Post by meicj on Aug 20, 2013 1:33:08 GMT
My ancestors where originally from Trelawnyd, John Griffiths b 1826 (was Newmarket) and Rhuddlan, Jemima Evans, b 1834.
John was a leadminer. They both lived in The Nant between Bersham and Coedpoeth. They had two daughters, Mary b 1861 and Jane b 1866. Their mother Jemima unfortunately died soon after in 1867 from Phthisis, which I think is consumption.
John was remarried to Sarah Williams, nee Evans originally from Selattyn near Oswestry, also a widow I think, possibly divorced, as I can't find a death record for her first husband John Williams who was originally from Hope.
Sarah and John Williams had 3 children Edward b 1856, William b 1859 and Mary b 1865.
When John Griffiths married Sarah Williams, Sarah's children took on the surname of Griffiths. (Not sure if this was done officially as later census polls show Edward and Williams reverting to Williams.
However, for a time there were two Mary Griffiths living in the same household, which added a touch of confusion to the family mix. In 1871 there were 8 of them living in property or properties between The Wesley Chapel Terrace and the Talwrn Jockey Mine Cottage.
John Griffiths and Sarah Williams had two children with each other, Joseph b 1869 and William Henry b 1873.
John Griffiths' first born daughter with Jemima, Mary b 1861 is my G Grandmother. I can't be sure but I think in the 1881 census she was working a general servant for a George Pavitt, a licensed victualler at 44 Mount Yard in Wrexham. BUT I have another option. In the 1881 census there was a Mary Griffiths working as a dairy maid at Erddig Hall which is fairly close to the Nant. From the same census I've found an Ellen Powell working as a servant at New Sontley farm. Erddig and New Sontley are only a few hundred yards apart and therefore as Mary and Ellen were similar ages, a close friendship could have been developed between the two of them.
Mary gave birth to my nain, Charlotte Mary Ellen Griffiths b 1887 in Wrexham Workhouse. I have a copy of the birth certificate but there is no mention of a father. However the dirth certificate does state that Mary was a domestic servant in "Wrexham Regis" which would include Mount Yard, but would it include Erddig Hall? There was a woman in attendance at the birth in the workhouse shown on the birth certificate as Ellen Powell. I just wonder if the Ellen in my nain's name was after Ellen Powell who could have been the Ellen Powell who worked at New Sontley farm.
In the 1891 census Charlotte Mary Ellen Griffiths, my nain, was living as a boarder with a widow, Ann Thomas and her family at the Victoria Terrace Club Room in Minera. Her real mother, Mary was working and living as a servant for Thomas Jones and his family, a grocer, at 2 Smithy Road, Coedpoeth. So it's possible there may have been contact between mother and daughter.
In 1901 Charlotte now 13, was officially adopted by William Williams, an iron moulder and his wife Ellen and lived with them and their son and daughter-in-law at 6 Nant Square.
Probably because the adoption was now official, contact between mother and daughter was restricted or even prevented. I have found Mary in the 1901 census living and working as a servant at the age of 41 for a Charles Totty and family at 1 Millbank Villa, Greenfield Terrace in Rhyl.
By 1911, possibly sometime before, I'm guessing at maybe when Charlotte was 21 and able to leave her adoptive parents, possibly even earlier, Charlotte went to Rhyl herself, presumably to find her mother. I can find no trace of either in the 1911 census but Charlotte was married in May 1911 to Bernard George Fazackerley a Rhyl born man of Liverpool family extract. Charlotte and Bernard had three children but unfortunately Bernard died in Dec. 1916 from wounds received while serving with the 5th Batt. Royal Welsh Fusilliers in Galipolli in WW1.
Charlotte married again in 1923 to Thomas Norman Jones my taid. Originally from farming stock in Moulton Northamptonshire. Still searching for a Welsh connection here connected with cattle and/or sheep droving!
They had three children so Charlotte bore six in total.
In 1929, her mother Mary died. Another little surprise cropped up. Whilst searching for the location of Charlotte's first husband's grave, I wrote to Denbighshire C.C. and I found out that Charlotte's mother was buried in the same grave as Bernard.
