Murder Stones and Sweet F.A.

Sweet F.A.!  That’s grabbed your attention!  We will find out the origins of this statement which is commonly used today!

After reading last months article, Talking Stones, Heather Davies, from Mumbles, contacted me.  Whilst researching her family history and visiting St. Catwg’s Church, Cadoxton, Neath, that she photographed this memorial and headstone.

Titanic Memorial,
St. Catwg’s Church, Cadoxton, Neath

The memorial within the church is in memory of Robert William Norman Leyson.  R.M.S. Titanic sank early morning of 15^th April 1912, during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Over 1,500 souls perished, one of whom was 25-year-old Second Class passenger Robert.  Boarding the Titanic at Southampton, Robert had the intention to join his brother, Leyson Thomas in New York.  Who was Robert? 

He was the son of a well-known Swansea/Neath solicitor, Robert Thomas.  Like his father, Robert was a solicitor.  At the time of the 1901 Census, the family were listed as living at Bloomfield, Sketty.  Today, Bloomfield is a residential care home established in 1948.  By the 1911 Census, solicitor Robert, who is boarding in London, has listed his occupation as an engineer. 

Robert’s body was recovered by the MacKay-Bennett.  Many of bodies of the second-class passengers who were recovered were embalmed and wrapped in canvas.  While those third-class passengers and some second class were buried at sea.  In total 116 souls were buried at sea, including Robert.

Murder Stone,
St. Catwg’s Church, Cadoxton, Neath

Within the churchyard is the grave of Margaret Williams.  July 1822, 26-year-old Margaret Williams who hailed from Carmarthenshire was savagely murdered.  She had been employed as maid in a local farm in Cadoxton, falling pregnant she was asked to leave the farm. 

The farmer’s son, Llewellyn Richard, who was thought to be the father of the unborn baby, was arrested on suspicion of murder.  The jury, who were listening to the inquest into the death, could not find enough evidence against Llewellyn.  He was then released.  Shortly afterwards, Llewellyn, made it to Swansea and left on cargo boat for America for a new life.

A year after the murder, the headstone was erected and bears the inscription of Alton born Quaker, Elijah Waring.  The quite chilling and moving inscriptions reads

“1823.  To record. MURDER.  This stone was erected over the body of MARGARET WILLIAMS. Aged 26.  A Native of Carmarthenshire.  Living in Service in this Parish. Who was found dead with marks of violence on her person in a ditch on the marsh below this churchyard. On the morning of Sunday the Fourteenth of July 1823.  Although the SAVAGE MURDERER. Escape for a season the detection of man yet God hath set his mark upon him either for time or eternity and the cry of blood will assuredly pursue him to certain and terrible but righteous JUGDGEMENT”

Elijah Waring

Elijah Waring, who settled first in Swansea established the short lived The Cambrian Visitor: a Monthly Miscellany. 

After Swansea, he settled in Neath.  His daughter, Anna Laetitia Waring, was a well-known hymn writer.   This stone well visited today is one of the last Murders Stones located in Wales. 

1867, 8-year-old Fanny Adams, was brutally “murdered” at the hands of solicitor’s clerk, Frederick Baker in Alton.  The murder caused national outcry.  Baker was tried and found guilty.  He was publicly hanged at Winchester Goal, 1867.  Fanny is buried at Alton Cemetery, and her grave is marked by a Murder Stone.

Fanny Adams Headstone,
Alton Cemetery

The phrase Sweet F.A.  was not censored, at the time known as bowdlerisation, derived from Thomas Bowdler. 

Thomas Bowdler, the English doctor who was best known for publishing The Family Shakespeare, 1818.  It is this work, where he edited Shakespeare's plays. to remove any material that was deemed too racy, blasphemous, or otherwise to sensitive for young or females reader.

Royal Navy seamen in 1869 used this this phrase, as they were unimpressed by the introduction of the new ration tinned mutton, reference to the brutal murder of Fanny. Sadly Sweet F.A. is also used today and know what that means!

Thomas Bowdler Headstone
All Saints Churchyard,
Oystermouth, Mumbles