Lost Griffith J Williams please can you help

[slewis]

Hi
I am looking for Griffith J Williams he was born in Dyffryn, Merionethshire, Wales in abt 1846, parents Bennett Williams and Ann Jones.
I am not sure when Griffith moved to the USA I have found him on the 1900 Massachusetts census he has a wife Elizabeth born 1852 they married abt 1871, but I have not found a marrage in Wales or the U.S They have a daughter Ella B Williams born abt 1872 Emporia, Kansas, son Bennett born abt 1875 Kansas, daughter Gladis born 1888 Massachuwsetts, also a cousin William T Jones born abt 1877 Maine.
Griffith had a roofing company. That is all I know if any one can help me with this family I would be very greatfull.
Kind regards Sue

[olliecat]

There is a Griffith J Williams (born abt 1847 in Dyffryn, Merionethshire) in the 1851 and 1861 census with parents Bennett and Ann. Do you have this census information already?

[slewis]

Hello olliecat
I have the 1851 census info but not the 1861
Thanks for your help
Kind regards Sue

[olliecat]

Both the 1851 and 1861.

1851 Census: HO107; Piece: 2512; Folio: 508; Page: 22; crown copyright care of the TNA
Living at Market Square, Ynyscynhaiarn, Caernarvonshire
Bennett Williams 32, head, ship broker ?, born Bangor, Caernarvonshire
Ann Williams 30, wife, milliner? and dress maker, born Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire
Evan Williams 6, son, born Dyffryn, Meronethshire
Griffith J Williams 4, son, born Dyffryn, Meronethshire
Mary B Williams 2, dau, born Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire
Margaret J Williams 4 Mo, dau, born Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire
Jane Owens 17, servant, born Ynyscynhaiarn, Caernarvonshire

1861 Census: RG9; Piece: 4327; Folio: 17; Page: 27; crown copyright care of the TNA
Living at Snowden Street, Ynyscynhaiarn, Caernarvonshire
Bennett Williams 42, head, ship broker, born Bangor, Caernarvonshire
Anne Williams 40, wife, dressmaker, born Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire
Elizabeth Williams 18, dau, dressmaker, born Dyffryn, Meronethshire
Evan Williams 16, son, clerk in shipbrokers office, born Dyffryn, Meronethshire
Griffith J Williams 14, son, born Dyffryn, Meronethshire
Mary B Williams 12, dau, born Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire
Margaret J Williams 10, dau, born Tremadoc, Caernarvonshire
Cadwaladr Williams 8, son, born Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire
Bennett Williams 6, son, born Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire
John H Williams 3, son, born Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire
Anne J Williams 6 Mo, dau, born Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire
William Pritchard 21, servant
Elizabeth Pugh 23, servant
Margaret Williams 17, servant

I am guessing you already have Bennett and Anne's marriage in 1842 since you know her maiden name.
Will have a look to see if I can find the family in later census - in case some of all of them emigrated.

[olliecat]

OK, I think I see Griffith's parents in the 1871 to 1891 cenus in Caernarvonshire.

Wondering - are you after information on Griffith before or after he emigrated, or both.

[slewis]

Hi olliecat
Thank you so much for your kind help, if you can help with both I would be ever so greatfull.
Kind regards Sue

[olliecat]

It looks like Griffiths’ parents remain in Wales. Ann’s sister Margaret is in the 1871 and 1881 census with the family which may help with narrowing down their parents. Also Griffiths’ little sister Ann is not with the family in the 1871 cenus. Searching to see if she is with relatives might prove useful.

1871 Census: RG10; Piece: 5700; Folio: 19; Page: 9; crown copyright care of the TNA
Living at Glaslyn Inn, Llanfihangel y Pennant, Caernarvonshire
Bennett Williams 52, head, inn keeper, born Bangor
Anne Williams 50, wife, inn keeper’s wife, born Ynyscynhaiarn
Margaret Jones 61, sister-in-law, waiter in an inn, born Ynyscynhaiarn
Evan Williams 26, school master, born Dyffryn
Bennett Williams 16, cabinale [cabinet?] maker, born Portmadoc
John Henry Williams 13 born Portmadoc
Ellen Jones 13, servant, born Ynyscynhaiarn

1881 Census; RG11; Piece: 5554; Folio: 15; Page: 3; crown copyright care of the TNA
Living at 126 High Street, Ynyscynhaiarn, Caernarvonshire
Bennett Williams 62, general comn? agent, born Bangor
Ann Williams 60, wife, born Tremadoc
Bennett Williams 26, son, cabinet maker, born Portmadoc
John H. Williams 23, son, iron turner and fitter (iron manuf), born Portmadoc
Ann Jane Williams 20, dau, dealer in fancy goods, born Portmadoc
Margaret Jones 72, sister-in-law, retired domestic cook, born Tremadoc

1891 Census; RG12; Piece: 4649; Folio 21; Page 35; crown copyright care of the TNA
Living at New Street, Ynyscynhaiarn, Caernarvonshire
Ann J Williams 30, head, dressmaker, born Portmadoc
Bennett Williams 72, father, accountant, born Bangor
Ann Williams 70, mother, retired dressmaker, born Tremadoc
Bennett Williams 36, brother, cabinet maker, born Portmadoc

In 1901, son Bennett is boarding.

Here is one a possible death for Bennet Williams Senior
Mar 1895 Williams Bennett 76 Festiniog 11b 339


You already have the 1900 Massachusetts census for Griffith J Williams and I was wondering if you also had the following – found on family search.

• Daughter Ella B Williams marriage to Thomas P Jones in 1901.
  
• Griffith J Williams death record in 1907, which records his parents as Bennett Williams and Ann.

A couple of questions for you...

Griffith states in the 1900 census that he emigrated in 1868 and married Elizabeth Jones in 1872. He also states he and his wife were born in England. His death record (assuming it is his) states he was born in Wales. I was wondering how you determined he was born in Dyffryn, Meroniethshire.

Also, do you have parents Bennett and Ann’s marriage certificate? That would give their father’s names and may help with locating christening records for them.

[slewis]

Hi
I was given Griffith birth by a member of the family but he also told me that Griffith died in 1914, Bennett father's name was Evan Williams born 1789 Llanddwywe, Merionethshire mother was Mary ? I have no parents for Ann, they married 1842 St Cynhaearn, Ynyscynhaearn
Thank you again for all your help I do appreciate it
Kind regards Sue

[slewis]

Hi
I have found Griffith young sister Ann on the 1871 census, sh is with her older sister Mary B now married to a John R Jones, also there is Ann other sister Margaret Williams
Sue

[olliecat]

Perhaps you should check out that death in 1907 for yourself. There is an image you can look at. There are a lot of similarities, for example, it states Griffith was a roofer; born about 1847.

https://pilot.familysearch.org/record...archType=close

Do you know what the Ann’s marriage record of 1842 gives as her father’s name? I did have a search for an Ann and a Margaret Jones of the right ages in the 1841 census but it is hard to determine if one has found them or not. There was one with an Ann and a Margaret together – looked like there were no parents with them - I think I'll go and look at it again.