Dear list,
I hope that no one minds me disagreeing with the statement below that Griffith was
William's middle name. It wouldn't be the first time that a child is on record as
having a name of, for example a grandparent or great-grandparent. In other words, of
patronymics "skipping a generation".
For examples see back issues of "Gwynedd Roots" and also the Pen Lon Chapel
registers contain numerous examples.
Very few people had middle names in Wales at this time and almost all of those from the
middle and gentry classes. There were exceptions though in the "lower orders"
if you'll pardon my jocular use of that phrase - my own gt gt grandmother was Jane
Goodman before marriage and Jane Goodman Jones after her marriage to Evan Solomon Jones.
Not quite the same but similar. Use of 3 or more stem patronymics also means that the
working man or yeoman might appear to have a middle name (but in fact, of course it is
anything but - actually more a surname).
Equally, the numerous male children of a New York methodist, James Owen (see
Rhiw.com for
some background) all carried the middle initial "J". The adoption of a middle
name evidently commoner in the USA than in Wales at this time. They were however only
baptised with one name. The "J" in each case, I can only assume, stands for
"James" in the true patronymic fashion. Obadiah James Owen, Nehemiah James Owen
&c &c.
So for a father of John Williams, blacksmith, one need look no further than a William
Griffith(s), I would think. Now which one of the hundreds I don't know but I am sure
a diligent search would put the matter straight - one though, like yourself, I am not able
to carry out!
Yours,
Ian
London SW9> From: wls-gwynedd-request(a)rootsweb.com> Subject: WLS-GWYNEDD Digest, Vol
2, Issue 24> To: wls-gwynedd(a)rootsweb.com> Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2007 01:04:34 -0600>
> > > Today's Topics:> > 1. Llanfair Juxta Harlech (Geraint L.
Jones)> 2. Re: Llanfair Juxta Harlech (Doreen Jones)> > >
----------------------------------------------------------------------> > Message:
1> Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 16:41:12 +0100> From: "Geraint L. Jones"
<geraintllew(a)yahoo.co.uk>> Subject: [GWYNEDD] Llanfair Juxta Harlech> To:
<WLS-GWYNEDD-L(a)rootsweb.com>> Message-ID:
<002a01c779f4$56663b30$0301a8c0@YOUR74C82E1E6>> Content-Type: text/plain;
format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";> reply-type=original> > For a long
time I have been looking for the baptism of William Jones around> 1810-12, Father John
Williams (Blacksmith) Following a look at the BT's for> Harlech, I found the
following entry.> Bap. William Griffith, son of John Williams Blacksmith and Margaret
Jones> his wife - llanfair 4/8/1810.> It seems too much of a coincidence that this
isn't my William Jones but I> can't quite fathom out the William Griffith bit.
Also, under marriages there> was an entry which again was confusing:> Mar. John
William widower and Margaret Jones, spinster were married by Banns> 6/8/1810.> I am
naturally totally confused.> I was wondering if anyone was visiting the Records Office
at Dolgellau if> they would be prepared to get me a copy of the Parish record entries
for the> above (Not BT's) to see if there were any other details recorded. From
> experience, I> know that sometimes, BT's weren't always recorded
correctly. I would> naturally pay the cost of any expenses plus the cost of copies.>
regards> Geraint> > > > ------------------------------> > Message:
2> Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 15:21:46 -0400> From: "Doreen Jones"
<dd.jones(a)sympatico.ca>> Subject: Re: [GWYNEDD] Llanfair Juxta Harlech> To:
<wls-gwynedd(a)rootsweb.com>> Message-ID:
<002701c77a13$26b434e0$1202a8c0@Doreen>> Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="iso-8859-1"> > Hi Geraint> > Looks to me that
"Griffith" is probably William's middle name not his surname and he
wouldn't be the first child that was born before his parents married.> > Sorry
can't help with a look up. It is a little too far for me to go.> > Doreen>
Hamilton, Canada.> > ------------------------------> > To contact the
WLS-GWYNEDD list administrator, send an email to> WLS-GWYNEDD-admin(a)rootsweb.com.>
> To post a message to the WLS-GWYNEDD mailing list, send an email to
WLS-GWYNEDD(a)rootsweb.com.> >
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with no additional text.> > > End of WLS-GWYNEDD Digest, Vol 2, Issue 24>
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