Eliza, Matilda, Selina & Myra Watkins
The girls of Pye Corner Farm
William and Ann Watkins were the parents of our great-grandmother Rosa Kate Watkins. After growing up in Llandegveth with his family, and moving to Whitson, 30-year-old William Watkins married Ann Baker. The wedding was on 25th April 1854 at the Parish Church in St Brides. Ann was the daughter of a famer from Goldcliff on the Gwent Levels and had lost her parents at a young age.
The couple settled at Pye Corner Farm in Nash, where William farmed the 111-acre property. They had nine children starting with William in 1855. In this story we are going to look at the five daughters of William and Ann: Eliza 1857, Matilda 1858, Selina 1865, Rosa (our great-grandmother) 1867, and Myra in 1873. William was a landowner, and all of the children attended the local school and were well educated.
Eliza Watkins
Eliza Ann Watkins was born 1857, the second child of William and Ann. Our research revealed that Eliza spent her whole life living with family members. A possible reason for this can be found on her grave, it included the line “The deaf hear”. If indeed Eliza was deaf, we don’t know when this occurred as she could hear as a young woman. Living on busy farms without hearing would have been dangerous for Eliza and family support vital. When Pye Corner Farm was sold in 1897 Eliza went to live with an aunty and uncle in Redwick.
A question-and-answer book she completed for her sister Myra showed Eliza to be a well-educated and thoughtful person. She had a liking for the poems of Shakespeare and Milton, the novels of George Eliott and most admired Florence Nightingale. She liked people that were truthful and charitable and in men, admired those who were brave, gentle, and good-tempered.
On the 1901 census Eliza was living with her eldest brother William and his wife Mary at Cwm Farm in Christchurch. She remained with William and Ann for some years, and in 1911 she lived with them at The Moorlands in Goldcliffe. By 1921 she was living with brother George at Draenllwyn Farm near Caerleon.
She never married and was listed on all census returns as living on independent means. Eliza died 3rd July 1927 aged 71 years whilst at Abernant Farm with her sister Rosa, she is buried at Nash Baptist Church with seven of her siblings.
Matilda Watkins
Matilda Eugenie Watkins was born in 1858 at Pye Corner Fam. She left home aged just 17 after marrying 41-year-old Simeon Warder of Penhow. They married on 25th April 1876 at Nash Baptist Chapel. Simeon was the son of Henry Warder and was the Sub-Postmaster in Penhow. After the wedding Matilda moved to Penhow and worked as a grocer in the store. A son, Frederick Warder, was born in 1888.
In 1894 Matilda appeared on the front pages of the newspapers after being summoned for riotous conduct on the highway in Penhow. She had used obscene language in a dispute with a neighbour. The judge discharged Matilda on the promise it would not happen again. As part of the ruling Matilda had to leave Penhow and live with her mother in Nash.
Simeon died in 1899 leaving Matilda a widow. She married for a second time on 25th March 1901 to Benjamin Morgan, 16 years her senior. They lived at his home, Richmond Villa in Maindee, for a short time. Benjamin was retired and lived on independent means. He moved with Matilda and his stepson Fred to Undy, where they lived at ‘The Moorlands’. Fred left home aged 18 and married Hilda Harris.
Matilda died on 15th July 1912; she was aged 53. Probate was left to her husband Benjamin, and a friend Nugent Hazell. Matilda is buried with Benjamin at Nash Baptist Chapel; the grave is now in disrepair. Although not included in her will, her son Fred and his wife Hilda named their daughter Matilda Eugenie. They later returned to ‘The Moorlands’ where they lived for the rest of their lives.
Selina Watkins
Selina Baker Watkins was born at Pye Corner Farm in 1865. She suffered with ill health from infancy, and received regular medical treatments as she grew up on the farm. She died aged just 17, on 7th July 1882, from heart disease and general dropsy. Her death was registered by eldest brother William and subsequently listed in the Star of Gwent newspaper. Selina is buried with her parents in Nash Baptist Chapel. The inscription reads: In loving remembrance of Selina Baker, beloved daughter of William and Ann Watkins. “Be ye also ready”.
Rosa Watkins
Rosa Kate Watkins was our great-grandmother. She was born in 1867, the 7th child of William and Ann. After growing up at Pye Corner Farm she married James Skinner in April 1894 at Nash Baptist Chapel. Rosa then moved to Abernant Farm, the Skinner family home and had seven children. You can read the full story of Rosa’s life here. Rosa died in 1941, aged 74, and was buried with James at All Saints Church. Their remains were later moved to St Andrew’s Church in Tredunnock.
Myra Watkins
Myra Jane Watkins was the ninth and final child born to William and Ann. She was born at the farm in 1873 and grew up in a busy and hardworking family. As a teenager Myra owned, and diligently completed, a ‘Querist’s Album’. These now-rare books were produced by David Bryce of Glasgow (1845-1923), one of the world’s most prolific and successful makers of miniature books.
The leather-bound curiosity contained a series of questions that you could complete yourself and ask others to do the same. Questions ranged from what virtues you admired most through to your thoughts on love at first sight. The book still survives and contains answers from 39 of Myra’s family and friends.
Myra’s handwritten page, completed at the age of 16, gives a fascinating insight into her character and displays a good sense of humour. When answering the question what virtue do you most admire? Myra answers “charity, when it’s directed at me”. To the question, at what age should a man marry?, she replies In his dotage, whereas women should marry when they choose.
Myra was also happy for a woman to conceal her true age if she could get away with it. To the question do you believe in love at first sight she cryptically answers “I have no faith in second sight”. Myra lists her interests as skating, riding and dancing, and she most enjoyed studying music.
After her older sister Rosa married in 1894, Myra moved with her to Abernant Farm and spent the rest of her life there. Her move from Pye Corner appears to have coincided with the sale of the family farm. Whilst at Abernant Myra helped Rosa with her young children, she was also able to become the owner of a house and land. Myra spent much time with her brother George, who lived on a neighbouring farm, and was a bridesmaid when he married in 1899.
Myra died at the age of 37 on the 9th October 1910. She was at the Bryngwyn Nursing Institute in Newport and had been suffering from cancer of the intestine. Myra’s estate was left to her eldest brother William. She is buried at Nash Baptist Chapel; the grave is now badly damaged but reads “youngest and beloved daughter of the late William and Ann Watkins.”