THE DANCE FAMILY OF THE WYE VALLEY

James Dance was baptised by Thomas and Catherine at Ganarew in 1806. He married Drusilla Price (born 1810) from Shropshire at Monmouth in 1831. They had six children, James 1832, John 1834, Mary 1839, Jane 1843, Agnes 1848 and Elizabeth 1849. The first five were born at Monmouth and Elizabeth at Welsh Newton.

In 1841 James was recorded as a farm labourer living next door to his brother Joseph at Monmouth. Their homes were described on the census as being in "that part of Over Monmow which lies to the West of the turnpike road from Rockfield to Mitchel Troy."  (To find that area today - you would walk to the end of Monmouth's 

main shopping area and cross the old medieval Monnow bridge.)

It appears that all his children except for Elizabeth were born there.

By 1849 James was back at Welsh Newton as a farmer of a modest 5 acres, and may have also worked with his brothers at St Wulstans Farm.  He remained at Welsh Newton till his death in 1881.

Monnow Bridge, Monmouth

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His other son John (1834) also a blacksmith, married Elizabeth Ann Gandy at Liverpool in 1864. She was born at Widness in 1848.

They settled at Carnforth, Lancashire and had  twelve children. 

Son William Dance (1871) married Morecambe girl Agnes Armistead (1868) in 1892 had a printing business and settled in the Morecambe area.

John's daughter Drusilla Dance (1867) married Thomas Haydon (1867) from Widnes, Elizabeth Alice Dance (1869) married Lancaster born John Hodgson (1870) at Lancaster in 1893 and had seven children. Mary Dance (1876-1953) married William Hardacre (1875) from Blackburn, Lucy (1883) married Robert Sanderson, Jane (1886) married David Andrews, James Dance (1888) married Blanche Mason (1888) and Lavinia (1894) John Winskill.