Dear David Thank you for the rat catching episode... fascinating... how horrible ! Joseph Jenkins (The Swagman) WAS from Blaenplwyf, Ystrad (now known as Felin Fach) The farm known as Blaenplwyf is at the Gartheli and Betws Bleddrws end of the parish. BUT there is a bit of a mystery as in 1847 Joseph J would have been 28. He was resident in Blaenplwyf in 1841 and still resident there in 1847 although married (his wife living with her parents) and moving to Trecefel, Tregaron in 1848. [all info above from Bethan Phillips book Pity the Swagman 2001] So I dont think there was any connection with the village of Blaenplwyf. 1841 Census Sheet for Blaenplwyf, Llanfihangel Ystrad Parish Class: HO107; Enumeration District: 17; Folio: 9; Page: 10; Line: 7; These are the occupants in 1841 - and by 1847 there would still have been 3 boys under 12 (or close enough) possibly capable of catching the rats led by Joseph. Blaenplwyf, Llanfihangel Ystrad 1841 Census Jenkin Jenkins died 1846 60 Elinor Jenkins 45 Joseph Jenkins 22 John Jenkins 20 David Jenkins 12 Timothy Jenkins 5 Jenkin Jenkins 7 Jane Jenkins 15 Mary Jenkins 14 Ann Jenkins 9 Benjamin Jenkins 1 Blaenplwyf has an interesting history, apart from being the early home of the Swagman. I have also discovered recently that there was a circulating school which met in Blaenplwyf. Theophilus Jones also lived in Blaenplwyf. He died in 1758 and was celebrated by an elegy written by William Williams Pantycelyn. Theophilus Jones was the brother of the Jones's that originally lived in Derry Ormond House. (nb This particular TJ should not to be confused with the historian of the same name) Local stories relate that both David Rowland (1713 – 1790) and William Williams Pantycelyn 1717 –1791 stayed in Blaenplwyf in the early days of Methodism. An interesting dwelling - with or without the rats. Joseph Jenkins made his way in later years out to Australia, one wonders who was the link between Melbourne and Ystrad that encouraged the local paper to run the item on rat-catching? Many thanks, Jen --- On Fri, 23/10/09, David Rowlands <drowlan1@bigpond.net.au> wrote: From: David Rowlands <drowlan1@bigpond.net.au> Subject: [Dyfed] Ceredigion: Joseph Jenkins, Blaenplwyf Ystrad, 1847 rat catcher To: "Dyfed DYFED" <v> Date: Friday, 23 October, 2009, 7:51 AM Any Davies with Lampeter area ancestry out there? I found this interesting item in the 'Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser', Saturday 13 November 1847. "Rat-killing Extraordinary.—On the 11th instant Mr. Joseph Jenkins, of Blaen-plwyf Ystrad, near Lampeter, and his two brothers, both under twelve years of age, killed no less than 107 rats in less than half an hour. The modus operandi was as follows:—The three brothers poured boiling water, or cold water and quick lime, into the rats' holes, and on their attempting to escape they were knocked on the head with the batons which the youths held in their hands. No dogs whatever were used on the occasion,and the dead rats filled a bushel basket." I thought at first that this might be the same Joseph Jenkins that wrote the famous diary (excerpts published some years ago by his great- grandson with a title along the lines of 'Diary of a Welsh Swagman' and mentioned, I believe on this list) but the diarist was from near Blaenplwyf, just south of Aberystwyth (where the TV transmitter is) whereas the rat-catcher was from Blaen-plwyf Ystrad, near Lampeter. David Canberra ================================ Dyfed list http://home.clara.net/daibevan/DyfedML.html ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to DYFED-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message