The Diamond Family Tree
Jack Diamond
This is the Birth Certificate of my Grandad John Di-mond on the 13th February 1900. Even though the 1901 census shows him living at 58 Tram Road. This record shows he was born at number 22! Its also interesting to see his mother's written mark as an"x" . Clearly indicating she wasn't literate.
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This is the 1901 Census for 22 Tram Road. It shows a widow and son lived there. Her name was Charlotte Callaghan and she was 70! Perhaps she was a family friend or even a midwife. Its interesting that she came from Methyr, which is where the Fussels moved to after leaving Somerset. She clearly helped Emma with the birth.
This is the Birth Certificate of my Nan, Kate Sandiford. She was born on the 24th February 1899..at 4 Owen Street, Easton, Bristol. Her dad, Ernest was a Fireman at a Confectionery Factory..
Owen Street was pulled down and a park now occupies the site.
It appears her mother Jane was there for some time as she is on the 1861 Census, 10 years previously.
This is Jane's Baptism record from 1835
This is the 1841 Census of Jane and her family. Her parents were John and Jane Sparks and they were living at TANCRED STREET, in Taunton..
The Map shows Mary Janes addresses in Taunton over 20years. She moved from the Workhouse and went to live with an Aunt. Her name was Mary Hooper...
On Wednesday 19th April 2017, I went to Taunton Records Office in an attempt to estabilish if Mary Jane was born at Taunton Union Workhouse. The record below confirms that she was!...and illigitimately..Also her name hasn't been recorded at all. So she wasn't registered as Mary Jane, but the Census has her down as 'JANE'.
The record below shows that Mary Jane and her mother Jane were discharged in April of 1871 and it is very possible that they were taken in by her Aunt Mary Hooper.
1881 Census shows Mary Jane living with her Aunt, Mary Hooper alone at TANGIER, in the Bishops Hull area of Taunton. ..she was 12 and at School..
10 years later by 1891, they had moved to Tancred Street in Taunton. Now Mary Jane is written by her full name and her 'Deafness' is also recorded as it is on later Census's...her occupation is Silk Throwster which twists silk into yarn..
Kates dad Ernest Stanley Sandiford was born at Illminster, Somerset on 28th April 1874.(see Birth Certificate below) The Certificate also reveals that Ernest's father was not known..the Baptism record confirms illigitamacy. At the time they were living at Butts, Ilminster..
Baptism Record of Stanley. His mother Amelia is recorded as Single Woman!
in Cardiff.
Below is the 1861 Census, when Amelia was 9 and at school. Her dad George was a Policeman.....
After Ernest was born, Amelia decided to relocate to Taunton and in the 1st quarter of 1876 she married William Burge. They then started a family together and Ernest took the Burge name. When Fred was born in 1876, they were living at TANCRED STREET. Below is the 1881 Census showing Ernest was at school...
Ten years later in 1891 Ernest had started an apprenticeship as a Chimney Sweep and was living with George Holman and his family on Taunton High Street
His mother Amelia and the rest of the family were living just up the road on North Street...
Ernest and Mary Jane lived and worked in the same area of Taunton. In fact at different times of their lives they lived on TANCRED STREET. Quite possibly they both had family or friends living there. At some point they met and started courting until they decided to move to Bristol..
Although he had his reasons Ernest reverted back to his Birth Name
Ernest Stanley Sandiford by the time they married
They were married in Bristol on the 31st August of 1893.
Below shows the proximity of where Mary Jane lived at Milsoms Buildings to Victoria square where Ernest lived. Bristol Temple Meads station is on the right..
It appears that Kates mother, Mary Jane Sparks came from very humble beginnings and was born at The Taunton Union Workhouse in 1869. Her mother Jane is recorded on the 1871 Census as Unm (Unmarried Mother). So even though she named her father on her Marriage Certificate in 1893 as Charles Sparks..she was clearly illigitimate. Not all births were recorded at Workhouses in those times..
So why was Mary Jane known as Mary Jane, when she was born JANE SPARKS? Its probably to distinguish her from her mother JANE. So as she was living with her Aunt Mary, it seems sensible to presume she adopted her first name!....
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The Baptism record for Kates older sister Rose (full name Bertha Rosina) at Bristol on 5th Jan 1898. The name Sandiford has been miss-spelled!
This is the 1901 Census of Ernest Sandiford, when my Nan Kate was 2yrs old.
