Rev. Thomas Gwyn: Dylan's posh cousin

Thomas Gwyn was born in May 1892, some twenty-two years before his first cousin, Dylan. He was the first and only child of Anne Williams of Waunfwlchan farm and John Gwyn of Plas Cwrthir, Llangain. John was landed gentry, and he and his siblings had a private income. Cwrthir itself was also a dairy farm, a "delightfully situate" six-bedroomed gentleman's residence, though the whole estate - 70 acres - was comparatively small. It stood in "the midst of a Shrubbery and Pleasure Grounds", with kitchen garden and tennis court.

Anne was Florence's half-sister, on whom see Note 22 in the main paper. Marrying John was a real catch for Anne because the Gwyns were an important family "of ancient lineage" in the county who had previously lived in Pilroath on the estuary. The marriage is another pointer to the standing of the Llangain Williamses - they were just ordinary farmers, not gentleman farmers like the Gwyns, but the Williamses and their relations worked sufficient acreage (almost a thousand acres) to be taken notice of.

After marrying, John and Anne settled in Plas Uchaf, Llanybri, next door to Vera's cousin, Ann Phillips, in Plas Isaf.

Ann and Anne were first cousins once removed; they were also good friends and neighbours, not just in Llanybri but in Llansteffan as well (see the main paper for more on this).

The following press cuttings tell us more about Thomas Gwyn, as well as the extent of the Williams and Phillips families on the Llansteffan peninsula.

(The cutting is from the Carmarthen Journal, April 21 1916.)