Analysis of Mary (Jeffreys) Jones Lineage

 

REPORT ON MARY (JEFFREYS) JONES,

WHO MARRIED DAVID B. JONES, IN 1865

IN LLANGADOCK PARISH, CARMARTHENSHIRE, WALES,

AND EMIGRATED TO MICHIGAN IN 1880.

 

PREPARED BY BRADLEY JEFFREYS

DECEMBER 2025

bradley . jeffreys @ gmail . com

 

Jackie Mangana Zimmer contacted me through Ancestry.com because our DNA tests indicated we’re distant cousins.  She asked me if I could determine how we’re related.  As I’ve been heavily involved in researching the Jeffreys family of Wales for about 50 years, I accepted her invitation to investigate her great-grandmother, Mary (Jeffreys) Jones.

To see what was already known about Mary, I first examined Jackie’s family tree.  There were common ancestor matches in both our trees.  Following that, I entered some basic facts about Mary Jeffreys Jones into a search on Ancestry.com.  Current search results populated numerous family trees containing Mary and her family. Unfortunately, many of these sources appear to have duplicated repetitive errors from one another, resulting in widespread inaccuracies regarding Mary’s lineage. To address these discrepancies, this report provides refined data and corrected findings to ensure an accurate historical record.

The first issue is that she is regularly referred to in family trees as “Elizabeth Mary Jeffreys,” although I found no first-hand document with any name other than “Mary.” 

 

Task:  Perform deep research to determine the correct parentage of Mary (Jeffreys) Jones, who was Jackie’s great-grandmother.  Once parentage is determined, ascertain if this Mary Jeffreys is one of my relatives.  My paternal lineage is known as “Jeffreys of Llywel and Llanddeusant” to differentiate them from other Jeffreys lines in South Wales.

Known Facts:  Mary Jeffreys married David Jones in 1865 in Llangadock, now called Llangadog, in Carmarthenshire, and the marriage license indicated that both David and Mary were “of full age.”  David is listed as a farm tenant.  Mary gave her address as “White Hart” which was an inn in the village of Llangadock.  The license reads “Mary” with no first or middle name and no initial.

In the marriage license, Mary’s father, John Jeffreys’ occupation was listed as an engineer; however, the license failed to mention that he had been dead for more than 10 years.

This family appears on the 1871 Wales Census, living in Llanwonno in Glamorganshire, where David works as a butcher.  Mary (no first name or initials) states her age as 24, born in Pontnewynydd in Monmouthshire.

David and Mary (Jeffreys) Jones emigrated to America in 1880 with their children.

In the 1881 Wales Census, there is found a David Jones (carpenter) and wife, Mary (born 1848 in Glamorganshire, no first name), living in Swansea, Glamorganshire, with children Elizabeth (age 11), Benjamin, Mary, and Edith.  This is not the correct David and Mary Jones, as they were living in Michigan by this time.

David and Mary Jones and their children appear on the 1880 US Census of Jackson County, Michigan (just “Mary” with no first name or initials).

According to the obituary of Mary’s husband, David B. Jones in 1905, he was a mining pit boss; survived by wife and children: sons David, John, Benjamin (Benoni), William, Richard, and Morge, and daughter Mary.

Benoni Jones’ birth certificate says that he was born on May 10, 1870, and provides the mother’s name as Mary (no first name, no initials) Jeffries [sic].

 

On Mary’s death certificate in 1909, the informant (her son David) stated Mary’s father was named John, and her mother was Mary.  David was mistaken about the name of the mother.

Search Ancestry.com records for Mary Jeffreys and father, John Jeffreys:

Searched 1851 Wales and 1861 Wales Census for a John Jeffreys with either a wife, Mary (per Mary Jones’ 1909 death certificate), or a daughter named Mary who was born about 1848.

Searched 1851 Wales and 1861 Wales Census for a John Jeffries, searching under alternate spellings.

