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Central Midwives Board , Register of Cases 1906-1927

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Midwife ; Margaret Davies, Coffee Tavern, 34 Gors Street, Cwmgors, Glamorgan.

Listing of names compiled by Gareth Hicks Sept 2000.

As much of the information contained in the Register is of a personal nature it is only the Name and Address of the mother and Date of Birth that have been extracted for this name listing. Any name after the surname is likely the husband's or his wife's christian name, NOT that of the child. The entries are as listed and are generally in date order [with exceptions] and the village is Cwmgors[e] unless stated otherwise. GCG is the abbreviation for Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen.
An * indicates my own family, the mother giving birth being the daughter in law of the midwife.

The register and midwife's certificate/licence have been lodged with W Glamorgan Archives [ Nov 2000].

Contents of Register

The Register has headings as follows, they don't all contain information however;

  • Name and address
  • No. of previous Labours and Miscarriages.
  • Age.
  • Date and Hour of Midwife's arrival.
  • Date and hour of Birth.
  • Presentation.
  • Duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Stage of Labour.
  • Complications [if any] during or after Labour.
  • Sex of Infant. Born Living or Dead.
  • Full time or Premature No. of Months.
  • If Doctor called, Name of Doctor.
  • Date of Midwife's last Visit.
  • Condition of Mother then.
  • Condition of Child then.
  • Remarks.

Names

Any numbers shown by themselves are merely location marks

Entries are in date order.

