Elizabeth was the daughter of Roger Williams and Ann (nee Morgan) of Beech Farm. She was born in approximately 1836 at Glascoed (presumably at Beech Farm).

She grew up as a farmer’s daughter on a working farm, so I guess she learned the meaning of hard work. In the summer of 1856 she became pregnant and was unmarried, which I would imagine would have caused a bit of a stir in her chapel-going family - the family were heavily involved with Mount Zion Baptist Chapel.

Her first daughter, Mary Ann Williams, was born out of wedlock on 1st March 1857. The father was not named on the certificate. By 9th April the same year, Elizabeth was married, to the son of a neighbouring farmer, Richard Arnold of Maesmawr. Was he Elizabeth’s father, “making an honest woman of Elizabeth?” or was the father maybe a casual labourer, working on the farm at harvest time? Was Richard someone who had secretly fancied Elizabeth and took his opportunity to marry a pretty young thing six years his junior? Maybe there was another explanation. We’ll probably never know.

They moved away from Glascoed briefly, to the Raglan area in the early 1860s where Maria (1860) and Martha (1861) were born, but came back to Glascoed by the time of the birth of their fourth child, James in 1864.

Their other children were all born at Glascoed: Annie (1865), Sarah (1866), William (1869), Emily (1873), the twins, Elizabeth and Philip (1875), Thomas (1877) and the youngest Ellen (1880).

She latterly became involved again with the chapel. She was baptised as an adult believer at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel in 1872. She also subscribed to the enlargement of the chapel in September 1873, giving 2 shillings and sixpence, which gives an idea that she continued to be involved and also of the financial situation of the family at this time (there were 9 mouths to feed!).

Elizabeth and Richard lived in several places in Glascoed. The ones I know of are: a house described as “Near Beech Farm” in 1881 and Upper Twyn (1891 and 1901).

Richard went blind at the turn of the century so he must have needed lots of love and care. Their youngest daughter, Nellie stayed at home to look after her parents. She only got married after their deaths (to Reg Perrett).

Records I have of her are:

Censuses of 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, and 1901.

At the time of the 1891 census Elizabeth was recorded as visiting her daughter Maria (nee Arnold) and Maria’s husband, James Jones at 50 Lasgarn, Abersychan.

Marriage certificate to Richard Arnold (to be added).

Daughter’s birth certificate (to be added): Mary Ann Williams (always called herself Mary Ann Arnold)

Monumental inscription at Mount Zion Baptist Chapel.