Ynys Clydach in Breconshire

Members of the Jeffreys family owned lands in Llywel parish and Cwmdwr since before the reign of Elizabeth I. One home in the possession of the Jeffreys family for many generations was Ynys Clydach in the parish of Llywel, Breconshire, Wales.

ISCLYDACH (IS-CLYDACH), a township, in the parish of Llywel, hundred of Devynock, union and county of Brecknock, South Wales, 1½ mile (E.) from Trêcastle; containing 356 inhabitants. The name signifies "below the Clydach;" that stream bounds the township on the west, and the river Usk on the south, where is a bridge on the road from Brecknock to Trêcastle. The vale along which the former stream flows, is pleasingly diversified and well wooded, and, like the banks of the Usk, is ornamented with several agreeable residences. The area of the township is 3500 acres, of which 1500 are common or waste. The chapel of Rhyd-y-Briw is situated here, on the left bank of the Usk, having been originally erected, as is supposed, for the convenience of the Penry family, of Llwyncyntevin, and subsequently supported by the contributions of the inhabitants of the vicinity, who subscribed 40s. per annum towards the stipend of a clergyman. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty; net income, £186: the patronage was formerly vested in the inhabitants, but now belongs to the incumbent of the mother church. There is a bequest of £1 per annum for distribution among the poor, made by Roger Jeffreys in 1714, being a rentcharge on lands near the chapel.
From: 'Iddole - Is-Y-Graig', A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), pp. 440-43.

Ynys Clydach Farm, 1999

Morgan Jeffreys, who was born in 1739 in Llywel parish (possibly at Ynysclydach Farm), the son of William and Mary Jeffreys. Both of Morgan’s parents, William who died in 1743 and Mary who died in 1744, are buried in Llywel church yard. By his Last Will and Testament, William Jeffreys left certain property in Llanddeusant parish to his son Morgan.

Morgan Jeffreys married Sarah Powell on September 21, 1764 at Devynock. Sarah was the daughter of David Powell of Abersenny and his wife, Margaret Morgan. Morgan and Sarah Jeffreys had nine children, the first three being born at Ynysclydach: Mary, born 1766, William, born 1768 and Margaret, born 1770. Between 1770 and 1773 they moved to Llwynyfron, Llanddeusant, and their other six children were all born there and baptized at Llanddeusant.

A cousin, Rees Jeffreys (1757-1823) and wife, Sarah (1757-1843), were living at Ynysclydach through the years from the 1770’s and early 1800’s. They erected the barn there in 1821 evidenced by the inscribed stone. While living at Ynysclydach the following children were born to Rees and Sarah Jeffreys: David (1780), Thomas (1782), Rees (1785) and Anne (1789). After the death of Rees Jeffreys, Sarah remained at Ynysclydach.

The 1841 Census of Breconshire provides: Sarah Jeffreys, age 80, of independent means, Thomas Jeffreys, age 59, farmer, Margaret Price, age 13, and the following laborers working on the farm: Thomas Williams, age 19; Hopkin Morgans, age 20; Philip Davies, 13; Agnes Williams, 22; Sarah Morgans, 19; Mary Davies, 16; and Margaret Davies, 13.

Ynys Clydach Barn erected by Rees & Sarah Jeffreys in 1821

David Jeffreys, the eldest son of Rees and Sarah Jeffreys, was born at Ynysclydach in 1780. He married Mary Powell, daughter of Thomas Powell of Maespoth and Glynmeddig. David and Mary Jeffreys ran the Camden Arms coaching inn in Trecastle. They had a son, Thomas Powell Jeffreys, born in 1827; a son, Rees Jeffreys, born 1829

Thomas Jeffreys, the second son of Rees and Sarah Jeffreys, died unmarried in 1843 at Ynys Clydach at the age of 61.

Rev. Rees Jeffreys, third son of Rees and Sarah Jeffreys, died unmarried in 1828.

YnysClydach House, 1999, prior to restoration

Thomas Powell Jeffreys (born 1827), son of David and Mary Jeffreys, farmed Ynysclydach and married in 1850, Margaret, daughter of David Howell, Tyncoed. Thomas Powell Jeffreys agreed to adopt the surname Powell as part of the terms of his inheritance from his uncle, Lewis Powell, and most members of this branch of the family from this point were called “Jeffreys-Powell.” There is a memorial to Dr. Lewis Powell in Llywel Church.