Davies W, Tirbach Terrace, Feb 14 1906 * Lewis, Penbrynian, May 3 1906
Taylor, Woodlands Gwaun Cae Gurwen, May 4 1906 Owens, Bristol House, June 4 1906
Davies, Brynteg Terrace, July 9 1906 Johns, Fan Villa, Sept 15 1906
Richards P, Rock Terrace, Feb 28 1907 Williams, Rock Shop, May 4 1907
James, Rhys Terrace, May 11/12 1907 Jones, Rhys Terrace, May 26 1907
  Griffiths, Afon Terrace, Sept 1 1907
Morgans, Llwynrhydian Rd, Oct 7 1907 Owens, Brynhaul Terrace, Oct 13 1907
Taylor, Woodlands Gwaun Cae Gurwen, Oct 17 1907 Morgans, Brynteg, Nov 17/18 1907
Howells, Church St, Nov 30 1907 Morgans, Brynteg, March 9 1908
Davies, Gorse St, March 17 1908 * Philips, Pontardawe Rd, March 29 1908
Evans, Glyn View terrace, April 18 1908  
Shoemaker, Pontardawe Rd, May 26 1908 Chamberlain, Pontardawe Rd, June 6 1908
Bisby, Gorse St, July 16 1908 Jones, Pontardawe Rd, August 6 1908
Edwards, Colbren Rd, Sept 14 1908 Thomas, Pontardawe Rd, Sept 15 1908
Philips, Water St GCG, Sept 30 1908 Rees, Gors St, Oct 3 1908
Jones, Church St, Oct 5 1908 Thomas, Pontardawe Rd , Oct 9 1908
  Prichard, Gors St, Dec 11 1908
Evans, Tynycoedcae Farm, Feb 13 1909 Jones, Colbren Rd, Feb 14 1909
Jones, Gorse St, Dec 12 1908 Jones, Gorse St, March 23[?] 1909
Evans, Rock Terrace, April 1 1909 Davies, Colbren Rd, April 5 1909
Owens, Brynhaul Terrace, May 30 1909 Davies, Pontardawe Rd, July 7 1909
Morgans, Church St, July 14 1909  
Scrutton, Baily Glas Rd, July 21 1909 Morgans, Gors St, July 25 1909
Shoemaker, Tairgwaith, Aug 2 1909 Jones, Tairgwaith, Aug 28 1909
Jones, Pontardawe Rd, Nov 3 1909 Field, Gron Rd, Nov 6 1909
Davies, Avon Terrace, Dec 17 1909 John, Llwyn Rd, Dec 21 1909
James, Avon terrace, Dec 27 1909 Morgans, Llwyn Rd, Jan 28 1910
  Lloyd, Gors St, Feb 1 1910
Jones, Gron Rd, Apr 10 1910 Philips, Pontardawe Rd, Apr 13 1910
Williams, Llwyncelyn Rd, May 15 1910 Thomas, Bryn Haul/Pontardawe Rd, May 26 1910
Evans, Llwyn Rd, June 7 1910 Evans, Rock Terrace, June 17 1910
Leaner[?], Brynteg Terrace, June 27 1910 Bowen, Afon[?] Terrace, June 27 1910
Phillips, Llwynhen Terrace, July 7 1910 Shoemaker[Shoemuck ?], Brook Terrace, July 8 1910
  Smith, Sunyboyn[?]/Pontardawe Rd, July 29 1910
Prichard, Rees Terrace/Gors St, Aug 1 1910 Williams, Llwyn Rd, Aug 4 1910
Davies S, Gorse St, Aug 6 1910 * Goodson, Cemetry Rd, Aug 26 1910
Thomas, Pentwyn, Aug 27 1910 Evans, Glen View, Sep 7 1910
Owens, Brynhaul Terace, Sep 21 1910 Jones, Gorse St, Oct 21 1910
Hicks, Llwyn Rd, Nov 13 1910  
Davies, Springfield Terrace/Pontardawe Rd, Nov 30 1910 Price, Gorse St, Dec 22 1910
Austyn, Gorse St, Dec 24 1910 Field, Gron Rd, Dec 27 1910
Morris, Church St, Jan[?] 27 1911 Beynon, Pontardawe Rd, Feb 26 1911
Painter, Llwyn celyn Rd, Apr 18 1911 Woodword, 4 Norway Terrace, May 2 1911
Leonard, Gorse St, June 19 1911 James, Gorse St, Jul 6 1911
  Chamberlain, Pontardawe Rd, July 14 1911
Peeket[?], Pontardawe Rd, Jul 22 1911 Morgans, Pontardawe Rd, Aug 2 1911
Jones, Pontardawe Rd, Aug 10 1911 Mainwaring, Gron Rd, Aug 11 1911
James, High St, Aug 20 1911 Evans, Carmel St, Sep 14 1911
Jones, Cae Newydd, Oct 8 1911 James, Pontardawe Rd, Oct 8 1911
Lewis, Pontardawe Rd, Oct 17 1911  
Owen[?], High St, Oct 24 1911 Morgans, Gorse St, Oct 24 1911
Rees W P, Gron Rd, Nov 4 1911 Williams, Caeglas, Nov 14 1911
Morris[?], Church St, Jan 22 1912 Davies, Church St, Jan 23 1912
Davies, Gorse St, Feb 22 1912 Evans, Pontardawe Rd, Feb 25 1912
