Category: Watkins
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Islwyn Watkins, 1938 to 2018
Welsh artist and more
Welsh artist and more Tonypandy born, Knighton resident and keeper of various family archives Islwyn Watkins has sadly died, aged 80. Most widely known as an artist, he was also an educator, ceramics expert (country slip ware) and a Knighton community activist, amongst other things. Various of the wider Watkins family photos on Cutlock & Co came from his archive of material – he’s a cousin to our mum. Your editor was privileged to stay overnight at his home in the centre of Knighton, which was » »
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First World War
Details and round-up of family involvement
Details and round-up of family involvement There are various articles on Cutlock & Co covering 1914 to 1918 family experiences. These are linked below, along with some further information. Note that only about 40% of World War One army service records survive. Medal records can give some minimal info, if the name isn’t too common -otherwise look out for local press coverage of casualties or other events. [toc] Concerning close relations Sydney Howes, conscientious objector? Plus second article on conscientious objector communities, and another on further » »
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Pitching for a job
Work is unclear, but wedding photo sorted
Work is unclear, but wedding photo sorted September 1939 is not so far away as to think that a work description, certainly one for an English job, could be difficult to understand. But what exactly might be involved in being a ‘Trinidad Pitch Pourer’, as seen in this 1939 register extract? After a little digging on Wikipedia, Trinidad Pitch must be the product of Pitch Lake in Trinidad {1} – the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world. But was John H Roberts pouring it » »
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A proud pit fireman
A hundred year old certificate
A hundred year old certificate The archive of old photos on the Howes side of the family has now passed in to my possession. This will allow more scans, filling in gaps from the 2011 exercise {1}. There are also a few snaps on the Watkins side that were in a separate bundle or mixed up in other papers. Here’s a partial image of probably the largest item in the whole collection – 16½ by 20 inches {2}. It has multiple folds, a few tears and » »
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Putting all the Levis in order
Another tale of Welsh miners in America
Another tale of Welsh miners in America The idea of one, or more, Watkins ancestors being born in America was tackled a while back, in ‘Cracking a family myth‘. Now another possible source of the tale has emerged, through a family tree on Ancestry. The original story as recounted by cousin Islwyn was about the father of John Watkins, namely my 2x great grandfather Levy. Or Levi – I use the alternative spelling as a way to reduce confusion with my grandfather of the » »
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Not taking a hint on Griffith Watkins
Highs and lows in a Rhondda life
Highs and lows in a Rhondda life Taken separately, none of the information in this piece is exceptionally noteworthy, but together perhaps there is enough for passing interest. This little session kicked off with one of Ancestry’s “new hints” email notifications – usually highlighting irrelevant items or ones I’d checked out a day or two before. This time, it included a 1911 Wales census hint for Griffith Watkins, a great great uncle {1}. While this did indeed prove to be a hint to ignore, it prompted » »