AUSTIN MATTHEW WILLIAMS.

My grandfather, Taid, Austin Matthew Williams, was born in 1871, the younger son of Samuel and Ann Williams. He had five older brothers, Robert, John, Lloyd, Edward Samuel and one sister, Ann. They lived at Wern Uchaf: a hill farm on the slopes of Dinas Bran, and supplemented their farm income by running a small carting business.

As soon as they were old enough to leave home, they were kitted out with a new suit, new boots and a silver watch from Hughes, the jewellers in Castle Street.

The new suit involved taking fleeces to Ty Brython Mill to be woven into cloth. A tailor then visited the farm and sat cross-legged on the kitchen table to make the suit.

Robert went to Mold to work as an apprentice tailor at a shop marked to this day by a plaque to commemorate Daniel Owen, the poet. He was the most successful son, who went on to own the men’s outfitters shop and build himself a fine house in Mold. It was Robert who commissioned an artist to paint Wern Uchaf.

John worked on a farm at Vivod; Lloyd became a carpenter and went to live in Glyn Ceiriog. Edward was a river bailiff on the Dee at Glyndyfrdwy and Samuel stayed at home to manage the farm with his parents. Ann left home to marry Knight-Parry, a butcher in Bridge Street. Before they left home, all the boys had helped their father with his carting business.

Their grandfather, John Williams, was one of the first members of the Welsh Methodist Society formed in Llangollen in 1802. When Seion Chapel was built in 1905, the Williams family of Wern Uchaf offered to transport the bricks for the building of the chapel as their contribution to the building cost.

When Austin left home he went to work at Abercregan. There he began his work as gamekeeper, and learned how to build coracles to accompany the owner and his guests salmon fishing on the River Dee.

On June 10^th 1895 he married Martha Roberts, who was nanny to Sidney and Richard Richards at Pen-y- Bryn Hall. Whilst he was employed at Abercregan, they lived at Tan Rallt Terrace, where their children were born, Samuel, Bertie, Sidney, Austin (my father) and Helena Anne (Lena now aged 95 years).

They moved to live at the Lodge at the Grange where Austin was employed as gardener and gillie by Mr Sam Jagger. He constructed his own coracle and accompanied his employer on fishing and shooting parties around Llangollen and on Estates around the country

Austin was an expert trainer of gun dogs. I remember him saying that the final test of a good retriever was that the dog could carry an egg in its mouth without breaking it.

After Mr Jagger’s death The Grange was occupied by General Jones.

In 1938 Austin and Martha moved out the Lodge at Belle View at the top of Hill Street. He continued to work as a gardener at The Grange, until he was in his late 70’s.

Austin and Martha celebrated their Diamond wedding in 1955.

He had been a deacon in Seion chapel for many years when he died on February 2^nd 1957. His funeral was attended by six ministers.

I quote from the account of the funeral in the Tuesday review. The Rev. Daniel Williams spoke of Austin’s knowledge of nature.

"He knew where the pike lay and the otter. He knew the habits of wood and moorland creatures. He was full of kindness and of appreciation of the virtues of others: his sincerity and absolute freedom from cant enhanced the value of his friendship, which will long be treasured by many".

Anne Thomas (Nee Williams) Glamorgan