Taylor, Gorse St, March 3 1912 Jones, Gorse St, March 31 1912
  Thomas, Pontardawe Rd, April 8 1912
Evans, Carmel St, April 22 1912 North, Gron Rd, May 1 1912
Phillips, Curwen St, May 24 1912 Williams, Church St, June 24 1912
Smith, Cemetry Rd, July 18 1912 Thomas, Gors St, Aug 11 1912
Davies, Carmel St, Sep 9 1912 Hughes, Curwen St, Sep 13 1912
Howells, Colbren Rd, Sep 30 1912  
Evans, Gorse St, Oct 3 1912 Field, Gron Rd, Oct 22 1912
Morgans, Nantricket Farm, Nov 4 1912 Rees, Llwyncelyn Rd, Nov 5 1912
Hughes, Pontardawe Rd, Nov 6 1912 Mainwaring, Church St, Nov 15 1912
Jenkins, Llwyn rhydiau Rd, Dec 21 1912 Leonard, Gorse St, Dec 23 1912
Davies, Nantricket, Dec 31 1912 Morris, Church St, Jan 5 1913
  Davies, Gorse St, Jan 20 1913
Lewis, Llwyn Rd, Jan 25 1913 Morgans, Penrallt, Feb 15 1913
Evans, Gron Rd, Feb 17 1913 Wilson, Carmel St, March 3 1913
Evans, Carmel St, March 7 1913 Davies, Avon Terrace, March 8 1913
Davies, Gorse St, March 27 1913 * Paddock, Colbren Rd, March 29 1913
Thomas, Pontardawe Rd, April 19 1913  
Chamberlain, Pontardawe Rd, April 27 1913 Owen, High St, May 4 1913
Gill, High St, May 17 1913 Davies, Gors St, May 23 1913
Rees, Pontardawe Rd, May 24 1913 Hopkins, Gorse St, June 6 1913
Jones, Colbren Rd, June 11 1913 Williams, Church St, June 24 1913
Prichard, Penybryniau, June 26 1913 Jones, Pontardawe Rd, June 29 1913
  Jones, Cae Newydd, July 1 1913
Price, Gorse St, July 4 1913 Davies, Gorse St, Aug 2 1913
Davies, Pontardawe Rd, August 5[6?] 1913 Childs, Gorse St, Sept 1 1913
Davies, Pontardawe Rd, Oct 7 1913 Harries[Butcher],High St, Oct 12 1913
Evans, Pontardawe rd, Oct 22 1913 Patterson, Gorse St, Nov 12 1913
Jones, Pontardawe rd, Nov 17 1913  
152 Davies, Church St, Feb 5 1914
Williams, Gron Rd, Feb 24 1914 Jones, Gors St, Feb 28 1914
Taylor, Gorse St, April 2 1914 Llewellyn, Gorse St, April 18 1914
Rees, Gorse St, May 4 1914 Davies, Cae Newydd, May 7 1914
Davies, Gorse St, June ? 1914 Owen, High St, June 28 1914
Jones, High St, July 13 1914  
Lewis, Llwyn Rd, July 26 1914 Rees, Pontardawe Rd, Aug 2 1914
Roberts, Gorse St, Aug 14 1914 Davies, Gors St, Sept 1 1914 *
Leonard, Gors St, Sept 5 1914 Davies, Carmel St, Sept 10 1914
Evans, Pontardawe Rd, Sept 28 1914 Davies, Church St, Oct 7 1914
James, Church St, Oct 18 1914 Field, High St, Nov 11 1914
  Austin, Gorse St, Nov 19 1914
Evans, Pontardawe Rd, Dec 20 1914 Bisby, Pontardawe Rd, Dec 15 [13 ?] 1914
Paddock, Pontardawe Rd, Jan 15 1915 Davies, Nantricket Farm, Jan 18 1915
Pike, Gorse St, March 8 [18 ?] 1915 Jones, Pontardawe Rd, April 11 1915
Rees, Gorse St, April 11, 1915 Morris, Church St, April 15 1915
Davies, Gors St, May 7 1915  
182 Evans, Gors St, May 1 1915
Thomas, High St, May 27 1915 Patterson, Gron Rd, May 30 1915
Harries[Butcher], High St, June 14 1915 Evans, Llwynrhydiau Rd, Aug 20 1915
Glanville, Curwen St, Sep 5 1915 Davies, 1 Cae Newydd, Sept 27 1915
Morgan Jno, Church St, Nov 2 1915 Leonard, Gors St, Nov 10 1915
Jones, Gors St, Dec 19 1915  
[Numbers 190-199 not used]  
202 Jones, Pontardawe Rd, Nov 16 1915
Davies, Pontardawe Rd, Dec 7 1915 Jones, Gron Rd, Jan 26 1916
Owen, High St, Jan 27 1916 Davies, 1 Carmel St, Feb 15 1916
Davies, Pontardawe Rd, April 9 1916 Williams, Church St, April 12 1916
Paddock, Pontardawe Rd, April 28 1916 Evans, Water St, ? 1916
Hopkins, Gors St, ? 1916  
Gill, Llwynrhydiau Rd, July 19 1916 Davies, 207 Pontardawe Rd, Aug 1 1916
