Life in Pen Y Gelli
In 1881 the family was still living in Pen Y Gelli, part of the larger community of Coedpoeth (map 5), in the extreme north-eastern corner of the district of Bersham and less than a mile from Minera; their house was on or near what is now called Talwin Road. The map shows a landscape pockmarked with mineshafts (Minera Lead Mine being the largest of several local mines), a large number of wells (probably then still in use) and many Non-Conformist chapels (at least four in and around the small community of Pen Y Gelli) reflecting how chapel dominated life in Wales at that time.
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Name John SHELBY Sarah A. SHELBY Margaret J. SHELBY James P. SHELBY Susannah E. SHELBY Thomas F. SHELBY Timothy M. O. SHELBY Sarah A. SHELBY Henry R. HUBAND |
Posn. in family Head Wife Daur Son Daur Son Son Daur Adopt.Son |
Marital status M M U U |
Age 57 51 20 18 15 13 11 8 2 |
Occupation Lead Miner Lead Miner's Wife Milliner Scholar Scholar Scholar Scholar Scholar |
Place of birth Cardigan, Wales Montgomery, Wales Monmouth, England Denbigh, Wales Denbigh, Wales Denbigh, Wales Denbigh, Wales Denbigh, Wales Lancashire, England |
(The two eldest children, Louisa and Miriam were in Yorkshire preparing for Louisa's wedding later that month.)
The Wrexham Advertiser and North Wales News (6 Oct 1883) describes how on 28 September over 500 pupils - 140 infants, 190 boys and 170 girls - of the Broughton Board schools had enjoyed their first annual treat (a common practice in neighbouring schools) since opening eight years previously. An earlier concert and the generosity of three local benefactors had funded a splendid tea at Brynteg School followed by a sing-song. One of the volunteers helping that day was 'Mrs. Shelby, Loft Wen'. In 1882 a newsaper report mentioned 'Miss Sarah Ann Shelby, Lloftwen'. Lloftwen, or Lloft Wen, was a house in Coedpoeth, possibly at one time the home of a family called Griffiths but definitely once the home of mine-owner and engineer, William Low (see also Coedpoeth timeline).