Thanks Reg
I am at the stage where I am having to consider patronymics and surnames in
my search for ancestors and I am finding it very difficult. I have been
searching for the baptism for one individual for well over 20 years.
In various censuses he indicates that he was born in Monmouthshire, and that
would have been in the 1780s, and although I have found various parishes
where the surname CHRISTOPHER existed then I cannot find a baptism for
Richard. There is only one of these parishes where the relevant records
have not survived for the years I require. (Redwick, Mon)
I am quite daunted at the prospect of having to search the parish records of
Monmouthshire for a father with the christian name of Christopher who
baptised a son Richard in the 1780s. It's one thing to search for a
surname - but I suppose it is a less common christian name. There aren't
many people with CHRISTOPHER as a surname.
I had thought this was quite late for patronymics, but your example has made
me reconsider this.
Advice would be welcome!
best wishes
Anne
----- Original Message -----
From: "Davies, Dr R." <rd9(a)leicester.ac.uk>
To: <GLAMORGAN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 9:22 AM
Subject: [GLA] Patronymics - Evidence from Trinity House Petitions
Mariners or their families who fell on hard times could petition
Trinity
House for a pension. These documents are held at the Society of
Genealogists, London and survive from 1787 to 1854.
The petitioner concerned had to prove his age and family
relationships if
applying for support for his wife and family. So the petitions are
often
accompanied by supporting evidence in the form of certified entries from
parish registers.
I am transcribing the 830 or so petitions with any Welsh connection
and
below show that the derivation of modern Welsh surnames via the patronymic
naming system can be complex.
A Straight forward example:
Petition of Griffith Davies in 1849. Certificate of baptism at Blaenporth,
CGN:
1779, Griffith a son to David John Griffith xtend May 15.
Not so straight forward example:
Petition of John Davies in 1816. Certificate of baptism at Cadoxton near
Neath,
GLA: John son of John Edwards Abbey was baptised 14 October 1752. NB
Mr John Davies's father took the christian name of his father for his
surname who was called Edward Davies. The subject of this certificate has
assumed the right name of John Davies, (Comment of the incumbent).
Do you like a puzzle?:
Petition of Griffith Davies in 1847. Certificate of baptism at Penbryn
parish, CGN:
John son of Henry Lloyd was baptised Nber 2nd. Griffith son of
John Joshua was baptised the same day.
A letter supporting his case by the vicar of Penbryn, CGN states:
Griffith
Davies is son to John Joshua who was also named as the father of the above
mentioned person. John Joshua was generally called John Josia David
Griffith. There is often in Wales great uncertainty respecting surnames as
persons sometimes assume the christian name of their father, sometimes of
their grandfather as well as the family name for their surnames. Hence
probably arose the discrepancy in the name of the person mentioned in the
certificate.
hwyl / regards
Reg Davies
Indexing Welsh born or Wales resident mariners, a searchable database of
over
22,000 entries can be seen at
www.welshmariners.org.uk
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