There is a civil birth registration in Monmouthshire for a Mary Jeffreys, born in the 4th Quarter (Oct-Nov-Dec) of 1849 in the greater Abergavenny District.  [Pontnewydd is part of the Pontypool District.]  There is a baptism record in Monmouthshire, on 5 December 1849, for a Mary Jeffreys, daughter of John and Jane, of Blaina, Aberystruth, Monmouthshire.  The record seems to read she was born on November 8; however, this John Jeffreys is a shoemaker, not an engineer.  This baptism record seems to match the civil birth registry above.  Further, this family appears on 1861 Wales Census, still in Aberystruth, listing John Jeffreys as a shoemaker, not an engineer.  This family is not part of the Jeffreys of Llywel lineage, nor is this the correct Mary.

It is not the John Jeffreys, who was a son of William and Anne Jeffreys of Llangadock Parish.  They lived on a farm called Caiobychan-Isaf.  This John was born about 1827.  In 1851, he was single, working on the farm.  In 1861, he was single, renting a room near Merthyr Tydfil, age 36, and hauling coal.  This family is not part of the Jeffreys of Llywel lineage, nor is this the correct John.

A certain Mary Jeffreys appears in this household near Llangadock in 1861, but this is not the correct Mary:

    1861 Wales Census, Myddfai, Carmarthenshire

    Williams, David, 56

    Williams, Catherine, 45, wife

    Jones, Mary, 22, servant, dairy maid

    Jeffreys, Mary, 15, servant, house maid  [note:  born about 1846]

 

The story of Mary Jeffreys, daughter of John Jeffreys, an engineer, who married David Jones in 1865, and emigrated to Michigan in 1880, is found in records from Wales:

Mary’s parents were John Jeffreys and Charlotte Davies, who wed on June 2, 1834:

    Ystradgynlais Parish, Glamorganshire, Wales

    John Jeffreys, bachelor, wed Charlotte Davies, of Llangadock Parish

Enumerated in 1841 are Mary’s parents, John and Charlotte, plus her two older brothers, shortly before her birth in 1844:

    1841 Wales Census, Trevethin Parish, Monmouthshire

    John Jefferies, 25, engineer

    Charlotte Jefferies, 25

    John Jeffries, 6

    Morgan Jeffries, 3

    Also in the house were two boarders, non-related:

    Thomas Davis, 15, engine tender

    Jenkin Williams, 50, puddler

Mary Jeffreys’ birth is registered in 1844, Pontypool, Monmouthshire:

    England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915, (Jan-Feb-Mar) of 1844, page        51, Volume XXVI, page 112:  

    Mary Jeffreys, Pontypool  [Pontypool is in Trevethin Parish]

 

This is the first census in which Mary appears, living with her grandparents, Morgan and Mary Jeffreys, in Llangadock Parish, Carmarthenshire:

    1851 Wales Census, Llangadock, Carmarthenshire

    Jeffreys, Morgan, 60, farmer

    Jeffreys, Mary, 60

    Jeffreys, William, 38

    Jeffreys, Jane, 26

    Jeffreys, Sarah, 24

    Jeffreys, Morgan, 21

    Jeffreys, Mary, 18, daughter

    Jeffreys, Mary, 7, granddaughter, born in Pontypool, Monmouthshire

    Jeffreys, Mary, 7, granddaughter, born in Llandingat, Carmarthenshire

That same year, her father and older brothers were tabulated in 1851 in Monmouthshire:

    1851 Wales Census, Trevethin, Monmouthshire

    Household of David Morgans

    Jeffries, John, 35, lodger, engineer, born Carmarthenshire 

    Jeffries, John, 15, lodger’s son, born Breconshire

    Jeffries, John, 10, lodger’s son, born Monmouthshire [scrivener’s error?  Morgan?]

