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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Wales => Anglesey => Topic started by: np-sheffield on Tuesday 09 December 08 06:51 GMT (UK)

Title: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Tuesday 09 December 08 06:51 GMT (UK)
Hi!  I'm looking for some information on the wife of my ggg.Grandfather John Robert EVANS.  Her name was Ann FISHER, born c1826 and shown on the marriage certificate as being born in Menai Bridge, daughter of Henry FISHER.  Henry is shown as being a 'Gentleman'. (No idea where the money went!)

John Robert and Ann were married on April 28th 1847 in Llantysilio.

I've looked in 1841, and cant find a matching family of Fishers, but I hope someone might know the family.  There can't have been too many 'gentlemen' in Menai, surely?

John Robert and Ann seem to have had interesting lives.  Shortly after being married, John, an accountant, took the family to Demerara in British Guyana where they had two sons Henry Dawson, and Havelock, and a daughter Elizabeth, and then two further sons after their return to England around 1864.  They seemed to fall on harder times after that, but lived out their lives in Bangor.

One clue, from the wedding certificate is that one of the witnesses is an Irish man, Robert ALGEO b 1817, who is in 1851 as a road surveyor. Makes me wonder if John Roberts early career had anything to do with the Telford roads.

Anyway, thanks for any help you might be able to offer...

Neil
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: wendy47 on Tuesday 09 December 08 09:07 GMT (UK)
hi

I have found the following 1851 Census HO 107 / 2517 page 23

Caernarvonshire Llandysilio  District 15b

Fisher Henry Head Mar aged 53 Resident Enginear [sic] b Whitehaven Cumberland
Fisher Mary Dau Mar (Do they mean wife I wonder) aged 52 b Lancaster Liverpool
Fisher Jane Dau aged 16 b Menai Bridge Anglesey

Do you think this may be Ann's parents as dau Jane born in Menai?

Regards
Wendy
 :) :-\
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: Ruth_T on Tuesday 09 December 08 09:11 GMT (UK)
Hi, on IGI

Anne Fisher christening 12 June 1925 Llandysilio, Anglesey

Father Henry
Mother Mary

If you think this could be the one she has siblings, and one of the brothers - Henry states on the 1881 census he was born Menat Bridge.

Regards
Marg
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: wendy47 on Tuesday 09 December 08 09:26 GMT (UK)
Hi

1841 Census Anglesey Llandysilio  District 17 HO / 107 / 1363 / 5 Page 10 & 11 At The Toll House

This gives Henry Fisher a Bridge Keeper b out of County
wife Mary B out of county and children
Mary
Elizabeth
Thomas
Emma
Henry
Jane
Catherine
Frances

Regards Wendy ???
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Tuesday 09 December 08 09:32 GMT (UK)
Very kind of you to help!

Wendy, it sounds quite plausable that this is the Henry Fisher we are looking for.  Chief Engineer of what I wonder?  Anyway, Mary might be closer than you think.  The next entry down on the census sheet for example! There is a Mary Fisher, living next door with her widowed aunt and a couple of paying guests.

This gives me lots to go on... thanks again!
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Tuesday 09 December 08 09:39 GMT (UK)
Hi Wendy,

looking at 1851, the address is given as the Gate House, silly of me not to spot it, so it looks like he was something to do with a toll bridge. I'm not presuming its the Menai Bridge itself, that would be too fantastic! 

Do you know exactly where Llandysilio is.  I've looked on maps and can find plenty of Llandysilio's elesewhere in Wales, but not on Anglesey. I'm guessing its a small village that has been swallowed up at some time, and is now a district.

Neil
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: Ruth_T on Tuesday 09 December 08 10:04 GMT (UK)
In the National Archives

Henry Fisher Superintendent of Menai Bridge 1852

Regards
Marg

Just looked at it - it seems to be a will and its held at the National Library of Wales - you might find out where the money went ;D
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Tuesday 09 December 08 10:27 GMT (UK)
Thanks Marg, i'm really thrilled to think one of my ancestors could have been involved in such an important project. 

As it happens on my fathers side, my ggg.Grandfather George PARKIN was an Ironmaster just north of Sheffield and major investor in the Sheffield to Langsett turnpike around the same time.  We have his will too, but sadly no money reached us either.  When his first wife died he married the servant girl 20 years his junior, fathered four children and left her the money to live comfortably for the rest of her days!
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: hiraeth on Tuesday 09 December 08 14:40 GMT (UK)
Hi Wendy,

Do you know exactly where Llandysilio is.  I've looked on maps and can find plenty of Llandysilio's elesewhere in Wales, but not on Anglesey. I'm guessing its a small village that has been swallowed up at some time, and is now a district.

