History :: Sker House - The Maids Sker - Martha Howells (b.1771)

The couple returned and set up home at Newton, where a furious Morgan refused to have anything more to do with his errant daughter, perhaps hoping that a few weeks as a labourer's wife would "bring her to her senses".

Martha, however, had all her father's determination, and steadfastly settled down to her new life, keeping home for her husband and in due course raising their children. There is a story passed down in their family that relates to this period that reflects her determination to succeed in this new life. Perpetually short of money, the day came when from amongst her belongings she pulled out a riding habit - probably the one she had worn during that madcap flight to Bath.

It had been part of her former life as a young lady of breeding with servants at her beck and call, but had no place in the life of a labourer's wife, so she cut it up to make new clothes for her children.

Martha's uncomplaining steadfastness in her altered circumstances did not go unnoticed in the village, which numbered amongst its inhabitants a certain Betsy Burnell. A woman well regarded for her wisdom and natural common-sense she hatched a plot to try and forge a bridge across the widening gulf between Martha and her parents.

A devout methodist, Morgan was in the habit of allowing their itinerant preachers the use of the great hall at Sker in which to conduct meetings. Betsy waited until a particularly well known preacher was due to speak at one of these gatherings and managed to persuade Martha to accompany her to her him.

The hall was packed, but as Morgan was about to take his accustomed seat at the head of the congregation, he spotted that his daughter was amongst them. His face turned purple with rage that she should have dared to re-enter the doors of her former home, and he stormed out of the room.

Minutes later the congregation - most of whom were probably fully aware of the situation - were startled to hear a shot from the back of the house. More minutes passed, and then Morgan returned and resumed his seat in a stone-faced silence. Later he was to admit that his temper had so got the better of him, that he had fired his shotgun into the air as a way of regaining his self-control!

The service started and in due course the preacher began his sermon.

He was good - very good and it wasn't long before Betsy noticed a softening of old Morgan's stony features, and a tear or two as he, like the rest of the congregation, was moved by the power of the speaker's eloquence.

Once the service was over, Betsy made a beeline for Morgan and his wife and, reading between the lines, probably gave them "a piece of her mind". How could they dare to call themselves Christians when they lived in luxury in this great mansion, whilst their own daughter and their own grandchldren left to eke out an existence simply because of their stiff-necked pride? There was probably more - but that would be assumed what would have been the gist of it!

Morgan and his wife turned away without a word, and Betsy's shoulders slumped. Her plan had failed, and far from bringing daughter and parents back together, she feared that her meddling had now only gone and made matters worse. Martha returned home to her humble cottage and her family.

The following morning she had a caller, a mysterious stranger who, without a word, handed her a large parcel of clothing and left as suddenly as he had arrived. A day or two latter, men were seen driving a cow and 20 sheep through the village to the door of her home, and this time there was a note to say that the livestock and clothing were gifts from her parents.

The long bitter feud was over! The breach was healed and if old Lena's failing memory was correct the day dawned when Martha and her husband did indeed set foot inside the family home with Morgan's blessing.

Lena recalled that she and a gang of workers were gleaning in a field there called Buarth Mawr, and recalled how they all set up a great shout of welcome "this being her first visit to Sker since her marriage".

William and Martha lived to a ripe old age and lie buried in the churchyard at Newton where the memorial erected over their grave can still be seen today. In all they had seven children, of whom six grew to adulthood. Their descendants living in the area today still remembering and treasuring the story of their romance.