William Williams & Catherine Jones, Blaen Pennal, Cardiganshire, Wales

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Under Construction - - results of research by Hugh Reekie, Ottawa, March 2005

Using the "Free BMD" web pages now available [although not complete, this enormous database, created by volunteers since 2003, is heavily used; we accessed after midnight UK time - helpful with getting through], we found the marriage in July-Sept 1869 (ref 11b.75 -- 11b means London). The 1881 census, [already reported to me and available to all on line], gives the parents (with transcription errors in birthplaces for both) together with five children, and 2 servants - the Welsh one is Sarah Rees born Aberayes (likely Aberayron) Cardigan, Wales. All at 179 Bow Road (file 1341104 Ref RG11 folio 0488/23 page 40) - next door to a large convent.

Although William W died on 25 Sept 1881 of smallpox, we looked for the dairy in 1891 (ref RL10 403 page 48). As our computer was registered with "Ancestry.com", we could downoad census images. The dairy was still there, run by Catherine. Details for the children are: John R, 17, a Draper's Clerk, Daniel J, 15, a Solicitor's Clerk; Wm J, 11 and David D, 10, both scholars. Mary A Jenkins, (born Corris, Merionethshire), 15, is a general servant. [Daniel J was known to be attending evening studies at the "Happy Palace" - the precursor of University College.]

At the insistence of John Sayers, we delved into the 1871 census. William and Catherine were living in London (they were married there, 2 years before), but near the Angel, Islington. This ties in with their first child, Anne C. being born not in Bow but in St Luke's District. William is listed as a City Porter, 34, with wife Catherine (a Shop Dairymaid), living at 3 Norman St (St Luke's District). The address still exists in a 1950 London A-Z. Five others were at this address - xx Wills, 81 head (no occupation) William Orbillon? Painter, 43, head!! + wife Rebecca, a cook, and finally another City Porter (Charles E Evans, 16?, lodger, b Caterham, Surrey).

Later, alone - a further web search of birth indexes to find Catherine Jones, b 1846 in Aberayron, shows one entry only (1842-1846 range) - "quarter to June 1846" ref Aberayron Vol 27, page 1. This was incorrect. A futher search, using the IGIlisting of 15 Sep 1846 at Bettws Leucu, parents Daniel Jones & Hannah - search for Catherine and Catharine and Cathrine gives (22 Apr2005)
Q to Dec 1846:
Jones  Catharine Tregaron  27 74   Jones  Catharine    Aberayron  27 10 Jones  Catherine,Aberystwyth  27 15

I will pick the centre one, as Catherine Jones is "from Aberayron" per family records, per census records(?) and her marriage is from Albert St Aberayron -  wrong one

Further searching - try  Jones Catharine Aberayron 27 5 quarter to Dec 1848 - to EH 25 Apr 2005

William Williams is too early - no result found in birth search.