David Rees Davies
School Master at Whitton
David was born in Cilgerran Pembrokeshire, in 1836. He was the son of David & Maria Davies (nee Rees), his father being a Slate Merchant.
One of 3 children born to David and Maria, David had 2 sisters: Elizabeth and Eleanor.
David undertook teacher training at the South Wales and Monmouthshire Training College, an institution that was established to train teachers for Church Schools in England and Wales.
In 1851 at the age of just 15 he was a pupil teacher in Cilgerran.
The year 1858 saw David taking charge as schoolmaster of Talybont-on-Usk School, Breconshire.
He married Frances Charlotte Homfray on 7th September 1865, in the Parish Church at Llansantffraed near Talybont, Breconshire.
They had a total of 12 children with one not surviving.
The first 10 children were born at the School House, Talybont, and were:
Frances Maria Homfray, 1866
Ellen Maude Mary, 1867
Catherine Louise, 1869
Frederick Homfray, 1870
Catherine Louise died in 1871.
David Rhys, 1871
Agnes Alberta Ann, 1874
William Henry Montford, 1875
Catherine Amelia Henrietta Wilhelmina, 1876
Philip Hacqueil, 1877
James Augustus, 1878
In 1879 David took up the post of Head Master at the Dame Anne Child's endowed school at Whitton, Radnorshire.
Here David and Frances had their last 2 children:
Charlotte Isabella, 1879
Percy Victor Ernest, 1882
According to an article in the Brecon & Radnor Express, David was also the Church Warden at Whitton in 1914.
The Radnor - 21st June 1917
Knighton Rural Tribunal.
VETERAN SCHOOLMASTER'S APPEAL.
Knighton Rural Tribunal held two sessions in the Board-Room on Thursday, and dealt with 32 appeals. Mr W. Watkins occupied the chair, Capt. S. N. Shrimpton represented the military authorities, and Mr J. R. Bache and Mr A. Moseley attended in the interests of agriculture.
Mr D. R. Davies, Whitton School, applied that his son, Mr J. A. Davies, might be exempted from military service. Appellant said that his son was unfit for the Army, because he was partly paralysed, as the result of a stroke, and had very little use in his left hand. He found him very useful about home in helping to cultivate a large garden and assisting on a small holding in his occupation.
In reply to a question by the chairman, Mr Davies said that, notwithstanding his great age, he was in harness every day.
In addition to the appeal, Mr Davies put in a note, stating that he had lost sons in the war, and that other sons and grandsons were in the trenches or serving somewhere with the colours. He appealed for this son because he was unfit for military service, but, if he had 10 fit sons, he would willingly give his fall consent to their joining the Army in order to serve their country. It was a noble expression of patriotism from one whose past life has been filled with useful and valuable service, and whose old age was heaped in sorrow consequent on bereavement caused by the war, and when the chairman called out, "Absolute exemption, in this case gentlemen," the hum of approval which ran round the room indicated in an unmistakable manner, how deeply the members of the tribunal appreciated the aged schoolmaster's sentiments.
In 1918, Frances, David's wife died and was buried in Whitton Churchyard.
Western Mail - 10th September 1918
DAVIES - On September 9th, Frances Charlotte, in her 81st year, youngest daughter of the late Henry Homfray, Esq., of Scethrog, Brecon, and for 53 years the beloved wife of Mr D R Davies, of Whitton near Knighton, Rads. (late of Talybont, Breconshire)
David was purportedly the oldest schoolmaster in 1928 at the age of 92.
David, aged 90 in 1926
David Rees Davies of The School House, Whitton, Radnorshire, died 24th March 1928. Probate Hereford 23rd November to David Homfray Davies, Accountant and William Homfray Davies, Insurance Director.
Effects: £1042 15s
Western Daily Press - 26th March 1928
Britain's Oldest "Head"
Believed to have been the oldest working schoolmaster in the British Isles, Mr David Rees Davies. head master of Dame Anne Child's Endowed School. Whitton, Knighton, Radnorshire, died on Saturday from pneumonia at the age of 92. He was teaching in the school last Monday, and had been Headmaster of the school for 49 years,
He died on 24th March 1928 and was buried with his wife on 27th March 1928 in Whitton Churchyard.
