What's in a Name?

8/4/2013

There's a Rees Street in Aberafan, connected to me only in my dreams! It's probably named after the owner of the land the street was built upon: John David Rees. Blodwen Street, nearby, is likely to have been named after his daughter.

Land and landmarks named for owners, benefactors and people who lived there are pretty common. The name of Port Talbot itself is a constant reminder of the Talbot family of Margam Castle.

You can see the reverse of that idea, people named for the place where they live, in Margam Abbey Church graveyard. On one small stone pressed into the grass: Thomas Margam, died 1838, aged 27 years. Another headstone, to the left of the entrance gates, commemorates the brief life of Mary-Ann, the daughter of Moses and Elizabeth Margam.

The name Margam was given to foundling babies: children abandoned at the Abbey for reasons only their mothers can truly know, though I imagine that poverty, shame and social exclusion would have been principal catalysts. And perhaps too, wanting the best for your child and giving it in the only way you knew.

It reminds me how little the human emotional experience has changed over centuries. We love, we lose, we grieve. We survive.

Sources
REES, Arthur, Some Street and Place Names of the Port Talbot District, Port Talbot Historical Society 2004
EVANS, A Leslie, Margam Abbey, first published 1958, 2nd edition published by Port Talbot Historical Society 1996

19 Comments

Vance Broad

8/4/2013 07:22:58 am

I believe the origins of the name Margam are in a corruption of the name Morgan, the etymology of which derives from the Menapaii Celts who lived near the sea in the Bristol Channel, bringing their cattle by sea to the hafod (upper slopes) where now stands the deer grazed pastures of Margam Abbey by long boat (summers only).

Lynne Beaumont

12/7/2013 05:06:39 pm

That's an interesting theory Vance I like it, all I know is that my gt. gt. grandfather Moses Margam was a foundling, story goes he was taken in by the vicar of Margam Abbey, having been found on the Abbey steps, makes tracing ones ancestors very difficult.

Lynne link

13/7/2013 12:56:25 am

Hi Lynne - of course... how on earth do you go back further than a foundling baby? But what an amazing story to tell children and grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Lynne link

13/7/2013 12:54:40 am

I agree, Vance. That's what I've suggested in 'Real Port Talbot' - from Morgan to Margam.

Lynne Beaumont

13/7/2013 06:26:42 am

Hi Lynne, you've probably realised I'm into family history, when I first found out we had a foundling in the family I was disappointed I could go no further with my research on that side, but I've managed to find distant 'Margam' relatives in Canada/USA/Australia, some from the U.S. have been over to the U.K and we've met up! the Margam surname is still used today usually as a middle name or hyphenated with another surname, the Margams buried in Margam Abbey are related to me, Moses and wife Elizabeth are buried in Llangynwydd. I've also copies of letters from members of the Margam fam. who went out to mine in Colorado during the 1870's. as you say Lynne, interesting for future generations.

Lynne link

15/7/2013 06:13:14 am

Great research, Lynne. I didn't, unfortunately, manage to slip that little bit of information about Margam foundling children into Real Port Talbot. When I started writing the book I wondered how I was going to reach 70,000 words... Three months later I was panicking about how I could reduce 200,000 into 70! I got there in the end and I hope the book has a little something for everyone when it comes out in November.

Ian Slaney

24/1/2021 05:10:59 am

My grandmother was a direct descendant of Moses Margam. All her siblings (according to her) had Margam as a middle name.
She told me that Moses was an illegitimate son of one of the Margam family son's and that his mother was employed as one of the famimy's maids.

