By Allen Blethyn in Baglan History walks (Files) · Edit Doc · Delete
One of the additional little stories to be included in Baglan History Walks by Dawn Spencer-Kelly and myself is about The Port Walleroo Public House Briton Ferry.This short account will include new family history about a well known Port Talbot family with whome I was involved with during my early working life.

The very first marriage to take place at St.Agnes Port Talbot was a double Cox family wedding.It was in the Sseptember of 1924 that Morgan Cox and his sister Florence,shared that special day by sharing a double marriage day at St.Agnes Church,Forge Road Port Talbot.

Marriages Sep 1924   
Cox     Florence E     Forbes     Neath     11a    1977      
Cox     Morgan G     Shenton     Neath     11a    1977       
Forbes     Hugh N     Cox     Neath     11a    1977      
Shenton     Phyllis M     Cox     Neath     11a    1977      

And Phyllis M. Shenton a person who I knew very well,her being my boss`s wife,leads us back to the Portabello Pub at Briton Ferry where her grandfather George Truscott was the landlord in 1896.

The Port Walleroo Public House
 Situated near to the railway level-crossing in Church Street, Briton Ferry, was a small public house named the "Port Walleroo". Many people have asked me if I could explain the origin of such a strange name for a pub, and what did it mean? No explanation was forthcoming until the late Mr. John Shea of Baglan received a letter from Australia in 1991, from one of his wife's relations, seeking information on this same subject. The writer stated that he was aware of the fact that his ancestors had emigrated from Britain to Australia in the 19th century and that there were relatives still living in Briton Ferry. He wondered therefore, if there could be some family connection with the pub as he, his father, and his grandfather were all from Port Walleroo, a small mining town in Australia. Earlier, (in 1989), I had received a letter from Mr. George Deer of Bexhhill, (who's maternal great grandfather was a Mr. George Truscott) which gave me some information regarding the "Port Wallerroo", and after a little research the following story was revealed from the details outlined in the two letters. The landlord of the Inn was Mr. George Truscott, who was born in Cornwall of a tin-mining family. The living was so poor, and the work so hard that the family decided to emigrate to Australia where miners were needed to work the gold and copper minesThey settled in the mining village of Port Walleroo, but after a while one of the family, George, did not like the life of a copper miner and decided to return to Britain, where tin-workers were needed in the newly established tinplate works; mainly in SouthWales.He secured employment in the Vernon Tinplate Works in Briton Ferry, but soon found that the hard work was not to his liking, and consequently left that employment in order to open a small pub, which he named after the Australian village that he had left; Port Wallaroo.Contained in the earlier letter was a copy of George's "Last Will and Testament" dated 1901.
It was very interesting in its detailed and very fair way in which he bequeathed even very small items of his posessions to the various members of his family.To his five daughters, his sons-in-law, and his grandsons he left such items as "the small bed frame and bed in the back bedroom to my daughter Mary; To my son-in-law Morgan I give my Malacca Walking Stick; I give and bequeath to my daughter Annie my gold watch chain; I give and bequeath to my grandson George my silver watch; To each of my five daughters I give one of my fully paid up shares and one of my partially paid up shares in the Villiers Tinplate Company. To my daughter Lucy, I give the three oil paintings of myself, my wife, and my son: and the chest of drawers in the front bedroom, and the old chest of drawers on the landing and the clock in the kitchen I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret.Other items of the household included a piano, a harmonium, a coffee urn, measuring glasses in the pub, a settle in the kitchen and other such items to be found in a typical Victorian household.Today, there is no evidence of the pub ever having stood on the spot, and in its place the Council flats known as Villiers Court have been erected.
 

4097 1861 CENSUS OF CLASE LOWER. REF.R.G.9/4097, E.D.1.                                  

Piece: 4097      Folio: 041     Schedule: 365

Address: LLANGYFELACH RD        

TRUSCOTT GEORGE JENKIN     HD M  24   COPPER ROLLERM
                                     GLA LLANGYFELACH                 (c1837)
TRUSCOTT MARY              WI M  24  
                                     GLA LLANGYFELACH                 (c1837)
TRUSCOTT HANNAH HENRY      DA -   3   SCHOL
                                     GLA LLANGYFELACH                 (c1858)
TRUSCOTT MARGARET E.H.     DA -   1  
                                     GLA LLANGYFELACH                 (c1860)

Wife Mary Henry is said to have died at Llanelly in 1880 aged 43.

1881.Census
Dwelling:8 Vernon St
Census Place:Briton Ferry, Glamorgan, Wales
Source:FHL Film 1342286     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 5338    Folio 110    Page 22
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
George TRUSCOTTW44 MLandore, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Head
Occ:Roll Turner In Tin Works
Margaret E. HUMPHREYM21 FMargam, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Daur
Occ:Tin Rollers Wife
Elizabeth TRUSCOTTU10 FMargam, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Daur
Occ:Scholar
Lucy TRUSCOTT 10 FMargam, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Daur
Occ:Scholar
George TRUSCOTT 4 MMargam, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Son
Occ:Scholar

1881.Census.
Dwelling:New Dock Road
Census Place:Llanelly, Carmarthen, Wales
Source:FHL Film 1342295     PRO Ref RG11    Piece 5373    Folio 31    Page 1
MarrAgeSexBirthplace
Mary Henry TRUSCOTTU19 FMargam, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Head
Occ:Grocer
Annie TRUSCOTTU14 FMargam, Glamorgan, Wales
Rel:Sister
Occ:Scholar

1891.Census.

NameRelationshipAgeGenderBirthplace
George Truscott T623Head

54MaleLantre, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry

Anne Truscott T623Daughter
23FemaleTaibach, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry

Lucy Truscott T623Daughter
20FemaleAberavon, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Briton Ferry
Briton Ferry

Town: Briton Ferry,   Ecc. Parish: Briton Ferry,   Civil Parish: Briton Ferry,   County: Glamorgan
Registration:  Neath,  Neath,  10View Image Online (Subscription Required)

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Source: PRO/National Archives Reference # RG12/4461   Folio 23   Page 10

MI.  C354.  Holy Cross. Taibach.
In memory of Mary 
the beloved wife of George Truscott
aged 43 years.
Also George Henry son of the above named
died Jan.7th.1889 aged 12 years.
Also the above named George Truscott
who died Nov.22. 1900 aged 62 years.

MI. C393.  Holy Cross. Taibach.
In loving memory of Edward Millington
died Nov.1832 aged 75
Also Rhoda Millington his wife
died June 9th. 1846 aged 86.

No deaths of above found or in Glam 1841 Census?

MI.  C393a.
In memory of Mary
the beloved wife of George Truscott
who died July 6. 1880 aged 43 years
Also of 6 infants
Also of George Henry son of the above named
who died Jan.7.1889 aged 12 years
Also the above named George Truscott
who died Nov. 22. 1900 aged 62 years.

Deaths Dec 1900
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Truscott  Geirge Jenkins  64  Neath  11a 470  

Find Will 3jan. 1901.