Dates are generally taken from Cambrian newspaper reports

1804

On 28th January Alexander Raby attended a meeting of the Swansea Harbour Defences along with William Vaughan, Thomas Johnson, Thomas Hughes, R Burall, and P Jones Margam.

25th February Trevethick’s Steam Engine was at Alexander Raby’s colliery in Llanelli.

1805

14th September: Miss Raby, daughter of Alexander Raby of Llanelli and Cobham married Lieutenant Patterson of the Royal Marines. 

26th October: Mrs J Smedley, daughter of Alexander Raby, died.

1806

6th December Notice to employees of A Raby and W M Roderick & Co., regarding procurement of coal.

1807

3rd January: Notice from Raby Bowen & Roderick re coal allowance for miners.

6th June: Brondini Stone coal and culm colliery advertisement, proprietor Alexander Raby junior, Llanelly.

1808

5th November: Opening of a new Colliery called The Box at Llanelly, orders to Alexander Raby.

1809

11th February: Alexander Raby of Jersey married Jane Rees, daughter of the late John Rees of Killymaenllwyd, Carmarthen.

1810

6th October: Debt Due to Alexander Raby to be paid to Mr Stephen Jones of Swansea.

13th October: Alexander Raby of Llanelly: Notice to Debtors.

1811

Holden’s Directory lists Alexander Raby as ironmaster and coal owner – this would have been Alexander Raby senior.

4th May: Ironworks to be continued by Alexander Raby.

4th May: Llanelly Works: Notice to Creditors – contact Alexander Raby

6th July: Llanelly Fiery Vein Colliery now worked by Alexander and Arthur Raby.

20th July: Alexander Raby – invention of railroad wheel at Llanelly.

1812

28th March: Alexander Raby – Notice: Meeting of Creditors at the Machworth Arms, Swansea, called by  D Morgan of Neath.

4th April: Alexander Raby sent a letter denying claims by D Morgan of Neath of Bankruptcy

1813

16th October: Arthur Turnour Raby married Miss Smith at Kelston near Bath.

1814

19th November: A daughter was born to Lady of Arthur Raby of Llanelli.

1817

29th March: Newspaper report – To the lady of Arthur Raby of Llanelli a daughter since died.

1819

9th January: Lady Mansel’s (or Rabys) Old Fiery Vein Coal not worked since 1813 now re-opened by order from Messrs A & A Raby, Llanelly.

30th October: To the Lady of Arthur Raby at Swansea a daughter.

1821

31st July: The baptism of Helena Eliza took place at Llanelli Parish Church. She was the daughter of Alexander & Jane Raby, Ship Broker of the Town.

1823

8th November: To the Lady of Arthur Raby at Swansea a son.

1824

29th May: There was a fire in Arthur Raby’s House at Llanelli, but furniture saved.

30th October: Alexander Raby's wife died at Furnace House, aged 78.

1825

8th October: To the Lady of Arthur Raby at Swansea, a son.

1826

27th May: There was a sale of furniture and books etc., belonging to Arthur Turnour Raby.

23rd September:  Furnace House and Cae Mawr Cottage, near Llanelli, both residences of  the late Arthur Raby, were advertised "To Let".

1830

Pigot’s Trade Directory of 1830-31 lists Alexander Raby as a Ship Broker and Agent – this would have been Alexander junior.

20th November: A letter was sent to Alexander Raby, Portreeve of Llanelly, regarding distress caused by flood.

1832

28th July: At Carmarthen Assizes – George Evans v Alexander Raby regarding an injury during celebration for the Reform Act.

1834

The Voters’ list of showed Alexander Raby entitled to vote by his house Brynmor (sic), near Old Furnace.

1835

Pigot’s Trade Directory of listed Alexander Raby as a Ship Broker.

7th March: A newspaper Notice reported that Alexander Raby, formerly of Llanelli, died on February 24 at Burcott House near Wells.

1841

31st July: Edward, son of Arthur Raby, died at Bryn, near Swansea at the age of 15.

1843

17th June: Newspaper report – David Lewis of Bank House, Llandeilo,  married Helena Eliza Raby of Brynmor, on 11th June.

1844

Alexander Raby, of Furnace, was listed as a Ship Broker along with Charles Nevill of Sea Side. It is interesting to note that although his father was known as ‘Squire Raby’ his son Alexander never made it to the ‘Gentry’ listing in the Trade Directories.

1848

25th August: Alfred Watney of Gwendraeth married Helen Eliza Raby of Brynmor on 10 August at St John’s Church (Capel Ifan), Pontyberem.

1852

30th January:  A daughter was born at Prospect Place, Llanelly, to the wife of Charles Raby.

1856

31st March: Alexander Raby of Brynmor, was buried. He was 78 years old when he died.

4th April: A newspaper reported the death of Alexander Raby of Bryn House, Llanelli, aged 83 years. (The Parish Registers record the death but The Cambrian newspaper stated that Raby was 83 when he died. Raby was born in 1778 and died in 1856 therefore he was 78 when he died.)

1858

12th March: Jane Raby of St Pancras, London, was buried. She was aged 78 at the time of her death.

26th March: A newspaper reported that Mrs Raby, widow of the late Alexander Raby of Llanelli had died on 6th March, in London.

1868

10th July: A newspaper reported that the marriage had taken place on 2nd July at Battersea, London, of the Revd Thomas Harvey to Edith H Watney grand-daughter of the late Alexander Raby junior.

Sources

The Cambrian

Parish Records

UK Census

A Llanelli Chronicle

Coal Mining in the Llanelli Area

Other Information

The Librarian, Surrey County Council, Ewell, Surrey

The Surrey Industrial History Group, SIHG, Guildford

Bert Raby, Southampton

Lyn John, Local Historian

Joyce Mollet, Llanelli Historical Society

Raby family