Good Betty Philips: St Cadoc’s Church, Raglan.
While wandering around St Cadoc’s Churchyard, I spotted a small gravestone propped up against the wall.
The inscription caught my eye: “Here Good Betty Philips Rests in Peace.”
So, who was Good Betty Philips?
Baptised in October 1772, Elizabeth was the daughter of Thomas and Anne Philips of Raglan.
The 1841 census tells us that Elizabeth was a spinster living in Raglan. Elizabeth lived adjacent to Rhiw-linon Farm and was listed as a “Charwoman.”
A Charwoman was a woman who was paid to clean a private house and do odd jobs. It is quite possible that Elizabeth was employed by William Evans (the owner of Rhiw-linon Farm) as a Charwoman. This could explain why she lived adjacent to the farm… but we will never know!
The 1851 census tells us that Elizabeth was still living in the same dwelling. By this time had taken a lodger by the name of Mary Blayden. Both were listed as “Charwomen.”
Mary Blayden was born at Llangwm in 1780. The 1841 census tells us that Mary was a widow living with her two sons at Brook Farm, Raglan — just down the road from Rhiw-linon Farm. Mary was listed as a “Charwoman” and her sons were listed as “Brick-makers.”
By 1863, Mary had become chargeable to the parish of Raglan. Three of her sons were summonsed by the Parish Officers of Raglan for non-maintenance of their mother and ordered to pay 1s 6d per week each.
Mary died in February 1865, aged 85 years old. She was buried at St Peter’s Church, Bryngwyn.
The 1861 census tells us that Elizabeth was still living in the same dwelling. By this time Elizabeth was listed as a “Needle Woman.”
Elizabeth never married. She died aged 92 at her home in Raglan on the 29th of July 1864. She was buried at St Cadoc’s Church (Raglan) on the 2nd of August.
I will never know why she was remembered as “Good Betty Philips” but I will continue to remember her that way.
“Here lies Good Betty Philips Rests In Peace; She is not dead but sleepeth.”
