Lewis John Minton
A life tragically ended
Lewis John Minton was the illegitimate son of Ellen Minton, a domestic servant. He was born in Knighton Workhouse on 22nd November 1878. His birth was registered by William Massey the master of the workhouse.
In 1881 he can be found as a boarder in the Jenkins household in the Cwm, Knighton
With them is also John Lewis Jones, he being the brother of Susan Jenkins.
In 1891, the family are living in the Market Place, Knighton, Lewis is now John Minton, the nephew of Thomas & Susan Jenkins.
My guess is, Lewis John Minton was named after his un-named father, that being John Lewis Jones on the 1881 census. Lewis John Minton was also known as John Lewis Jones.
The following is an account of how Lewis took his own life.
The Western Mail - 10th September 1895
SAD AFFAIR AT KNIGHTON. SUICIDE OF A DISAPPOINTED LOVER. A lad named Minton, alias John Lewis Jones, was found hanging from a beam in the kitchen of his home in Cwm, Knighton, on Monday afternoon. A rope was round his neck, and the other end tied to a hook. A chair was beneath him, which had evidently been kicked over. A letter was found on the floor addressed to the deceased's parents. Pending an inquest the supposed cause is disappointed love, as a former sweet- heart was married on Monday morning.
Lewis John Minton took his own life on Monday 9th September 1895
South Wales Daily News - 10th September 1895
LOVE AND JEALOUSY. A KNIGHTON YOUTH'S SUICIDE. A sad case of suicide occurred at Knighton on Monday. A youth named John Minton, aged 16, living with his parents in the Cwm, Knighton, hung himself while they were away from home. He was found quite dead, suspended by a short piece of rope attached to a beam in the kitchen. He left two letters. In one he hoped his parents would forgive him for the rash act. From the tone of the letters it would appear that love and jealousy were, in part, the causes of the suicide.
Thomas and Susan weren't Lewis's parents but as he had lived with them from a very early age to all intents and purposes they could be classified as his parents.
Lewis, also known as John Minton was buried on Wednesday 11th September 1895, in Knighton Old Cemetery.
Wellington Journal - 14th September 1895
SUICIDE OF A LAD AT KNIGHTON: AN EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.
Mr. William Wakelin, coroner, held an inquest at Knighton on Tuesday evening touching on the death of a lad named John Minton, alias John Lewis Jones, who was found hanging from a beam at his home on the previous day.
Thomas Jenkins said the deceased was 16 years of age, and had lived with witness since he was six months old. He did not seem in any trouble on the day be died.
Ann Williams stated that Minton gave her the letter, marked " A," to give to Owen Williams. It was closed and addressed to "Owen, from Jack.-"
The Coroner here read the letter, which is given as written :
Dear Owen
Made up my mind to die by your side but before I died your lord will pay you for your day. Fare thee well for I must leave you. Do not let the parting grieve thee.
Dig my grave both wide and deep.
Put Tombstones at my head and feet.
And on my breast carve a turtle dove
To signify I died in love of thee.
So good bye, God bless you and help you and your mates.
You promised me you would get that belt from Ginger and for my sake do get it and keep them all in memory of me when I have gone for you have caused me to do what I have done, but I wish you to follow next to my coffin. If you will then I shall be happy but you will be happy when I am gone to a better place than this. We shall meet again soon I hope up in heaven above. You broke my heart Owen and put me to do this awful thing which I have done but I will forgive you with all my heart, and here is a parting kiss x x for you from your broken heart ever true mate,
J. Lewis Jones
Witness said deceased seemed cheerful, and she did not notice anything strange in his manner.
Margaret Jones said she was present when deceased's mother and a woman named Morgan returned home about two on Monday afternoon. His mother could not get into the house, and called to her son to open the door. She then forced it open, and found deceased hanging by the neck by a cord suspended from a beam in the ceiling. Witness touched him, but he was dead and cold. His feet were about 6 in. from the ground. Witness was not aware of any love trouble or any other cause why he should take his life.
Police-constable Charles Rogers proved cutting the body down, and finding a letter marked " B," addressed by the lad to his mother, lying open on the table. A chair had been kicked over on the floor.
Owen Williams, the lad referred to in the above letter, said he was 15 years of age, and a companion of the deceased. Witness had no quarrel with him, and he could not account for his doing the awful deed or his alluding to witness in the letter. "Ginger" was another lad living in the town. "Ginger" and deceased had fought some time ago. He knew nothing of any love affairs of the deceased lad's, and never saw him walk out with a girl.
The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of "Suicide while temporarily insane,," and added a rider acquitting the lad Owen Williams from all blame.
The verse in the letter to Owen:-
Dig my grave both wide and deep.
Put Tombstones at my head and feet.
And on my breast carve a turtle dove
To signify I died in love of thee.
Is taken from the song "There Is a Tavern in the Town", which first appeared in 1883.
Lewis's birth mother, Ellen Minton married Charles Burgess on 28th September 1881 in St. Edwards Church. They started a family whilst living in the Cwm and emigrated to America in 1887.
Susan (Susannah) Jenkins, Lewis's Aunt died in January 1907 aged 64, She was living in Childs Alley at the time of death, and is buried in Knighton Old Cemetery.
Lewis's uncle, Thomas Jenkins followed his wife to their final resting place in June 1909.
After contacting the council archives for information on their burial locations, I was informed that the three of them John Minton, Susan Jenkins and Thomas Jenkins are all buried together in Row R, Plot 28.
But unlike John's request in the verse:- ' Put Tombstones at my head and feet.' there is no headstone.
Below is plot R28 where John Minton and his aunt and uncle are buried. The grave would be between the curbed gravestone on the left and the upright gravestone on the right.
