© R McConville

Margaret (Maggie) was born on 11th June 1876 and Gertrude on 30th October 1877, the first two in a family of seven children, three girls and four boys. Family legend says that they both trained as legal secretaries although there is no documented proof of this. Maggie spent much of her childhood with her welsh grandparents on the Isle of Anglesey and spoke welsh fluently. In 1898 she married Owen Jones and in 1911 they are recorded as living in Marian Glas, Anglesey, with three children. Their youngest son, Joseph (“Joe Boats”) was born later that year. After Owen died in 1924 she married Robert Parry and they went to live at Benllech Isaf, a large house on the sea front at Benllech Bay, which they ran as a guest house. Maggie died on 11th June 1976.

Gertrude, my grandmother, married Andrew McConville (died 1911) in 1896, Fred Ardern (died 1915) in 1914 and Frank Ardern (died 1961) in 1916. Gertrude died on 23rd October 1959.

Gertrude and Frank Ardern

“Joe Boats” Jones

Joe’s cottage and Benllech Isaf

Margaret

Gertrude