George Carlile Bawden

[woundedpride]

I've become absorbed by my family's (very short) connection with Merthyr. My great great grandfather George Carlile Bawden was born in Totnes in 1824 and, after marriage in 1845, moved to Merthyr some time between 1855 and 1857 (his first daughter was born in Devon, the second in Merthyr). He worked as a clerk in the Cyfarthfa works but, more significantly, as trombonist and arranger with the Cyfarthfa Band. He also taught music, organised the Cyfarthfa String Band and conducted across south Wales, as well as judged (a few) eisteddfod classes. His son (my great grandfather) Charles was born in 1859, but moved to Bristol. Evidently there was some estrangement since, at his death in 1896, George Bawden he left his estate to 'David Davies, secretary to a building society' and not to any of his children. From the account of him in David Morgans' 'Music and musicians in Merthyr and district' (1922) he seems to have been a bit of an irascible character, so perhaps it is not unlikely that he upset them or they him.

However, it got me thinking that it is entirely possible that someone reading this will know who 'David Davies, secretary to a building society' was - I'm interested in the very remote chance that his descendents have papers or even photographs of G.C. Bawden, whose role in the musical life of the Cyfarthfa Band fascinates me.

All good wishes

[jennas]

Hello.
I just registered for this website because I was google searching for George Carlile Bawden He is my great great great grandfather, by way of his daughter Mary Bawden who moved to the U.S. My grandmother collected a book of remembrance, we may have pictures of George. But in my research I cam across a book called Who's Who in Music A Biographical Record of Contemporary Musicians, which is in Google Books, and George is mentioned because of his son, William Carlile aka Carlile Vernon. (Carlile I believe comes from George's mothers maiden name, at least in our book it is written as Margaret Carlile Daw.) Anyways, thought you might be interested. I hope you get this message, and if I hear back from you I can ask my dad (who has the book) to see if he can scan a picture if he has one.

Thanks.
(Sorry I couldn't figure out how to send just a personal message.)

[maggied]

Hi
George Carlile Bawden was my great great grandfather too through his daughter Sarah Simmonds Bawden. Her son George Henry Thomas was my maternal grandfather. David Davies was a friend of my grandfather and he vouched for my uncle George Thomas Jones to emigrate to California USA in the early 1920s. On my tree there is a photo of my grandfather and seated is David Davies but I don’t know if he is the same David Davies you refer to. I believe the music gene has been passed down the years because my sisters two sons both play the trombone and cornet and piano. My 8tear old grandson plays the piano and my granddaughter is training to be an opera singer. I still live in Wales in the Rhondda
Best wishes
Margaret