Howells, Co-opperative, Aug 9 1916 Williams D Tom, Pontardawe Rd, Aug 10 1916
Rees, Abernant Rd, Aug 12 1916 Teague May, Lower Colbren Rd, Aug 17 1916
Williams, Sunny Bank/Pontardawe Rd, Aug 25 1916 Morgans, 52 Church St, Aug 27 1916
Patterson, 2 Grove Rd/GCG, Sept 27 1916 Morgan, Belmont House, Oct 8 1916
  222
Thomas E W, Abernant Rd/GCG, Nov 1 1916 Jenkins, Llwyn Rd/ Rose Villa, Dec 20 1916
Jones David, 111 Pontardawe rd, Feb 20 1917 Dix, Oaklands/Llwyn Rd, March 1 1917
Harries Jno[Butcher], Pontardawe Rd, March 17 1917 Morris, 4 High St, April 11 1917
Morris, 61 Church St, April 20 1917 Davies, 182 Pontardawe Rd, May 1 1917
Jones, 40 Gors St, June 10 1917 Rees, 20 Gors St, June 21 1917
  232
Harries, 45 Church St, July 16 1917 Jones, Llettycrydd Farm, Aug 1 1917
Taylor, Pontardawe Rd, Aug 2 1917 Morgans, Llwyn Villa, Aug 25 1917
Rodrick, Abernant Rd, Oct 7 1917 Williams, Pontardawe Rd, Oct 7 1917
Stonehouse[?], Springfield, Oct 9 1917 Rees, Nantricket Terrace/Church St, Oct 16 1917
Williams, Llwynhen Farm, Oct 19 1917 Davies, Pontardawe Rd, Oct 30 1917
  242
Mainwaring Gwen T, Church St, Dec 9 1917 Davies, 4 Colbren Rd, Dec 25 [23 ?] 1917
Davies, Oaklands Villa/Llwyn Rd, Dec 27 [23 ?] 1917 Davies, 1 Cae Newydd, Jan 12 1918
Davies, Gorsto [?] Rd/Cae Newydd, Feb 3 1918 Rees, Gors St, Feb 5 1918
Rees, High St, Feb 9 1918 Williams, 8 High St, Feb 24 1918
Davies, 38 Gors St, March 16 1918 ** Rees, Brynderwen/High St, March 22 1918
  252
Morgans, 27 Llwyn Rd, April 7 1918 Davies, 38 Gors St, March 16 1918 [Duplicate] *
Rees, 207 Pontardawe Rd, April 15 1918 Arcay Madam[?], Church St, May 13 1918
Price, Baily glas Farm, June 9 1918 Evans D J, 10 Church St, June 10 1918
Jones, J Thos, 32 Church St, June 16 1918 Owens, 123 High St, June 16 1918
Jones, Arosfa Villa/Colbren, June 26 1918 Davies, 9 Morriston Place, June 27 1918
  262
Morgans, 31 Church St, June 10 1918 Jones, 40 Pontardawe Rd, Aug 3 1918
Patterson, 14 Morriston Place, Aug 30 1918 Jones, Lletty-crydd farm, Oct 3 1918
Thomas, Brynhaul Terrace, Oct 8 1918 Jones, Old Anchor House/Gors St ?, Oct 11 1918
Jones, 32 Colbren Rd, Oct 12 1918 Williams, Sunny Bank/Pontardawe Rd, Oct 27 1918
Thomas, Abernant Rd, Oct 28 1918 Frances, 2 Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, Nov 10 1918
  272
Morgans, Belmont House/Llwyn Rd, Nov 13 1918 Davies, Llwynrhydiau Rd, Nov 18 1918
Evans, 48 Gors St, Nov 23 1918 Rees, Nantricket Terrace/Church St, Dec 21 1918
Jones, Pontardawe Rd, Jan 2 1919 Lewis, 40 High St, Jan 16 1919
Davies, 45 Gors St, Feb 14 1919 Booth, High St, Feb 18 1919
Williams, Llwyn hen Farm, March 19 1919 Griffiths, Bryn awel/High St, March 25 1919
  282
Dicks, Oakland Villa, April 10 1919 Jeremiah, no address, April 26 1919
Davies, no address, May 8 1919 Rees, Pontardawe Rd, May 9 and 10 1919[twins]
Davies, Belvue/Pontardawe[ Rd?], May 11 1919 Harries, Pontardawe Rd, May 17 1919
Jenkins, Llwyn Rd, June 19 1919 Morris H, Star Terrace/Church St, June 20 1919
Davies Rees, 42 Gors St, June 24 1919 Rees, 4 Garth Terrace/Tairgwaith, July 4 1919
  292
Griffiths, Post Office/GCG, July 9 1919 Smith, 17 Gron Rd/GCG, July 13 1919
Roderick T M Rev, Abernant Rd, Aug 6 1919 Davies, 38 Gors St, Aug 10 1919 *
Davies, Abergorcki Farm, Aug 12 1919 Field, 22 Gors St, Aug 16 1919
Edwards, no address, Aug 17 1919 Paddock, 201 Pontardawe Rd, Sept 12 1919
Curver[Curwen ?], 44 High St, Sept 16 [14 ?] 1919 Jones, 40 Gors St, Oct 2 1919
