I did the basic research for this blog series a couple of years ago. Then, as usual, flitted along to the next thing that caught my interest. Now I'm trying to flesh the cases out and present to you my justification for not being a fan of walking along the canal on dark and lonely nights... For more canal deaths, check out the master post.
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The Pontypool Free Press of February 15th 1879 reported that Benjamin Legg had been found drowned at Five Locks. The Star of Gwent from the day before had listed him in their death notices, recording that he had died on February 9th and was 21 years old.
"FOUND DROWNED. On Monday morning, the body of a young man, named Benjamin Legg, of Upper Cwmbran, was picked up at Five Locks, Pontnewydd. Deceased was seen in an adjoining public-house on Sunday."
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Benjamin Thomas Legg was born in late 1857 to William and Mary Legg. (Or, based on this clipping from the Usk Observer of 19/12/57 about an Ann Legg of Llanfrechfa taking Thomas Thomas to court for support for her illegitimate child, possibly to their eldest daughter Ann...) Either way the 1861 census found William working as a furnace filler while Mary stayed home with Benjamin - and Rachel, Frances, Ellen, and Sarah.
In 1871 William was working as a labourer, and Mary was at home with Ellen and Benjamin, and grandchildren Sarah, Albert, and Emily. They also had 19-year-old daughter Mary staying, who was working as a servant, and a lodger named Daniel Jones.
This article from the South Wales Daily News (25/02/1878) possibly refers to Benjamin, recording that he was discharged from the Pontypool petty sessions for sleeping in a hayloft near Cwmbran with Anne Trotter and Henry Davis, a soldier of the 61st Regiment.
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