Dear Ann,
I can't see any relevant entries searching for John Thomas [within 10 words of]
Liverpool in the National LIbrary or John AND Thomas AND Liverpool on Gwynedd Archives
website but recommend you have a look yourself.
Liverpool University Library is worth contacting as there may be records including MA
theses on Liverpool Welsh (I remember there is at least one MA thesis with letters from
the USA to all over Wales, for example, not relevant to you but an example of what might
be available).
Liverpool Central Library has an archive and they might at least be able to indicate
whether they have John Thomas on a card index.
There seem to have been a couple of John Thomas in Liverpool in the late 19th century -
one a congregational minister, one a photographer at Cambrian Galleries.
There is a book Liverpool Welsh or Liverpool Welsh Methodists, I think. I am sure many
others.
Parishes bordering Porth Neigwl are (from West to East) Llanfaelrhys, Rhiw, Llandegwnning,
Llanengan. It is interesting to note the use of this name in one child, isn't it?
It may be worth looking at National Library wills for these parishes for men dying 1830 to
1858 called [forename or surname] Thomas just in case one mentions a John Thomas at sea.
It may be worthwhile looking at these parish registers BUT in 1820 there was a very active
religious revival meaning families might have allegiance to any one of a number of chapels
including quite distant from their homes (Pen Lon, Pwllheli, I remember, has baptism
entries from all the surrounds as far as Aberdaron). So just checking PRs will not be
exhaustive.
If you have a definite date of birth from the register ticket (depending how sceptical you
are about the date and place) you could feasibly check all PRs and chapels for 1-4 weeks
after and build up a list of possibilities - it would be interesting to know how many
would end up on such a list (maybe many 10s of names). Of course, children were baptised
later sometimes, and some records will be incomplete or missing.
Hm don't know how to help otherwise. It might be that he remains a bit of a mystery.
At least you have a general place - Pwllheli and Porth Neigwl. That's more than
some!
Yours,
Ian
Hi Ian, many thanks for your reply. It was with the help of
Reg.Davies
that I found John Thomas's career at sea. His register ticket gives his
date and place of birth and place of residence whilst on land.
In 1865 he is "married" and their first child is born at sea on route to
Shanghai from Australia (apparently) I have a copy of the child's baptism
in Shanghai. He is named as John Marion Thomas after the ship Marion on
which he was born. 1867 the second child is born en route from New York to
Liverpool. This one named Thomas Malta Neigwl Thomas - the Malta being
after the ship on which he was born, again I have a copy of the announcement
of his birth. I am told that Neigwl means hells mouth and is a bay
not far from Pwllheli. There is now a hotel named Neigwl nearby. The
third son was born in Liverpool, I have a copy of his birth certificate.
4th son also born Liverpool 1873. 5th son probably born Liverpool,1869,
died 1870,
6th son born c1870, died 1872 liverpool.
There is a family grave in Anfield cemetery and some of the information
has been gained from the MIs and the burial notes of all the people in the
grave.
The 1871 census shows the family in Liverpool, John Thomas being a
licensed vitualler. 1881 he is still in Liverpool as a master mariner with his
wife and two sons. John Thomas died 1888 in Liverpool.
His wife was Elizabeth Anthony Powell, but no marriage found. There is an
entry on free bmd in 1869 but they are not married to each other so
obviously a different couple. They may have married at sea or in Australia,
perhaps we will never know.
I have not found him on any of the other censuses, perhaps he was at sea
somewhere else in the world as he was a cabin boy in 1830 and went on to
become a master mariner.
Thanks again
Ann