  302
Jones, 10 Caenewedd/GCG, Oct 29 1919 Trotman, 26 Gors St, Oct 31 1919
Taylor, Pontardawe Rd, Nov 3 1919 Howells Hannah, Abernant Rd, Nov 8 1919
Davies, 1 Cae Newydd, Dec 14 1919 Jones, Church St, Jan 22 1920
Frances, Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, Jan 28 1920 Fry[Fey/Fee/Free?], Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, Feb 6 1920
Evans, Twynyrefel/GCG, Feb 21 1920 Ride, Pontardawe Rd, March 7 1920
  312
Davies, Gron Rd/GCG, March 11 1920 James, Gorse lane, March 12 1920
Trotman, 16 Gorse St, March 14 1920 Powell, Penybryniau, March 29 1920
Deane[??], 41 Church St, May 3 1920 Jones, 22 Church St, May 29 1920
Jenkins, Eibry House/Upper Rhydyfro, June 23 1920 Roderick, Bron Allt/Abernant Rd, June 25 1920
Moses, 19 Llwyn Rd, June 26 1920 Thomas, 22 High St, June 16 1920
  322
James Jas, 12 Church St, July 9 1920 Thomas, 43 Church St, July 10 1920
Jones, 18 Gors St, July 19 1920 Davies, 20 Twynyrefail/GCG, July 23 1920
Gill, Llwyn Rd, July 28 1920 Williams, Llwynhen Farm, Aug 16 1920
Harries, 45 Church St, Sept 1 1920 Davies Ivor, Bristol House/Cemetry Rd, Sept 7 1920
Patterson, Morriston Place/Tairgwaith, Sept 8 1920 Williams Lewis, 3 Church St, Sept 16 1920
  332
Jones, Gors Llwyn Villa, Sept 24 1920 Evans, 18 Llwyn Rd, Oct 8 1920
Jones, Caenewidd/GCG, Oct 12 1920 Rees [Rees tarries ?], Cwmgorse, Oct 23 1920
Jones, Caenewydd/GCG, Nov 11 1920 Davies, Llwyn Rd, Nov 17 1920
Rees, Garth Rd/Tairgwaith, Nov 26 1920 Davies E, Caenewydd/GCG, Dec 2 1920
Rees, Highbury House/Pontardawe Rd, Dec 19 1920 Hughes, Bramshill[?] 56[?] High St, Dec 23 1920
  342
Morgans, 1 Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, Jan 21 1921 Morgan, 12 Church St, Jan 22 1921
Jones, Upper Colbren Rd/GCG, Feb 9 1921 Jones, Lower Colbren/GCG, Feb 22 1921
Owen, High St, Feb 24 1921 Jones, Llettycridd farm, Feb 27 1921
Smith Edris[?], 17 Gron Rd/GCG, March 14 1921 Owen, 34 High St, March 19 1921
Jones, 8 Graeg Rd/Waenlaeshon, March 26 1921 Thomas, Pontardawe Rd, March 30 1921
  353
Jones David, 210 Pontardawe Rd, April 2 1921 Morris, Star tarries[?], April 17 1921
Paddog, 211 Pontardawe Rd, April 30 1921 Harries[Butcher], Pontardawe Rd, May 14 1921
Davies, 29 New Rd/Cae Newedd/GCG, May 20 1921 Rees, Nantricket tarries[?], June 10 1921
Jones, 40 Gors St, June 20 1921 Thomas, 14 Llwyn Rd, June 26 1921
Price, 34 Church St, July 7 1921 Rodrick, Abernant Rd, Jul 7 1921
  363
Jones, 15 Gorse St, July 26 1921 Jones, 40 Church St, Aug 22 1921
Tylor, Pontardawe Rd, Oct 1 1921 Smith, 40 High St, Oct 30 1921
Frances, Lower Colbren Rd, Nov 9 1921 Rees, 20 Gors St, Nov 23 1921
Jones, 7 caenewydd/GCG, Nov 29 1921 Ride, 210 Pontardawe Rd, Dec 4 1921
James, Glwyd Farm/GCG, Dec 21 1921 Rees, 78 Pontardawe Rd, Jan 17 1922
  372
Jones John, Morriston Place/Tairgwaith, Jan 31 1922 Jones Samuel, 12 Gorse St, Feb 14 1922
Rees, 30 Twynyrefel/GCG, Feb 21 1922 Rees, 5 Gorsto [?] Rd/Caenewidd, March 8 1922
Jones Wm H, 61 Colbren Rd/GCG, May 1 1922 Kindom [?] Lotty, New [?]Station/Cwmgorse, May 9 1922
Fey[?], 4 Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, June 6 1922 Williams Lewis, Ternoli[?], June 26 1922
Davies Isaac, 26 Upper Colbren Rd/GCG, June 26 1922 Davies, Old Star Cottage, July 10 1922
  382
Jones Tom, 34 Pontardawe Rd, July 15 1922 Davies Ivor, 215 Pontardawe Rd, July 17 1922
Jones John Lewis, 15 Gorse St, July 30 1922 Rees Dan, 18 Gorse St, Aug 3 1922
