William LEWIS PARRY

Born 22 Oct 1861, Cefn Coed y Cymmer, Vaynor, Breconshire, Wales
Died 23 May 1912, Lake Shore, Utah, Utah, USA

Son of Gwenllian LEWIS

Husband of Margaret THOMAS
and Mary Anna LEWIS JONES

William LEWIS PARRY, taken about 1894.

Notice: When an image has a blue border, you may click on it for a larger version or more information.

The story has been divided into parts to facilitate computer access and decrease download time. I have titled the parts The Early Years, Marriage, and Utah Each part is on a separate page and will be downloaded only when you click on its link.
~~Venita

Life History of

William LEWIS PARRY

compiled by Venita Parry Roylance, grandaughter
from other Parry family histories and my own research
July 2005

---> Go to a tagged Google map of Cefn Coed y Cymmer.

Note: William's oldest daughter, Gwen, wrote a history of her father in her later years. Although she made errors, parts of her information is correct. I have quoted her writing when appropriate, each quote being followed by an asterisk (*). The complete document will follow this one.

Part One: The Early Years

William LEWIS' birth was recorded at the registration office of the sub-district of Merthyr Tydfil in the Counties of Glamorgan and Brecon on December 20, 1860, by his mother, Gwenllian LEWIS (photo right). The place of residence is listed as Upper Cefn, Vaynor parish, and the date of birth is recorded as "Nineteenth November 1860." William always reported his birthdate to be October 22, 1860. (The discrepancy could be explained by the fact that a fine was assessed if a child's birth was not recorded within 30 days.) The document was signed with an "X" by Gwenllian, and no father's name is recorded.¹
Cefn Coed y Cymer (pronounced "kevvenn-koid-a-kum'mair") is a village located just north of Merthyr Tydfil. It is geographically within the borders of Breconshire and the eccliastical parish of Vaynor, but is most often listed as a civil sub-district of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan. As are most Welsh place names, Cefn Coed y Cymer is descriptive: Cefn = ridge, Coed = woods/wooded, and Cymer = confluence; hence "the wooded ridge at the confluence of the rivers."
Prior to the 1840s Cefn Coed was a typical village of farmers, but things changed rapidly with the industrialization of Wales. It became a "boom town." In response to the coal mines and iron manufacturing in the area, people came from other villages to find work, including Gwenllian LEWIS' parents, David and Elizabeth. They were born in the neighboring county of Carmarthenshire, in the parishes of Myddfai (mu~~th'~~-vey) and Cil-y-cwm (kil'-u-koom), where their ancestors can be traced for many generations. David LEWIS and Elizabeth DAVID were married in Carmarthenshire 1833 and had two children born to them there: William in 1834, and David in 1836 who died as an infant. Sometime between 1836 and 1841 they moved to Cefn Coed where three more children were born: Gwenllian in 1841, David in 1846, and John in 1854. David, the father, was an ironworker for the rest of his life, and the family lived in several different rented row houses which had been built especially for workers (below left).
William was raised by his grandparents, living in the household with his mother and her siblings and having the surname, LEWIS. In the 1861 census he is identified as Edward, a "son" of the head of the house, David LEWIS. In the 1871 and 1881 censuses he is identified as "William," a "grandson." When he married in 1886, he named his father as "David LEWIS, fireman," his grandfather. In the membership records of the Georgetown Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is listed as William LEWIS, and the family emigrated to America in 1889 as William and Margaret LEWIS and their daughter Gwenllian.
As was typical, William started school at the age of four. He is said to have been an apt pupil. His daughter, Gwen, records that "when he was eight he was studying foreign languages and music."* The typical curriculum for Welsh children included reading, writing, reciting, arithmetic, and spelling, all couched in Christian beliefs espoused by the Church in Wales (Anglican). The age of 11 was a pivotel year for Welsh scholars. Those who passed the required tests and whose families had money were sent to private girls' or boys' schools for more education. Those whose families did not have money were put to work to help support the family. It is likely that William went into the coal mines at this age.
Gwenllian LEWIS and her two younger brothers were baptised (christened) at the Vaynor parish church (right) shortly after they were born, as was customary. William's civil birth registration has been found, but not a baptism record. It isn't clear whether the family was affiliated with the official Church in Wales, or a nonconformist church, or with no church at all. As the Welsh have a reputation as a spiritual people, it is assumed that the family espoused a Christian religion.
The Unitarian/Presbyterian Church (a "non-conformist" church) had built a chapel just across the street from the Lewis home on Old Chapel Road. There was a school next to the Hen-Dy-Cwrdd (hen-du-koor~~th'~~) chapel which William may have attended. Singing was taught there, using the Sol Fa method, and Sunday School and night classes were offered for the convenience of the workers. This may have been where his musical talents were first exhibited and appreciated. He is said to have had a beautiful singing voice and could play several instruments.
Eisteddfod (ize-teth'-vod) is a Welsh tradition. It's an annual celebration and competition of the arts held in a different town every year. Individuals and groups practice year-round hoping to gain the honor of a prize for their village or town. Many musical groups, poets, storytellers and others of all ages perform during the festival. The organization of the many famous men's choruses of Wales may be attributed in part to this tradition. One such chorus was created in Cefn Coed and it became well known for it's expertise in choral skills. As a young man, William was a member of this renowned group.
Victoria was Queen of England during most of William's life. For her birthday in 1879, a special celebration was held to which many were invited to perform. One of the groups was the Men's Chorus from Cefn Coed. William was among those who visited the palace for three hours and performed in the Queen's presence. It is said that she was so impressed with their skill that she requested encores. Then, as a gift to the young men in the chorus, she made it known that they were to serve in her Royal Navy instead of the regular army when they became of age to do so. William became 18 years old in October of that year and claimed his appointment. He served for four years in the British Royal Navy, the greatest Navy in the world at that time - the time when "the sun never set on the British Empire."
During his service he visited the lands of the British Empire which included India, South Africa, Canada, and Australia. He also visited the United States and spent time in New York City where he especially enjoyed attending the musical shows. When his enlistment ended in 1883, he returned to his grandparents' home in Cefn Coed and began working in the Mt. Ash Iron works as a blacksmith's striker.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
¹ The father's name was later revealed to be Thomas PARRY. Three men by that name have been found in the Cefn Coed y Cymer area who could have been the father, but there is not enough information to confirm an identification.
Gwen is listed as being single in the 1871 census and living with her parents on Yard Lane. Her occupation is listed as "Domestic Servant." There is evidence that Gwen married Thomas LEWIS sometime between 1871 and 1891. In the 1881 census, the Thomas LEWIS family was shown to be living at 81 High Street, Cefn Coed y Cymer, but the wife's name was recorded as "Mary." The 1891 census shows Gwen as the wife of Thomas LEWIS and living at 81 High Street, Cefn Coed y Cymer. They have same three children as shown in the 1881 census: Thomas, age 16; Howell, age 14; and Martha, age 11. Gwen's brother, John LEWIS, is in the same household with his two sons, David, age 13, and Daniel, age 12. Before the 1901 census the family was had moved to 1 Old Chapel Road, just around the corner from the previous residence, and Daniel Lewis is also there as a "Boarder." When Gwen died in 1902 she was recorded as the wife of Thomas LEWIS residing at 1 Old Chapel Road, Cefn Coed y Cymer. Photos of the homes on High Street and Old Chapel Road are shown on my web page, " Cefn Coed y Cymer."