Buffry & Palmer Family History

Genealogy & documentary research

Buffry · Buffrey · Buffery · Palmer

A family history from the West Midlands to the Forest of Dean and South Wales, following the Buffry / Buffrey / Buffery line and its Palmer and Langley connections in Barry through parish records, marriages, occupations and family recollections.

17th–20th centuries Old Swinford · Newland · Cinderford · Argoed · Barry Compiled by Alun Buffry
Buffry family emblem shown on the original Buffry family-history website
Buffry family emblem “Neither to seek nor despise honour”

Overview

The documented family story moves from the Old Swinford and Pedmore area in the seventeenth century, into Newland and Clearwell in Gloucestershire during the eighteenth century, through the mining community of Cinderford in the nineteenth century, and then into the South Wales coalfield and Barry in the twentieth century.

Core family lines

Buffery / Buffrey / Buffry, with the Palmer and Langley branches joining the direct family in Barry through Vera Langley.

Key places

Old Swinford, Pedmore, Newland, Clearwell, Cinderford, Argoed and Barry.

Research status

The line after the 1624 Old Swinford marriage is substantially stronger than the proposed link back to Halesowen in 1592.

Halesowen / CradleyOld SwinfordNewland / ClearwellCinderfordArgoedBarry

From the original Buffry page

Books, songs & videos

The original page also serves as a personal archive of Alun Buffry’s books, recordings and family videos. Those links are retained here, but grouped so they do not interrupt the genealogy.

Videos from the family archive

Embedded from YouTube

Happy Readers

In Loving Memory

A Short Story of Illness in India, 1972

RIP My Beloved Lesley

Buffry Family Pics

More book readings & poetry on YouTube ↗ Alun Buffry’s YouTube channel ↗ Poetry archive, including audio & songs ↗

The direct ancestral line

This is the principal line presented on the family site, working backwards from Alun Buffry. Earlier proposed generations are separated from the better-supported seventeenth-century line.

Born 1950
Alun Buffry

Born Barry, Glamorgan; son of Stanley Richard Buffry and Vera Langley.

1913–1985
Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry

Born 15 October 1913 at Argoed; later lived in Barry. Married Vera Langley in 1947. Stanley was the son of Sidney Charles Buffry and Margaret “Maggie” Jones; Sidney was the son of Richard Buffrey / Buffry and Emma Parry, and Margaret was the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Jones of Bedwellty. Vera was the daughter of Alfred Langley and Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer of Barry.

1892–1959
Sidney Charles Buffry

Collier. Married Maggie Jones at Libanus Chapel, Blackwood, in 1913.

1850–1925
Richard Buffrey / Buffry

Born Cinderford; collier; married Emma Parry in 1871. The family spelling becomes Buffry in this branch.

Born 1814
Henry Buffrey (2)

Newland / Cinderford; collier; married Hannah Cooper in 1836.

1771–1844
Henry Buffrey (1), “Old Henry”

Labourer of Clearwell and Newland; married Mary Stevens in 1810.

1737–1805
Worgan Buffrey

Born Old Swinford; married Margaret Tyler at Newland in 1765, marking the family’s move into the Forest of Dean area.

Born 1716
Joseph Buffrey

Old Swinford; married Deborah Worgan, whose unusual surname became their son Worgan’s Christian name.

Born c.1670
William Buffrey

Son of John Buffrey and Alice Reid; married Emme Smith at Chaddesley Corbett in 1706.

Born 1647
John Buffrey

Baptised Old Swinford, 4 July 1647; married Alice Reid at Pedmore in 1667/68.

Married 1624
William Buffery & Margery Perks

Married at Old Swinford on 1 May 1624. This is the strongest currently accepted starting point for the continuous direct line.

Earlier generation: William Buffrey baptised at Halesowen on 12 November 1592 is a plausible candidate for the 1624 bridegroom, but the surviving baptism does not name his parents. The older pedigree should therefore be shown as a possible link, not a proven one.

Earlier surname evidence

The surname has a much older West Midlands history. Medieval records from Lower Penn in Staffordshire contain forms such as Buffar, Buffary, Buffor and Buffery, while later records around Halesowen, Cradley and Old Swinford use Buffrey and Buffery.

BuffarBuffaryBufferyBuffreyBuffryBuffer

That continuity of name and geography is important, but it does not by itself prove that the seventeenth-century Old Swinford family descended directly from the medieval Lower Penn landholders.

