Facts fron the Parish Records

Llanegwad's Parish Records which date back to 1700, are in good condition and easy to read. The originals now reside at the National Library of Wales. They are also available on Cd in Excel format. contact Webmaster for details. They show many deaths at a young age, but also a surprising number of people lived well past 70 years and there is a fair sprinkling of those over 100. Several members of some families died within a matter of days of each other and the death rate clearly rose when outbreaks of contagious diseases (such as happened when the area's main water supply became contaminated) occurred.

There was much in-breeding in the district over the last 300 years and this probably only ceased within the last century.

There are no real surprises apart from one Vicar who was the incumbent for many years, had several children, was certainly a staunchly religious man, but who always left the father's name off the Christening/Birth Register when the couple were unmarried. He clearly believed the blame for the pregnancy was the mother's alone. Other Vicars did not seem to follow this practice.

Some incumbents wrote pithy comments in the registers, a memorable one relating to a bridegroom - who after three readings of the Banns ran away and left the bride-to-be "big bellied". There are many references to persons being recorded as "ideot". A selection of Incumbents' Comments is given below.

Much of the Records are very detailed but some incumbents appear lazy and give little detail.

Our thanks go to the more diligent for allowing us an insight into a colourful past.

On March 17 1783 the a christening took place of one John Abednego, the father being given as John Abednego, the mother being Elizabeth David. The following week on March 24 of the same year Thomas Abednego was christened and Mary John was the mother. The father was also given as John Abednego.

Date	Name	Comment
1701 January 23	Mary Edward Jenkin	“An ideot” [sic]
1747 March 1	David Lewis	Was Roman Catholic
1749 March 5	Elizabeth Harry	Pauper. Died aged 98
1773 July 7	David Lot	Pauper. Died aged 108
1773 December 6	Rees Jones	Drowned himself in his garden
1826 April 14	John David	Of Ffynnondilo. Died aged 101
1827 March 1	Catherine George	Of Cefn. Died aged 101.
1900 March 7	Thomas Thomas	Of Llwynbrain. This was the First Burial at St Johns, Felingwm. The Vicar was Evan Thomas

Gwyddfagttw
Name	Status	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
John Morris	head M	32	farmer of 95 acres	Brechfa
Ann Morris	wife M	30		Abergwilly
Thomas Morris	son	7		Llanegwad
Mariah Morris	daughter	5		Llanegwad
John Morris	son	1		Llanegwad
David Davies	servant	17	farm labourer	Llanegwad
Thomas Evans	servant	16	farm labourer	Abergwilly
Ann Evans	servant	18	general servant	Llanegwad

Eisteddfa Egwad
David Davies		63	farmer of 100 acres

Pantyfen
David Davies		75	farmer of 50 acres

Tanlan
David Davies		52	farm labourer

Erwchen
David Davies		52	farmer of 20 acres

Blaencwmbychan
John Israel	head	27	farmer of 96 acres	Llangathen
Esther Israel	wife M	26		Llanegwad
Amelia Jones	servant	18		Trelech
Note Amelia JONES was resident at 'Penrhywgolau' - another farm which close to Meiros Hill. Blaencwmbychan is across the valley, about a mile away. Her father was Joseph Jones, a Labourer.