic families known to the steel industry of Britain. She died aged 77 on 14 April 1914 at Penarth, Cardiff, Glamorgan and is buried at the family grave at Lydbrook with a number of her children and her husband Richard Thomas.