Fonds GB 0210 ACREFAIR - Acrefair papers

John Williams (d. 1898), of Dowlais, Glamorgan, moved to Acre House, Acrefair, Denbighshire, in 1864, when he became manager of the New British Iron Company at Ruabon, Denbighshire, having previously been employed at various ironworks in south Wales. His wife, Maria (d. 1906), was the daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Pugh, a Calvinistic Methodist minister, and sister of the Rev. John Pugh, Llanfechain, Montgomeryshire, later of Holywell, Flintshire, the author of several books. John and Maria Williams had five daughters and a son. Four of the daughters died unmarried: Margaret J. (d. 1926); Elinor (d. 1937); Ida Jane (d. 1893), a teacher at the Llandderfel Board School, Meirionethshire, 1886-1889; and Annie (d. 1941), educated at Shrewsbury, 1872, and a governess in the New Quay area of Cardiganshire, 1882-1883 and 1888-1890. The other daughter, Mary, was educated at Shrewsbury, and at the Training College, Swansea, 1875, and married Owen Pritchard of Oswestry, but died without issue in 1890. The son, the Rev. Ebenezer John Williams (1851-1938), was educated at the Holt Academy, 1864-1868, and the Theological College, Bala, 1878-1882, having been employed, 1868-1877, at the office of the ironworks in Ruabon. He served as minister at the Calvinistic Methodist chapels in Llanwddyn, Montgomeryshire, 1882-1889, during which time the Liverpool Corporation Water Works was constructed in the area, Llandrillo, Merionethshire, 1889-1897, Ruthin, 1897-1906, and Froncysyllte, Denbighshire, 1907-1929. He and retired from the ministry in 1929. As well as the ironworks, and Calvinistic Methodism, the family's chief interestes were the Temperance Movement, the Liberal Party and its election campaigns, and (for personal reasons in 1893-1894) Marriage Law Reform.