By 1861, Mary Jeffreys is living with her father’s sister, Sarah (Jeffreys) Thomas:

    1861 Wales Census, Myddfai, Carmarthenshire

    Thomas, Rees, 37

    Thomas, Sarah, 33, wife, born Llanddeusant 

    Thomas, Thomas, 72, father, (retired farmer)

    Jeffreys, Mary, 18, niece (domestic servant) 

    Thomas, Ann, 11, dau (in school)

 

Here is Mary’s paternal ancestry in the “Jeffreys of Llywel and Llanddeusant” lineage:

• Mary Jeffreys was the daughter of John Jeffreys (1814-1853), a mining engineer, and his wife, Charlotte Davies.

• John Jeffreys was the son of Morgan Jeffreys (1790-1870), a farmer, and his wife, Mary Harries.

• Morgan Jeffreys was the son of William Jeffreys (1768-1796) and wife, Sarah Williams.

• William Jeffreys was the son of Morgan Jeffreys (1739-1798) and wife, Sarah Powell.

 

Morgan Jeffreys (1739-1798) was the first Jeffreys to “come over the top” of the Brecon Beacons, moving from Llywel Parish to Llanddeusant Parish.  This Morgan Jeffreys inherited several farms and homes, including the primary Jeffreys home of Llwynyfron, from the Estate of his ‘Uncle Morgan Morgan.”  Llwynyfron passed through the generations and was owned by my great-grandfather, Walter Powell Jeffreys.  He ultimately sold it to another family member on a different branch of the family tree.

Llwynyfron in Llanddeusant Parish

About the career of John Jeffreys:

In 19th-century Welsh mining, an "engineer" was a highly skilled professional, often from a middle-class or senior artisan background.  They were responsible for the design, installation, and maintenance of the mine’s complex infrastructure. This included the winding gear (to raise and lower the cages), the massive beam engines used for pumping water out of the deep levels, and ventilation fans.  Unlike the "hewer" who cut coal, the Engineer was part of the management or specialist staff. Many Welsh mining engineers were world-renowned and later emigrated to lead mining projects in the US, Australia, and South Africa.

John Jeffreys died on December 23, 1853.  No record of the death of Charlotte (Davies) Jeffreys was found, but it is assumed she died after the birth of Mary in 1844 and before the 1851 Census.  Below is a photo I took of John Jeffreys’ grave marker at Llanddeusant Parish Church, The Church of St. Simon and St. Jude.

Photograph by J.B. Jeffreys, Llanddeusant Parish churchyard

If questions, contact:  bradley . jeffreys @ gmail . com

Geoffrey Jeffreys, The Early Years

Amid three cheers of "hip, hip, hooray" and a round of applause, Geoffrey Jeffreys rose to the esteemed position of Senior Prefect at Wellington College in Berkshire, England, in 1903.  Popular among his peers, he resided in Professor Toye's House (later Talbot's House) at Wellington and dutifully served as Head of House for 30 boys.  Upon graduation, Professor Toye extolled Geoffrey as possessing "a most excellent character."

Geoffrey Jeffreys, far right end, Wellington College, 1903

Before his tenure at Wellington, Geoffrey attended Sandroyd Prep School near Salisbury in Wiltshire, where an obsession with the boys' weights and heights led to regular measurements.  In 1898, Geoffrey was noted as the second tallest student.  Despite being advised that he "ought to use his hands more," he served as goalkeeper for Sandroyd's starting soccer team.  Nevertheless, his primary passions lay in mathematics and sciences.

Geoffrey hailed from a lineage of esteemed lawyers, with his father and maternal grandfather practicing law, a path diverged by Geoffrey in contrast to his half-brother, Charles N.T. Jeffreys.  His grandfather was a respected barrister and member of Gray's Inn, one of the four professional associations of barristers in London, membership in which was a prerequisite to practice in the city's courts.  Meanwhile, his father held various prestigious roles, including judge, High Sheriff, captain, and later deputy lieutenant in the Royal South Wales Borderers, also known as the Royal Brecon Militia.

