Charles Nevill (senior) 1754-1813

1744

Martha Jane Janion was the daughter of Richard Janion (Jennings) of Bradley (Broadley) Orchard in the Parish of Frodsham, near Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, and was born circa 1744.

1754

Charles Nevill was born on 2 May 1754. He was the son of Thomas Nevill (1723-78) and described as ‘of Lichfield Staffs’. Thomas Nevill married twice, his first wife being Elizabeth Parrock, mother of his four children, Anne (b. 1750 when they were living at Packington), Thomas (b. 1751), Charles (b. 1754), who were born in Birmingham, and Sarah who died whilst a baby in 1754.

1770

Charles Nevill (senior) joined the Methodist Society early in life. He lived in Birmingham for many years and married twice. By his first wife Sarah Willets he had a daughter (Sarah Willets Nevill, b. 1776) and two sons, Thomas Willets Nevill (b. 1778) and Charles Nevill (junior, b. 1780). By his second wife Martha Jane, the widow of William Acton he had one son, Richard Janion Nevill.

1780

Charles Nevill (junior) was born, and he was the second son of Charles Nevill (senior) and his first wife Sarah.

1781

Before Martha Jane Janion was 30 years old she is said to have had a lingering illness and nearly died.

1782

Charles Nevill’s first wife, Sarah (nee Willets), died.

1784

Whether Charles met his second wife, Martha, through the Methodist movement is not clear, but when her first husband (William Acton) died in 1784 she went to live with her mother as a nurse and companion. When she became Charles’ wife his children are said to have loved her as if she was their own mother.

1786

Richard Janion Nevill was born, the only child of Charles Nevill and his second wife, Martha Jane.

1791

Charles Nevill, described as ‘button maker in Birmingham’, probably worked in the family firm of Thomas Nevill Button Makers of Staniforth Street.

1794

Around this time Birmingham businessmen invited Charles Nevill senior to become superintendent of a large copperworks in Swansea. Charles and his second wife Martha and their sons, moved to Swansea where he took up the position of superintendent of a copperworks owned by manufacturers from Birmingham who operated from offices in High Street, Swansea.

1797

Charles Nevill senior probably retained his business interests outside Swansea and was thought to be a partner in the button making business of Nevill and Maslcelyne, Staniforth Street, Birmingham.

Having seen the potential of the copper industry in Swansea, Charles set his sights on Llanelli, which he thought would be an ideal location to establish his own copperworks.

1804

Charles Nevill maintained his business interests in the Swansea area and during January when the Home Defence Militia Committee purchased four guns to defend Swansea Harbour and Coast, he was one of the subscribers.

In March, Charles Nevill, H. Davies and Lewis Weston Dillwyn were signatories to the Swansea to Oystermouth Canal venture.

Charles Nevill with partners established the Llanelly Copperworks at Seaside.

When Charles and his second wife Martha moved to Llanelli they lived at Vauxhall and were staunch supporters of the Methodist Movement and were both devout members of the Wesleyan Chapel where Charles sometimes conducted the services.

1808

Thomas Nevill of Kidwelly (elder brother of Charles Nevill senior), married Miss Elizabeth Phillips of Bath on 27 August. His older sister – Sarah Willets Nevill had married Samuel Broom of Kidderminster and they had several children. During the early days of their marriage Sarah and Samuel settled in Kidderminster.

1813

Charles Nevill, entrepreneur and industrialist, died at Vauxhall, Llanelli, in October at the comparatively young age of 60 years and was buried in the Parish Church on 23 October.

1820

Martha Nevill, wife of the late Charles Nevill senior died suddenly after coming into contact with a coal wagon when she was crossing one of the railroads near John Street. She had been visiting her son, Richard and his family at Field House, and on her way home she had to cross one of the many railway lines. Her foot slipped and she fell just as a waggon was passing and the waggon ran over her. She was carried still alive to her home but she only survived a few hours.