Price, 228 Pontardawe Rd, Sept 12 1922 Jones, 40 Gors St, Sept 29 1922
George, Abernant Rd, Oct 9 1922 James, Glwyd Rd/GCG, Jan 5 1923
Davies, 15 Llwyn Rd, Jan 15 1923 Davies, Billiard Room, Jan 18 1923
  392
Jenkins, Upper Colbren Rd, 18.1.1923 Williams, 3 Brynteg, 20.1.1923
Powell, 25 Gate St, 22.2.1923 Rees, 80 Pontardawe Rd, 13.3.1923
Ride, 210 Pontardawe Rd, 27.3.1923 Palmer, Llwyn Hen Rd, 10.4.1923
Paddock, 213 Pontardawe Rd, 13 May 1923 Rees, 55 High St, 17 May 1923
Davies, 1 Gors St, 29 May 1923 Jones, 210 Pontardawe Rd, 5 June 1923
  402
Williams, 20 Llwyn Rd, July 8 1923 Robinson, 17 High St, July 30 1923
Harris, 15 Pontardawe Rd, July 30 1923 Fey , 4 Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, Aug 24 1923
Jones, Billiard Room, Aug 26 1923 Lewis, Church St, Sept 29 1923
Pedrick, 20 Curwen[?] St/GCG, Nov 4 1923 Williams, Ly[?] Gorse, Nov 5 1923
Evans, 12 Llwyn Rd, Dec 3 1923 Dicks, Montmorency/Pontardawe Rd, Jan 2 1924
  412
Hall, County Police/Pontardawe Rd, Jan 24 1924 Glasgow, 38 Avon Terrace, Feb 11 1924
Jones, 15 Gorse St, Feb 20 1924 Jones, Gwenlais Upper Colbren Rd/GCG, Feb 24 1924
Garland, 16 Gorsto Rd/GCG, Mar 3 1924 Evans, 6 Church St, March 27 1924
Evans, 23 High St, June 6 1924 Jones, Pen y Bryniau, June 17 1924
Price, 226 Pontardawe Rd, June 21 1924 Williams, Aber Gorgi, July 17 1924
  422
Morgans, 23 Gors St, Aug 2 1924 Harries, Nantygwin Terrace, Sept 28 1924
Havard, Llettycrudd Farm, Oct 1 1924 Jones, Nantricket Farm, Oct 25 1924
Evans, Bellvue Terrace/Pontardawe Rd, Oct 20 1924 Parsons, 24 Gorse St, Nov 13 1924
Davies, 37 Twyn y Refel/GCG, Dec 31 1924 Lewis , 44 Church St/GCG, Jan 1 1925
Jones, 22 Gors St, Feb 9 1925 Palmer, Stanway [?] Terrace/Gron Rd/GCG, Feb 23 1925
  4
Hughes, Pontardawe Rd/GCG, Feb 25 1925 Rees, Fern Bank, March 17 1925
Davies, Pen y Bryniau, May 26 1925 Newland, Gors Lwyn Terrace, June 12 1925
Williams, Abernant Rd, July 28 1925 Harris, Pontardawe Rd, July 31 1925
Jones, Pontardawe Rd, Aug 1 1925 Davies, 59 Gate St,/GCG, Sept 3 1925
Jones, Upper Colbren Rd/GCG, Sept 14 1925 Taylor, 4 Council Houses/GCG, Oct 2 1925
  14
Ride, 15 Council Houses/GCG, Nov 19 1925 Jones, Rhandyr Villa, Dec 6 1925
Payn [ Pryn ?], 6 Council Houses, Dec 22 1925 Davies, 10 Pontardawe Rd, Dec 27 1925
Smith, 15 Gron Rd/GCG, Jan 4 1926 Davies, Nythfa/Pontardawe Rd, Jan 13 1926
Lewis, 14 Gron Rd/GCG, Jan 27 1926 Fey, 4 Lower Colbren Rd/GCG, Feb 15 1926
Thomas, 42 Church St, Feb 17 1926 Griffiths, 25 High St, Feb 24 1926
  7
Evans, Factory House/Gron Rd/GCG, 5 March 1926 Thomas, 35 Pontardawe Rd, 7 April 1926
Davies, 13 Council Houses, May 4 1926 Lloyd, Abernant Rd, May 12 1926
Lewis, Gors Lwyn Villa/Llwyn Hen Rd, May 22 1926 Jones, 31 Pontardawe Rd, July 5 1926
Scruton, 2 Cemetry Rd, July 8 1926 Robinson, 8 Colbren Square/GCG, Jul 9 1926
Jones, 37 Pontardawe Rd, July 22 1926 Flury, Pontardawe Rd, July 30 1926
  17
Davies, 45 Gors St, Aug 4 1926 Jones, Colbren Square/GCG, Aug 29 1926
Thomas, 42 High St, Dec 18 1926 Phillips, 28 Gors St, Dec 22 1926
Evans, Cloth Hall/GCG, Jan 25 1927 Jones, 40 Gors St, Feb 4 1927
Jones, 51 High St, 1 June 1927 Newland, Llwyn Rd, June 3 1927
Rees, 13 Abernant Rd, June 29 1927 Jones, 42 Pontardawe Rd, 7 July 1927
  27
Lewis, Bookhaeller[?]/GCG, Jul 8 1927 Early, 6 Council Houses, Jul 14 1927
Evans, Factory House/GCG, Sept 15 1927 Jones[James?] Annie, Anchor House, Sept 15 1927.

