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1887 Wedding

An amusing article from the Carmarthen Weekly Reporter, Friday 16 September 1887

A SINGULAR MARRIAGE. Every one was astir early last Tuesday morning in Talog, for there was to be a marriage which promised more merriment than serious rejoicing. Two garlands were put up in the village – one at J. Bowen’s house, the other at the Castle Inn. Everything of a bright colour, or of a comical shape, was put in the garlands. The bride was Rebecca Davies, of Pantycoch, widow, 52 years, with three children, and:the bridegroom was David James, Penbank, widower, aged 74, with seven children ; both of Abernant. By eight a.m. men in the village were firing off guns, and there was likewise shot firing, which continued till the bride came to Talog, when a volley was discharged in her honour. The blushing bride was visibly affected, especially when she found that the bridegroom had not come. The firing party by this time were thirsty, so the bride treated them to liquors, after which they renewed their firing with vigour. After the bride had been kept in suspense for half an-hour, the blooming bridegroom appeared, in the company of Mr Howells, Lan, and Mr Hughes, Ffynonwen, who brought their traps to carry the happy pair to Abernant Church. More liquor then went round, and the volleys followed quickly. The bridegroom was as active as a young boy, and the bride as modest and as timid as a maiden. When the party left Talog, there was a shower of old shoes and rice, a roar of laughter, and a final volley. People considered it a comical scene, for the bridegroom is old, and so they determined to make his marriage as public as possible. Long life to the happy pair, for though not possessed of youth, we trust he is full of wisdom, so that he can guide his wife aright. Love rules the world.– Com

The Perils of being Baptised in a River

This is an extract from “How I became a Blacksmith”, some notes written by John Davies, who was born in Talog in 1891. As a child he often frequented the Smithy in Talog where he became interested in the work of a blacksmith. His family moved to Llangain when he was seven years old. As an adult he became a multi-award-winning blacksmith in Carmarthen.

These notes recall an incident involving “Dafi Gof”, the Talog blacksmith who died in 1905.

“He was a stout and short man and kind to children, but he was not a full member of the local chapel until well on in years. I can remember him being baptised in the river which runs through the village, and great commotion was caused in the village that day. They used to baptise in a pool, called “pwll y bedydd1” to this day. But through some misfortune the minister and Dafi Gof got entangled in each other. He pulled the minister with him into the water to the great fright of us children, and we all ran back to the village shouting “Mae Dafi gof wedi boddi2”.

1 (the baptism pool)
2 (Dafi Blacksmith has drowned)

Now that can’t happen again, as they have diverted a stream of water to a brick built Baptistry in the field close by.”

Baptism Chamber

With thanks Jo Kerslake, a grand daughter of John Davies, for supplying the information

You can read more about the life of John Davies in ‘Where did the Anvil first ring for John Davies, Champion Farrier of Great Britain five times?‘, and there is some more information about the baptistry in ‘Blessing the Baptistry‘

Bethania Chapel Graveyard and Memorial Plaques

A few of the gravestones and memorial plaques to be found at Bethania Chapel.

Thomas Thomas, 1854 and his family


Er coffadwriaeth am Thomas Thomas masnachwr Talog o’r Plwyf hwn yr hwn a fu farw Ion
19 1854 yn 41 oed
Hefyd Margaret ei wraig a fu farw Ion 27 1854 yn 39 oed
Hefyd David eu mab a fu farw Ion 5 1854 yn 15 oed
Hefyd Mary eu mherch a
fu farw Chwef 10 1854 yn 17 oed

Edrych ar orchwyl DUW canys
pwy a all unioni y peth a gam modd efe

Two of the memorials to the Jones family, Rhydygarregddu

Plaques in the Chapel to Gwilim Wilkins, Chapel Deacon, and conductor of the Bethania Chapel choir. Also Gwynfor Phillips, Deacon and Chapel Secretary.

Memorial to Professor Henry Harford Williams

Raised in Meidrim, he studied at Aberystwyth University and became an eminent scientist, an expert in fish parasitology. His family said “He was hard working man, with numerous interests, and didn’t know when he should take a break from work. At the end of a hard day’s work, he’d frequently say that he’d overdone it:
“Dw i wedi gorwneud i””