Welsh Journals

Thomas and Caroline Motley (and James Motley at times) lived in 'Aelybryn house in Felinfoel, Llanelli, c.1846-48. This building, now extended, is the Diplomat Hotel, owned by Best Western Hotels. (Author's photo). but was not buried on the island. Sophia Osburn, the youngest daughter, married Richard Mason who came from Ireland and they had eight children. She died in 1922 at the age of 88. A Thomas Motley (born 1791) was active in the Bristol area in the same period that Thomas Motley came to South Wales. I had for a time considered this to be the same man, but this is not the case. He and his son, also Thomas Motley, were architects and engineers, and built a suspension bridge at Tiverton near Bath, which is still known as Motley's Bridge. As far as I can ascertain these had no direct rela- tionship to the Motleys in South Wales. There is much less information about Arthur Motley, James' younger brother by two years. He also came to South Wales with the family but seemed to develop a separate career for himself. Despite just one doubtful reference to his connection with his father's tinplate factory, I think he kept clear of his father's problems. Arthur Motley married a widow, Jane Fredreca Boye (née Bowman) on 22nd July 1847 and in the census of 1851 he was living in a house called The Sanctuary at Loughor. This house in Castle Street is still there and has a long history going back to medieval times. In the census, Arthur Motley, aged 27, is listed as an agent at the copperworks. Also listed are his wife, two children (two more were born later), also his wife's daughter by her former husband, his wife's mother and three sisters, also the wife's brother, a visiting analytical chemist and two servants, thirteen people in all. Fortunately it was a very large house. James Motley stayed at The Sanctuary and was married to Jane Fredreca's sister Mary Susanna Bowman, at the nearby Loughor Parish Church on 12th February 1849. On his marriage certificate James Motley is listed as 'mineral surveyor' and living in the Parish of Ystradgynlais (there were anthracite mines nearby). The marriage was witnessed by the bride's father