Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The name is probably derived from ` ton` - grassland, unploughed land, and`
fannau`- bare hill, beacon, crest., or `man` or `bannau` - place, spot, location.
The original Pennal Tower estate, situated near the village of Pennal, Merioneth,
on the north side of the Dyfi estuary and extending to the foothills of Cader
Idris, was called Esgairweddan, though its earlier name was Plas yn Rofft, or Plas
yn y Rofft.
The Pryce or Price family who owned the estate claimed direct descent from Owain
Gwynedd, prince of Gwynedd, through Iorwerth Drwyndwn, the eldest of his sons to
survive him.
The male line became extinct upon the death of Robert Price in 1702. His daughter
Mary, who subsequently inherited the estate, eventually devised it to Humphrey
Edwards of Talgarth, near Pennal, for life, with remainder to his eldest son Lewis
Edwards and his heirs male.
It was Humphrey Edwards who was responsible for building the present mansion at
Talgarth. The surname Edwards had become settled with Lewis Edwards of Talgarth
and Tonfane, who married Mary, daughter of John Davies of Machynlleth, sometime
before 1708.
It was through this marriage that property in Glyntrefnant and Esgeireedd in the
parish of Trefeglwys, Montgomeryshire, and in the town of Machynlleth, passed into
the family.
It was through his son Humphrey's marriage to Mary, daughter of James Turner of
Oldport, Oswestry, Shropshire, that the Oldport estate passed to the family.
Humphreys son, another Lewis Edwards, died on 17 January 1797, aged 49 years.
One of his married daughters, Frances, inherited Talgarth and Tonfane. She
married Charles Thomas Thruston, a captain in the Royal Navy, and a member of the
Thruston family of Hoxne, Suffolk.
She died in 1828, aged 38 years, leaving one son, Charles Frederick Thruston, of
Talgarth Hall. It was Charles Thomas Thruston who built Pennal Tower mansion house
in the 1850s and who created the small Pennal Tower estate out of the existing
Talgarth estate probably to provide his second son, Clement Arthur Thruston, with
an adequate estate.
The Tonfanau farm as it is today has two buildings, it seems that they were known
as Uchaf and Issa.
D290
1649, July 23
1 Edward Lewis of Tonvane, co. Mer., gent.
2 John Lloyd of Maesypandy, co. Mer., esq., and John Nanney of the same, gent.
POST-NUPTIAL SETTLEMENT of Edward Lewis and Margaret his wife, being a FEOFFMENT
TO USES of m’s and tmt’s called Tonfanne Yssa, Tonfanne Ucha, Blaen y Kae Glas and
Y Pant Mawr, [t.] LLANFENDIGAID, p. LLANGELYNNIN and p. LLANEGRYN, to 2 for the
use of 1 during his life, and after his decease, a moiety of the said premises to
the use of his wife Elizabeth Vaughan for her life as her jointure, and after her
death to the use of Lewis Edwards Endorsed: livery of seisin .
D297
1651, Sept. 29
1 Edward Lewis of Tonfaney , co. Mer., gent.
2 Jenkin David of p. Tywyn, gent.
MORTGAGE (BARGAIN AND SALE) for £100 of two m’s and lands called Y Vary Ganol and
Y Vary Yssa, t. CYNFAL, p. TYWYN, co. Mer. [cf. nos D306, D442]