Lynne Beaumont

4/3/2021 05:52:45 pm

Hi Ian I'd really love to know where you fit into the Margam family, are you into family history? I've lots of Margam in my tree, but always looking for more, best wishes Lynne

Gigi

10/4/2023 08:15:38 am

Hi Lynne Beaumont, I'm a direct descendent of Moses Margam too - something I've only discovered last year but have been busy researching - it's fascinating!. My mother was a granddaughter of Moses Knight Margam, son of aforementioned Moses, so the original Moses is my great-great-grandfather. I see you mention that you have some letters from America. Is there any chance of being able to look at copies of these as I'd love to know more about the Margam experiences there and, if Moses K was there at that time, as I know he spent a long time mining in America from 1892ish to 1919, but I wonder if he went out sooner as well. If you are willing, maybe there's a way of corresponding privately? I'd be happy to share my Margam story privately in return as previously I don't think anyone researching the Margams knew about my mother - she was illegitimate and that was all hushed up in those days of course. The identity of my maternal Margam grandmother been proved by Children's Society records as my mother went into a children's home for a while, and also through DNA (I sed a Long Lost Families researcher who was brilliant). I am on Ancestry UK if that's any use as we can private message there. My user name there is gshg18. Otherwise do contact me here and we can hopefully find a way of getting in touch!

Cerys Thomas

31/1/2022 05:41:36 pm

My ancestors were tenant farmers on the Margam estate, my daughter had her DNA analysed by ‘23 & me’ She was contacted a couple of years ago by a descendant of Moses Margam to say we are related.

Lynne Rees link

31/1/2022 05:46:12 pm

What a great discovery, Cerys.

Cerys thomas

13/4/2023 05:50:25 pm

Cerys Thomas I'd be really interested to know where your family fit into the Margam family, I'm related through. Moses daughter Mary b1858, if your into family history please let me know. Best wishes Lynne Beaumont

Lynne Beaumont

15/4/2023 02:14:38 pm

Hi Cerys I hope you got my message, if you'd like to get in touch re. Margam family please.do I'm always interested in them, best wishes Lynne

Cerys Thomas

15/4/2023 04:25:24 pm

Hi Lynne, as a family we are very interested in family history. My mother has quite a bit of research which is currently in storage because we have relocated to the Isle of Man. I will ask her for dates etc. None of the family worked in Margam Castle that I am aware of but they were tenant farmers on the estate. Some of them are buried in Margam Abbey cemetery. An elderly aunt once said many years ago that we were related to the Llewellyn’s of Baglan Hall. I believe they were land agents for the Margam Estate? I will try to find some more information and let you know. I think the ‘Friends of Margam Park’ might have a book that mentions Moses Margam. I used to volunteer with them and I remember reading something when going through the history books they had a couple of years back.

Lynne Beaumont

15/4/2023 02:27:41 pm

Hi Gigi, I'm interested in your news with regards to finding another Margam relative. I've been researching both sides of my family for many years. I've tried to find you on Ancestry with the info you've given me without success I'm on fb and Ancestry under my name, if you can't find me we'll have to find another way to correspond, I know Moses Knight Margam went out to USA have quite a lot of info, the letters I'll go find them for you, best wishes

Gigi

24/4/2023 07:58:43 am

Hi Lynne - too many Lynne Beaumonts on Ancestry! I don't know why you can't find me - must be something to do with my Settings I guess. So I suggest you search Ancestry for Evan Gedrych (1852 - 1888) and go to Family Trees which mention him (there are about 25 I think). Find Gedrych Family Tree (it's a private one) and click 'contact member' and you should be able to message me! Fingers crossed! Looking forward to being in touch. Best wishes.

Gigi

19/4/2023 05:18:23 pm

Thanks Lynne! I’ll see if I can find you over the weekend - away helping with new grandchild currently.

Penny Osborne

18/9/2023 10:18:38 pm

I’m related to Moses Margam too and have an interesting snippet to share

Cerys Thomas

21/9/2023 03:23:25 pm

I would be interested in any further information on Moses Margam and his descendants
Many thanks

Lynne Rees

Lynne Rees was born and grew up in Port Talbot and blogs as 'the hungry writer' at www.lynnerees.com. Her book, Real Port Talbot, an upbeat and offbeat account of the town and surrounding area, from Bryn to Sandfields, from Margam to Baglan Bay, and everything in between, is published by Seren Books.

What's in a Name?

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