Samuel Thomas Bund(a)y was born in Abercarn in the Parish of Mynyddislwyn, Monmouthshire on 5th December, 1885.

It appear that he was the only child born to Thomas Bundy and Esther Sudfield. Thomas had died prior to 1891 leaving Esther a ‘farmer’s widow’ living in Merthyr Tydfil with son Samuel. I can find no record of birth or marriage for Thomas and Esther nor a death record for Thomas Bundy.
By 1901, Esther and son Samuel are living at 5 Commercial Street, Nelson with a David Phillips. Esther’s surname is now Phillips, having married David Philips in Merthyr Tydfil in early 1894.

David Phillips was a butcher by trade and he had his own business as such. David came from Pembrokeshire originally, but somehow managed to meet and marry Esther who originally hailed from Dymock, Gloucestershire.

Even at the early age of fifteen, there are records that show that Samuel was a ‘coal miner’, suggesting that times were not so easy even for family business then.

Further information to this is shown on records that the family had a lodger at the address. No doubt Sarah Williams who was from Birmingham and was a ‘hawker’ by trade made some contribution to the family income.

While David was bi-lingual in Welsh and English, he was outnumbered completely by the other three occupants who spoke only English.

By 1911, Esther Phillips had moved a short distance to a six-roomed house at 9 Commercial Street, and at the age of 61 yrs, she was shown as being a butcher, along with her then, 25 year old son, Samuel.

There is no sight of David Phillips at this address because he has gone back to his roots at Moylegrove, Cardigan and is living with his brother John and sister Ann. He is still working as a butcher.

Back at Samuel’s address, a servant Emmelie Eva May Wadley is also living at 9 Commercial Street. She came from Gloucester.

Following Samuel’s death, his effects were given to his mother, Esther, shown as his sole legacy. The sum amounted to £3.