By this time they had moved from Owen Street and they were living at 46 Corbett Street, Bristol.
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Map of Bristol showing the location of Corbett Street.
As the map shows below, the move from Owen Street to Corbett Street was only about a mile...
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Corbett House block of flats was built in place of the street.
Note the school in the pics to the left
Nan lived at a time when work was plentiful and family migration was common. The Sandifords were no exception. Although the reasons cannot be known whento their next daughter Violet was born in 1902, they left the grime of the industrial city of Bristol and moved to Pontypridd, South Wales. Like so many from the westcountry, many flocked to the coalfields of Wales, where wages were better.
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The first place they moved to was No 13 Long Row, Treforest..one of the oldest streets in the area..
Almost as soon as they settled into their new home, Ernest and Mary Jane put their eldest daughters Frances and Rose into Wood Road School (Trefforest Board School) nearby. Below is their school records from 1902..
Treforest Primary School, Wood Road.
What makes these records even more amazing is that on the same page as my Nans sister Rose, is my Grandads older sisters Alice and Sarah too!! Its very likely they were all in the same class and it is the likely reason how the Diamonds met the Sandifords. Who knows the Sandiford girls and the Diamond girls may have become good friends.. Could it be that things were being set up for my Nan and Grandad to get together 20 years later? These records also show their Birthdays and Leaving dates. In the case of Rose, her birthday was 22nd June 1896 and she left to go to Hawthorn school on the 19th December 1902.
These are children of Wood Road School in fancydress early 1900s. Could the Sandifords or Diamond girls be in this photo?
Frances and Rose both stayed at Wood road until the end of that year. They then moved to Hawthorn school. It is quite possible that they moved house in early 1903 to Lock Lewis, as the records show below.
This is my nans school record from 1906 at Hawthorn school..and below is the 1908 record for her brother William..it shows he left in 1914 to start work..
Violet's record is from 1909. Her birthday is down as 20th April 1902. She left the school for work on th 12th April 1915.
At the time of this record, Violets mother was pregnant once more and in 1910 she had a baby sister named Ivy May. Sadly the happiness of the family was short lived as the baby passed away within a few months..
Below is the 1911 Census of the Sandifords. Ernest was working underground as a Timberman.
Mary Jane and Ernest had had 8 children by then but 2 are recorded as passed.
It is also interesting to note that Mary Jane is recorded as being Deaf from the age of 12!
This was to be Ernest's last Census. He passed away in 1916.
Below is the 1914 school record for Amelia Caroline. She was born 16th March 1906(Dad called her Aunty Min).. She left in 1920.
In the 3rd quarter of 1916, Ernest was tragically killed at the local Gasworks. He was 42.
Pontypridd Gasworks
c. 1911
As can be seen by Ernest's Death record below, he passed at The Cottage Hospital in Pontypridd on 6th September 1916. He somehow got entangled in a lift at the Gasworks, fracturing his spine.. the Certificate also reveals that an Inquiry into the accident was held on 8th September 1916.
Ernest was buried at Glyn taf cemetery
The Pontypridd Observer reported on the Gas Works Commitee
meeting in September 1916 and Ernest's Accident was commented on.....
1917
Below is the baptism records of Nans older brother Ernest Stanley from 1898 on the above census. He also sadly passed away within a couple of months of being born.
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If all this wasnt devastating enough for a 13 year old, 2 weeks later on 27th October 1913, Britains worst Tornado hit the valleys. 300yards wide and winds estimated at 160mph. TREFOREST was first hit. The storm had caused damage in Devon and Cornwall before crossing into Wales. It killed 3 people and injured hundreds. It caused more than £40,000 worth of damage, equivalent to £3 million today. It tracked the valleys for about 11 miles, scaring the population.
Edwardsville
My Grandad John Diamond
Age 18.
at this age he may well have been walking daily over Senghenydd mountain
to go to work at Universal Colliery
My Grandad John Diamond aged 1 and 11 from the 1901 & 1911 Census.
1913
1913 was to be a pivotal year for young Jack. Firstly he left School (the leaving age before 1918 was 12!) and went to work with his father Underground in one of the Collieries around Pontypridd. (The following year was the start of World War 1, so Coal Mining was run by the Government and considered essential for the war effort.)
If that wasn't a massive adjustment for him, next, his Grandad Joseph passed away on his 13th BIRTHDAY!! What a shock that must've been.
