Help finding a marriage, please

[Jonesy]

From the 1841 census (HO 107/1415 book 7 folio 48 page 13), I have my great great grandfather Thomas Jones, married to Gwladys.

I cannot yet find a record of their marriage. I am used to my research on my mother's side brickwall, which is nowhere near this far back, so this is new territory for me. Is a marriage this early in the realms of records not on the internet?

Family History Societies and Parish Records here I come?

[Jeuel]

Can you narrow it down a bit? Do you know when their first child was born/baptised? If they married before 1st July 1837, there should be a record in the parish register - some of these are online. I'm guessing from the names that this couple are Welsh? In which case there might be something on www.familysearch.org, but much isn't available like that. Some family history societies have done indexes of marriages so you might find someone who can do a look up for you.

[Kerrywood]

I think it might be helpful to have details of the 1841 census, taken in Merthyr Tydfil

1841 census (record held by TNA, Crown copyright)
HO107/1415 book 7 folio 48 pages 12-13
Thomas Jones 38 Miner Y
Gwladys Jones 35 Y
Thomas Jones 6 Y
Mary Jones 3 Y
Rees Jones 1 Y
Benjamin Jones 7 Yes

You may well be looking for a marriage in Wales before 1837.

Would you like this thread moved to the Glamorgan forum, to attract members who have researched in that area?

[Jonesy]

You may well be looking for a marriage in Wales before 1837.

Would you like this thread moved to the Glamorgan forum, to attract members who have researched in that area?

Yes please, Kerrywood, that could be useful

[Kerrywood]

Moved for you.

[Coromandel]

Have you found the family in later census returns, which should give more precise birthplaces for parents and children? Armed with this information you may be able to identify likely birth registrations for the younger children, and hence get a birth certificate for one of them to discover Gwladys's maiden name. Given that we're talking about Joneses in Wales, though, this may be easier said than done.

Once you know Gwladys's surname, and where she and Thomas came from, you have more of a chance of finding the marriage. I see that a 'Glamorgan Marriage Index Pre-1837' can be searched via Findmypast.

[olliecat]

From the 1841 census (HO 107/1415 book 7 folio 48 page 13), I have my great great grandfather Thomas Jones, married to Gwladys.

You can check findmypast for Glamorganshire marriages, however FreeREG has quite good coverage of Merthyr Tydfil marriages for the period you are interested in as well as some of the surrounding parishes. This site is always my first port of call for Glamorganshire.

Looking for a marriage from 1817 to 1836 in Merthyr Tydfil, I couldn't find anything for a Thomas JONES to a Gwladys. Please check for yourself in case I missed an entry - there are a lot of Thomas JONES marriages.

I noticed from the 1851 census that Gwladys was born in Merthyr Tydfil. There is a possible marriage in Gelligaer, which is about 10 miles from Merthyr Tydfil. I suppose Gwladys and/or her family could have been resident in Gelligaer around the time of her marriage.

County Glamorganshire
Place Gelligaer
Church Parish Church
MarriageDate 09 Nov 1830
GroomForename Thomas
GroomSurname JONES
GroomParish Merthyr Tyd
BrideForename Gwladis
BrideSurname LEWIS
BrideParish Gelligaer

If this is your direct line, then a birth cert for one of the children is a must, to ensure you end up with the correct marriage.

[barbara lee]

Hi Jonesy

I have the Glamorgan Marriage index on microfiche, and can confirm that the marriage given by olliecat above is the only Thomas Jones to a Gwladis (or Gladys, or anything similar). All other details as above. The index adds the notes "BWP" which means it was by Banns, the original shows the names of the Witnesses and there is other Personal information in the original (probably the fathers' names). You need to get to the Glamorgan record office in Cardiff, or get a researcher to do it for you if not.

Barbara

[Jonesy]

Great, thank you olliecat and barbara.