Hello Jan and all
May I suggest an answer to a number of "where is" and "how far"
questions is
to look on Multimap
http://uk5.multimap.com/map/places.cgi . There is also
a site at
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/ but I have not used it much.
The 1:50,000 scale on multimap shows contour lines and gives a good
impression of the valleys and ridges in between.
Abercarn is in the same valley as Risca, a few miles upriver. Risca and
Machen are on opposite sides of a ridge, in parallel valleys. There is a
rather steep narrow road up and over the hill from Risca to Lower Machen. I
don't know exactly where the parish boundaries were at the time, but someone
more local or with an old map should be able to find this. The upland
parishes in South Wales dated from a scarcely-populated agicultural era
before the industrial revolution brought huge workforces in to the pits,
iron works, railways etc. It took rather a long time for Victorian churchmen
to realise that extra parishes needed to be created in the densely-populated
ribbon settlements that grew up along the valley floors.
I hope this helps.
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: markandjanboyes <markandjanboyes(a)ntlworld.com>
To: <MONMOUTHSHIRE-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 8:22 PM
Subject: [Mon] Questions about Abercarne
Hi Everyone,
I have a few questions about Abercarne, Monmouthshire, which I am hoping
SKS will
be able to help me with.
One of my Ancestors, Mary Ann ELMS married at Abercarne, I have her
marriage Certificate.
1/ On the certificate, Abercarne is spelt as I have written it, but
I am
wondering whether the correct spelling should have the e knocked off?
Also, my Ancestor was supposed to have been living at Lower
Machen/Risca
area not Abercarne! But it is stated that her & the Groom (
William HURN)
were residents at Abercarne at time of marriage.
2/ The marriage took place in 1864, how long would they have had to
live
there to be able to marry in that parish?
3/ How far is it from Risca to Abercarne?
4/ I have "lost" the bride's Father (Francis ELMS, MY 3XG Grandfather)
from the years 1853 to 1870. He lived at Lower Machen in 1853, the 1861
Census details have been lost for that area, so don't know where he lived in
1861. He turned up in 1871 at Risca. I suppose it is possible that he was
at Abercarne in 1861. Does anyone know whether the 1861 Census for
Abercarne survived? If so, which Record Office would they be kept in?
5/ Is anyone looking at Abercarne 1861 Census in the near future?
I
would be grateful if anyone could keep an eye open for any ELMS names, or
variations of it like NELMS, NELMES.
Still looking for 2nd Marriage of Francis ELMS/NELMS to someone
called
Ann.
The marriage would have taken place sometime between 1851 - 1873.
Maybe Francis & Ann's marriage took place at Abercarne?
Who knows?? That is just one of lifes little mysteries designed to make
us
Genealogists pull our hair out in frustration!! :-)
Thanks everyone for taking the time to read this!
Best wishes,
Jan
>From Cleveland, UK
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