Hello there, and greetings from Melbourne Australia.
I have just slipped down from the Clwyd list for a time (which I have been
a member of since about 1995) to try and find some rels of mine who ended
up in Ebbw Vale, Monmouthshire, at or before 1901.
My first cousin twice removed (daughter of my great-uncle George) Price of
Gresford, Denbighshire, born 1870 married William Daniel Thomas (Wrexham
district 1895). She was Florence Sophia Price, then became Florence Sophia
Thomas, dressmaker, working on her own means at home in the 1901 census at
40 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Ebbw Vale. Thomas was shown at Cefn Mawr, Denbighshire
in 1891 (where they met later) aged 16 as a modeller, but in 1901 at Ebbw
Vale is shown as terra cotta maker clay worker, obviously in a local
factory aged 26, and the young couple now have two children: William F. 4
years born Ruabon, Clifford A 3 born Ruabon. Free BMD birth search appears
to show these as William Francis Jun qtr 1896, and Clifford Alvin Sept qtr
1897. William Daniel Thomas was found to be the son of a Baptist minister,
Thomas Thomas, who was born Pyle, Glamorganshire circa 1840. William Daniel
Thomas was born at Whitchurch, Glam circa 1875. Can't see Pyle on the BIG
AA book of Great Britain, nor Whitchurch, Glam. Not very kind of them, is it?
Problem. No microfilms available through the LDS folk are shown for Cefn
Mawr Baptist chapel after 1860s, nor non-conformist regs of Ebbw Vale after
1880s, nor the parish church of Ebbw Vale. So, not knowing whether the
children (or the parents for that matter) were worshipping at either a
Baptist Chapel or an Anglican Church (Florence was brought up Anglican) I
am sort of stuck at the present time.
Just wondering if anyone has any connections with Ebbw Vale and more
importantly with any registers, monumental inscriptions, etc. who might be
able to help. Fascinating that the steel from Ebbw Vale was used to build
the Sydney Harbour Bridge here in Oz. Also see that there is an Ebbw Vale
town in Queensland. Lots of exporting done from Ebbw Vale, not only solid
goods but people as well!! Anyway, very good to see that most of the
greenery of Ebbw Vale has been put back again after the closure of the
mines, etc. That must surely be a very pleasant sight.
Cherrio and good luck to all in your searchings for 2006
Graham
Melbourne
Australia