Obituary 1946 Pontypridd

[Abiam2]

Have been following this thread and am so sorry to hear your news.
Things will improve for you but it takes time.......
Abiam2

[syljun]

Thanks all for your kind words. Have been in limbo for a while, could not believe what happened so suddenly.
Will try again to search for WTD but feel it a hopeless cause with such a common name. Have trawled web-sites looking to see if I could find any records of Miners employment but cannot find anything. Any ideas? I only have 1911 Census to go on. Syljun

[Morganllan]

Hi Syljun 

Just wondering how did you connect the 1911 census Thomas Davies, age 21, at 84 Bonvilston Road,Pontypridd, with your WTD? I can see him as William Davies, age 12, with his Grandmother in Barry in 1901.

Best Wishes
Morgan

[syljun]

Hi morganllan, I was given info on 1911 Census by another researcher which was only clue as to what happened to WTD. I researched Connor family and found they also had lived in Barry quite close to Davies family. My thinking was that William (Thomas) probably went to School with Charles Connor or at least knew him for him to be a lodger with Charles at Pontypridd.
As the informant on 1911 Census knew William as Thomas did he keep to Thomas or resort back to William that's the problem.
I have checked Electoral Rolls but several in both names in Pontypridd which is a nightmare.
Also checked Barry Newspapers for Obituary of his Mother's death 1937 but did not find one. Suggested he may have attended.
Checking Freebmnd there are two likely death candidates with Thomas - March 1930 -Sept 1935.
William - Dec.1949. All Pontypridd registrations. I have no way of knowing short of buying every Cert.  but wondered if anyone knew of the papers for Pontypridd which perhaps had Obits of these deaths.
I certainly could do with some help for closure, perhaps will never know but sometimes a clue does show up so will keep trying. Your help and suggestions are invaluable, thank you. syljun

[welsh_angel]

Good to see you back on the Forum,  syljun.  I know that things are very raw at this early stage into losing a loved one, but time IS a great healer, and memories are precious and can't be taken way, no matter what.

As for your WTD, I have had a few thoughts about him, when I have tried to put the pieces of the jigsaw together. I can see from the 1901 Census, that WTD was living with his grandmother and not his mother.  Again, in the 1911 Census,  you believe he’s a boarder with the Connors.   This situation in itself, raises a few questions. When you put this information with the lack of any family knowledge of him, I ask myself the question, why was he never with his mother? This is why I believe there may be some dark secret.  So,  what happened to WTD after 1901 (and maybe 1911)?? I am going to go through all the WTD WD,TD I can to see if something happened between 1901 when you are definite you have the correct WTD and 1911, and take it from there. We WILL crack this mystery, of that I am certain.
Best wishes

[welsh_angel]

I'm going back to the drawing board on this reseach, so syljun, I want you to tell me if I am on the right track.

I have gone back to the 1861 census for the stringer family, and I will work forward from there. There will be a few questions I will probably need answering, to make sure I am on the right track. Here goes:

In 1861, and living in Kinfare, Staffordshire, I have these people:
THOMAS STRINGER 32
ELIZABETH STRINGER 34
WILLIAM STRINGER    11
ELIZABETH STRINGER  9
ANN STRINGER            7
JANE STRINGER           4
EDNA STRINGER          2
MARY J STRINGER        2   (Is this Mary your grandmother, and are Edna and Mary J twins?)

In 1971 all the above are living in Caldicot. Thomas is working in the ironworks, and Edna has now become Edith. There are also two lodgers living in the house. Other than these few changes, everything is as the 1861 census.

Now to 1881. This appears to be interesting. The family is still in Caldicot, but Thomas is now a general labourer. Elizabeth is 54 years of age. William the son, is 31 and "unmarried", but there's a "grandson" Thomas Stringer, age 1. This child must be one of Elizabeth's daughters as Elizabeth appears to only have had the one son, and he's unmarried. So, whose son is this? Is it Mary J's or Jane's. Edith/Edna isn't on this census, but there's a grandson, John Garvey. Did Edith/Edna marry a Garvey?  What happened to Thomas Stringer?  He would only have been 8/9 years older than WTD, and if Thomas Stringer is Mary J's illegitimate son, maybe it would be worth pursuing what happened to Thomas Stringer. Maybe WTD went to live with him.