D298
1651, Sept. 29
1 Edward Lewis of Tonfane, co. Mer., gent., and Lewis Edwards of Talgarth, gent.,
son and heir of the said Edward
2 Jenkin David of p. Tywyn, co. Mer., gent.
BOND in £200 to perform covenants specified in no. D297
D306
1654/5, Feb. 27
1 Edward Lewis of Tonfanney, co. Mer., gent.
2 Jenkin David of t. Cynfal, p. Tywyn, gent.
FURTHER MORTGAGE (QUITCLAIM) for £33 6s. 8d. of m. and lands called Y Vary Ganol
and Y Vary Yssa, t. CYNFAL, p. TYWYN, co. Mer. [cf. no. D442] Recites no. D297
D307
1654/5, Feb. 27
1 Edward Lewis of Tonfanney, co. Mer., gent., and Lewis Edwards of Talgarth, co.
Mer., son and heir of the said Edward
2 Jenkin David of t. Cynfal, p. Tywyn, co. Mer., gent.
BOND in £266 13s. 4d. to perform covenants specified in no. D306
D348
1680, May 27
1 Humfrey Lewis of Talgarth, co. Mer., gent., Lewis Edwards of the same, gent.,
Edward Lewis of the same, gent., Humfrey Edwards of the same, gent., and John
Edwards of Tonfane, gent.
2 Morgan David of Penegoes, co. Mont., gent., and John Thomas of Llanlothian,
gent.
BOND in £1,000 to perform covenants mentioned in articles of agreement of even
date
Endorsed: ‘bond to perform the Articles made upon Ed Lewis’s marriage’
L21
1711
OPINION OF COUNSEL and STATEMENTS OF WITNESSES relating to a dispute between the
owners of Tonfane and Keven Camberth relating to a trespass and the intended
building of a bridge by Kevren Camberth which, if built, would hinder Tonfane from
transporting goods by water
Keven Camberth is what is now known as Cefn Camberth, the large house high on the
hill close to the quarry. It is reputed to date from the 17th century
L25
[c. 1747]
ANSWER of JE,( John Edwards ) tenant of Tonfane, p. Llangelynnin, and Tonfane
Ucha, p. Llanegryn, co. Mer., to the bill of complaint of Edward Morgan, rector of
Llangelynnin, concerning tithe payments complicated by the nearness of the parish
boundaries.
D469
1751, Oct. 11
1 Lewis Edwards of Machynlleth, co. Mont., esq.
2 Hugh Vaughan of Pantperthog, co. Mer., yeoman
AGREEMENT TO LEASE Tonfaney , p’s LLANEGRYN and in LLANGELYNNIN, co. Mer.,
for 12 years at an annual rent of £35; covenants include 2 being allowed the price
of 20 tons of limestone from the rent for the first two years, and then to buy 20
tons for the remainder of the lease and to use the lime on the land
D497
1770, Dec. 29
1 Humphrey Edwards of Talgarth, co. Mer., esq.
2 Lewis Edwards of the same, gent., eldest son heir apparent of 1 SETTLEMENT
(LEASE and RELEASE) by 1 to 2 for the life of 1 of m’s and lands called Tonfaney
Ucha, and Tonfaney Issa, p’s LLANGELYNNIN and
LLANEGRYN, co. Mer.
D505
1773, July 24
1 Lewis Edwards of Talgarth, co. Mer., esq.
2 Robert Edwards of the town of Machynlleth, co. Mont., DD, and John Edwards of
the same, gent.
MORTGAGE (DEMISE for 1,000 years) for £1,700 of two m’s and lands called Tonfaney
Ucha and Tonfaney Issa, p’s LLANGELYNNIN and LLANEGRYN, Mynffordd
D513
1777, Dec. 29
1 Robert Edwards of the town of Machynlleth, co Mont., DD, and John Edwards of the
same, gent.
2 Laetitia Edwards of Oldport, Shropshire, spinster, only surviving daughter and
one of the younger children and residuary legatees of Humphrey Edwards, late of
Talgarth, co. Mer., esq., dec., by Mary his wife ASSIGNMENT OF MORTGAGE by demise
for 1,000 years for £2,000 to 2 of m’s and lands called Tonfaney Ucha and
Tonfaney Issa, p’s LLANGELYNNIN and
LLANEGRYN, co. Mer., and Mynffordd, Tynyrwtra, Braichy Fedw, and a mill called
Turner’s Mill, otherwise Melyn Turner, p. TREFEGLWYS, co. Mont., and a m. and
lands called Gwynfreichie, p. PENNAL
Recites parts of the original mortgage (no. D505), that Lewis Edwards was bound to
1 in £2,137 11s. for the repayment of £1,068 15s. 6d. by bond, dated 25 June 1772,
and by another bond for a further £280 for the payment of £140 (4%) dated 24 Feb.