John was a leadminer. They both lived in The Nant between Bersham and Coedpoeth. They had two daughters, Mary b 1861 and Jane b 1866. Their mother Jemima unfortunately died soon after in 1867 from Phthisis, which I think is consumption.
John was remarried to Sarah Williams, nee Evans originally from Selattyn near Oswestry, also a widow I think, possibly divorced, as I can't find a death record for her first husband John Williams who was originally from Hope.
Sarah and John Williams had 3 children Edward b 1856, William b 1859 and Mary b 1865.
When John Griffiths married Sarah Williams, Sarah's children took on the surname of Griffiths. (Not sure if this was done officially as later census polls show Edward and Williams reverting to Williams.
However, for a time there were two Mary Griffiths living in the same household, which added a touch of confusion to the family mix. In 1871 there were 8 of them living in property or properties between The Wesley Chapel Terrace and the Talwrn Jockey Mine Cottage.
John Griffiths and Sarah Williams had two children with each other, Joseph b 1869 and William Henry b 1873.
John Griffiths' first born daughter with Jemima, Mary b 1861 is my G Grandmother. I can't be sure but I think in the 1881 census she was working a general servant for a George Pavitt, a licensed victualler at 44 Mount Yard in Wrexham. BUT I have another option. In the 1881 census there was a Mary Griffiths working as a dairy maid at Erddig Hall which is fairly close to the Nant. From the same census I've found an Ellen Powell working as a servant at New Sontley farm. Erddig and New Sontley are only a few hundred yards apart and therefore as Mary and Ellen were similar ages, a close friendship could have been developed between the two of them.
Mary gave birth to my nain, Charlotte Mary Ellen Griffiths b 1887 in Wrexham Workhouse. I have a copy of the birth certificate but there is no mention of a father. However the dirth certificate does state that Mary was a domestic servant in "Wrexham Regis" which would include Mount Yard, but would it include Erddig Hall? There was a woman in attendance at the birth in the workhouse shown on the birth certificate as Ellen Powell. I just wonder if the Ellen in my nain's name was after Ellen Powell who could have been the Ellen Powell who worked at New Sontley farm.
In the 1891 census Charlotte Mary Ellen Griffiths, my nain, was living as a boarder with a widow, Ann Thomas and her family at the Victoria Terrace Club Room in Minera. Her real mother, Mary was working and living as a servant for Thomas Jones and his family, a grocer, at 2 Smithy Road, Coedpoeth. So it's possible there may have been contact between mother and daughter.
In 1901 Charlotte now 13, was officially adopted by William Williams, an iron moulder and his wife Ellen and lived with them and their son and daughter-in-law at 6 Nant Square.
Probably because the adoption was now official, contact between mother and daughter was restricted or even prevented. I have found Mary in the 1901 census living and working as a servant at the age of 41 for a Charles Totty and family at 1 Millbank Villa, Greenfield Terrace in Rhyl.
By 1911, possibly sometime before, I'm guessing at maybe when Charlotte was 21 and able to leave her adoptive parents, possibly even earlier, Charlotte went to Rhyl herself, presumably to find her mother. I can find no trace of either in the 1911 census but Charlotte was married in May 1911 to Bernard George Fazackerley a Rhyl born man of Liverpool family extract. Charlotte and Bernard had three children but unfortunately Bernard died in Dec. 1916 from wounds received while serving with the 5th Batt. Royal Welsh Fusilliers in Galipolli in WW1.
Charlotte married again in 1923 to Thomas Norman Jones my taid. Originally from farming stock in Moulton Northamptonshire. Still searching for a Welsh connection here connected with cattle and/or sheep droving!
They had three children so Charlotte bore six in total.
In 1929, her mother Mary died. Another little surprise cropped up. Whilst searching for the location of Charlotte's first husband's grave, I wrote to Denbighshire C.C. and I found out that Charlotte's mother was buried in the same grave as Bernard.