At the 1881 census she was shown as a dressmaker, at the age of 16. She was invited to America by her great uncle David Thomas, the iron-master, and in 1880 sailed from Liverpool in the liner Arizona, apparently on her own, because she was asked to wear a daffodil to be easily recognised. (The Arizona had been launched the previous year, and had hit an iceberg in that year, stoving-in the bow section - the fact that it did not sink added weight at the time to the belief that modern liners were unsinkable, and apparently contributed to undue confidence in the safety of the Titanic, years later) She lived for five years in Pennsylvania, where she qualified as a teacher at the Millersville State Teachers' Training College. She was present at the bedside when David Thomas died in May 1882, and attended his funeral as the only mourner from Wales, after which she returned to Bryncoch.
By the 1901 census, Gam seemed to have lost Len at least temporarily, as she is recorded once more as a widow (as if from the first marriage?, but the census names her as Hannah Westward). The son Len is not shown on this list.
Upon her death, she had willed that the family house, Pant-awel, went to one Olive, who looked after her latterly. I think her name was Harris - the probate was given VERY QUICKLY (12 June) to one James Harris (and the solicitor). This was a great blow of course to her natural heirs. Much property was left in the house, Lancelot Barrington being away at sea for much of the time and unable to get involved. This property included a chest of letters and documents. Many years later Lancelot was telephoned by Olive's daughter Rowena, who said she was selling up and leaving to join her daughter in Greece, and did we want the chest back? My mother unfortunately declined this offer unbeknown to Dad, and this valuable correspondence was presumably thrown out.