Unlocking my mystery, help pls!

[mumjo]

I was looking into the name Wones (i won't say why as the people concerned are still alive) but found that most of the recent people with that surname live in Norfolk).
Could Edward Wones be from that area?
By the way, i found the marriage I was looking for was down as Dones on bmd.
Good luck with your hunting!
Jo

[NikiKL]

wow, thanks for all these replys everyone!
I won't be able to answer your comments in this sitting, school run in a mo!

but to be going on with, I've met Rosemary Weir, lovely lady...my Dad (also interested in our tree) put me in touch with her and she gave me a locket that belonged to my G G grandmother.

There are a Wones clan in Norfolk, I haven't found the connection between them and "my" lot yet...I live in hope.

There is a Simon Wones, who went to USA and we suspect he may be the brother of Edward, which gave us the "yorkshire" idea. Lots of Woneses crop up in the records office I visited with dad, up in Yorkshire, name escapes me right now, argh!

All this is really rusty to me, I had my 3rd baby 9 months ago so all my tree hunting has gone on hold. I will get back to this thread really shortly as there are some suggestions here I haven't tried! If you are particularly interested I do have a tree on ancestry. I no longer have a valid subscription though, so I may be limited with searches.

Catch you all later I hope!
NIki

[NikiKL]

The marriage records in Shelve were apparently lost in a flood, and I understand the same goes for his children's birth certs.

I would love to unlock our puzzle, does anyone have any bright ideas??
Thanks

According to the Bishops Castle Local History Centre, records and information for Shelve are still in existance.  See here  http://www.bchrc.co.uk/downloads/LHC%20Resources%20Index%20full%20version%202.pdf

Though you may already know everything they contain?

I am relatively new to this quest. I have only been told that nothing survived the floods. This is good news though, it means there is a glimmer of hope again. I have no idea who has been to the records office...but i'm trying to find out.

This is a message I posted some time back on this site...

"I believe her name was Mary. She married a William Wones. She was supposedly born in Carperby (her son is believed to be Edward Wones born c1760) And she is believed to be buried in Aysgarth. I have no dates for her. "

This one could also be a link
"Simon Cherry born c1757 marries Mary Wones born c1756 (Muker?)"

Cornwall has also been guessed at as another place of birth, based on the fact that many limestone miners moved from Cornwall to Minsterley.

I have searched GOONS before, but had forgotten the answer as to whether our name came up, I re-searched and got nothing.

I did search the ONS list, and got 1 result, but honestly, I don't know what that means!?

On the origins of the name, I had heard "Old English for homestead, and Wan meaning pale" - so frustrating that it's so easily misspelled, or it would have been infinitely easier to trace

[NikiKL]

The marriage records in Shelve were apparently lost in a flood, and I understand the same goes for his children's birth certs.

I would love to unlock our puzzle, does anyone have any bright ideas??
Thanks

According to the Bishops Castle Local History Centre, records and information for Shelve are still in existance.  See here  http://www.bchrc.co.uk/downloads/LHC%20Resources%20Index%20full%20version%202.pdf

Though you may already know everything they contain?

Ok, so after looking through my notes. The flood seems to have been Minsterley, which is where Edward Wones' children all seem to have been born (I have also seen Westbury on other records - about an hours walk between them.) He was in fact married in Shelve, and I have notes that he has very neat handwriting - unusual for a miner?
So, the flood could still be an issue, would be grateful if you could advise how I can search whether any records are in existence from the Westbury/Minsterley area.

If records of Edward were destroyed, does that really mean our search can't continue without the words; needle, and haystack being relevant??

Many thanks

[alpinecottage]

Transcriptions of the Minsterley Parish Registers exist and are online here  http://www.melocki.org.uk/salop/Westbury.html#vIX

There are several Wones entries for baptisms and burials of the Wones children.   

[NikiKL]

Thank you

I've been through that and the only Wones child I can't find is the last, Hannah c1809...many of them are recorded as Woans. I will try to track her down when I have more time.

Does the lack of any names on this list that we are unaware of mean that it is pointless visiting the area? My dad is talking of visiting Shrewsbury.

My Wones' were close with the Nailer/Nailor/Naylor family, I wonder if Edward may have been a god parent to their children. when did baptisms, or death records for that matter start to contain more information?

I also wonder whether is impossible to trace him in a mining community. I've made (futile?) steps towards info on this lead.

I'm also doubting the lead that he could be form the Yorkshire area. The link being a Simon Wones. He was a teacher, who emigrated to USA. But why would a teacher be sibling to a miner (allbeit a literate one)?

Oh! Also, it would be nice to know where he is buried, any ideas how I can track that down (he died at Hursthill, Dudley)?

I'm so grateful for the help i'm receiving here, it seems to be the only way forward right now.

[NikiKL]

A cheeky bump 

[Finder]

Haven't given up, busy time of year, just comparing info, found an Edward Wones married to Elizabeth Compston in 1784, Shropshire, children, Ann 1785, Edward 1786, Mary 1787, Martha 1793, Hannah a bit vague but is a reference to a Hannah Wones 1809 at Shropshire

Also a Hannah Wones married at Staffordshire & died at Staffordshire, connection to the Gray family, still looking

Am I sort of on the right track or way off?

James

[NikiKL]

Haven't given up, busy time of year, just comparing info, found an Edward Wones married to Elizabeth Compston in 1784, Shropshire, children, Ann 1785, Edward 1786, Mary 1787, Martha 1793, Hannah a bit vague but is a reference to a Hannah Wones 1809 at Shropshire

Also a Hannah Wones married at Staffordshire & died at Staffordshire, connection to the Gray family, still looking

Am I sort of on the right track or way off?

James

Hi James,
You got him, that's my GGGG grandfather.

Hannah was another child of his, I believe she was born in Minsterley too, but didn't find her on the IGI the other day when I was double checking what I have, must have another look. Quite focused on Edward at the mo because he is just so difficult to track down.

I don't know if you can see this, but you are welcome to look if you are interested?
http://trees.ancestry.co.uk/tree/13948831/person/24798860

Hannah married David Westwood, and the name Gray is familiar, but wouldn't remember why until I checked all my notes. I think it's a name one of my fellow Wones researchers is interested in.

I understand all about the busy time of year too.
 I'm grateful for any input, thanks