My Great Grandfather Mr John Lewis (1864 - 1940) |
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My Great Grandparents (1891) Martha Jane and John, with Margaret Jane and David Thomas, my grandfather.
The family grows. We now have David Thomas, Margaret Jane, John Henry and Salome.
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He was born in Ffaldybrenin,
Carmarthenshire in 1864, but lived in Maerdy for the last 55 years of his life. Though
deprived of educational standards in his early life he had nevertheless applied himself
with great diligence and self sacrifice to the acquirement of knowledge. His large and
selective collection of books was a source of admiration to all who knew him. His studious nature did not, however, debar him from active participation in social and industrial welfare. The cause of the working man was one of his main concerns. Towards the end of the last century he was one of the leaders of the coterie of enthusiasts who founded the local Labour Party and his personal associations with the late Keir Hardie, and other well known leaders, testified to his prominence in the cause. Formerly associated in an official capacity with the South Wales Miners Federation he later founded the Mardy Lodge of the Colliery Examiners' Association, serving for many of its first years as secretary. In this sphere his assiduity and enthusiasm was early recognised by his appointment as district secretary and national delegate. He was vice-president of the South Wales & Monmouthshire Colliery Examiners Association and one of the founder members of the then 20 year old association. His Business Card |
John Lewis being presented with a Westminster chiming clock on the occasion of his retirement on 19th January 1926.
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He bought the house in which I was born in 1903 (No.4 Brook Tce., Maerdy.), for the grand sum of £238-0s-0d. That's (£) pounds, (s) shillings and (d) pence, to those too young to know. His building society was the Maerdy Building Society, which was started by local people in 1904. The Society members used to meet in the Maerdy Hotel every month and all paid the sum of £1 each month towards their share capital. All members had one share each and the money was used to build houses at the rate of one, or two every month. Lots were drawn each month for a member to have the first option to purchase, or rent, the finished house from the Society. The person who organised the Maerdy Building Society was Rhys D.Davies, who was also the cashier of Maerdy Colliery. I now live in his old house and have many of his documents, including his share certificates in Maerdy Colliery.
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My Grandfather, with Jane and Salome |
The song
playing is Llwyn On (The Ash Grove), one of my Great Grandfathers favourites. My Grandfather My Grandfather started work as a trainee cashier with David Davis & Sons, owners of the Ferndale group of collieries. He eventually worked in Maerdy Colliery as the assistant to Rhys D.Davies, in the Powell Duffryn group of collieries, becoming cashier on the retirement of Mr Davies. |
