In message Hugh Watkins <Jonesraglan(a)aol.com> writes:-
I hate assumptions which often create brickwalls
Just been searching in Liverpool City Archive and among the unfilmed MSS
are two Catholic registers kept in small notebooks and one in a printed
register.
The nineteenth century RC Church was a mission and had no formal
parishes, in fact until after World War I according to the Diocesan
archivist at St Chad's Birmingham
so records could be anywhere
Hugh W
The 'assume' in this case being that 'was John was Roman Catholic?'. Yes
I am aware that the R.C. records did not conform to Parishes at that
time. I thought assumption was the reception of the Virgin Mary into
heaven;) Yes, the records could be anywhere, of course they could.
The Catholic priest who used to travel from Tredegar to Dowlais in about
1845 found the area so unruly that he refused to carry out services
there for about 4 years. He took the 'registers', with him, never to be
seen again to this day. Someone informed the library in Merthyr a few
years ago that they knew whereabouts of these 'registers' but to this
day nothing has been heard. The informant was from Mid/North England.
Even in Anglican and Non-Conformist churches and chapels the registers
do not have to be deposited in their own county. Take for instance
Rhymney. The Parish records (original) are held in County Hall Cwmbran
because Rhymney was originally Monmouthshire. Some non-conformist
registers are held in Glamorgan Records Office and some factions sent to
various depositories around the country, i.e. Baptist, Presbyterian,
Methodist, you name it!
Actually, I hate the word 'brickwall' as there is usually some way to
explain why the families cannot be found even if a little lateral
thinking can be used.
best regards
Barrie
-Visit Gwent FHS at :-
http://www.rootsweb.com/~wlsgfhs/
(comprises, Ebbw Vale, Pontypool, Chepstow, Newport, Abergavenny/Monmouth,
Blackwood.Of interest to anyone who has ancestral connections with the old
county of Monmouthshire.--