Morgan Davis( Davies)

[ddavies]

Hello,

Trying to trace our family tree back from New Zealand. I have gotten as far back as a Morgan Davis who we think came out to NZ on a ship called GANANOQUE in 1860 and who was born in 1840-1841 in Merthyr Tydfil as far as my Grandmother can recall.
I don't have any other information at all.

If anyone can help at all with information or assistance on where I should look then I would greatly appeciate it

Darren Davies
Christchurch, New Zealand

[Bethan]

Hi Darren, took a look at the 1841 census for you, there is only one Morgan Davis age 1 in Merthyr, but there are several Morgan Davies's around that age, do you have any more info to narrow it down, like name of,  siblings or parents, or failing that the names of Morgans children, because Welsh people often named their children after their parents.

Best Wishes Bethan

[ddavies]

Hi Bethan,

Thank you so much for helping.  I do not have any info on parents or siblings but I do know that his eldest son was named David William Alfred Davies, his second daugther was named Mary Ann Davies and the 4th and youngest child was a boy named Morgan Davies Jnr.

Thats all I have at the moment - any help greatly appreciated.

Darren

[Bethan]

Hi Darren, through the wonder of the internet I was able to check the passenger list of the Gananoque for 1860, I could not find a Morgan Davies/Davis  the only one near was a Mr Davis.
If your grandmother was certain that this was the ship and the year that he came to NZ then it is probable that Davis was his last name, as there was only one Morgan Davis on the 1841 census I will check the 1861 to see if he is still in Wales.

Best Wishes Bethan

[ddavies]

Hi Bethan,

Any luck at all with the search?

Darren

[Bethan]

Hi Darren, it was not Morgan Davis because he was still there in 1881, so it must be one of the Morgan Davies's, as there are several of around the right age I will take a look at them again in the morning,  have you any idea of Morgans occupation when he came to NZ as that might be a help.


Best Wishes Bethan

[Bethan]

Hi Darren, tried to check various censuses and the only possibility I can come up with is this one.

Plymouth Street 1851 census

Thomas Davies    Hd 43  Furnace Manager in Ironstone Mine  born Merthyr Tydfil
Mary Davies          W 40 ....................................................................Merthyr T
Elizabeth Davies    D 17 ..............................................................     Merthyr T
Morgan Davies       S  9 ...................................................................Merthyr T
Magaret Davies      D 4.....................................................................Merthyr T
Huldah Davies        D 1 ........................................................................Merthyr T
Thomas Davies        S 2 months..............................................................Merthyr T

I cannot find this particular family on later censuses, but as I only have Glamorgan censuses there is the possibility that they moved elsewhere in Britain, I have eliminated most of the other Morgan Davies family's, but Davies being such a common name in Wales means that I cannot say with certainty that this is the correct family, I am afraid that this is the best I can do with the information provided.

Very best wishes Bethan

[ddavies]

Thank you Bethan.

I asked the family and it seems they are not so sure about which boat or year he came over on now.

He did marry in NZ in July 1868 but everything before that now seems open to speculation once again.

Can you perhaps give me a list of the other Morgan Davi(e)s and there families and I could see what names maybe pop up later in our family tree?

Just a thought as I am at a dead end ....

Many Thanks
Darren

[Bethan]

Hi Darren here are two more taken from the 1851 census

1851 Penyrheol Brynteg

Morgan Davies HD 61  Ironstone miner        born Merthyr Tydfil
Magaret            W  44                                            Penderyn
Mary                  D 25                                                 Merthyr
John                  S   20  Ironstone miner                    ...........
William              S    16.......................                     .............
Elizabeth           D 9                                                  ............
Morgan              S  9  Scholar                                   ............
David                 S  6 Scholar                                     ...........
Gwenllian          D 3                                                    ..........
Charlotte            D 1                                                      ...............

Mary Davies     M in  Law                                                   Carmarthen 


And the other one 1851 Llwycoed

Thomas Davies   H   35  Iron miner   Aberdare
Ann                    W 32                       Llanquike
Morgan               S 11  Iron miner    Aberdare
Jane                    D 2                          ............
Thomas               S 6                           ...............
Anne                     D 4                           .............


The other two likely candidates both  had families with common names ie David ,John and Ann

So I really do not think that you will find Morgan in this way, you could try Free BDM  but I think there were an awful lot of Morgan Davi(e) s born in Merthyr around that time.

Best Wishes in your search, if you come across any more info please get in touch.

Bethan