Mormons in Bagillt

[Lee70]

Hi there,

I am researching for a friend his Jones ancestors!! Yes I know - mad!!

I am looking for information on David Jones who was born in Denbighshire in 1816 and was stated as a Mormon Elder on  the 1871 census in Bagillt where all his family were born.

Are there any lists of Elders and where would they have preached etc?

Any ideas I would love to hear.

Thank you in advance
Tracey in Auckland, NZ

[Barbara.H]

Hi Tracey,
I don't know if this will help, but when I was looking for my rellies in Newmarket (now called Trelawnyd - about 10 miles from Bagilt), I found this quote on the Genuki Newmarket page   http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/FLN/Trelawnyd/index.html

An interesting snippet for family historians:

    "Newmarket has for some years been the headquarters of the Mormonites, who have also a small meeting house here. These have however decreased very much of late, owing to emigration and other causes. Thirteen are at this present moment preparing to depart to the city of the Salt-Lake".
    [From Handbook of the Vale of Clwyd , William Davis, 1856]

Browsing around, I also found a site called 'Welsh Mormon History' which might be of some help to you?  http://welshmormonhistory.org/

  Barbara

[Lee70]

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for that bit of information.  The Mormons I am looking for stayed in Bagillt and didn't go to America so they possibly went to this meeting house.  I have not found any evidence of baptisms for any of their children nor their marriage.  I have seen the site you mentioned but now I might look into this meeting house and see what I can come up with.

Thank you again for answering my call for help!!
Kind Regards from Auckland, NZ
Tracey

[xantippe]

Mormons do not have Preachers as such.  All the males of the Church become Elders when they reach majority I think. You may find what you are looking for on the  Mormon web Site.  Mormon Elder would not be a paid occupation.

www.familysearch.com

I took a quick look but didn't find any born in Bagillt although there was a David Jones born 1816 on the 1881 census living in Bagillt. He was down as a Coal Miner.

Hope this helps,
Kris
France

[Lee70]

Hi Kris,

Thanks for your reply to this message board.  I still have had no luck in finding Davids birth as there were 2 born in Nantglyn where he said he was born at that time.  I have him on the 1881 census but I have no way of telling who his father was as his marriage hasn't been found in any parish records and he probably was a Mormon by then and didn't marry in a conventional religious ceremony. Any registers of marriages have loads of David Jones marriages so hard to pin point the right one without buying all the certificates!

Will keep looking anyway.  Non of his children were christened in parish records and only a few of them were even registered!  With a name like Jones it is all very hard!!
Thanks again
Tracey

[xantippe]

Tracey,

Your best bet I think would be to search the Mormon records. You may find that he included the name of his father and mother when he joined the Church. They like to Baptise Ancestors into their Church which is why they have such extensive records, and so he probably did a family search, or if not some of his descendants may have. They may have a record of his joining but whether they allow you access I have no idea. I expect there is a Family History Centre in Auckland and much of their stuff is on microfiche.

A formidable task to find a Dai Jones in Wales. Best of luck,

Kris

[Lee70]

Thanks Kris,
I will check with Aucklands records and see if they can help me. Never thought of going there but always worth a try as they do hold alot.
Thanks again. All the best
Tracey