William Edward Phelp (1819-1879)

The Cambrain News and Merionethshire Standard

12th December 1879

DEATH MAJOR PHELP. Major W. E. Phelp 1 suddenly at his residence, Sunny Hill, Tregaron, early on Friday morning, Dec. 5. On the preceding day he entertained a party of friends who intended on the morrow to shoot over his grounds at Tregaron. He retired to bed on Thursday night in his usual health, but next morning about nine o'clock, when one of the domestics entered the bedroom, Major Phelp was found on the floor at the beside dead. His decease had probably occurred two three hours before nine o clock. Dr Lloyd, who lived at Tregaron, was immediately sent for, but of course services could be of no avail. An inquest was afterwards held on the body by the coroner of the district, Mr John Rowland, Garth. Mr. J. Dewi Williams, of the Talbot Hotel, was foreman of the jury. It having been feed that Major Phelp had died from heart disease, they returned a verdict to the effect that death had result from natural causes. 

Major Phelp was about sixty years of age. He was a Justice of the Peace for the County of Cardigan, and as such frequently sat upon the Tregaron magisterial Bench, He was better known, however, as the agent and one of the trustees of the Nanteos estate. He was first-cousin of the late Colonel Powell, whose father Colonel W. E. Powell of Nanteos, was M.P. for Cardiganshire from 1816 to 1854, and for many years Lord Lieutenant of the County; who married Laura Edwina daughter of Mr. James Sackvile T. Phelp of Coston Estate, Leicestershire grandfather of the deceased. Major Phelp married Miss Hotchkins, of Horncastle, Leicester, whom he survived. There was no issue. For many years held a commission in the Leicestershire Militia, first as captain and afterwards as major, with which ranked he retired some years ago. He was manager of the Nanteos estate, and up to the death of Colonel W. T. R. Powell resided at Nanteos. On the decease of Colonel Powell Major Phelp lived at Sunny Hill, Tregaron, where he died on Friday last.

The body was interred in the churchyard Llanbadarn Fawr on Wednesday morning, Dec. 10. It was encased in a deal shell lead coffin, and outer coffin of polished Welsh oak, with brass mediaeval furniture, The inscription on the coffin was-

W. E. PHELP,

Died December 5, 1879,

Aged 60 years.

The funeral cortege left Sunny Hill at nine o’clock on Wednesday morning for the railway station, were it was accompanied by nearly all the inhabitants of Tregaron, male and female. The coffin was then conveyed by train to Llanrhystyd-road station, where it was placed in a hearse and conveyed through Penparke direct) Llanbadarn fawr. The funeral procession, which was larger than has been seen at Llanbadarnfawr for many years, was arranged by Mr. Roderick Williams, Aberystwyth, in the following order :-

The staff of the Royal Cardiganshire Artillery Militia. Carriage containing the Rev. Octavius Davies, M.A. vicar of Tregaron, and the medical attendant, Mr Rowland Rowland, M.R.C.S., Tregaron.

The undertakers, Messrs. Roderick Williams and son, Aberystwyth.

The underbearers, sixteen in number, compost of tenants of the Tregaron Estate.

THE HEARSE. Mouning coach containing the chief mourners, Mr. G. E. J. Powell, Mr. Charles Powell, and Major Hotchkins, Thorncastle.

Carriage containing Dr. Jackson and Major Mowbray,

Carriage containing Mr. T. Arch, Abbey Farm, and the Sumy Hill servants. Carriages representing or containing the gentry of the neighbourhood, comprising the Earl of Lisburne, Colone Pryse, Peithyll, Mr. Vaughan Davies, Tanybwlch, Mr. Hugh S. Richardes, Brynyreithyn, Captain Cosens, Cwm, Mr. Morris Davies, Ffosrhydgaled, Mr. Lewis Pugh Pugh, Abermaide, Mr. Griffith Evans, Lovesgrove, Mr. J. G. V. Bonsall. Fronfraith, Mr. T. W. Bonsall. Glanrheidol, Mr. Hughes Bonsall, Carrog, Mr. G. G. Williams, Wallog, Mr. James Loxdale, Castle Hill, Llanilar, Mr. Parry, lIidiardau, Mr. J. T. Morgan, Nantceirio, Mrs. Davies, Cwmcoediog, Mr. R. Gilbertson, Aberystwyth, Mr. David Roberts, ex-mayor of Aberystwyth, and others, followed by Captain Legge, Royal Cardigan Artillery Militia, Messrs. Richardes, Penglaise, Hugh Hughes A. J. Hughes, F. Temple, B. E. Morgan, Terrace, R Gardiner, Birchgrove, R. Jones, Nanteos, Lewis Williams, Abermaide, John Parry, Glanpaith, Edward Hamer, Isaac Morgan, G. Thomas, Penparke, J. Dewi Williare, Talbot, G. T. Smith, Rice Williams, John Davies, Antaron, and the general public.

The body was met at the east gate, Llanbadarn Fawr, by the Rev. John Pugh, vicar of the parish, and the Rev. O. Davies, vicar of Tregaron. The former read the first portion of the burial service, and the Rev. Octavius Davies officiate at the grave.