WITH THANKSGIVING TO GOD
FOR THE LIFE AND WORK OF
DAVID REES DAVIES
FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS HEAD MASTER
OF WHITTON SCHOOL
HE PASSED AWAY MARCH 24TH 1928
IN HIS 93RD YEAR
---------
ALSO OF
FRANCES CHARLOTTE.
FOR 53 YEARS THE BELOVED WIFE
OF THE ABOVE
DIED 9TH SEPTEMBER 1918 IN HER 81ST YEAR
PEACE PERFECT PEACE.
More about David's Children
Frances Maria Homfray Davies: born on 2nd July 1866 in Talybont, baptised 29th July 1866 Llanddetti
Frances became an assistant teacher at Whitton School. She married Dennis Perrins Coley at Whitton on 6th July 1892
Dennis was a bank manager and they moved to Sycamore Road, Smethwick, Staffordshire.
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Ellen Maude Mary Davies: born on 21st August 1867 in Talybont, baptised 6th November 1867 Llanddetti
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Catherine Louise Davies: born on 8th April 1869 in Talybont. She was baptised on 13th November 1870 in Llanddetti, died February 1871 and was buried on 25th February 1871 in Llansanffraid.
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Frederick Homfray Davies: born on 23rd July 1870 in Talybont, baptised 13th November 1870 in Llanddetti
Frederick married Frances Margaret Jones in Christ Church, Swansea on 7th July 1898 and records show that he was a Bank Accountant.
He and his wife had a daughter, Gwendoline Maud Davies, born 27th January 1899 at Bay View Crescent, Swansea
Frances, Frederick's wife, died in Swansea aged 32 in 1904
Frederick emigrated to Canada some time later, leaving his daughter as a boarder in Dumbarton Ladies' School, 67 Brynymor Road, Swansea.
He, along with his brother Percy enlisted in WW1 in Valcartier, Quebec on 23rd September 1914, where he gives his date of birth as 23rd July 1877 (?)
He was in the Canadian Infantry, 9th Battalion, C Company
Frederick was killed in action on 15th June, 1915 in Givenchy, France and is buried at:Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas de Calais, France. He was killed just 10 days before his brother Percy.
I found the following site HERE
I sent them some further information as to the maiden name of his wife, name of his mother, name of his daughter and also that Percy was his brother. I also told them that his birth date was incorrect. The sent me a nice email thanking me for the extra information and have now added it to his record. They say they will not change his date of birth unless I supply a birth certificate.
As Frederick gave his birth year as 1877 I don't feel it is my place to change it just to prove that I am right. He must have had his reasons for giving a different year of birth; therefore, I will leave it as it is.
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David Rhys Davies: born 27th August 1871 in Talybont, baptised 8th October 1871 in Llanddetti
David married Esther Anne Roderick at Llandeilo Fawr, Carmarthenshire on 17th April 1895
Esther died aged 60 years on 27th June 1928. She was buried on 30th June at Llandilo Fawr, Carmarthenshire
Esther's Probate
Esther Anne Davies of Brynamlwg, Llandilo, Carmarthenshire (wife of David Rhys Homfray Davies) died 27th June 1928 at Brunswick Nursing Home, Swansea. Probate London 8th November to Thomas Arthur Griffiths, Bank Manager and Gwyn Conway Porter, Solicitor.
Effects £6113 17s 2d
David died in the West Wales General Hospital in March 1959 aged 87 years. He was buried on 28th March in Manordeilo, Carmarthenshire.
David's Probate
David Henry Davies otherwise David Rhys Homfray Davies of 23 Alan Road, Llandilo, Carmarthenshire died 25th March 1959 at West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen. Administration Oxford 23rd October to Mabel Elizabeth Hannah Ellis, married woman.
Effects Nil.