As a young boy in South Wales, Geoffrey explored the rock outcrops and riverbeds near his home, Cynghordy Hall, which is bordered by the River Bran and the Brecon Beacons mountains.  These explorations revealed ancient strata and some of Britain's oldest caves, connecting him to the rich geological history of the region.  Later, as part of his education, Geoffrey spent time in the mines of Cornwall, studying the exposed strata.

Cynghordy Hall, 1910, photo by Geoffrey Jeffreys

The geology of South Wales, abundant in fine-burning coal deposits, was pivotal to the Industrial Revolution, establishing Wales as a leader among nations during the Victorian Era.  In the early 1900s, Wales emerged as the largest coal-producing nation globally.  This coal fueled the factories and railways that defined the era and played a critical role in Britain's economic supremacy.  The Industrial Revolution heralded a period of significant transformation, technological advancements, and the shaping of modern society.

However, the pursuit of natural bounty blasted from the bowels of the earth often came at a great cost.  The mines were fraught with accidents, and one of the worst in Welsh history occurred when Geoffrey was nine years old.  Just 40 miles from Cynghordy, the Albion Coalmine disaster in the summer of 1894 claimed the lives of almost 300 men and boys, along with over 100 horses.

The sorrow surrounding the Jeffreys family due to the Albion mine disaster was briefly alleviated when Geoffreys' oldest sister, Effie, married George F. Heath a few weeks later.  The wedding took place at St. Mary's of Cynghordy, where their father, Walter Powell Jeffreys, was the major benefactor.  The festivities at Cynghordy Hall included floral arches and cannons firing, with church bells in the town of Llandovery ringing merrily through the afternoon in honor of the newlyweds.

Geoffrey's mother, Frances Constance Jones, was Captain Walter Powell Jeffreys' second wife, twenty years his junior.  Walter, a widower with four young children, expanded and improved the Cynghordy estate following this second marriage.  The Jeffreyses actively participated in local social events such as fox hunts, associated balls, teas, country horse races, and other festivities.

Geoffrey's mother, Frances Constance (Jones) Jeffreys

Captain Walter Powell Jeffreys was deeply engaged in civic and social affairs as President of the local Horticultural, Dog, and Poultry Show, where he also won prizes for his potted plants, roses, ferns, and coleus.  Additionally, he served as Chairman of East Carmarthen Conservatives, was elected to the County Council, and presided over Eisteddfod, an annual celebration of Welsh culture and music.

Walter Powell Jeffreys, Deputy Lieutenant, Royal South Wales Borderers Militia

Despite a busy social life, Mrs. Jeffreys found time to involve herself in charitable activities, focusing on the welfare of the community.  Besides hosting events for other devotees of horses and hunts, she raised funds for local and national causes.  She funded and oversaw the redecoration of St. Mary's Church of Cynghordy when the Victorian-era church was in its second decade.

Many social and sporting events took place in Llandovery, a market town and drovers' town (a waypoint for livestock being walked from farm to market) five miles from Cynghordy, while others occurred at Cynghordy Hall.  Large events were also held at the nearby Llwynybrain Estate, which had its own racecourse, owned by their friends, Mr. and Mrs. J.C.P. Vaughan Pryse-Rice.  The Cynghordy staff were accustomed to hosting large gatherings, reflecting the popularity and sociability of the Jeffreys family.

Part of the grounds of the Cynghordy property

Like the summer before, news, both good and bad, was reported around the Cynghordy estate in 1895.  Geoff's half-brother, Walter Herbert Jeffreys, was promoted from lieutenant to the rank of captain like his father before him in the Royal South Wales Borderers Militia.  However, his achievement was short-lived.  Herbert inherited a vast sum of money when he turned 21 but was forced into bankruptcy within five years.  Living an aesthetic lifestyle in London's St. James district and owning an entire stable of racehorses proved his undoing.  In short, he resigned from his post as an officer and left the service.

