Gomer Williams

[Pam Downes]

You also need to locate all the Gomer Williams born in Merthyr Tydfil registration district between 1871 and 1881 and bring them forward in the 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, and 1921 census in a process of elimination.
Main places in Merthyr Tydfil registration district
https://www.ukbmd.org.uk/reg/distric...%20tydfil.html

[P.Harrison]

On the marriage cert. of Feb 17th 1907, Gomer is 27, Sarah is 23. Gwilliam is referred to as deceased and a coal miner.Also, we can’t find the family of Gwilliam/ Gomer on any census, at any time. Thank you for your advice and input.

[Jomot1]

So if he was 27 in 1907 then YoB = 1880 rather than 1876 per the 1921 census.

This would therefore seem a good fit, in 1881- RG11/5322/4/1:
2 Dare Court, Aberdare
William Williams 42(?) Labourer in Coal Mine b Glamorgan
Cearow Williams 34 wife b Brecon
William 9 son b Aberdare
David D 5 b Aberdare
Gomer 9 months b Aberdare

[Jomot1]

1891 census at 17 High Street, Aberdare - RG12/4444/110/30

George Hodges 45 Coal Miner b Hereford
Sarah Hodges 45 wife b Llanwrtyd, Brecon[shire]
Gwilym Williams 18 Stepson Haulier b Aberdare
Gomer Williams 10 Stepson b Aberdare
Mary Ann Williams 7 Stepdaughter b Aberdare
George Hodges 3 Son b Aberdare
+ 9 lodgers

[Jomot1]

Children from the 1881 & 1891 census:

WILLIAMS, GWYLIM mmn PRICE GRO Reference: 1872 S Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL Volume 11A Page 452
WILLIAMS, DAVID DANIEL mmn PRICE GRO Reference: 1875 J Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL Volume 11A Page 537
WILLIAMS, GOMER mmn PRICE GRO Reference: 1880 S Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL Volume 11A Page 471
WILLIAMS, MARY ANN mmn PRICE GRO Reference: 1883 S Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL Volume 11A Page 527
HODGES, DANIEL GEORGE mmn PRICE GRO Reference: 1887 S Quarter in MERTHYR TYDFIL Volume 11A Page 575

Also a Daniel John 1889-1889.

[Pam Downes]

So if he was 27 in 1907 then YoB = 1880 rather than 1876 per the 1921 census.

This would therefore seem a good fit, in 1881- RG11/5322/4/1:
2 Dare Court, Aberdare
William Williams 42(?) Labourer in Coal Mine b Glamorgan
Cearow Williams 34 wife b Brecon
William 9 son b Aberdare
David D 5 b Aberdare
Gomer 9 months b Aberdare

I found that one, and wondered about William as the father's name but didn't have time to pursue it (or any other possible Gomers in 1881).

You really could disown some relatives when they can't get be consistent with their age. Not only does Gomer's differ from marriage in 1907 to 1921, but wife Sarah's age varies from 1907, to 1911 and 1921. GRRRRR!

Doesn't help that Gomer isn't immediately findable in the 1911 census.

[Pamelawagster]

There’s a 1902 burnt/damaged military record for a Gomer Williams in which he named his stepfather as George Hodges.Same address as 1891 census.There is still some readable info on the record.

Gomer Williams.
Service number 9259
Regiment Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own

[Megan Roberts]

Gwilliam is not a generally accepted spelling of a Welsh name. The closest I can think of is Gwilym, which has been described as the Welsh form of William. Its possible that Gomer may have said Gwilym, and the transcribers wrote Gwilliam. When you see that Gomer had a brother Gwilym, I suspect that is what he was indicating for his father.

Sarah Williams married George Hodges 4th Qtr 1883 Pontypool.

[Pam Downes]

With apologies to anyone I've confused by moving Gomer from the Brickwalls forum to Wales.

You are not going mad.
There was a previous thread, titled Gomer Williams, created 7 March 2023, in the Wales forum.
OP then created another thread, also titled Gomer Williams, created 15 May 2023, in the Brickwalls forum.

In an attempt to avoid confusion I merged the two threads, and left the 'new one' in the original destination forum of Wales.

[Pam Downes]

There’s a 1902 burnt/damaged military record for a Gomer Williams in which he named his stepfather as George Hodges.Same address as 1891 census.There is still some readable info on the record.

Gomer Williams.
Service number 9259
Regiment Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own

That is a brilliant find, Pamela. (As well as an interesting read. )
His age on enlistment ties in (near enough) with his age in the 1881 census record found by Jomot1 in post #13, and the stepfather details tally with the 1891 census record, also found by Jomot1, in post #14.

However, given the age variations on marriage and in the 1921 census, personally I would still do a 'process of elimination' with any other likely Gomers born Merthyr Tydfil registration district 1873-1881. FreeBMD is showing six. So not a vast number. There's only 23 registered in the whole of Wales between 1873 and 1881 so even that's not an insurmountable number to tackle.