Did you notice that there was a visitor, Evan JONES, at Blaenplwyf on Census 1851 and he was a ratcatcher! There must have been a serious outbreak. Annie, was your connection through Joseph's sister Jane who married Daniel LLOYD of Pant Farm, Garth & Ystrad? I assume they married in Q4 1847 Lampeter. Your explanation of why Joseph left for Australia seems to fit as the author said that "they could only surmise that the marriage was not a happy one", so the family hadn't mentioned it. Farmers were not doing well around that time and he may have given in under pressure from the landowners in order to save his own family and farm. He was an intelligent man who had strong views about Aborigine rights etc, and he would have been very ashamed of his actions. Anne On 24/10/2009, at 3:38, Jennifer Cairns wrote: > Thank you for the rat catching episode... fascinating... how > horrible !