Olwen Jones

Dear Robert Jones, of Chesterville, Ontario,

I'm afraid I didn't know Olwen Jones either, though it is good to hear about her. The reason I am responding is that we have just seen your contribution of 1 October 2010. We have been at Brynmaenllwyd, Trawsfynydd for nearly 13 years, and I am fascinated to read that you have letters written here in 1842 and 1845, as I am researching a history of this very old house, dating from the late sixteenth or early seventeenth century.

The farmer here from the 1840s was Cadwalader Williams and his family - are you connected to them? In 1840 the owner was Richard Roberts. Would you be willing to share your family tree? I'd be so interested to see the connection. And if it was possible for you to send us an image or copy of those letters, that would be amazing. My email address is [email protected] and we are Michael and Paula Burnett, Brynmaenllwyd, Trawsfynydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, Wales LL41 4UP

I would love to hear from you, and perhaps I have some information about the house that might interest you, too.

All good wishes,
Paula

I don't know your family, but I read, with interest, her death notice. My great, great, great-grandmother's sister lived at Brynymaenllwyd, near Trawsfynydd. (I have letters that were written from Brynymaenllwyd in 1842 and 1845.)

What a delightful, caring and wise woman Olwen was for so many. I was so moved by how she remained her gracious, humorous and profoundly considerate self in spite of the discouraging decline in her health over the last few years. I can still see the twinkle in her eyes as she rolled them to the heavens yet again after some antic or other of the Jones-Kerwin lot. Inside the hearts of the many who loved her I'm sure she's chuckling still and ready to deliver another incisive yet indulgently kind remark. She may even have Welsh music playing in our heads. I'll drink with you to that Olwen.