For the detailed pre‑1600 investigation: see Buffry / Buffrey / Buffery Family Before 1600, which separates documented relationships from plausible but unproved links.

Old Swinford and the eighteenth-century line

The strongest continuous sequence begins with William Buffery’s 1624 marriage and proceeds through Old Swinford and neighbouring Pedmore.

  1. 1 May 1624 — William Buffery and Margery Perks
    Married at Old Swinford. The family page elsewhere uses “Martha Perkes”; the original marriage entry should be checked before treating that alternative as established.
  2. 4 July 1647 — John Buffrey
    Baptised at Old Swinford, son of the William Buffery household; married Alice Reid at Pedmore on 11 January 1667/68.
  3. c.1670 — William Buffrey
    Son of John and Alice; married Emme Smith at Chaddesley Corbett on 12 August 1706.
  4. 3 November 1716 — Joseph Buffrey
    Baptised Old Swinford; married Deborah Worgan, who had family connections with Newland in Gloucestershire.
  5. 1737 — Worgan Buffrey
    Born Old Swinford; married Margaret Tyler at Newland in 1765 and settled into the Forest of Dean area.
Children recorded for William Buffery and Margery / Martha Perks

The family compilation records children in Old Swinford across the 1620s–1640s, including Martha (1627), William (1632), William (1636), Ann (1638), Isabel (1639), Gilbert (1641), Ellyoner (1644) and John (1647). The sequence supports the presence of a long-established household rather than an isolated baptism.

John Buffrey and Alice Reid

Children listed on the family page include William (c.1670), John (1675), Mary (1677), Martha (1680), Margaret (1683) and Joyce (1684), principally associated with Old Swinford.

Joseph Buffrey and Deborah Worgan

Their children are given as Worgan (1737), Matthias (1741), Martha (1743/44), William (1747), Joseph (1750) and Emm (1755). Deborah’s Newland background is significant because their son Worgan later married there.

Newland, Clearwell and Cinderford

By the later eighteenth century the direct line is established in Gloucestershire. Mining and industrial work become prominent in the nineteenth-century records.

Worgan Buffrey

Born 1737 at Old Swinford; married Margaret Tyler by special licence at Newland in 1765; died 1805.

Henry Buffrey (1)

Born 1771; labourer at Clearwell / Newland; married Mary Stevens on 17 November 1810; buried in Newland parish in 1844.

Henry Buffrey (2)

Baptised 25 September 1814 at Newland; collier at Cinderford; married Hannah Cooper on 31 May 1836.

Richard Buffrey / Buffry

Born 16 September 1850; collier at Cinderford; married Emma Parry on 19 September 1871 and adopted the Buffry spelling in this branch.

Children of Worgan Buffrey and Margaret Tyler

The family page identifies Henry Buffrey (born 1771) as the direct ancestor and also records Elizabeth, Joseph, James and Margaret. Joseph married Sarah Guess in 1793; James married Anne Price in 1805. A related Ruspidge branch later became known for the Buffry Family String Band.

Children of Henry Buffrey (2) and Hannah Cooper

The recorded family includes Dinah, Ann, Joseph William, Martha, Mary, Richard, Charlotte and Samuel. Joseph William’s descendants include a Shireoaks / Nottinghamshire branch; Martha later moved to Christchurch, New Zealand. Richard is the direct ancestor followed on this page.

Richard Buffry and Emma Parry’s family

Their children listed on the family site include William Henry, Martha Elizabeth, Matthew Henry, George Ernest, Elizabeth Anne, Frederick James, Walter Parry, Albert Richard, Alice Blanche, Eva Mary, Sidney Charles and Harold Stanley. Sidney Charles continues the direct line into South Wales.

South Wales and Barry

Richard and Emma’s son Sidney Charles Buffry moved into the South Wales mining community. The family is recorded at Argoed and later at Barry.

  1. Sidney Charles Buffry (1892–1959)
    Collier; lived at Greenfield Cwm Argoed and Sunny View, Argoed. Married Maggie Jones at Libanus Chapel, Blackwood, on 26 July 1913.
  2. Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry (1913–1985)
    Born 15 October 1913 at Argoed; later worked for British Railways and BP Plastics in Barry. Married Vera Langley in 1947. Stanley was the son of Sidney Charles Buffry and Margaret “Maggie” Jones; Sidney was the son of Richard Buffrey / Buffry and Emma Parry, while Margaret was the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Jones of Bedwellty. Vera’s parents were Alfred Langley and Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer of Barry.
  3. Alun Buffry (born 1950)
    Born in Barry and compiler of the family-history material on this site.

