Elizabeth Mabe was born on 22^nd July 1844 in Narberth, Pembrokeshire. She came from a long line of butchers and regularly drove her pony and trap to Tenby Market to sell meat and produce. Her mother came from a family of textile workers and glove makers and the family was regarded as prosperous. Elizabeth employed a housekeeper and staff on her smallholding.

Elizabeth lived with her grandmother, Jane Mabe, before her marriage to Charles Cadogan, a stonemason, on 3^rd September 1865. They later lived at Trogan house, Templeton, reportedly painted ‘Ox blood Pink’; moving in 1885 to Redcliff House. However, in spite of her relative prosperity, Elizabeth’s life was often challenging.

Elizabeth gave birth to eleven children; three of whom (Isaac, Owen and Edward) died in infancy and one daughter (Agnes) who tragically died when her dress caught fire. It is thought that while the housekeeper was hanging out the washing, Agnes intercepted her younger sibling who was crawling too close to the fireplace. However, in doing so, her own clothing set alight and she died from her burns. She was just six years old.

In 1909, Charles Cadogan suddenly died and Elizabeth was left a widow. The Pembrokeshire Herald & General Advertiser reported on 18^th June 1909:

‘The sad affair occurred (at) about 10 o’ clock. Being told that their cattle had gone astray, Cadogan and his wife went to fetch them back. He proceeded in one direction & she in another…Mrs. Cadogan went in search of her husband and found him lying on the ground unconscious. He died shortly afterwards’.

In another account from June 1909, we find Elizabeth’s own description of the events. ‘The Welshman’ reports:

‘I called to him and could not see him. I went to look for him. I heard a groan and went to where the sound was and I found him on his face. He was not dead and spoke to me…Miss Griffiths came. She helped me to lift him up, when he died in my arms…’

In her husband’s will, Elizabeth Cadogan was left with ‘…all personal property…household furniture, books etc. Also horse, cows, trap and harness…’ However, by October 1909, The Pembroke county Guardian and Cardigan Reporter was advertising the ‘Clear out sale of stock, hay, etc., property of Mrs. Cadogan’. Elizabeth Cadogan died on 14^th April 1916.

Ganed Elizabeth Mabe ar 22 Gorffennaf 1844 yn Arberth, Sir Benfro. Daeth o linell hir o gigyddion a gyrrai ei cheffyl a’i chart yn rheolaidd i Farchnad Dinbych-y-pysgod i werthu cig a chynnyrch. Deuai ei mam o deulu o weithwyr tecstilau a gwneuthurwyr menig ac ystyriwyd bod y teulu yn un llewyrchus. Cyflogai Elizabeth wraig-cadw-tŷ a staff ar ei thyddyn bychan.

Roedd Elizabeth yn byw gyda’i mam-gu, Jane Mabe, cyn iddi briodi Charles Cadogan, saer maen, ar 3 Medi 1865. Yn ddiweddarach, buont yn byw yn nhy Trogan, Tredeml, a dywedwyd bod y ty wedi ei beintio o liw ‘Pinc fel Gwaed Ychen’; ac yna ym 1885 symudont i fyw yn Redcliff House. Serch hynny, er gwaethaf y ffaith yr ymddangosai ei bywyd yn un llewyrchus, roedd bywyd Elizabeth yn aml yn heriol.

Ganed iddi un ar ddeg o blant; bu farw tri ohonynt (Isaac, Owen ac Edward) yn fabanod a bu farw un ferch (Agnes) mewn amgylchiadau trasig pan aeth ei ffrog ar dân. Credir bod y wraig-cadw-tŷ yn rhoi’r dillad ar y lein, a bod Agnes wedi camu i lwybr ei brawd neu chwaer fach a oedd yn cropian yn rhy agos i’r lle tân. Ond, wrth wneud hynny, cydiodd ei dillad a bu farw o’i llosgiadau. Roedd yn chwe blwydd oed.

Yn 1909, bu farw Charles Cadogan yn sydyn a gadawyd Elizabeth yw weddw. Mewn adroddiad yn y Pembrokeshire Herald & General Advertiser ar 18 Mehefin 1909 cafwyd yr adroddiad canlynol:

‘The sad affair occurred (at) about 10 o’ clock. Being told that their cattle had gone astray, Cadogan and his wife went to fetch them back. He proceeded in one direction & she in another…Mrs. Cadogan went in search of her husband and found him lying on the ground unconscious. He died shortly afterwards’.

Mewn cyfrif arall o fis Mehefin 1909, cawn ddarlun o’r hyn a ddigwyddodd yng ngeiriau Elizabeth ei hun. Yn ‘The Welshman’ ceir yr adroddiad canlynol:

‘I called to him and could not see him. I went to look for him. I heard a groan and went to where the sound was and I found him on his face. He was not dead and spoke to me…Miss Griffiths came. She helped me to lift him up, when he died in my arms…’

Yn ewyllys ei gwr gadawyd i Elizabeth Cadogan ”’yr holl eiddo personol…dodrefn yr aelwyd, llyfrau ayb. Hefyd, ceffyl, gwartheg, cart a ffrwynau…’ Fodd bynnag, erbyn mis Hydref 1909, roedd hysbyseb yn y Pembroke County and Cardigan Reporter ar gyfer yr hyn a nodwyd fel Clear out sale of stock, hay, etc., property of Mrs. Cadogan’. Bu farw Elizabeth Cadogan ar 14 Ebrill 1916.