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Merthyr Dyfan

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"MERTHYR DYFAN, in the Cwmwd of Is Caeth, Cantref of Brenhinol (now called the Hundred of Dinas Powys), Co. of GLAMORGAN, South Wales: a discharged Rectory valued in the King's Books at £4..17..3 1/2: Patron, Robert Jenner, Esq.: Church dedicated to St. Dyfan. The Resident Population of this Parish, in 1801, was 128. The money raised by the Parish Rates, in 1803, was £105..4..5 3/4. It is 7 m. S. W. from Caerdiff. This Parish contains about 1100 acres (including some profitable Wood-lands) of inclosed and cultivated Land. The Inhabitants of the Extra-Parochial district of Highlight attend Divine Service at this Church. According to the Diocesan Report, in 1809, the yearly value of this Benefice, arising from Tythes, and Rent of Glebe, was £64..16..8." From: Topographical Dictionary of The Dominion of Wales by Nicholas Carlisle, London, 1811.

"MERTHYR-DOVAN (MERTHYR-DYVAN), a parish in the hundred of DINAS-POWIS, county of GLAMORGAN, SOUTH WALES, 8 miles (S. W.) from Cardiff, containing, with Highlight, 130 inhabitants. This small parish, bordering on the Bristol channel, is in general hilly, and the inhabitants are exclusively employed in agriculture. The living is a discharged rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Llandaf, rated in the king's books at £4. 17. 3 1/2., endowed with £200 royal bounty, and in the patronage of R. F. Jenner, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Dovanus, is situated in a valley watered by a small stream which passes near Cadoxton, and falls into the Bristol channel at Barry Island. Highlight is an extra-parochial district, the property of C. K. K. Tynte, Esq., for ecclesiastical purposes attached to this parish, the inhabitants attending divine service here. The late Mr. Richards, of Barry, left £40, and the late Rev. Mr. Powel, £50, directing the interest to be given weekly to the poor in bread. The average annual expenditure for the support of the poor is £84. 1." ( A Topographical Dictionary of Wales by Samuel Lewis 1833)

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Bibliography

Here is a substantial reading list of books which relate to Glamorgan, either county or parish.

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Cemeteries

The Glamorgan Family History Society have produced a set of microfiche containing Monumental Inscriptions for the following burial grounds :-

  • Parish Church of St. Dyfan & St. Teilo
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Church History

Glamorgan Chapels Database  - no non-conformist chapels found in this parish

See Welsh Chapels and Churches for a photograph

Merthyr Dyfan Church, 1980 - on the People's Collection Wales site

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Church Records

For full and up-to-date details of their holdings see the sites of Glamorgan Record Office and/or West Glamorgan Archives

See Bap/Mar/Bur data on  FreeReg

The church is dedicated to St. Dyfan and St. Teilo, and is in the Benefice of Merthyr Dyfan. Details of the present incumbent of this benefice can be found at the Church in Wales website. The church can be located at grid reference ST115694.

A transcription of the registers is available from the Glamorgan Family History Society for the years: Baptisms, 1724-1886, Marriages, 1728-1836, Burials, 1724-1900.

Anglican Parish Registers Held at the Glamorgan Record Office, Cardiff
BaptismsMarriagesBurialsBannsBishops Transcripts
1813-19651754-1812, 1814-1836, 1839-1970, 1972-19801813-19901754-1812, 1901-19531724-1743, 1745-1765, 1767-1837

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Merthyr Dyfan Ecclesiastical Parish records             " ........... including registers of burials, 1813-1990; baptisms, 1813-1965; marriages, 1754-1980; registers of marriage for St. Paul's Church Barry, 1901-1991"

Modern Parishes & Chapels of Ease :-

The following Religious Institutions are covered in the Mormon International Genealogical Index (IGI) :-

  • Merthyr Dyfan, SS. Dyfan & Teilo - Christenings (BT's), 1814-1875
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Description & Travel

You can see pictures of Merthyr Dyfan which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

The transcription of the section for Merthyr Dyfan from The National Gazetteer (1868) provided by Colin Hinson.

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Historical Geography

Some of the hamlets, towns and villages within this parish

  • Colcot
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Maps

This diagram shows the position of this parish within the county of Glamorgan - click on this to see a full size diagram of the county

 

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Parish map (Kain/Oliver)

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference ST109690 (Lat/Lon: 51.413285, -3.282337), Merthyr Dyfan which are provided by:

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Names, Geographical

Places, villages, farms etc within Merthyr Dyfan parish as shown on the online parish map from the CD of Historic Parishes of England and Wales: an Electronic Map of Boundaries before 1850 with a Gazetteer and Metadata [computer file]. (Kain, R.J.P., Oliver, R.R.). (Extracted by Glenys Travis)

  • Merthyr Dyfan [174] - BARRY, Bryn-Hill-fawr, Cem., Coed Mawr Hospital, Coll.?, Hospital, Merthyr Dyfan, Reservoirs, Walters Fm.
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Newspapers

There are many references to this area in the 15 million Welsh and English language articles from Welsh newspapers transcribed by the NLW and viewable on Welsh Newspapers Online
Below are English language articles that have been re-transcribed and extracted randomly to illustrate what is available, there are many that are not extracted here that include names of local people

  •  From the Barry Herald 27th November 1903

Ritual at Merthyr Dyfan. REV. D. WEATHERILL AND HIS BISHOP. The Rev D. Weatherill has addressed a lengthy epistle to the Lord Bishop of Llandaff, in which he makes complaint about being annoyed about the proportion of Welsh-speaking people in his parish, and a number of other things. In reply the Lord Bishop said the only question brought before him by the churchwarden (Mr E. Edwards) was the legality of placing two lighted candles on the holy table when they were not required for giving light.

  • From The Cardiff Times 2nd April 1904

MERTHYR DYFAN CHURCH DISPUTE. ALLEGED UNAUTHORISED RITUAL The Rector on Nonconformist Applause. Mr E. Edwards, churchwarden of Merthyr Dyfan. Barry, who some time ago removed lighted candles from the altar at morning communion service at the parish church, near Barry, has written to the Bishop of Llandaff pointing out that for over six months the regular communion service has been discontinued. As churchwarden he appealed to his Lordship to make inquiries and to see that the services are resumed. The Bishop of Llandaff referred the communication to the Rev. D. Weatherill. the rector, who, after remarking that a celebration of holy communion was held on Christmas Day, says It has not been possible to have a monthly celebration on account of Mr Edwards's brawling   ......(part extract)......

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Population

The Population of Merthyr Dyfan was as follows, and a more detailed breakdown is available.

1841 - 1301851 - 1521861 - 1431871 - 1461881 - 1021891 - 4,279
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Public Records

Details of extant records on Archives Network Wales for the following;

  • Merthyr Dyfan Civil Parish records                  ".......... comprising tithe plan and apportionment, 1842"