Family service: Sidney Idwal Buffry (1915–1943), a son of Sidney Charles and Maggie, was killed during the Second World War while serving in the RAF. Another family member, Frederick James Buffrey (1919–1943), served with the Royal Fusiliers and is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial.

For living and potentially living descendants, this redesigned version deliberately avoids old personal email addresses and unnecessary exact dates of birth from the legacy page.

Maternal branches in Barry

Palmer & Langley family trees

These two branches connect to the direct Buffry line through Vera Langley.

Palmer branch

Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer

Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer was Vera Langley’s mother and associates the family with Barry. Bessie married Alfred Langley, the son of William Langely, a travelling showman..

Langley branch

Alfred Langley

Alfred Langley was Vera Langley’s father. Alfred as a son of William Langley. Alfred and Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer were the parents of Vera.

Alfred Langley & Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer Alfred was a son of William Langley after he moved to Barry from Somerset.
Vera Langley (1911–1991) Born 15 November 1911; died in Barry in 1991
Vera Langley & Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry Married in 1947. Stanley was the son of Sidney Charles Buffry and Margaret “Maggie” Jones; Sidney was a son of Richard Buffrey / Buffry and Emma Parry, while Margaret was a daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Jones a coal miner of Bedwellty.
Alun BuffryBorn 1950, Barry
Gwyneth BuffryBorn 1953; married and divored (twice) Philip Playle; 3 daughters Suzanne, Kathrin and Michelle.

Langley · Palmer · Buffry family connection

Langley / Palmer side

William Langley born 1850 in Somerset, married Mary Ann Snelling Father of Alfred Langley
Alfred Langley born 1881 in Somerset× Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer born 1883 in Somerset Of Barry · parents of Vera Langley, William (married Lorna) daughter Pam Hill, Elaine, Phyllis, Doris (married Charle Orpin, daugher Anne) and Sarah (Sal)(married Sidnet Crum, two adopted children, Victor and Anne.)
Vera Langley Born 15 November 1911 · died 1991, Barry Daughter of Alfred Langley and Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer · married Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry in 1947.

Buffry / Jones side

Richard Buffrey / Buffry× Emma Parry Richard: born 16 September 1850, Cinderford · died 30 December 1925 Emma: born 14 August 1853, Berry Hill, Gloucestershire · died 6 June 1927. Married 19 September 1871 at St John’s, Cinderford, East Dean.
Sidney Charles Buffry × Margaret “Maggie” Jones Sidney: born 20 July 1892, Cinderford · died 22 February 1959, Coal Miner, Argoed, Monmouthshire, Wales Maggie: born 12 December 1892, Bedwellty, Monmouthshire · died 27 May 1972. Daughter of Richard Jones (born 1858, Bedwellty), a colliery overman, and Elizabeth Jones (born 1860, Bedwellty). Married 26 July 1913 at Libanus Chapel, Blackwood. Sidney was a collier and lived at Greenfield Cwm Argoed and 1 Sunny View, Argoed, Bedwellty.
Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry Born 15 October 1913, Argoed · died 1985, Barry Worked for British Railways and BP Plastics; associated with Dock View Road renamed St Mary’s Avenue, Broad Street and High Street, Barry.
Vera Langley × Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry · married 1947
Alun Buffry Born· Barry
Gwyneth Buffry Born Barry · later married and divorced Philip Playle, twice

Descendants of Gwyneth Buffry

Suzanne born Barry · married Jaime Carran
Josie Molly Carran · CardiffOlivia Carran · born Cardiff
Kathrin Playle Stevens × Andrew Stevens Kathrin born September · married October 2001
Brandon · BarryCamron · born Barry
Michelle born, Barry · partner Chris Hilberg
Tayla · BarryKai Christopher · born Barry

The compact tree now carries the Langley ancestry, Stanley Richard Buffry’s parentage, and Gwyneth Buffry’s three daughter branches.