Thirdly, probably the reason why he ended up living in Senghenydd. He was undoubtedly present at the worst Colliery disaster in Britain on October 14, 1913.
Thousands flocked from all over the valleys. Jack and his family wouldve been among them. At 13, this was probably his 1st time at Universal Colliery.
The video below tells the story...
A fitting tribute, opened 100 years to the day in 2013 to all the Miners who lost their lives at Senghenydd and other Collieries.....
This is the 1921 Census for Mary Jane Sandiford. My Nan, Kate was now 22....
In the last quarter of 1922 John Diamond
Married
Kate Sandiford in Pontypridd
The register of the Marriage of John Dimond to Kate Sandiford in 1922. After they were married they moved in with Kates Mother and family at Gellidawel, Lock Lewis, Rhydyfelin.
The Marriage Certificate of John and Kate Diamond. They were married at St Marys Parish Church, Glyntaff (The same place his Mom and Dad Married). The witnesses were Johns younger brother George and Kates younger sister Violet. Kates dad was deceased but his occupation is recorded as Lamplighter
This was Lock Lewis, Rhydyfelin in the 1920s. Kates house is arrowed.
John and Kate lived here after they were married.
Kate lived here in the 1st row.
(Edmunds Terrace, Gellidawel).
The Lock House
Lock Keeper:
John Powell
Gellidawel Cottages as they are in 2015.
There were 3 rows of terrace cottages .
Kate lived in this first row.(it now has a 2 storey extension put on the front)
The Lock House
The Canal Bed in the 1990s
2nd row
3rd row
No 6 in 2009
The Lock House
The Canal Bed is now Ilan Ave in 2010
Gellidawel Road
The top picture above had led me to discover another cousin on facebook 21.2.2017. Her name is Cheryl Williams:
Her dad Cyril John Hughes, like my dad Dilwyn was born at their Nans house Mary Jane Sandiford at 2 Lock Lewis. Her nan Frances Jane Sandiford was my Nan Kate Sandiford's elder sister.(see 1911 census below)
Baptism transcript of Frances Jane Sandiford on 3 April 1895. Her actual birthday was 9th March 1895.
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Her last name is mis-spelled Santiford!
12 july 1919-Pontypridd Observer
A very serious notification by Mary Jane in 1919...
The following information has kindly been supplied by her...starting with her dads birth certificate. Cyril John Hughes is my dad Dilwyn's cousin.
This pic is of Cheryl as a baby with her mom and dad and Nan Frances and Grandad John.
Frances Jane with Cheryls mom and dad, stood outside 2 Lock Lewis.
Another photo of Frances Jane stood with her sister Violet.
Another view outside 2 Lock Lewis. This photo also shows Violet (right), sister of Frances Jane.
Cheryl recalls her dad saying that No 2 Lock Lewis was a small 2up 2 down cottage. Washing was done by a pump in the back garden! Because it was so crowded, it was shared sleeping. When one got out another got in!!
Cheryl said along with her dad, there was Beryl, Glenys and Celia (see photos below). Beryl is on Mary Jane Sandifords 1939 record shown further down this page.
Her aunt Celia lives in Australia and is in her 90s. When she spoke to her she relayed these details. Celia said she was the youngest and there was 9 of them at the time living at 2 lock lewis!! She said Ernest Stanley Sandiford her Grandfather was killed in the Gasworks. Frances Jane stayed at home to help look after the children.
France's sister Rose married Silas Evans and lived at next door at No 1 Lock Lewis. Her sister Violet married William Baverstock and moved to Bayswater, London before moving back to Caerphilly after William died. My dad remembers going to see his Aunty Violet in London a few times. Frances also lived at Upperboat when she married John Hughes. Her brother William married Clarice and moved to Bristol/Bath.They had a son David.
On the Sunday 9th April 2017, I went to meet with Cheryl and Gwyn at their home in Rhydyfelin. It was a fabulous sharing of family information and they provided the photos below....
Baby Cheryl with her Mom and Dad
Her Nan, Frances Jane Hughes (Sandiford)
Cyril's sister Celia, who now lives in Australia and supplied the information above.
Her Dad, Cyril Hughes stood outside 2 Lock Lewis. The number 2 is visible above the doorway
Cyril's sister Beryl
14 Jan 1971
Cyril's sister Glenys and husband Stan
The photo below contains 4 of the Sandiford sisters along with other members of Cheryls family...