In May 1895, a loud clap interrupted the peaceful quiet that usually prevailed at Cynghordy Hall.  The sound of a single gunshot was heard from the direction of the servants' hall.  A footman, Albert Leah, had been repeatedly loading and unloading cartridges into a gun.  The coachman came through the kitchen and told the boy to put the gun away, but Albert continued his playful handling of the gun.  The lady's maid, Elizabeth Morgan, also passed by and told the young man to put the gun away, then went upstairs to continue her duties.

Albert was in the scullery adjacent to the kitchen with Mary Jane Morgan, a cook employed by the Jeffreys, when he pointed the gun at her and pulled the trigger.  The girl was hit in the upper arm at her shoulder from several feet.  Captain and Mrs. Jeffreys came quickly into the servants' hall, as did several of the house staff.  Mrs. Jeffreys wrapped the girl's shoulder wound, which was bleeding profusely.  The next morning, Dr. Richard Jeffreys Owen of Llandovery, a cousin of Captain Jeffreys, was called to tend the girl's wound.  Due to the damage to the bones in her upper arm, Dr. Owen had no alternative but to amputate her arm at the shoulder.

Mary Jane filed charges against Albert Leah, and the case was heard in August of the same year.  Numerous members of the household staff - butler, coachman, gardener, maid - came forward to testify.  Statements were also taken from Captain and Mrs. Jeffreys.  While no one was a direct witness to the shooting itself, it was determined from the testimony to have been an accident.  The boy was acquitted in the end and admonished to be more careful.  As Mr. Jones, the boy's solicitor, referred to the defendant and his carelessness, they "couldn't put an old head on young shoulders."

While studying at Wellington College, Geoffrey focused on mathematics and drawing under the guidance of Professor Blundell.  The contemporary study of geology was still a relatively new field and was considered taboo by many in Victorian England.  Despite this, learned men began applying empirical science rather than relying on biblical theory to explain the history of the earth.

Wellington College (postcard)

In January 1901, English newspapers reported a consequential oil discovery from across the pond, the remarkable Spindletop Oil Field.  Located near Beaumont on the Texas coast, a group of prospectors and investors in the US struck upon a colossal pocket of oil that erupted dramatically from the ground.  This announcement sparked a frenzy of leasing, drilling, and promotion of other possible oil fields, as everyone sought to uncover their own hidden riches beneath the Texas soil.

After graduating from Wellington, Geoff wanted to attend the prestigious Mining Academy of Freiberg in Germany but was advised against it.  He was told that he didn't stand a chance of success there as a foreigner.  He also considered the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, but ultimately decided to remain in England.  There, he studied geology and mining under Professor George A. Brennan at the Camborne School of Mines.  He furthered his education with field studies in the Spanish Pyrenees, studying Basque geology, where millions of years of ancient strata were uplifted and exposed.

During his time at Camborne, Geoff became one of Professor Brennan's top students.  Brennan, despite being in his mid-20s, struggled with alcoholism, and Geoff often had to teach classes in Brennan's absence.  This pinch-hitting, as Geoff called it in later years, would soon prove crucial in launching Geoff's career.

In 1906, Brennan was summoned to London to meet with Sir Boverton Redwood, a scientist and government petroleum advisor.  However, due to his current bout of Delirium Tremens, Brennan sent Geoff in his place.  At the meeting were Redwood and William Herbert Dalton, a petroleum geologist.  They were tasked with finding a geologist to send to Mexico in search of oil for the account of the Pearson engineering firm.

Despite his youth and inexperience, Geoffrey made a strong impression.  He was instructed to prepare immediately for travel and set sail from Liverpool to Vera Cruz, Mexico, on the SS Darien on August 16, 1906.  At 21 years old, Geoff was appointed Assistant Field Geologist for the British engineering firm S. Pearson & Son, Ltd., marking the beginning of a pioneering adventure.

Chapter 2 coming soon