Now here was a popular character in the 1860s! He almost caused a riot!

What I have learned so far of James or “Jemmy” Meredith is that he was born in approximately 1810 at Lantilio. He was a long term Glascoed resident, having lived at Glascoed from at least 1835, he married his wife, Caroline Lewis. He came to live at his property, Sunny Bank (I believe this was formerly known as Lower House) in the 1840s, having inherited it from his brother, who was convicted and sent away for punishment (no idea what his crime was though!). In approximately 1844, Jemmy had a brush with the law himself - he was convicted of stealing a scythe and was given fourteen days punishment for his trouble!

Jemmy was at the centre of the Glascoed riots. See the following links . . . Doggerel and Committal. He had inherited two pieces of land from his brother, and enclosed two other pieces at some later date - this is what incurred the wrath of his neighbours, causing them to “riot!” His wife, Caroline, was also in the thick of things; see her profile for the juicy details!

We also know that his daughter, Martha, was a witness in the case involving illegal drinking in 1865 - it’s quite possible that she may have been the one to report this to the authorities, reading between the lines!

All in all, it appears that life was never dull around the Merediths!

Jemmy had died by 1871- Caroline appeared on the 1871 census as a widow.I believe that he probably died in the first quarter of 1871, since the only James Meredith death registered in this ten year period (from 1861) in the surrounding area was this one.

RECORDS

Census: 1841, 1851, 1861