If you can let me know if I am on the right track, I can then continue to work forward, to try and solve the mystery of what happened to WTD.

[Ladyhawk]

Don't know if this will help

1881. This appears to be interesting. The family is still in Caldicot
Thomas is now a general labourer. Elizabeth is 54 years of age. William the son, is 31 and "unmarried",
there's a "grandson" Thomas Stringer, age 1.

So, whose son is this?

1 Apr 1881 Thomas James STRINGER mother Jane Caldicot

Now to 1881. This appears to be interesting. The family is still in Caldicot, but Thomas is now a general labourer. Elizabeth is 54 years of age. William the son, is 31 and "unmarried",
but  but there's a grandson, John Garvey.

Did Edith/Edna marry a Garvey? 

FreeBMD
Sep 1871 Chepstow
Elizabeth Stringer
John Garvey

Marriage after Banns both otp, both single, & both made their mark X
9 Jul 1871
James Gawey 22 Wireworker father James Gawey, Moulder
Elizabeth Stringer 20 father Thomas Stringer lab
Wit: Charles Jones & Hariett Jones

1881 RG11; Piece: 2522; Folio: 121; Page: 32
John Garvey 34 Stourbridge occ Puddler
Elizabeth 28 Kniver Staffordshire
Elizabeth 9 Calidcott
William 2 Cinderford

6 Sep 1871 Elizabeth GARVEY parents John Elizabeth Caldicot Wireworker
5 Jun 1875 John Thomas GARVEY parents John & Elizabeth Caldicot Wireworker
28 Dec 1877 William George GARVEY parents John & Elizabeth Cwmbran Wireworker

There were also these STRINGER baptisms Calidcot

11 Jun 1883 Ernest STRINGER Mary Jane Caldicot Charwoman (no father's name given)
29 Nov 1884 Ada STRINGER parents William & Mary Caldicot Miner
18 Mar 1887 Mabel Annie STRINGER parents William & Mary Caldicot Lab Bn: 3 Dec 1886
15 Feb 1889 Alice Mary Stringer parents William & Mary Caldicot Labourer

FreeBMD Dec 1882 Chepstow
William Stringer
Mary Winter

Marriage after Banns 30 Oct 1882 both single & OTP
Wm Stringer 30 Lab. father Thos lab
Mary Winter 20 f Jas Shepherd
Wits Thos & Susannah Dowler

1901 RG12; Piece: 4335; Folio: 40; Page: 27 - Caldicot
William Stringer Head 40 Lab Iron Works Kniver? Staffs
Mary Wife 30, William 10, Charles 8, Ada 6, Mable 4, Alice 2 Elizabeth, All born Caldicot

[welsh_angel]

Thanks Ladyhawk, but I believe I have found Thomas Stringer's birth entry. He was born in 1880 in the second quarter, and only had the one name. However, after 1881, I can't find Thomas Stringer anywhere. There is a Thomas Stringer who sailed to Canada, but as I don't have access to the records, I have no way of knowing if this is him. Also, there are a few William Thomas Davies, from Wales, who also sailed to Canada.  Again, I have no way of knowing if this the elusive WTD.  But I live in hope.

[syljun]

Hi, Gosh you have all been busy, thanks for your time.
Firstly most of info. correct.
Thomas born 1880 died - son of Jane.
Elizabeth married John Garvey.
Mary Jane and Edith are twins.
Edith married John Jones and when John died she married his brother William. (not sure if that was legal at the time)
William Stringer married Mary Winter 1882 (she also had illegitimate son born in Workhouse)
Mary Jane worked in pub in Caldicot and also had illegitimate son Ernest who took the name of Davies when Mother married William Davies.

As for WTD being with Grandmother on 1901 Census it was not unusual and not necessarily living permanently just staying for a night. I have had several grandchildren with Grandparents and it is very helpful to confirm connection to family members. 1901 Census has WTD's four sisters and Ernest living at home with Mother and Step-father living at 8 Dovedale Street, Barry, Glamorgan. Stepfather Alfred Owen age 39 (says born Lancs but was actually born Dublin and died in Bridgend Asylum 1904).
Thanks again, Syljun