W. & C. T. Jones Shipowners of Cardiff, Records and Papers

The papers comprise the records of W. & C. T. Jones Steamship Company Ltd. of Cardiff, along with some personal papers of the owner, Mr William Edwin Jones. In addition, the collection includes miscellaneous papers relating to the Davies Family of Pontypridd and Cardiff; the Broomfield Family of Barry; Frederick Childs and Company Shipowners of Cardiff; the Richard Family of Cardiff; the Briffeth Family of Cardiff, and collected personal and family papers.

W. & C. T. Jones Steamship Company Ltd. was one of the leading shipowning companies in Cardiff. Originally known as W. H. & C. T. Jones, the company was established by three brothers: Mr William Jones, who served in the military in India; Mr Henry Jones, who fought in the American Civil War and was at one time a town councillor for Cardiff, and Mr Charles Jones, who emigrated to, and died in New York. The company's first ship was the Cymmrodorion, followed by the Kate B. Jones, which was built by Messrs. Slesinger Davies and Co. of Wallsend. This was the first ship with electrical illumination throughout to be introduced to Cardiff. On the death of the brothers, the sons of Mr William Jones - Mr William Edwin Jones, and Mr Henry Jones - Mr William Henry Jones, carried on and increased the operations of the firm. Mr W. H. Jones retired upon taking up residence in New York on the death of his uncle, Mr Charles Jones, leaving Mr W. E. Jones as the owner and sole director of the company. Mr W. E. Jones was renowned and respected at Cardiff Docks. In 1917, he became Chairman of the Cardiff and Bristol Channel Shipowners Association. During the First World War he served with the Glamorgan (Territorial) RFA, and was stationed at Fort Scoverton, Milford Haven. He later married Miss Wadley of Penarth and together they had a son. The family lived at Glenusk near Caerleon. Mr W. E. Jones was well known locally, and was made master of Llangibby Hounds in 1920. He died shortly afterwards, on 22 May 1920 aged 45, at a nursing home in the New Forest having suffered a long illness. W. & C. T. Jones Steamship Company Ltd. was voluntarily liquidated around 1920.

Normal Glamorgan Archives conditions apply

Deposited by a private individual during January 2006.

Detailed list available

Fair condition

All records which meet the collection policy of the Glamorgan Archives have been retained.

The papers were rescued from destruction by the depositor. As a result, their provenance is not known. The records of W. & C. T. Jones Shipowners have been identified. Any relationship with, or between the remaining papers is unknown.