Her mom and dad and nan
Muriel and Cyril and Frances and Grandad John (sat 1st left )
Frances's sisters Amelia, Violet, Rose with husband Silas
Cousin Ivy (Rose's daughter), Aunt Clarisse
Stan Willis
No 6 Lock lewis 1920s.Home to the Silk family
Rhydyfelin
Gwyn and Cheryl Williams
After Grandad got married the spelling of his last name altered from DI-MOND to DIAMOND. This is likely the result of the registrar spelling the names when the children were born.
Below is Mary Jane's 1939 prewar record. Her daughter Frances Jane and family are also logged there to. Mary Jane lived at No 2, Gellidawel until she passed in December of 1941.
She was 72.
Dad always said that on the side of No 1 was a shop. Cheryl's Aunt Celia confirmed it was a Cobblers run by Aunt Rose and husband Silas Evans. Its interesting to see Beryl Hughes(Hobbs) down as Shop Assistant. She worked in a Pontypridd Grocery shop. (Celia and Cheryl's dad also worked there.) At No 1 is Mary Janes 2nd Eldest daughter Bertha Rose and family.
A wonderful announcement for Mary Jane, printed in the local paper on May 18th, 1939
Mary Jane passed away at home on 18th Nov 1941. She had Heart problems (Aortic Stenosis). The informant was Cheryl's Grandfather John Hugh's.
She was buried at Glyn Taf cemetery with Ernest at Plot T221. Although a temporary grave marker may have been placed there at the time. No permanent headstone was placed there. So on wednesday 21st september 2016 (100 years after Ernests passing), I made and placed a cross on their grave.
Memorials the following year
John and Kate stayed with her mother, (and sisters Frances and family, Violet and Amelia and brother William),until my dad Dilwyn was born there in 1924. Shortly after they decided to move out down the road to Glyntaff Cottage. It was very crowded with a new baby. (Dad said he could see the cottage when crossing the railway bridge when he used to visit his nan).
As can be seen by the 1911 Cesus below for the property, it was occupied by a widow Jannet Morgan and her maid. The property was a huge 7 room affair. Plenty of space to accommodate Grandad, Nan and Dad. Today it has been converted to flats..
Railway bridge over the River Taff at Rhydyfelin. In the background is Lock Lewis and Glyntaff Cottage in the 1920s.
The following year 1925, Kates sister Amelia became pregnant and married Thomas Evans in June 1925. She moved in with him at 31 Parc Terrace, Senghenydd, right next to Universal Colliery.
At the end of the year they had a baby son David Ernest (Dad said he was known as Ernie).
Grandad wanted to move closer to his work and now he had the perfect solution = family now living in Senghenydd!
At some point around the beginning of 1926 an agreement was reached between him and his sister in law Amelia for him, Kate and Dad to move in with them. Not only did they have room but it was a win win situation. Grandad paying logings to Amelia, while living right next door to the Colliery..
So within a couple of years of dad being born, they left Rhydyfelin and moved to Senghenydd. John continued to work at Universal Colliery until it closed in 1928. He then moved to the neighbouring Windsor colliery at Abertridwr. The closure was a massive blow to Senghenydd as 2500 workers received only 1 days notice of termination on Friday 30th March 1928. The colliery was taken over by Powell/Duffryn who kept one shaft open for ventilation of Windsor colliery.
Senghenydd
Looking toward Universal Colliery from Station Terrace. Grandads house is marked with an X. The Four Terraces (just to the right of the mine) are just being built which dates the photo around 1907.
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A later photo looking toward Universal Colliery from The bridge at the end of Station Terrace. Grandads house is marked with an X. This is the 1930s when he was living here.
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The Four Terraces
As can be seen above, at the end of Station Terrace were Allotments. Grandad eventually had 6 Allotments dotted here, at the back of his house and near The Four Terraces. He grew Vegetables and had Livestock for food and sold them to the local community.
Film of Senghenydd miners in the 1920s at the time Grandad worked there.
He was in his 20s, who knows he could even be on this video!
Kates sister Amelia's house, she lived 2nd in from end of Parc Terrace next to Universal Colliery.(see pictures). It was here in 1926 that Dads sister Rene was born. Again probably due to it being crowded,when Amelia had a daughter Marjorie in 1928, Grandad moved up the road to No 7, Parc Terrace, where Dads sister Olive was born in 1929.
Eventually they moved again to No.40 Station Terrace.(which may have been larger with a front garden and bay window).