Margaret Davies, the person

Margaret Davies, midwife of Cwmgors, Glamorgan

By Gareth Hicks

Margaret Davies is one of my maternal great grandmothers, she became the local midwife in the village of Cwmgors, Llangiwg parish, Glamorgan.
I had in my possession her midwife's Register of Cases and Midwife's Certificate and in the process of depositing these with West Glamorgan Archives I thought it would be a suitable touch if a brief story of her life, as I know it, accompanied the documents. This is it below, together with some comments about the Register and midwifery.

Margaret was born at Velindre, Llansadwrn parish, Carmarthenshire on 5th May 1854, one of 10 children of John and Susannah Davies. I have traced John's line back to the 1770s in Cynwyl Gaeo, and Susannah's back to the 1790s in Llansadwrn.

Apart from her birth entry, my first sighting of Margaret is on the 1861 census at Joining House, Felindre Mill, Llansadwrn---John DAVIES, 40, road lab,[Cayo], Susannah 38, Eliza 11, Margaret 8, Timothy 3, Mary 5[ all born Llansadwrn].

And it was probably her on the 1871 census at Cwmeilath, Llansadwrn, with an Edwards family, she was a general servant, age 19.

I don't know the exact circumstances of her leaving Llansadwrn for Glamorgan but family lore has it that she was a servant at Nant-y-gasseg farm, Cwmgors before she married John Davies on 29 May 1880 at St Peter's Church, Llanguicke, Glamorgan. John, originally from Llandeilo fawr, was a manservant at Cwrt y Bariwns farm, on nearby Gwrhyd mountain.

The 1881 census finds them at Pencaergarreg, Llangiwg, with son William aged 1.

William was born at Glynceirch, Llandeilo on 9 June 1880 [!] but the certificate shows his father as William Davies, farm labourer, not John. Naturally I queried this with the Registrar, and have seen the actual entry which does indeed say William. The informant was David Davies, occupier of Glynceirch, who presumably misunderstood the question re the father, or is there another explanation ?? This David Davies was probably the widower of Eliza, Margaret's aunt.

The 1891 census shows them at [Pt of] Llwynrhidiau, Cwmgors--John Davies 31 coal miner, Margaret 35, wife, William 10, son, scholar, David John ISAAC 5, scholar, Mary Lewis 15, visitor, William Davies 65, father, widower, labourer,[Llansawel], all Welsh speaking.
From papers held it is clear that the 1891 house was either 34 or 38 Gors St., Cwmgors.

The extended family eventually lived in three terrace houses on this site which became known locally as "Tirbach Terrace", after the farm called Tirbach, Llandeilo fawr that Margaret's husband John was born in. And indeed the family became known as "the Tirbachs" to distinguish them from the many other Davieses in the village.

Margaret and John only had the one child, William, and her ten grandchildren mostly became coal miners, with a farmer thrown in. I wonder what she thought of her grandson William [Wil Sgili] playing rugby for his country in 1931/32 ?
I know that the photograph of him being presented to the Prince of Wales had pride of place on the 'gegin' [kitchen] wall at 34 Gors St ever since I can remember.

Margaret ran a 'Coffee Tavern' in the front parlour at 34 Gors St for some time, certainly c 1910, and let the same room to Lloyds Bank later on.

