Colonel James Williams
Photo reference number: 2214
James Williams was born in Cardiff on 15th March 1847, the son of David Williams, a boot and shoe maker and publican. He commenced work as a clerk in the office of Messrs Heath, Evans, & Co., at Cardiff Docks. In the 1861 census James was a coal merchant's clerk, and in the 1871 census an accountant.
He married Hannah Trist, the daughter of Thomas Trist, an ironmonger from Cardiff, on 5th October 1872 in the Bethany Chapel, Cardiff.
In the 1881 census, the Williams family was living in Gunnersbury, near Chiswick. (He was probably working for Edmund Hannay Watts who had a large estate in Chiswick.)
In 1889 he was elected Member of the Iron & Steel Institute.
In the 1891 census the family was living in Fields House, Newport, a very substantial house. They had a governess, servants and a groom.
James' wife, Hannah, died at the Fields in October 1891. On 31st Dec 1891 all of the six children were baptised in Birmingham and their address given was in Edgbaston. For years our family have wondered why they were baptised there. However we recently obtained a copy of Hannah's death certificate and this states that present at the death was Sarah Palmer and her address in Edgbaston was the same as the address for the baptisms. Sarah Palmer was Hannah's half-sister (born Sarah Trist) from her father's first marriage. I am sometimes surprised how we can find answers to questions from events 130 years ago.
In 1992 James moved from The Fields to Bryn Glas (or Brynglas House). The South Wales Daily News reported on Saturday 12 November 1892: "Our Newport readers will be interested in learning that Brynglas, the late residence of Mr Thomas Cordes, old-time member for the Monmouth boroughs, has been acquired by Mr James Williams, of The Fields, and will be the home to which that gentleman will shortly bring home his bride, nee Miss Watts. Brynglas, which has been in mufti since Mr and Mrs Cordes removed to London, is being refurbished on a splendid scale, and one of the principal local firms of furnishers has a four-figure order which they are executing in making the house a place of beauty as well as a castle, which every Englishman's home is by tradition. Brynglas is in the midst of charming surroundings, and its gardens and walks used to be thrown open once a week to Newport people."
James entered the service of Messrs Watts, Williams, and Co., and was connected with them for many years before being taken into partnership in 1895. He was one of the directors of the United Collieries, Limited - Abercarn, Risca, and National Collieries - and had a seat on the owners' side of the Sliding Scale Joint Committee.
On 2nd Nov 1892 James married Fanny Shadforth Watts, daughter of Edmund Hannay Watts, in St. Paul's, Onslow Square, South Kensington. She was 20 years younger than James. They had two children born at Bryn Glas.
In 1895 he was decorated by the King of Italy as "Cavalier della Corona Italie." (If anyone knows why we would like to hear from you.)
In 1897 Colonel Williams was chairman of the Monmouthshire and South Wales Coalowners' Association and chairman of the Newport Harbour Trust. He was also a Justice of the Peace and was elected Sheriff of Monmouthshire.
He was lieutenant-colonel of the 1st Monmouthshire Artillery Volunteers, and had seen thirty years of Volunteer service.
James died on 8th May 1898, age 51 years, at Bryn Glas. He had a complication of diseases and dropsy ultimately set in.
His wife continued to live at Bryn Glas for some time. She was there for the 1901 census but by 1914 she was living at Pontllanfraith and Bryn Glas was used as a hospital for the duration of the First World War.
Many thanks to Peter West, great grandson of James Williams, for the photo and information.
