Gt.Gt.Grandfather Thomas Whitney..

[diana2646]

Hi Fychan,

How great to hear from someone who is descended from the same Gt. Gt. Gt. Granddad as I am!  Thank you for the website you sent me, I have had a brief look and there is so much information on there, it is incredible! 

This is the info I have got about David's parents and the children they had.  I hope it agress with yours.

David Whitney married Susannah Watkins in the Parish of St. John, in the city of Hereford - 9th February, 1790.  It seems that they lived in Orcop.  They had four children:
John (David) Whitney - Bap. 23 Jan 1791.
David Whitney            - Bap. 24 June 1792   (My Gt.Gt.Gt. Granddad.)
Thomas Whitney         - Bap. 14 July 1793
Sarah Whitney            - Bap 2 Nov 1794

John (David) Whitney married Elizabeth and lived in St. Weonards, Hereford and had four children.

David Whitney married Mary Prichard in 1812 and  - David born 1811, Sarah born 1813, Ellen born 1814 (she died age 37 and is buried with her mother at St. Jerome's church in Langwm) Uriah, 1815, Thomas 1818, Hannah - 1820, James, 1826.  David's first wife died in 1841 and in 1847 he married Hannah James and had two more sons - David born 1848 and William born 1851. 
I know that our Gt.Gt.Gt.Gt. Grandfather is also David as I have the marriage cert of David and Hannah from 1847 , and on it , it says father's name David.  I don't know if you are able to go back any further? 
Look forward to hearing from you,
Best wishes Diana

[Fychan]

Diana

My research matches yours !!.  Really good to know there is a link.  We are not alone though as I have had contact previously from a  descendant of John Whitney (b 1791).

David (1811) and his wife Louisa are buried (along with their son George) at St Mary's Church Rogiett.  This church sits alongside the main South Wales to London railway line just after Severn Tunnel junction - and I can't tell you how many times I've looked at the church as I've sped by on the train without realising my Gt Gt Grandparents were buried there.  Unfortunately the graves are not marked.

It appears that my branch moved increasingly west ward, moving from agricultural occupations
and into coal mining in the Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire Valleys.  If you have time to explore the Whitney resource there is a photo of my Grandparents posted.

I am no further back than you - having stalled with David.  Looks like I need to do some research in the Hereford record Office.

Best wishes
Rob

[diana2646]

Hi Rob, Good to know that we have established a link between us.  Like you said, everything seems to stop with David & Susannah's marriage in 1790.  Did you find anymore children to that marriage?  They had four children so quickly, and then it appears no more!  I would like to go to Hereford Record Office also, although I live in Lincolnshire now, so it is quite a good journey from here.  I do visit family in Briton Ferry every year though, so I can do a detour possibly on my way down there. 
I must tell you this story.  Last year, on my way to Briton Ferry, I stopped off at Llangwm, to find 'Trelay Farm' where our Gt.Gt.Gt.Granddad spent a lot of his life.  (I was also looking for his burial place, which I have never been able to find).  After some searching down very small country lanes, I found Trelay Farm and drove over the cattle grid and parked up in a field.  I knocked on the door and an elderly lady answered and I explained who I was and why I was there and she invited me in and gave me tea and cake!!!  She was really lovely.  She had spent her whole life there, as her father bought the farm in the early 1900's.  Later on, her son and daughter in law came to visit and they took me round all the churchyards in the locality, to try and find David's grave, but without success.  They also gave me a photocopy of the original bill of sale for the farm, when their grandfather bought it.  It was previously part of the Roger Edwards Estate.  I took lots of photos of the house and outbuildings, as it has hardly changed since the days of David & Hannah.  They made me so welcome, considering I was a total stranger!
How sad that your Gt. Gt. Grandparents grave was not marked.  What a co-incidence also that you used to pass it a lot on the train.  When I found my Grandfather's grave in London, the Local Authority had taken his headstone down and I was so disappointed when I got there.
As I said, I have been on the Whitney website that you sent me and I have found our relatives on there, but I am not sure if I have looked in the right place, to find your family tree?  Also, I couldn't find the photographs that you mentioned.  If you could perhaps explain where I am going wrong.
Best wishes from
Diana

[Fychan]

Hi Diane
From the Whitney Research Group Home page choose "Wales" from the options under "Whitneys by location"  Then choose "Whitneys of Monmouthshire, Wales" This pulls up the long list of families.  Highlight and click on "John Whitney (b 1850 - a 1891)  There is a photo here of my Grandmother Louise.  I've also entered all of the family from John through the 1871 - 1901 census -although I have their 1911 records too.  I entered some details on his brothers too - and from this ran into  a Ralph Whitney  -  also the Gt Gt Gt gandson of David - through the same branch as myself - David b1811 - now residing out in Canada

As for additional children - no - you actually had found one more than me ! - Sarah.

On the page you'll find other records for the generation one step back   The details on David (Thomas's father) were entered, I guess, by the sites author Tim Doyle - you'll see he has not entered Davids wifes maiden names - I suppose I should update this sometime.  Tim has done a huge amount on this site.

I will now have to go and have a scout around Llangwm - its not that far for me - about 15 miles!.

Best wishes
Rob 

[Fychan]

Diane

Just another quick note.  You mentioned Ellen - born 1814.  I did not have this in my list so I've taken another look at this.  After a bit of cross referencing I think this is most likely the first wife of Uriah Whitney (elenor Jones) rather than a daughter of David & Mary.  The burial record for Llangwm shows her abode as Llangeview - and in the 1851 census (just before her death) Uriah and his wife Elenor (aged 37) were living at New Inn Langeview.  What do you think?

I certainly can't find a baptism for an Ellen Whitney or a record of her in the 1841 & 1851 census.

A copy of the Llangwm records (baptisms and burials) is on Rootsweb.com - under monmouthshire records.
Best wishes
Rob

[diana2646]

Hi Rob,  Thanks very much for the instructions!  I have found your tree and the lovely picture.  Don't they look very smart!  In those days, you dressed up in your best clothes to have your photo specially taken, but not any more.  The people who have created that web-site, must have done such a lot of work. There is so much information on it! 
You mentioned Ellen.  Well, I have been through my info again and noticed I have a question mark against her name.  I think you are right, as I have the census for Uriah and Eleanor at Llangeview and then she dies on 14th May, 1851, just after the census.  She was also a year older than Uriah, so I am sure you are correct in what you say.  (The age fits as well). When I had email from Rev. Kevin Hasler of St. Jerome's Church, he gave me the impression that they were buried together, so I thought she must be a daughter, but obviously not so!  I have got Uriah getting married again in 1861 to Elizabeth Phillips.
You are lucky to be only 15 miles from Llangwm - I am roughly 270!  Ha ha.  It makes it hard researching your family when you live such a long way away.  And if you don't go in person to the record offices, it is so expensive too!  I am sending you a Personal Message with some details on. (I hope that is ok now you have 5 posts)!
Best wishes from,
Diana

[Fychan]

Brilliant - have had the message and replied
Rob