1773, that LE had occassion for a further sum of £442 17s. 7d., that for better
securing repayment of £1,700 then owing in total, it was declared that £1,700 was
part of the personal estate of Humphrey Edwards late of Talgarth, esq., dec., late
brother of 1, and belonged to Turner Edwards and Laetitia Edwards, children and
residuary legatees of HE, and by another bond in £600 for the payment of £300 and
by an endorsement on the indenture of even date with the bond, LE covenanted that
the premises should remain to 1 as a security for the £300 as well as the £1700,
and that Laetitia Edwards has lately reached 21 years and has applied to 1 to
assign over the part recited securities and the money due to her in part of her
moiety of the personal estate of her late father Seals
D520-1
1786, Nov. 29
2 Lewis Edwards of Talgarth, co. Mer., esq.
LEASE and RELEASE of a free warren called Penrhynybwlch Warren and parcels of land
called Penrhyn, otherwise Penrhynybwlch and Morfa Mawr, p. LLANGELYNNIN, co. Mer.,
now in the possession of Hugh Vaughan of Tonfaney at the yearly rent of £13
Consideration: £380
Endorsed: ‘part of Tonfana’ and power of attorney to John Mirehouse, esq. [ see
no. D524]
D551
1845, May 21
1 Charles Thomas Thruston of Talgarth, co. Mer., esq.
2 John Graham of Clapham, Surrey, esq., and Richard Curteis Pomfret of Rye,
Sussex, esq.
MORTGAGE (RELEASE) for £3,500 of tmt’s called Tonfannah Ucha and Tonfannah Issa,
now part occupied as one tmt known as Trefanny (127 a.), p. LLANGELYNNIN, othewise
LLANEGRYN, co. Mer., and a parcel of land (59 a.) still unenclosed and allotted to
1 in lieu of a sheepwalk, formerly attached to the said farm, and all other
parcels of land belonging to the said farm, now in the tenure of Humphrey Pugh at
an annual rent of £180, and tmt’s formerly occupied as distinct farms called
Eskirhirros, Aberglastom and Tynygraig, and now known as Eskirhirros (67 a.), p.
PENNAL
In 1845, £180 is worth about £15,302, in 2008. £3500 is worth about
£297,537 in 2008
Looking at the various spellings of Tonfanau, as it is today, the same personal
names appear throughout them all. This seems to indicate it is the same place
referred to in them all.
Lewis Edwards. Edward Lewis ( Welsh patronymics )
Vaughen, Pugh.
HO107 / 1431 / 7
1841 Tonfana. Parish of Llangelynin
All born in County of Merioneth
Humphrey Pughe 55 Farmer
Jane do 45
Hugh do 11
John do 9
Jane do 5
Richard Griffiths 22 Servant
Richard Pugh 15 Servant
Patrick Long 12 Servant b Ireland
Anne Richards 20 Servant
Hannah Rowlands 15 Servant
Living at the next property Llanffedideg are William Pugh 30 and his sister
Margaret Pugh 25.
They have six servants.
Cefncamberth is occupied by Morrice T Pughe 40. Gent farmer, not born in County
He has three servants.