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Agnes Alberta Ann Davies: born in January 1874 in Talybont, baptised 19th February 1873 in Llanddetti
Agnes became an Assistant Teacher at Whitton School and married Harold Sheard in the Aston District of Warwickshire in 1905. They lived at 53 Newland Road, Small Heath, Birmingham.
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William Henry Montford Davies: born on 20th January 1875 in Talybont, baptised 2nd May 1875 in Llanddetti
Although Wiliam’s second name on his Birth, Baptism and Marriage documents is Henry, he went through life using Homfray as a second name.
William married Edith Florence Yates in Cardiff in 1893. They lived at 61 Caerau Road, Newport, Monmouthshire and records show that William was the Secretary of an Insurance Company.
Edith died February 1944 at Bank House, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, aged 73 years. She was buried in Llangattock on 10th February.
William died on 19th June, 1949, at Bank House, Caerleon, Monmouthshire, aged 74 years. He was buried in Llangattock on 22nd June.
William's Probate
William Homfray Montford Davies of Bank House, Caerleon, Monmouthshire died 19th June 1949. Probate Oxford 15th December to Baden Rhys Aubrey Homfray Davies, company director and Mostyn Cleeves Llewellin, Solicitor.
Effects £ 8974 2s 1d
Baden Rhys Aubrey Homfray Davies was the son of William and Edith.
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Catherine Amelia Henrietta Wilhelmina Davies: born on 29th January 1876 in Talybont, baptised on 27th February 1876 in Llanddetti
Catherine married Robert James Hill at St. Pauls Church, Sketty, Glamorganshire
Robert was a Drapers Clerk and they lived at 41 Hawthorne Avenue, Swansea, Glamorganshire.
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Philip Hacqueil Davies: born on 1st June 1877 in Talybont, baptised 29th July 1877 in Llanddetti
Philip, along with his brother, Percy, emigrated to Canada. Departing from Liverpool on 12th April 1907 on board the ‘Victorian’ bound for Halifax
On 31st January 1910, Philip married Marguerite Blanche Evans. They were living at 9745 - 87 St., Edmonton, Alberta.
His occupation was mail carrier (Postman)
Philip enlisted in WW1 in Edmonton, Alberta on 21st February 1916
He died on 11th August 1947 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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James Augustus Davies: born 1878 in Talybont, baptised 25th August 1878 in Llanddetti
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Charlotte Isabella Davies: born 1879 in Whitton, baptised 28th February 1880 in Whitton
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Percy Victor Ernest Davies: born 1882 in Whitton, baptised 2nd April 1882 in Whitton
Percy, along with his brother Philip, emigrated to Canada, departing from Liverpool on 12th April 1907 on board the ‘Victorian’ bound for Halifax.
His occupation was recorded as a labourer.
He, along with his brother Frederick, enlisted in WW1 in Valcartier, Quebec on 23rd September, 1914
Percy was killed in action on 25th June 1915, just 10 days after Frederick. He is buried at: Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Of the three brothers, Frederick, Philip and Percy, Philip was the only one to return from war.
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Dame Anne Child's endowed school at Whitton, Radnorshire.
Radnorshire Society transactions - Vol. 43 1973 Page 38
The only child of Joanna's marriage to James Price was a daughter named Anna, who when very young, was married to a certain Mr. Thomas Hughes about whom very little is known, and who died without issue (without children). Then in about 1684 she married as his second wife Sir Lacon William Child of Kinlet, Shropshire, knighted by Charles II in 1673. This marriage too proved to be childless.
In the Will of Dame Anna Child, drawn up in 1703 but not proved until 1713, the first item runs: 'I give and appoint the sum of £500 to be put out to interest and secured for the maintenance of a schoolmaster to teach and instruct the youth of the several parishes of Pilleth and Whitton in the county of Radnor, and also to place out apprentice two youths of the said parishes yearly for ever.'
According to The National Archive's Currency converter...
In 1720, £500 0s 0d would have the same spending worth of 2005's £42,375.00