Thomas Powell Jeffreys-Powell and his wife, Margaret had 2 sons and 2 daughters: David born 1851; John born 1855; Mary born 1858 and Margaret born 1860.

David Jeffreys-Powell married Catherine “Kate” Owen, daughter of Richard Owen of the Castle Inn, Llandovery. David Jeffreys became a solicitor in Brecon, but was killed in an accident with a horse in 1882 at age 31. They had one son, Roger Jeffreys-Powell, who was born in 1882.

Roger Jeffreys-Powell (1882-1971) married Nancie Roberts (1905-1978), and had 2 children.

John Jeffreys, son of Thomas and Margaret Jeffreys-Powell, became a doctor in Sennybridge, and died unmarried in 1936.

“He was very well liked not least of all because he often waived payment from people who were not well off while apparently it was not unknown for him to add a surcharge to the bills of those who could easily afford to pay but were slow in doing so. He rode a bicycle everywhere, never using a horse nor car.” “On his retirement in 1926…£600 was collected for Dr. Jeffreys. His first remark when it was presented was, ‘Well, let’s go and have a smashing tea party’, which they indeed did at the Market Hall.”
(Jones, Gareth (1997) The District of Sennybridge, Trecastle and Defynnog, pp. 78-9)

Mary Jeffreys-Powell (born 1858), daughter of Thomas and Margaret Jeffreys-Powell, married Rees Powell (1840-1909), and they lived at Ynysclydach.

The Census of 1891 of Breconshire provides a look at the inhabitants at Ynysclydach: Rees Powell, age 57, farmer; Mary Powell Powell, age 32, wife; three children: Margaret Elizabeth Powell, 10; Mary Gwendoline Maud Powell, 9; and Thomas Powell Bevan Powell, 5; father-in-law Thomas Powell Jeffreys Powell, age 63 and brother-in-law John Powell Jeffreys Powell, age 36, student of medicine; and 8 servants: Annie Winifred Davies, 31; Sarah Anne Evans, 23; Mary Evans, 19; Margaret Austins, 17; Margaret Evans, 35; John Morgan, 18; Charles Morgan, 24; and William Edwards, 12.

The Family of Rees Powell

Rees Powell was a farmer and Justice of the Peace. He and Mary (Jeffreys-Powell) Powell had three daughters and one son: Margaret Elizabeth (1881), Mary Gwen Maude (1882-1967), Elizabeth Ann (b & d 1883), and Thomas (1885-1959). After the death of Miss Maude Powell some of the family lands adjoining Ynysclydach were sold at auction on October 6, 1967. See the auction particulars attached.

In a letter dated 18 May 2006 David Jones Powell, Solicitor of Brecon, writes:
“My only memories of [Tommy Powell] are associated primarily with laughter and strong drink but with a formidable respectable home at Ynysclydach run by his sister Maud.”

What's in a Name?

What’s in a Name?

We can trace the origin of our family surname Jeffreys to a farm called Cefn Rhosan near Llywel in Breconshire, Wales. Queen Elizabeth I was ruler of England from 1558 through her death in 1603, and during her reign this farm was occupied by Jeffrey of Cefn Rhosan. It is possible that the present house was built by Jeffrey.

While the English had adopted surnames by this time in most of Wales the patronymic system was still in use. That system applied the use of the word ap meaning “son of” connecting a man to his father, and often his father’s father in succession. For example David, the son of Rees, the son of Morgan would be David ap Rees ap Morgan. Likewise for a woman, the term verch for “daughter of” following her given name connected her to her father as in Anne verch John which means Anne, daughter of John. Using the Welsh system our Jeffrey was known as Jeffrey ap Gwilym ap Madoc.

“In the early sixteenth century the major landowners tended to be identifiably Welsh, whatever their diverse origins. Some were descended from Welsh princes or members of their courts; some had originally held office in the Principality of Wales; others served marcher lords and prospered. Many were Norman or English in origin.”
“The most powerful social group in Wales were the gentry who had emerged in the fifteenth century and often consolidated their position in the sixteenth with judicious purchases of land, office-holding and intermarriage.”
(Jones, Gareth (1984) Modern Wales, A Concise History, Second Edition)

“The first to adopt fixed surnames were the wealthier classes, and the practice filtered through society at different levels from Tudor times on.” “Along with the settling of surnames at different times came the addition of the letter ‘s’ to what was basically a forename.”
Rowlands, John (1994) Welsh Family History, pp. 60-1