HO 107 / 2511
1851 Tonfanau
Humphrey Pugh head 64 Farmer of 197 acres. b Llanegryn Mer
Jane Pugh wife 55 Farmers wife b Ruthin
John Pugh unm son 18 Farmers son b Llanegryn
Jane Pugh unm dau 15 Farmers dau b Celynin
Hugh Hughes unm 17 Farm servant b “
John Ellis unm 14 Farm servant b Towyn
William Williams unm 17 Farm servant b Aberllyfeni
Jane Davies unm 18 House servant b Llwyngwril
Jane Vaughan unm 19 House servant b Celynin
RG9 / 4318
1861 Tonfanau
Elizabeth Jones unm head 18 joint farmer of 300 acres b Pennal
Edward Jones unm brother 14 “ “ b Pennal
Jane Jones unm sister 12 “ “ b Pennal
Robert Jones unm brother 10 “ “ b Pennal
Hugh Jones unm brother 7 “ “ b Pennal
Robert Jones unm servant 30 carter b Dollgelley
William Jones unm servant 20 plowing boy b Celynnan
David Lewis unm servant 34 cow aran ???? b Mongomeryshire
Elizabeth Edward sunm serv 19 house maid b Montgomeryshire
Hugh Jones unm Uncle 63 labourer b Pennal
William 50 and Elizabeth Pugh 45 are still at Llanfendigiad. Two daughters and
one son are with them, also five servants, two of which are named Pugh.
RG10 / 5689
1871 Tonfanau
Robert Jones unm head 21 farmer of 190 acres b Llangelynin
Jane Jones unm sister 22 b “
Anne Jones unm sister 18 b “
Hugh Jones unm uncle 75 annuitant late farmer b Pennal
Robert Jones unm servant 41 farmers servant b Llanfachreth
John Jones unm servant 30 “ “ b Llanbarard Card.
John Lewis unm servant 18 “ “ b Llanbadarn
Robert Jones unm servant 15 “ “ b Llancynin ?
David Davies unm servant 14 “ “ b Llanegryn
Margret Angel unm servant 22 farm servant, domestic b Llanegryn
RG11 / 5545
1881 Tonfanau.
The Jones family have left and now the Davies `s occupy it.
Griffith Davies head unm 28 farmer of 230 acres b Llandwyn
Margaret Davies sister unm 23 b “
William Howell serv marr 50 farm labourer b Llancynan
Evan Owen serv unm 20 indoor farm servant b “
Mary Williams serv unm 17 dairy maid b Llangelyn
David Kirkby and his family are still at Llanfendigiad. Since 1861 Annie has had
another two children. At least one daughter has married and is living there with
her husband.
It seems by now the railway has been built, as a family are living at Tonfanau
Crossing.
Richard Davies 41 is a railway plate- layer, he is married with one son and three
daughters.
William aged 16 is an apprentice blacksmith.
RG12 / 4641
1891 Tonfanau
Tonafanau is still lived in by Griffith Davies who has by now married.
Griffith Davies head marr 39 farmer b Llanddwywn
Elizabeth Davies wife 28 b Celynin
John Jones Davies son 5 b “
Griffith Davies son 4 b “
Elizabeth Davies dau 4 b “
Laura Davies dau 2 b “
John Jacob serv marr 24 farm labourer b Cardiganshire
Robert Richards serv unm 40 “ “ b Montgomeryshire
Jane Griffiths serv unm 15 general servant b Celynin
Mary Griffiths serv unm 12 general servant b “
Llanfendigiad
David Edward Kirkby has died, Annie his widow aged 51 is still living there with
two of her sons.
One daughter is also there with her husband, who is a sea mariner,
Other entries are Georgina Russell, a visitor born Scotland, and two servants one
of which was born in America.
RG13 / 5253
1901 Tonfanau
Griffith and his family are still at the farm
Griffith Davies head 49 Farm man b Dyffryn
Elizabeth wife 47 b Celynin
John J son 15 b “
Griffith son 14 b “
Elizabeth dau 14 b “
Laura dau 12 b “
Humphrey Griffith serv unm 29 Cattle man b Celynin
T H Pinrose boarder unm 26 Station master b Penrhyn
Llanfendigiad
Annie is still there, now aged 64, Harriet Eva is her unmarried daughter, and Eva
Gwen Yeats is her12 year old grand daughter who was born in New South Wales.
There are two servants,
Richard Jones , a widower 42 and Ellen Mason 37.
The properties are in the civil parish of Llangelynnin, and the ecclesiastical
parish of St Celynin