Neil

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/AGY/Llandysilio/index.html
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: hiraeth on Wednesday 10 December 08 15:50 GMT (UK)
I did a search of the North Wales Chronicle on the gale newspaper site and there were two hits

1) Tuesday August 15, 1848 -

On the 8th inst. at Llandisillio Church, the Rev. F.H. Pickworth, Wesleyan Minister, in this city, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Henry Fisher, superintendent of Menai Bridge

2)  Saturday July 6, 1850 - Anglesey Quarter Session

Mr. Henry Fisher, Llandisiolio - one of the gentlemen sworn of the grand jury

HTH
Heather

Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Wednesday 10 December 08 16:08 GMT (UK)
H Heather, thanks for this extra detail.  We're so thrilled to think of an ancestor playing such an important role in the famous piece of engineering history.

We have also found a reference to Henry Fisher in a contemporary document written by about the construction of the bridge.

'In the latter end of 1825, the side railings were added, and the toll-houses and gates completed, also the roads of approach; and Henry Fisher who had assisted in putting up the ironwork, as the foreman of Mr Rhodes, was appointed bridge-keeper and principle toll-collector; and a carpenter, who had been employed during all the bridge operations, became the other collector and assistant, their practical knowledge being important in watching the effects of heat and cold tempests on the new structure'...

Thanks again...Neil
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: stephandruss on Friday 22 January 10 14:31 GMT (UK)
Hello Ann

Did your GGG grandfather George Parkin live in Oughtibridge and work at a forge in the same village ?

Russell
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: cae howell on Friday 22 January 10 17:06 GMT (UK)
Isnt the name of the village part of Llanfair pg check it out and you will see
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Friday 22 January 10 17:24 GMT (UK)
Stephandruss :

Yes, the very same. Why do you ask??

Neil
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: GillyJ on Friday 22 January 10 19:30 GMT (UK)
I don't know if this is of any help but I think the little church on the island off Menai Bridge is St. Tysilio's church ( llan means church) Also of course the village of LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychchwyrndrobwll-llantisiliogogogoch is the next village up.It might be worth looking at the church records

In the 1960's I went to school with a Brian Fisher from LLandegfan so there may still be some relatives in the area.
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Friday 22 January 10 20:30 GMT (UK)
Thanks Gilly, that is useful, and a bonus point to you for being able to spell it   ;)
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: stephandruss on Friday 22 January 10 21:30 GMT (UK)
Hello Neil

I am related to the Parkin tree as well my g grandmother was a Mary Elizabeth Parkin. Whose father was Moses Parkin. Have you seen the picture of George Parkin the Iron master dated i think about 1810 ?

regards Russell
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Saturday 23 January 10 10:02 GMT (UK)
Hi Russell, and hello cousin!

Yes I have seen the photo, although I think it may be a bit later than that. I also have a copy of his father's (John Parkin the Elder) will that makes fascinating reading. My line is through George, then John Thomas, Colin, Owen to me, and I retain the Parkin name.

I'd be happy to share what I know with you. I am trying to find time to get to the bottom of George and his fathers business and property ownership and what happened to other members of the family. In particular I am trying to find out who was Parkin Loy, a nephew of George's who lived with him in Oughtibridge.

Anyway, please feel free to get in touch and I'll gladly share my research.

Neil

Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: stephandruss on Sunday 24 January 10 17:33 GMT (UK)
Hello Neil (cousin)

Thank you for the offer to share and if i manage to find out anything i will of course let you know. I think you may already be in touch with Ian Nelson who i have corresponded with in the past. I live in the south near Bournemouth my parents left Sheffield about 1964. Do you live in Sheffield ?or have you moved away from this area.

Kind regards Russell
Title: Re: Ann FISHER, b 1826 Menai
Post by: np-sheffield on Sunday 24 January 10 18:05 GMT (UK)
Hi Russ,

yes I have contacted Ian. He was very helpful. Anyway, I'm still here in Sheffield. Wouldn't be anywhere else to be frank, and I have a son to carry forward the Parkin name. Please keep in touch if anything new comes to light or contact me through the email function on this site to get my details.

Kind regards

Neil