Hi all,
I have hit a brick wall with this couple and I don't know what to try next.
At least three generations of my husband's family were born and/or buried at
Llandrillo yn Edeyrnion and I've used the parish registers and MIs, working
backwards from their granddaughter Ellen THOMAS, to fill in details.
Ellen married 1. Walter SIMON and 2. Thomas PARRY. Ellen is buried at
Llandrillo: In memory of / ELLEN PARRY / Vedw Las Farm / Bontuchel, Ruthin /
who died Dec 20th 1906 / aged 61 years / Also of her sons / WALTER MAURICE
SIMON / who died at San Francisco / June 13th 1896 / Aged 28 / FREDERICK
ALBERT SIMON / who died at Pittsburg [sic] / March 19th 1907 aged 27 / Rest
in Peace / ROBERT OWEN SIMON / who died at Watford / June 5th 1939 aged 64
years.
Ellen's parents were Maurice (or Morris) THOMAS and Ellen (Elinor) JONES,
also buried at Llandrillo: In Affectionate Remembrance / of / ELLEN THOMAS /
The Beloved Wife of MAURICE THOMAS / Bontuchel, Ruthin / who departed this
life / August 26th 1881 / Aged 79 years / Also / In Loving memory of /
MAURICE THOMAS / Her beloved Husband who Died / 22 September 1888 in his /
72 Year of Age.
By working through the parish registers I found what I believe to be Ellen's
christening on 15 August 1802, daughter of John JONES and Mary WILLIAMS.
There were several other Elinor/Ellen JONESes but I was able to elminate
them by their corresponding burials. I also found several siblings for Ellen
(William, Cathrine, Arthur and Robert) and her parents' marriage on 8
February 1800. Going back to the MIs I found that John and Mary are buried
in the plot next to their daughter Ellen (could have saved myself a bit of
time there if I'd looked at the surrounding stones!): To the Memory / of
MARY JONES / The wife of JOHN JONES Turner / She died September 14th / 1843
Aged 78 / Also in Memory of JOHN JONES her husband / who departed / This
Life 16 Day of March 1851 / in his 78 year / Arthur Jones 1805 / Robert
Jones 1808.
So far so good. Then it all goes pear-shaped. I searched the parish
registers for a baptism for John Jones:
1772: None
1773: April 15, John JONES, son of Evan & Catherine, Tu yn Nant.
1773: November 8, John [JONES], base born son of Robert JONES & Cathrin
William David.
1774: October 16, John JONES, son of William and Marry, Llan.
1775: February 26, John JONES, son of David & Catherine, G(arthiaen).
There were no corresponding burials for any of these, so I can't rule out
any of them. My problem is: how can I sort out which one of these Johns is
my John? Could the fact that three of John's children were named Robert,
Cathrine and William indicate that the base-born boy might be ours? I know
little of Welsh naming patterns apart from my struggles with the patronymic
thing. Or maybe someone can eliminate a John or two because they know what
happened to them. The marriage entry said John and Mary were both of this
parish, but I can't find a baptism for Mary either.
Sorry this is so long-winded, but I thought including the MIs might be
helpful.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Loretta,
Melbourne, Aus.