Tynyberth, a small farmhouse in Upper Corris approximately halfway between Penygroes and the Old Factor
‘Ty’ is Welsh for ‘house’ and ‘perth’ for ‘grove’ or ‘bush’. Tynyberth – the house in the grove - is attractive and stands in pleasant grounds. It has fine views across the valley. The 'front' door opens directly onto the lounge; the remaining downstairs rooms consist of what would now be called the dining room, kitchen and larder although these words belie their rather primitive state. The stairs are in the lounge and lead to what were once three bedrooms, one of which is now a simple bathroom. All the upstairs door openings are very low by today's standards.
Tynyberth is still in existence and, judging by its appearance, has been little changed over the years other than for a rendering of pebbledash on the external walls.
1841. The national census held on 7th June 1841 was the first to record the names and other information of individuals. On that day Sarah was aged 89 and her bachelor son David was 63. With them at Tynyberth was thirteen year old David Roberts from Penygroes, Sarah's grandson and the son of Elinor Edward and Richard Roberts. He helped to run the 84 acre farm. Also there at Tynyberth was sixteen year old Sarah Thomas, Sarah's grand-daughter and daughter of Rees Thomas. On the census return she is described as 'domestic servant' and that she was not born in the county of Merionethshire - see next page.
1851. By the time of the 30th March 1851 census, his youngest brother Hugh had replaced David Roberts at Tynyberth. But Sarah Thomas was still there and her youngest sister, sixteen year old Jane, was visiting from Talyllyn. More information was required to be recorded for the 1851 census and Sarah Thomas's birthplace is identified as being Stockport. By 1851 Sarah Thomas was 26 years old. She had therefore been at Tynyberth from childhood to maturity, caring for Sarah Rees during her last years and David Thomas himself was well over seventy by 1851.
Sometime after the 1851 census David Thomas retired from the Tynyberth farm to live in Fron Yw in Dolgellau, where he died on 28th August 1855. Hugh Roberts, who helped him on the farm during the last years, died a year before him on 2nd July 1854.