Watkins Mountain Ash

[Michigan Man]

Can anyone help regarding  the Watkins name in Mountain Ash?, South Wales. I am stumped on info on my Grandfather William Henry Watkins born around 1892, he married Elizabeth Ann Bush in 1918 and lived at 38 Aberpennar Street in Mountain Ash. His father was James Watkins.  All my research on Ancestry has come to a dead end as there are a few entries under this name, any clues would be very useful.
Much obliged
Colin Watkins

[CaroleW]

How old was he on his marriage cert

What was father James occupation on the marriage cert

Although he married in Glamorgan - was he born there or was he born in another county in Wales?

Do you know the names of any of his siblings who were born before 1901

[Michigan Man]

His age on the marriage cert is 26, his Father James's occupation was Timberman, he is also shown as being deceased. I am jot sure where he was born because there are a few possible matches for their names on the census lists, especially as I do not know the name of the mother of William Henry or any siblings.

The only specific I have is the address of 33 Aberpennar Street, Mountain Ash in 1918. If I can get a bit more info on his mother then I can order a birth certificate. Thanks for your interest.

[silvery]

The only likely one is Bridgend

Sept 1892 Bridgend 11a/752
William Henry Watkins

searching 1891 to 1893.

You could try sending for this with a check on the father's name, but there's nothing else to corroborate it with.  Do you have any names of siblings?
It's in the right sort of area.  Bridgend to Mountain Ash is about 25 miles.

On the 1901 census the only one coming up with father James (coal miner) is born about 1894.  But James could have changed from coal mining to timberman for eg ill health or injury.

Are there any clues with the witness names on the marriage cert?

[Michigan Man]

Thanks for the reply, I have two possibles and one of them is the one you found. I think I will try both and see what turns up on the certificates. Good point on the witnesses, I will see what I can find on them. One of the names is legible, Matilda Rogers, but the other is William "something".

Thanks again
Colin

[silvery]

Without looking again I think there was a William  born 1894.  It's very difficult to be certain without something else to tie in with it.

did either of your parents (whichever it is) have any aunts/uncles that they remember the names of.  That would be a great help.  Have you got cousins who might have a clue.  Without something else to work on it a bit of a guess.

[Michigan Man]

Both my parents are dead, and I have canvassed all my other relatives to no avail. Per your previous suggestion I have found both the witnesses now having struggled to decipher the surname of William, they were both from Mountain Ash. However that doesn't give me any connection to James. I will have to take a chance on getting birth certificates and see what that gives me.
Cheers Colin

[wales2]

I, too, am looking for a Watkins connection, but it's the Bush side of the family I am contacting you about.  My great aunt was Mary Ann Chlew of Mountain Ash. Wales (her sister, Harriet, was my grandmother).  Mary Ann married William Henry Bush in 1898.  Do any of these names mean anything to you? 

I look forward to your reply.

[wales2]

I've just been looking through the threads and I see you mention the witnesses as Matilda Rogers and William something.  Could they be Matilda and William Redgers?  If so, they would be Mary Ann Chlew's mother and step-father. Just a thought.