While I have been trying to identify the people in this photograph (all deacons of Tabor Chapel, Dinas), I have become increasingly fascinated by them. I’m interested in what I can guess of their characters but also the possible significance of their style of hats, beards and walking sticks. Did they know, when they set out from home that morning, that they would be posing for a group photo? Did the photographer consciously place the two sea captains to flank the group on the left and the right, so that we can reflect on their similarities and differences? Now that I have discovered their names and a tantalisingly small amount of information about them, I remain interested to learn more. Note that each man is also identified by the name of his house or, in Evan Evans’ case, the part of Dinas he lives in. The house name is also added to the personal information on many of the gravestones in local churchyards. Is this a custom elsewhere?
Many thanks to Rex Harries, Ty Rhos, Dinas, who has an original of this photograph on the reverse of which the names of the deacons are listed. We think the photo may have been taken around 1915; Captain James Harries died in 1918.
So from the left as you view the photograph we have:-
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- Captain James Harries, Castle Terrace. His great-grandson lives in Dinas and helped put names to these faces. Capt James Harries’ brother, also a sea-faring master mariner, emigrated to South Africa on marriage. He subsequently donated the stained glass window that can still be seen behind the pulpit in Tabor.
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- Stephen George, Hescwm. He was my great-grandfather and treasurer of the chapel. When he retired from the farm at Hescwm he moved to live at Bank House.
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- George Davies, The Garn. The farm is still owned and farmed by his great-great-grandson.
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- Rev J W Maurice, Tabor Villa. His son, Tom Maurice, Manora, was the headmaster of Dinas County Primary School and married two of Stephen George’s daughters – the first of whom Paulina, also a teacher at the school, died shortly after the birth of their son, Ieuan. He then married her sister Miriam.
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- Dan George, Pant y Dwr (Water Hollow in Welsh). Dan George’s house is now known as Anghorfa and is next door to Kiel House Shop on the Fishguard side. His great-great-granddaughter now lives opposite and is married to a deacon at Tabor.
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- Evan Evans, Brynhenllan. Nobody today seems to know where in Brynhenllan he lived or indeed, anything about him, sadly.
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- Captain James, Glanteg. The family built Glanteg*, on the Fishguard side of the village. Look to the left, about 150 yards past the tennis court, on the brow of the hill. You’ll have to peer through the trees if you’re looking in the summer months.
Tegfan, Dinas Cross 
What a fascinating story! What I like is that you don’t even have to know or live near Dinas to appreciate what a close-knit community it must have been and to a large extent still is, to have families still living in the same houses and to remember their ancestors going back five or more generations. You must feel special to have those family connections still in place compared to passing migrants like me who have only lived here a decade.
My maternal grandfather’s family (Harries/George) was originally from Dinas and as children in the 50s we spent many wonderful holidays here. A few years ago we bought a house in Brynhenllan. On investigating the history of the house, I discovered that it was originally owned by the brother of my great great grandfather- we had no idea of that when we bought it. My maiden name was Heather Field and I have also found out that the original name of the house was Heathfield. Who says Dinas does not draw you back!!
It’s lovely when life throws up these coincidences! I don’t believe in fate but it’s very tempting, isn’t it?
Brilliant photograph and a brilliant unravelling of the photograph.
Thanks. I hope to discover a bit more.
that’s fantastic thank you for the feedback. very interesting.
I love this photo. I am also related to Stephen George. His sister Elizabeth was my great great grandmother. She married Levi Harries of Maesteg, Dinas Cross. May I please copy this photo to my family history file?
Yes, with pleasure. I’d appreciate it if you could include a link to my page – as the place where you found the photo. How did you come across my blog?
All thanks to Melanie Stark. She and I have shared many family history mysteries over the years. This photo will initially just be in the file on my personal computer. I do have a tree on Ancestry and if I add it to that I will certainly acknowledge you. Many thanks.
I’m grateful to Ann Hughes for this:
I’ve looked up Evan Evans on the 1901 Census and although many houses in Brynhenllan are named, his isn’t. He was a widower, 49 years old, an agricultural labourer living with his daughter Martha Ann. He was born in Dinas and spoke only Welsh.
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