Cemetery quakers yard

[garaboto]

I remember going once to my Aunt's grave at the cemetery which was on a steep slope and I seem to remember that it was called Quakers yard - her name was Sarah Ann Williams née Ellis - can anyone tell me anything about this cemetery

thanks

[richarevans1]

DO you mean the Quaker Burial ground? If so it was "tidied up" in the 1970's and the better quality grave stones set in the walls. They may still be there.

[lee]

It was probably the old Libanus Chapel graveyard at Leigh Terrace, Quakers Yard
The chapel was still being attended in the 1980s (I'm not sure when it closed) but was in a poor state of repair and they used only the vestry.Attendances were usually fewer than a dozen, I think.
A private house has now been built on the site of the chapel. There are photographs etc of Libanus if you just enter LIBANUS CHAPEL, QUAKER's YARD, in an internet seach engine!

[lewisdavies]

can anyone tell me if there is a Cemetery in Merthyr Tydfil I think my ggggrandfather was an independant

[garethdg]

my wife who is from Treharris thinks the cemetery with the steep slope could be the one on fiddlers elbow , the church was pulled down a few years ago.

there are two cemeterys in merthyr one at Pant and one at Cefn Coed. and a number of churches also had small cemeterys for thier members

[garaboto]

Aug 14, 2011 15:09:57 GMT 1 garethdg said:

my wife who is from Treharris thinks the cemetery with the steep slope could be the one on fiddlers elbow , the church was pulled down a few years ago.

I'm now fairly confident that she's right Gareth, as the family used to live in Webster Street, Treharris, before moving to Oakdale. Do you by any chance, remember the name of the chapel as I want to find out where the records have gone. I have two possibilities, one is the Ebenezer Wesleyan Methodist on Mill Road or the Congregational Libanus. I am coming over to Wales in September and one of my priorities is to find the grave.

Many thanks, Gwen

[roevans]

It could be either of the graveyards previously mentioned... Libanus Chapel, Leigh Terrace... knocked down but the graveyard was still there a few months ago.. someone has bought the land and chained up the gates and the wall is not safe to climb over... also St Cynon's Church cemetery on Fiddlers Elbow.. again church knocked down but cemetery still there and much easier to access. St Cynons cemetery is still in use.

[gb53]

The Vicar of St Matthias Church, Treharris may have records of those buried in St Cynons, which may help you with your search.

[webbersc]

I was thinking about the one at fiddlers elbow too, only one I know that has a steep slope.
I heard there are men berried there who fought the Zulu's at Rorke's Drift and received Victoria crosses, not sure if true.
I went into Google maps, you can see the grave stones from the satellite view.

Click here to view

The grave yard in the village, is the burial place of the Quakers who settled in the area. and some of the streets of Treharris, where I grew up, are named after them.

[jeffery07]

Hello Webbersc!
Re the above regarding ex-soldiers who fought the Zulus at Rorke's Drift.
Some information.
What of the heroes who had survived the war? Sadly, as is often the case ordinary soldiers were quickly forgotten. Of the seven non-officers who won VC's there, three fared especially badly. Corporal Christin Schiess, having recovered form a wound, worked for a while, but by 1884 he was out of work and destitute. In the hope of a fresh start he accepted a free passage to England, but died on the way.
Private Robert Jones, one of the 'hospital four', left the army in 1888 and worked as an agricultural labourer. Unable to support his family, he shot himself in his back garden of his home in Hertfordshire. He lies buried there.
Jones' namesake, and the man who fought by his side, Private William Jones ,was invalided out of the army with chronic rheumatism in 1880 and failed to gain regular employment. He was reduced to re-enacting the defence of Rorke's Drift in theatres, etc. Penury forced him to sell his VC medal. By 1912 recurrent nightmares of the battle unhinged his mind; he died the following year buried in a public grave.
Corporal William Allen never properly recovered from his wound, he died of 'flu in 1890.
Private Frederick Hitch was also discharged on account of his serious wounds from the battle.His VC was stolen from him and never recovered; he died in 1913 during a taxi strike.
Private Henry Hook (who can forget him in the movie!) returned home only to find that his wife, believing him dead, had sold his property and remarried.He died of TB in Gloucester in 1904.
Private John Williams, VC, outlived all his fellow VC winners. He died in Cwmbran in 1932 at age 75.
Of the four officers who received VC's, James Reynold lived the longest, dying aged 88 in 1932.
Gonville Bromhead did not fare too well. he never married. He died from enteric fever in India in 1891, just 45.
John Chard, never married either.He died of cancer of the mouth, having his tongue removed earlier.
John Dalton, the real hero of Rorke's Drift, he was put out to grass on half pay. He sailed for England in early 1879 and quickly faded into obscurity. He died in a Port Elizabeth hotel in 1887. Mourners were in short supply.
Finally, there are no references to Fiddlers Elbow. However, sometimes rumours are false, sometimes they are worth researching. Up to you.
Information here is gleaned form the great paperback book:ZULU. The Heroism and Tragedy of the Zulu War of 1879 by Saul David. A great book!!
Final thoughts: it would not surprise me if the Zulu warriors who fought at Rorke's Drift received better treatment than their equally heroic counterparts in the British army who deserved better.

