Caroline Mary Powell was born on 23^rd February 1841 to Emily and W.R.H. Powell M.P of Maesgwynne, Llanboidy. From an affluent family, where her father was Liberal M.P for Carmarthenshire (having switched allegiance from the Conservatives) Caroline went on to inherit the family property while in her forties. The local press reported at the time: ‘The late Mr. Walter Price Howell Powell, JP and DL (High Sheriff 1849)…has been granted the sole executrix his daughter Miss Caroline Mary Powell to whom he bequeathed all his real and personal property…and its net value, £2,788.17s.10d’.

As a child, Caroline was concerned with the poor living conditions of the labourers in her community. Her father described how ‘no-one takes a deeper interest in the conditions of the labouring classes than does my daughter…’* and, along with her mother and sister, offered them prizes for growing vegetables. She also took part in community events including playing piano at a concert at the local school and later, becoming secretary of Llanboidy Horticultural Show.

Caroline was described as ‘follow(ing) in her father’s footsteps in being dedicated to improving the wellbeing of her community’. She became Honorable Secretary of Llanboidy Agricultural Society, (despite not being allowed to attend their annual dinner because she was a woman) and regularly helped out at Llanboidy School. Her dedication and popularity in the community was rewarded in 1861 when she was elected by a considerable margin onto the school board.

Caroline’s family legacy saw improved living and working conditions for the people in her community, support for disestablishment of the church and campaigns in support of tenant’s rights. Just seven years after receiving her large family inheritance, she died on 30^th March 1896, aged 55 years. Caroline had contracted scarlet fever after ‘comforting a child suffering from the disease’ and the Carmarthen Journal described her as ‘the little angel’. A poem was written to commemorate her life, describing her as:

‘A lady bred, a lady born was she,

Full of good works and rare humanity,

Where sickness and where poverty were found,
There always did her charity abound…’

Ganed Caroline Mary Powell ar y 23^ain o Chwefror 1841 i Emily a WRH Powell AS o Maesgwynne, Llanboidy. O deulu cefnog, a’i thad yn Aelod Seneddol Rhyddfrydol dros Sir Gaerfyrddin (ar ôl gadael y blaid Geidwadol) aeth Caroline ymlaen i etifeddu eiddo’r teulu tra oedd yn ei phedwardegau. Nodwyd yn y wasg leol ar y pryd: ‘Roedd y diweddar Mr. Walter Price Howell Powell, YH a DL (Uchel Siryf 1849)… wedi enwi ei ferch Miss Caroline Mary Powell yn unig ysgutor ei ewyllys, ac wedi gadael ei holl eiddo real a phersonol iddi… a gwerth net yr eiddo yw £2,788.17s.10d’. 

Fel plentyn, roedd Caroline yn poeni am amodau byw gwael y gweithwyr yn ei chymuned. Yn ôl ei thad ‘nid oes neb yn cymryd diddordeb dyfnach yn amodau’r dosbarthiadau gweithiol nag y mae fy merch…’*, ac ynghyd â’i mam a’i chwaer, roedd wedi cynnig gwobrau iddynt am dyfu llysiau. Roedd hefyd wedi cymryd rhan mewn digwyddiadau cymunedol gan gynnwys chwarae’r piano mewn cyngerdd yn yr ysgol leol, ac yn ddiweddarach, daeth yn ysgrifennydd Sioe Arddwriaethol Llanboidy. 

Disgrifiwyd Caroline fel ‘un oedd yn dilyn ôl troed ei thad wrth ymrwymo i wella lles ei chymuned’. Daeth yn Ysgrifennydd Anrhydeddus Cymdeithas Amaethyddol Llanboidy (er nad oedd yn cael mynd i’w cinio blynyddol oherwydd ei bod yn fenyw) a bu’n cynorthwyo yn gyson yn Ysgol Llanboidy. Cafodd ei hymroddiad a’i phoblogrwydd yn y gymuned ei gydnabod yn 1861 pan gafodd ei hethol o fwyafrif llethol ar fwrdd yr ysgol.

Caiff teulu Caroline ei gofio am wella amodau byw ac amodau gwaith y bobl yn eu cymuned, am gefnogi datgysylltu’r eglwys, ac am ymgyrchu i gefnogi hawliau tenantiaid. Dim ond saith mlynedd ar ôl iddi etifeddu eiddo’r teulu, bu farw ar y 30^ain o Fawrth 1896 yn 55 oed. Roedd Caroline wedi dal y dwymyn goch ar ôl ‘cysuro plentyn oedd yn dioddef o’r clefyd’ a disgrifiodd y Carmarthen Journal hi fel ‘angel fach’. Ysgrifennwyd cerdd i goffáu ei bywyd, gan ei disgrifio fel:

‘ A lady bred, a lady born was she,

Full of good works and rare humanity

Where sickness and where poverty were found,
There always did her charity abound … ‘