Another view taken from further up Parc Terrace. The footbridge that my dad used to walk across the railway is visible through the metal fence railings.
Dad remembers when living at his Aunt Amelia's, Grandad would come in from working 2-10pm. Dad would get up from bed and Grandad would always save him a sandwich to eat. It was the same when they moved to No7.
Amelia lived here
Picture taken outside AMELIA'S house, with the Colliery at the end of Parc Terrace (1920s)
While Grandad was living at 7 Parc Terrace he got into a little bit of bother by stealing from a local farm as this entry into the Newspaper shows...
Train arriving at Senghenydd station. Station terrace is to the right.
As can be seen by the 1939 record, Amelia (Dads Aunt Min) was still at No 31 Parc Terrace.
Dad and Amelias son Ernie, used to play regularly. Dad said he had a stutter. One day, they went round to No 41, to wait for their friends Arthur and John Davies and step brother Emlyn Edwards. while waiting, Ernie was sitting on the garden wall. Dad snuck up behind him and quickly put his hands on his shoulders, making Ernie jump and fall back. Dad caught him and Ernie asked why dad had done that. Dad pointed out Ernie was now talking without a stutter!! Somehow the prank had cured him.
40 and 39 Station Terrace.
Grandad had to move a final time from No 40, because the council were selling the house in the 1960s. He moved nextdoor to No 39, the bonus being he no longer needed oil lamps because the house had electric!
After Dad was born in 1924 and the family moved to Senghenydd, Nan and Grandad had 7 more children. All girls.
Rene (1926)
Olive (1929)
Kate (1931)
Nancy (1934)
Elsie (1936)
Iris (1939)
Glenys (1943)
This is the 1939 War Register showing Grandad and Nan living at No 40 Station Terrace. Unfortunately all other members of the family including Dad are bound by the 100 year rule, apart from Aunt Elsie and Aunt Olive. (in 2022 I sent off Dads death certificate to have his name opened on the register). People who have passed can be released provided you supply proof and pay the appropriate fees! When I read the neighbours to dad in Novemeber 2015, he remembered them all, including the Nash's who lived at No 37! Dad said Aunt Elsie met Donald Nash because he was a neighbour!
Dad's
Sisters under
here.
Grandad was still working at Windsor Colliery at the beginning of World War 2. He also became a volunteer Air Raid Warden. His job was to check everyones property was blacked out. He had a portable siren with him. In the event of an Air Raid he would help get people to the nearest Air Raid Shelter. He was also responsible to report damage or fire etc.
Dad tells the story when a bomb went off near Senghenydd........... Because the family was big, Nan and Grandad made the front room into a bedroom. Nan had not long had Aunt Glenys and was nursing her. Dad was chatting to his mom, and Grandad was closing the curtains. Apparently the shockwaves of the blast was so great, it threw Grandad across the room. Although shaken, he was unhurt.
Grandad was a well known figure in Senghenydd, he liked to BET regularly on horse races and he was a frequent visitor at the Ex Service Mens Club on Station Road.(Gwern Ave).He even had his own seat reserved of which no one else would sit in!
Nan and Grandads house
Boys Playing on the derelict station 1964.
One of the big events to occur in Senghenydd, was the closure of the Train Station. Grandad and Nan were in their 60s at the time. This photo is of the very last train on 13th June 1964.Who knows they may even be in this photo!
Grandad and Nan passed away within weeks of each other in 1982. They didn't make it to their 60th Wedding Anniversary at the end of that year.
Grandad was 82 and Nan was 83
Nan Kate Diamond
Kate and John at their Grandaughter's Wedding (Janet and Gerald).
John and Kate Diamond celebrating their 50th year of marriage in 1972.
They are buried at Penyrheol Cemetery, Caerphilly,
with daughter
Glenys.
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On the 18th June 2021, I met with my brother Trev to tend to Grandads grave once more and to stop the subsidence of Aunt Elsie's Grave.
I used 3 bags of topsoil after digging a small trench in front of the headstone. I then spread new grass seed which should take hold as 2021 moves on.
Also after strimming the grass on both graves, I re-blacked the black on Grandads headstone.
I also replaced Aunt Iris's Plaque that had fallen apart with a new weatherproof version..
Time and weathering take their toll on Headstones and Grandads stone is no exception...On Monday 20th August 2018, we went to Grandads grave to clean, re-black the lettering and generally tidy up their Grave....After 4 hours of quite backbreaking scrubbing, the results speak for themselves....
