With the arrival of additional certificates today, more questions
have come up about Henry Pitt MEREDITH. Instead of helping to solve the
puzzle, the certificates have enlarged the puzzle!
He was christened in 1825 in Clodock, Herefordshire, the same day
as two other siblings.
The 1841 census shows him at Clyro, Radnorshire, Wales, with his
parents James MEREDITH and Elizabeth (PITT) MEREDITH.
When 1851 census was taken he was at residence of an emigration
agent in Liverpool, England, shortly before sailing to the United States.
In the United States he married, had children, and appeared on the 1860
census in California in a gold rush area. After the death of his first
wife, he and the children returned to the British Isles.
On 12 January 1869 at Hay, Breconshire, widowed gent Henry
MEREDITH of Cusop (Herefordshire) married Ann HAMER of Hay (Breconshire),
spinster and daughter of William HAMER, a laborer.
Have searched unsuccessfully for this couple and Henry's children
on the 1871 census. Nor could I find Ann HAMER and her father on earlier
census records.
When I found Henry MEREDITH on the 1881 census in Abergavenny,
Monmouthshire, it seemed all was well, until today.
Henry was a retired goldminer, born in Clodock, Herefordshire.
His wife Ann was born in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.
Son William, age 19, was born in America
Daughter Elizabeth, 8, born in Abergavenny
Son Frederick, 2, born in Abergavenny
Birth certificates that came today appear to show Henry's second
wife Ann HAMER died and he married a third wife, also named Ann. What do
you think?
Birth certificates for Elizabeth Ann MEREDITH, born 8 April 1873
in Abergavenny (father Henry MEREDITH a proprietor of funds--whatever
that means) and Frederick George MEREDITH, born 10 January 1879 in
Abergavenny (father Henry MEREDITH a yeoman) BOTH show their mother as
Ann Meredith, formerly EVANS.
In checking the free BMD a marriage is shown for a Henry MEREDITH
and an Ann EVANS in June 1872 quarter in Abergavenny district. Now it
definitely appears Ann EVANS was the third wife of Henry Pitt MEREDITH.
So what happened to his second wife Ann HAMER? Cannot find a possible
death for Ann (HAMER) MEREDITH.
On the 1891 census, death certificate for Henry Pitt MEREDITH in
1894, death certificate for Frederick George MEREDITH in 1896, and death
certificate for Ann MEREDITH in 1910, Henry Pitt MEREDITH is shown as "of
independent means".
Ruth Ann in the USA