Josiah & Lily REES of Rhayader, Radnorshire

Description

Pictures and notes provided by Laurel Chick of Florida, USA

Josiah and Lily Rees were brother and sister, born in the late 1890s at Rhayader, in the parish of Llansanffraid Cwmdeuddwr. Their parents were Josiah REES Snr and Frances Ann NAYLOR. Lily was Laurel's maternal grandmother. Laurel has provided the following details.

Image 3:

Lily REES

My grandmother, Lillian (Lily) Adela REES, was born March 24, 1898 at Water Lane, Rhayader - the third of six children. She went to Cwmdeuddwr Endowed School. She later worked for a while as a parlour maid for the local gentry - the PRICKARD family - on the 210-acre Dderw Estate, ½ mile from Rhayader. By 1924 she was living in Ontario, Canada, and married to Christopher ELLIS (my grandfather, originally from Jarrow, Durham).

The picture was taken in 1918, when Lily was 20 years old.
The back of the photo contains the wording: "The Ideal Studios, 514-516 Oxford St., W."

Image 4:

Josiah REES Josiah REES was my great-uncle and my maternal grandmother's brother. Josiah (or Jo as he was known) was born June 21, 1899 in Old Factory, Rhayader - the fourth of six children. According to Lloyd Lewis, editor of Cronicl Powys, the journal of the Powys Family History Society, Joe and his wife were members of Cwmdeuddwr Parish Church and Jo rang the bell every Sunday.

The picture was taken in Manchester about 1917 when Jo was 18 years old. If you think you can identify Jo's regiment from his cap badge and uniform, please send Laurel an e-mail.

Many thanks to Laurel Chick for allowing me to use these family photographs.

• http://www.jlb2011.co.uk/walespic/oldwales/rees.htm (link opens in new window)