Re: Joseph Parry composer from Merthyr
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In reply to:
Joseph Parry composer from Merthyr
8/13/01
Hi!I don't think my first posting worked, so here was the original too.Hope you find Thomas.
Joseph Parry was born at 4, Chapel Row, Georgetown, Merthyr Tydvil, Wales on 21.5.1841. He is the son of Daniel Parry from Hoylgrove, Trewither, Pembrokeshire, and Elizabeth Bett from Kidwelly in Carmarthanshire.In the 1841 Census he is 9 years old , but the Census taker had the foresight to credit him as "Composer of Myfanwy".He has a brother Henry aged 13, and sisters Elizabeth and Jane aged 6 and 3.At 9 or 10 Joseph starts down the mines; at 12 he worked at Cyfarthfa Foundry.In 1853 his family emigrated to Pennsylvania.Joseph returned often to Wales, and became Professor of Music at Aberystwyth University in 1873.He had a disagreement of some sort and ended up in Swansea in 1881 as Organist for Ebenezer Chapel., and was very involved in “The Musical College of Wales” which seems to have faded away when he became a Professor of Music at Cardiff in 1888.He died at Penarth near Cardiff on 17.2.1903.Onthe 1881 census Joseph and Joseph Haydn (16) are staying in Llanberis, probably for some musical event.The rest of the family are still at Aber. at Vainor Lower; wife Jane (born in Merthyr) is 37; David Mendelsohn is 14; William Sterndale is 9 and Annie Edna is 1.All were born in the United States apparently (even Annie Edna).I think there was another daughter called Dilys, presumably born later.Joseph Haydn became a Professor of Music at the Guildhall School of Music in 1890; he composed Operas.On 1st August 1888 he married Louisa Watkins, daughter of William Watkins and Jane, nee Gray, from Mere in Wiltshire.Jane’s father was Albion Gray.William became Mayor in 1899 and in 1900 too; he was Chief magistrate etc, and had made his money with a building company,but he had had very humble beginnings.In 1901 Louisa is back at home at Ashleigh House in Swansea, widowed, with a daughter Louise(?) Marguerita, aged 11, and a son , Arthur H. Parry , aged 9 years.Joseph Haydn had died aged 29; Sterndale died aged 20; Mendelsohn outlived his father, but I have no further info on him.I’m afraid this doesn’t help you a great deal with Thomas, but hopefully there is something here that gives you more info to go on.Good Luck!Sally
A postscript to previous notes:In 1841 Daniel Parry is listed as 51 and Elizabeth Parry (nee Bett) is 46.I have omitted a sister Ann of 17, who is a dressmaker.The family moved to Dauville in Pennsylvania.In 1881 Louisa Watkins is living at 11 Russell Street, Swansea.The family later moved to Ashleigh House near St James Crescent in Swansea.Louisa and Joseph Haydn Parry were married in St James Church, Swansea on 1 August 1888.The two children, Louise Marguerite and Arthur H. Parry, were born in Harrow on the Hillin England. In the 1891 census Louise Marguerite is staying at Ashleigh, aged 1 year, with a nanny from Harrow.I don’t know where her parents were at the time.William Watkins was Mayor of Swansea, Wales, in 1899 and 1900, and a picture of William and Louisa can be found in the publication by Gerald Gabb, Swansea Jubilee 2.There is a Joseph Parry Museum sited at 4, Chapel Row, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales.Sorry I omitted these bits from my first email.Sally