[webbersc]

That's great info Jeff, they had a rough time during and after the conflict.
I was over in S.Wales on a flying visit, on the 10th March, a mate of mine died in Ebbw Vale.
I came over on the motor bike.
I traveled over Monday on the fast ferry from Dublin, Traveled down the A487, then the A470, but headed for Brnmawr via Talgarth, Crickhowell, to see one of my friends, then made my way and stayed with my daughter in Baddau.
Tuesday spent a day with my old mates at the funeral in Ebbw vale.
Then later had Rissole and chips from the chip shop next to the Wyndham Arms, and eat them outside the shop in Glebeland street. I was hoping to have a sit down meal in the Busy bee chip shop, but by the time I got there it was shut.
Then went to see my best friend from school in Treharris, forgot to ask him about our old school photo at Webster street school.
Spent Wednesday and half of Thursday with my daughters, visiting a few relatives, then headed back up.
Went via Hereford, had to ride in dense fog most of the way from Leominster to Hollyhead, 160 miles of fog.

I had a quick look at the Cemetery, but no time to walk to it and explore.
I will have to go to the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh in Brecon, may be next time I'm over.

[elias]

Hello I am new to this site. I found it today when looking for the name of the Churchyard where my grandfather is buried. I know it was near or at Quakersyard and I think from reading the other posts that this must be the place on the hill that is mentioned. I visited in 1998 and the whole place was in quite a state. We did however find my grandfather's headstone, quite high up and to the right as you look from the road. It was in good condition hidden behind a lot of brambles. I am distressed to read that the land has been sold. Could anyone tell me where to write (is it Merthyr Borough Council?) to try and find out what is happening to the graves. I want to claim the grave rights...if I am not to late. If anyone can help me I would be grateful. Thanks!

[robertjones]

Sorry, certainly no point in contacting Merthyr Council. They are excellent but only have any authority when it comes to
municipal graves. Church and chapel cemeteries and graveyards etc. are private land belonging to that Authority, although
they can be sold into private hands! Gravestones and graves can be removed but notices have to go in newspapers etc.
and family ought to be contacted, where possible. The land can be sold but nothing else. It sounds to me as if this cemetery is the one
which belonged to St Cynon's Church, the church building long demolished. Church in Wales ownership.
You would have to speak with the admin. dept. in Llandaff., they probably have lots of problems in connection with the
land as it was a large cemetery.

[cher240]

Oct 26, 2010 15:24:50 GMT 1 garaboto said:

I remember going once to my Aunt's grave at the cemetery which was on a steep slope and I seem to remember that it was called Quakers yard - her name was Sarah Ann Williams née Ellis - can anyone tell me anything about this cemetery

thanks

The cemetery on Fiddlers Elbow is St Cynons...very steep climb..still being cared for but the church was pulled down a long time ago... The burial ground is the historical Quakers graveyard and there approx 4 maybe 5 remembrance paving stones present and it is still tended...There is another small graveyard which belonged to the chapel a few feet up the road from the Quakers Yard Inn 'Mill street' it used to be called but it is known as 'Mill Rd'... Up until 2 years ago you could still go in there however is was very dangerous as the stones and everything else for that matter were sinking and the whole graveyard is covered in Knot weed. My friend and myself used to go in there every year to see had deteriorated from the year before, Is is no longer tended and hasn't been for a very long time..which is a shame as every headstone tells a story especially when the entire family is in the same plot..Real history! I'm gutted it's been left to rot but as there were no living relatives the council don't have to keep it to a good standard. As I said up until 2 years ago you could still access it from the road but Brian who lives by the side of it has now barricaded all entrances and padlocked the gates to get in...however he did say that if my friend and I wanted to go in again he would open the gate for us. I think the chapel was Ebenezer Wesleyan
Hope you find the right one x