She also took in 'strays'...local orphans, usually older children.

And put up visiting preachers to Tabernacle for the weekend.

I think she must have been an unusual woman in many ways, another family story has her walking over the mountains from Cwmgors to Maesteg, all of 15 miles as the crow flies, knitting a shawl on the way, and bringing back a baby in it to look after; this is assumed to be the David John Isaac who is shown with the family on the 1891 census. Margaret brought him up, he was her sister Anne's son.

The family were members of Tabernacle Independent Chapel Cwmgors, where Margaret's husband John Davies was a deacon in his time.

Margaret is mentioned as the "Chwaer hynaf yr Eglwys" [Elder sister of the church] at a presentation at Tabernacle in 1938.["Annibynwyr Gwaun-cae-gurwen " L Hughes].

The midwife's Register of Cases covers the period Feb 1906 to Sept 1927 and, allowing for numbering errors, it has entries for 475 babies delivered in Cwmgors, and sometimes in the next door village of Gwaun-cae-gurwen. This includes my own mother amongst seven of the ten children of Margaret's daughter in law.

I have nothing to compare these figures with but an analysis of the entries shows that one mother died, 10 days after giving birth , 2 babies were still born, and 21 babies died at birth. Five of the latter were in 1910 which must have been a very distressing year for Margaret.

I recently had an email from someone who had looked at the index, who told me "she actually delivered my mother in law at ... farm on ...1915. My mother in law has just been here and was overwhelmed to read the entry. What's more your g grand mother's brother was fighting in Louvaine in France at the time and your g grandmother persuaded my mother in law's mother to name her baby after the place -- and she became Esther Louvaine.

That seems to also explain why Margaret's own grand daughter was named Susanah Mary Alsace Lorraine in 1914 !

The columns in the Register that were actually used are ; Name and address; No. of previous Labours and Miscarriages; Age; Date and hour of Midwife's arrival ; Date and hour of Birth ; Presentation ; Duration of 1st, 2nd, 3rd Stage of Labour[not completed after 1910] ; Sex of Infant.Born Living or Dead ; Full time or Premature No.of Months ; If Doctor called, Name of Doctor ; Date of Midwife's last Visit ; Condition of Mother then ; Condition of Child then ; Remarks.

To give an idea of the required "tools of the trade", on an inside front page of the Register is written "Lysol " and "Jeyes' Fluid" and on the back inside cover "The Medical Supply, 4 Newport Rd, Cardiff" and "Enema Syringe & glass vaginal nozzle-6/-". Deleted is "Midwives red lined thermometer 1/-, by post 1/1."

We also have Margaret's certificate, number 13008, dated January 26 1905 issued by the Central Midwives Board. This says that " Margaret Davies is entitled by law to practice as a Midwife in accordance with the provisions of the Midwives Act, 1902...by virtue of having been in bona fide practice as a Midwife for one year prior to the 31 July 1902."

Although I have no information as to what training Margaret herself received, if any, I understand that there was training of midwives which started formally in the late 1860s; before that it was `on the job` training .

It was the 1902 Act that recognised the training and licensed midwives, but it was still possible to obtain a licence if you could show `experience`, until formal registration of midwives started around 1924.

The Boards of Guardians in different Unions throughout the land had different standards which didn't always require even a trained midwife to be employed for the needy as the Union doctor was generally responsible for their care. To keep the costs down for the Union it was often the case that the doctor would pay for the midwife or whoever he trusted out of his midwifery fee, usually about 10 shillings of which the midwife took half. I don't know what the local practice was in Cwmgors.

Margaret was known as Mamgu White in the family, reflecting the colour of her hair and to distinguish her from the other mamgu in the house, Sarah, her daughter in law.

Margaret had been widowed in 1922, lost her son in 1930 and she died herself aged 85 on 23 September 1939.

That was before I was born but I am fortunate in having two large photographs of her hanging on my walls, a quite severe looking 'Victorian matriarch', I wouldn't want to have crossed her too often !

It seems extraordinary to me that she was aged 52 when the Register commences and aged 73 when it ends.

She is buried in the family plot at Hen Garmel, Gwaun-cae-gurwen, the headstone inscription appears particularly apt ;

"Ar hyn a allodd hon, hi ai gwnaeth ", [Whatever this one could do, that she did].

Gareth Hicks, November 2000

My Davies homepage is on http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~tirbach/family/tirbach.html