Details retained from the legacy Palmer / Langley entry
  • William Langley, a travelling showman, was Alfred Langley’s father.
  • Alfred Langley and Bessie Ellen Louise Palmer/a> are recorded as being of Barry and as the parents of Vera Langley..
  • Vera Langley was born 15 November 1911 and died in Barry in 1991. She married Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry in 1947.
  • Richard Buffrey / Buffry was born 16 September 1850 at Cinderford and died 30 December 1925. Emma Parry was born 14 August 1852 at Berry Hill, Gloucestershire, and died 6 June 1927. They married on 19 September 1871 at St John’s, Cinderford, East Dean.
  • Their son Sidney Charles Buffry was born 20 July 1892 and died 22 February 1959. A collier, he lived at Greenfield Cwm Argoed and 1 Sunny View, Argoed, Bedwellty. He married Margaret “Maggie” Jones at Libanus Chapel, Blackwood, on 26 July 1913.
  • Maggie Jones was born 12 December 1892 in Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, and died 27 May 1972. Her parents were Richard Jones (born 1858, Bedwellty), a colliery overman, and Elizabeth Jones (born 1860, Bedwellty).
  • Stanley Richard “Jim” Buffry was born at Argoed on 15 October 1913 and died in Barry in 1985. He later worked for British Railways and BP Plastics in Barry.
  • Suzanne Playle was born in Barry and married Jaime Carran. Their daughters are Josie Molly Carran, born 1998 in Cardiff, and Olivia Carran, born 2002 in Cardiff..
  • Kathrin Playle was born in Barry and married Andrew Stevens in October 2001. Their sons are Brandon, born 2003 in Barry, and Camron, born 2004 in Barry.
  • Michelle Playle was born in Barry and is recorded here, following the family correction, as the partner of Chris Hilberg. Their children are Tayla, born 2003 in Barry, and Kai Christopher, born 2012 in Barry.

Collateral branches and family notes

The original page contains a large number of side branches. They are easier to navigate when grouped by family rather than presented as one continuous list.

Samuel Buffrey and Rhoda Woodhouse

Samuel Buffrey, a son in the Cinderford family, married Rhoda Woodhouse. Their descendants include Mary Ann, Rose Hannah, Samuel, James, Joseph William, Enid Maria, Arthur, Mary Alice and Ralph Ernest. The page also records several later Cinderford and Gloucestershire families descended from this branch.

Joseph William Buffrey — Shireoaks branch

Joseph William Buffrey married Elizabeth Shingler in 1865 and moved to Shireoaks. Their descendants include Samuel Buffrey, who married Rose Humphries, and a later Nottinghamshire line.

Ruspidge / Buffry Family String Band

A James Buffry of the Ruspidge branch married Alice Morgan. Their children included Eva Alice, Edwin, Albert, Arthur, Charles, Frederick, Maud and Cyril; together the family became associated with the Buffry Family String Band.

Sidney Charles and Maggie Buffry’s other children

Besides Stanley Richard, the family page records Sidney Idwal, Rachel Emma (married Frank), Delysia Margaret (married Haydon Godwin, one son Nigel)), Cyril (married Margaret), Islwyn Charles (married Iris, one son Stephen), Sheila Parry (married Kenneth Williams, son Gareth, daughter Sian) and Maurice Arthur.

Research cautions and points to verify

A cleaner layout should make uncertainty more visible, not hide it. Several entries on the legacy page deserve checking against the original record images.

IssueWhat the page currently saysSuggested treatment
William’s wife in 1624Both Martha Perkes and Margery Perks appear.Check register Prefer Margery as the quoted marriage transcription, with Martha noted as an alternative secondary reading.
1592 William’s parentsThe older pedigree assigns him to William Buffrey and Ciceley Hawkeshead.Unproved The surviving baptism names no parents; Thomas Buffrey and Margery Underhill are another plausible household.
Henry Buffrey (2)One part gives death as 1882; another says 1876.Resolve Check civil registration / burial evidence before choosing a year.
Maggie JonesOne summary line appears to place “26 July 1913” after her birth, while the detailed entry gives birth in December 1892 and marriage on 26 July 1913.Likely typo Treat 26 July 1913 as the marriage date, not her birth date.

Best practice: where a parish register, certificate or archival record survives, use the image or authoritative transcription as the final authority and keep family recollections and compiled trees clearly labelled as secondary evidence.