Richard Rowlands - Anglesey & Llanfairfechan

[Juniper Berry]

  Hello!

We are tracing Richard Rowlands who was born at Llandonna, Anglesey in c 1858.

1881 - We have found his 1881 census entry.  The head of household is listed as Margaret Rowlands - she was born in the village in about 1819.   Their abode:  Pen Y Cefn, Llanddona.

1901 - In 1901 Richard Rowlands is listed as having moved to Llanfairfechan - his younger children are born there - elder born in Penmaenmawr - he was a quarry man.

Could someone please check Richard Rowlands in the 1871 census.  We are hoping that his father will be listed and thus enable further progress in our search.

His son Samuel always talked about the famous ship-wreck at Moelfre c 1859; so we have anticipated that Richard Rowlands'  family may well have been in that area at the time.


Thank you very much, Peter
 

[stuizzy]

Is this possible? Sadly no father however. In 1871

"Towyn", Llanddona
Mary Roberts Head Widow 70 farming 10 acres, employing 1 boy
John Roberts Son Unm 29 Sailor
Ella Roberts Daur Un 25 Servant at home
RICHARD ROWLANDS SERV 12 GENERAL SERVANT LLANDDONA

RG10/5274 Folio 101 page 4

Looking at 1881, there were a couple of sisters. I might have found them and the mother Margaret. .

Pencefn Llanddona
William Roulands  Head Mar 58  Ag. Lab
Margaret " wife 52
Margaret " daur Unm 28 Domestic servant out of employ
William " Son Unm 24 Ag Labourer
Ann " Daur Unm 19 Dressmaker
John " Grandson 15 months

Everyone born in Llanddona
RG10/5724 Folio 112 page 8

This matches at least Margaret the wife and the grandson John, though the dates don't match with Ann and the daughter Margaret.

Hope it helps
Isobel

[Juniper Berry]

Dear Isobel,

Thank you so much! 

Excellent that you found them as RoUlands'!!

'Pen Y Cefn, Llanddona' is given as the abode in 1881 and from your useful notes 'Pencefn, Llanddona' - so yes, this does look very helpful.  I think that this 'abode' detail may be more important than the 'problem' with the ages of Richard's sisters.

Also the mention of the older brother William is new!  We now anticipate that the father may also be a 'William Rowlands'.

We cannot seem to find the brother yet; so are keeping an open mind - he may have travelled; perhaps he even became a sailor and /or emigrated?

It is said that Richard Rowlands went to to North America but returned to Wales still a young man; so William making a similar trip is certainly worth our investigating.

Are you in a postion to look at 1861 or earlier? 

Thank you again, all this points to the beginning of a break through!!! 

Very best, Peter

[Juniper Berry]

Hello Isobel,

We have looked in the IGI marriages batch for Llandonna - there is only one Rowlands listed and that is a William Rowlands.

William Rowlands
married
Elin Owen
18 APR 1817

As Richard's mother Margaret was born in 1819 - we anticipate that this may well be the marriage of his paternal grandparents.

Best wishes, Peter

[stuizzy]

Peter

I didn't even click on Pen y Cefn. That must be the right family then.

Now, more on William
in 1851 I've found one that matches. I can't read the house name, though it's nothing close to Pen Y Cefn. It's in Llanddona though

William Rowlands  Head mar 38 Labourer Llanddona
Margaret Hughes  Wife  Mar  32   " Wife         "
Margaret Rowlands Daur         8                Llanestyn (I think)
William Hughes      Son            4                Llanddona
Chathrine Rowlands Daur       3 mos         Llanddona

Also in the same house though a different household is
Chathrine Roberts Head Widow 78 Labourer Llanddona

(Margaret's mother perhaps???)

HO107/2517

I did also find a William and Elin(or) Rowlands. He is listed as aged 40. They have 9 children in 1851 including a William who matches though none of the other names do.

In 1861 I find William and Elin again. He's listed as 50 and they've got a few more children

I can't really find a suitable William and Margaret though in 1861.

So now we've got William and Margaret in 1851 and 1871 as well as William and Elin in 1851 and 1861.

I'll look to see what else I can find. Isobel

[Juniper Berry]

Hello Isobel!

This is wondeful - boundless joy!

One thing we noticed was that in 1871 Richard goes to work (?) with a Roberts family listed at "Towyn", Llanddona - maybe they they link with this part of the 1851 entry:

Chathrine Roberts Head Widow 78 Labourer Llanddona

What do you think?

We will digest this and thank you very much for all these super discoveries!

Very best to you,

Peter

[Juniper Berry]

Hello Isobel,

"Towyn", Llanddona
Mary Roberts Head Widow 70 farming 10 acres, employing 1 boy
John Roberts Son Unm 29 Sailor
Ella Roberts Daur Un 25 Servant at home
RICHARD ROWLANDS SERV 12 GENERAL SERVANT LLANDDONA

RG10/5274 Folio 101 page 4

Looking at 1881, there were a couple of sisters. I might have found them and the mother Margaret.

Pencefn Llanddona
William Roulands  Head Mar 58  Ag. Lab
Margaret " wife 52
Margaret " daur Unm 28 Domestic servant out of employ
William " Son Unm 24 Ag Labourer
Ann " Daur Unm 19 Dressmaker
John " Grandson 15 months

Everyone born in Llanddona
RG10/5724 Folio 112 page 8

This matches at least Margaret the wife and the grandson John, though the dates don't match with Ann and the daughter Margaret.

Hope it helps
Isobel

Hello Isobel

We have been looking at IGI for Llandona in the hope that we can establish further information and perhaps links - if any - regarding the Roberts and Rowlands details that you have above.

So far we have found:

ELEANOR ROBERTS
Christening: 26 JUL 1846 - Llanddona, Anglesey, Wales
Father - Robert Roberts          Mother - Mary

JOHN ROBERTS
Christening: 10 DEC 1841 - Llanddona, Anglesey, Wales
Parents:
Father - Robert Roberts          Mother - Mary

So this may mean that Ella was born Eleanor - and that the father was Robert Roberts

AND

ROBERT ROBERTS married MARY PARRY
13 NOV 1840 - Llanddona, Anglesey, Wales

It also looks as though there may be other children who do not appear on the 1851 census.

This may mean that 'Parry' may be another likely Llandonna name to look at in connection with Richard Rowlands.

Did the Rowlands family turn up in 1841 at all?

Best wishes,

Peter

[stuizzy]

Peter

I'm afraid that I don't have access to 1841. I will see what else I can come up with though for you.

It's getting a little (huge understatement!!) confusing since Rowlands seems to be quite a common name and they weren't thoughful enough to give their children different names. Therefore we've got William and Margaret, who seem to be your original Richard's parents, and also William and Elin.

I suppose both Rowlands and Roberts are common surnames so we can't draw too many conclusions. Still it's what keeps us going!!

I'll continue rummaging.
Good luck
Isobel

[Juniper Berry]

Dear Isobel,

Thank you - yes this does seem to need a lot of rummaging!

We have been in circles this afternoon - I can only imagine that the families linked up through differnet generations - they almost seem to loan their children out.

We have not worked on Anglesey before so maybe there are simply some extra challenges to unravel.

We do hope that all is well with your own research!

This is very very helpful of you.

All the best, Peter