Rita May Gray

Other Events and Attributes:

• Cremated: Y
• Occupation: 1939; Hairdresser

Rita married David Lewis Seaton in 1933 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. David (son of John Alexander Seaton and Florence Mary Williams) was born in 1903 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; died on 31 Mar 1938 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rita married William George Russell in 1940 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. William was born on 16 Oct 1909 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; died in 1989 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; was buried on 23 Feb 1989 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FindaGrave ID: 232903170
• Occupation: 1911; Cinema Operator
• Military Service: Between 1915 and 1917; Lancashire Fusileers

John married Mona Parfitt on 13 Mar 1911 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Mona (daughter of George Alfred Parfitt and Elizabeth Ellen Davies) was born on 22 Sep 1893 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; died on 16 Oct 1988 in Ynysybwl, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; was buried in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FindaGrave ID: 232903143
• Occupation: 1939; Cinema Manageress

John + Margaret. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FindaGrave ID: 232903076
• Occupation: Innkeeper
• Baptism: 8 Nov 1885, Ystradyfodwg, Pentre, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

George married Elizabeth Ellen Davies on 25 Aug 1892 in Llantwit Fadre, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Elizabeth (daughter of Ieuan David and Elizabeth Pritchard John) was born in 1872 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; died on 22 Sep 1954 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; was buried on 25 Sep 1954 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• FindaGrave ID: 220358377
• Arrival: 9 Apr 1935, New York, New York, New York, USA
• Arrival: 22 May 1944, Liverpool, Lancashire, England, UK
• Departure: 15 Jun 1951
• Departure: 6 Oct 1951, New York, New York, New York, USA

Notes:

Arrival:
Sailed on the Majestic

Arrival:
Sailed on the Mauretania

Departure:
Sailed to New York on the Georgic

Departure:
Sailed on the Queen Mary

Died:
The funeral took place on Saturday at Glyntaff cemetery of Mrs. Elizabeth Ellen (Lily) Parfitt, Fairholme, Morgan Street, widow of Mr. George Parfitt, late of the White Hart, Pontypridd. Mrs. Parfitt was 82 years of age and one of the town's best known personalities.

She was taken ill only a few weeks before her death and up until that time had remained alert and active, taking a keen interest in the affairs of the town. One of her daughters Mrs. Lillian Williams lives in America and Mrs. parfitt had paid her four visits the last of them being three years ago when she was 79. She was in the States when war broke out in 1939 and was prevented from returning home until 1945.

Mrs. Parfitt was born in Pontypridd, 1872, and before her marriage on 25 August 1892 was a teacher at Mill Street school. She taught some of Pontypridd's most eminent townsman. Her grandfather was Myfyr Morgannwg, Archdruid of Britain and a famous bard. Her father, Ap Myfyr (Mr. Evan Davies) also a noted poet, was a great friend of Evan and James James, composers of the Welsh National Anthem. Her mother, Elizabeth John, was the first person to sing the Welsh Anthem in public in 1856.

A member of the Unitarian Church, Pontypridd, Mrs. Parfitt was also a member of the Pontypridd and Church Village branches of the OAP Association and of the local branch of the Conservative Association. She possessed a keen sense of humor and an indomitable spirit and had endeared herself to a wide circle of friends. Her knowledge of the history of Pontypridd was unrivaled and she could relate many interesting stories of the town's early days.

Two daughters survive, Mrs. Mona Grey popular manageress of the White Palace Cinema, Pontypridd, and Mrs. Lillian Williams USA. There are also two granddaughters and three great grandchildren.


She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 1924, and son Alfred Harold in 1915.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 9 Aug 1835, Clutton, Somerset, England, UK; Address:
  St. Augustine of Hippo Church, Clutton, Somerset, England, UK
• Occupation: 1861; Mason
• Occupation: 1894; Innkeeper

Alfred married Elizabeth Herd on 7 Aug 1859 in Llanfabon, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Elizabeth (daughter of Henry Herd and Betsy Pile) was born in 1835 in Barnstaple, Devon, England, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Elizabeth Heard

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: Ieuan Davies
• Also Known As: John Davies
• Occupation: Watchmaker
• Baptism: 18 Feb 1831, Coychurch, Glamorgan, Wales, UK; Address:
  Bethel Independent Church, Coychurch, Glamorgan, Wales, UK

Ieuan married Elizabeth Pritchard John on 27 May 1861 in Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. Elizabeth (daughter of William Pritchard John and Mary Williams) was born in 1844 in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The anthem was performed for the first time in the vestry of Capel Tabor in Maesteg in either January or February 1856, by a singer called Elizabeth John from Pontypridd, and it soon became popular in the locality. Its popularity spread after the Llangollen Eisteddfod in 1858.

Thomas Llewelyn of Aberdare won a competition for an unpublished collection of Welsh airs with a collection that included Glan Rhondda. The adjudicator of the competition, Owain Alaw (John Owen, 1821-1883) asked for permission to include Glan Rhondda in his publication, Gems of Welsh melody (1860).

This volume, which gave Glan Rhondda its more famous title, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, was sold in large quantities and ensured the popularity of the national anthem across the whole of Wales.