Thomas Williams of Robertstown / Tresalem, Aberdare moved to Patagonia.

[Fragorand]

Hi.  It's my first post on here so hope I'm doing things correctly.

I'm helping a friend I've met on-line to trace his great-grandparents.  I was provided with their names which are Thomas Williams and Mary his wife.  They had a daughter named Elizabeth born in 1867.  Some of the difficulty relating to them is that they emigrated to Patagonia in 1874.  I believe that passenger lists don't exist for before 1890.  I was provided with the dates of Mary being born in 1839 and Thomas 1840.  I think I've found them despite their ages being different on the 1871 Census with Thomas being a year older than Mary.  I've also been given the name Tresalem which is on their tomb-stone in Patagonaia.  I would like to find out their marriage.  I haven't been successful as yet by looking on ancestry.  I think I also find them in the 1861 Census where they are 20 and 21 years old with a child Elizabeth who doesn't appear 10 years later.  I think they must have lost this child and name the child born in 1867 after the first.  I don't have a definite maiden name for Mary although it could have been a Griffith (s).  Any help or suggestions on how to find out about their marriage?  Thanks.

PS
I was also told that Thomas Williams came from Denbigh in north Wales but my research shows him as coming from Llandybie in the s w part of Wales.  I suppose it could be a mistake as my friend doesn't speak Welsh and there is a similarity in the names.

[miriamkinga]

Hi Fragorand and welcome to Rootschat.

Unfortunately the names you are dealing with are fairly common so it's important you don't begin by tracking down the wrong line.

Here's a list of Welsh settlers to Patagonia in 1865 to get you started: -

http://www.argbrit.org/Patagonia/mimosa.htm

best wishes

Maria

[Fragorand]

Thank you for your reply Maria.  The names are correct as they appear on a tomb-stone in Patagonia.  And they also more or less tie up with the family I found in Aberdare.....the names, the dates (alsmost exactly) location ie Tresalem which isn't that big an area and child's name and dob.  Thanks for the details of the Mimosa journey in 1865.  Haven't seen that one before.  However, they traveled at a later date which was 1874 aboard the Hipparcus which is why the appear on the 1871 Census but I can't find any of them in 1881.  I've looked up Elizabeth Williams to see if she appears on the Births register and unfortunately, there are several of the same year.  I suppose I need to find out the exact quarter she was born along with their registration district which I would think would either be Pontypridd or Merthyr Tydfil.....probably the latter.  Am I going along the correct lines of investigation or am I missing something which would help me along?

[miriamkinga]

http://www.argbrit.org/index.html - might be useful 

[Fragorand]

Thanks. Will take a look at it.

[Fragorand]

I've now found a number of Elizabeth Williams's born in 1867 and I'm almost certain their registration district is Merthyr Tydfil.  Is there any way of finding out which one is the one I'm looking for before purchasing a certificate.  I don't yet know which quarter she was born in but still there's a number each quarter.  It's difficult if you're looking for somebody whose surname is a common one!  It might possibly mean me spending a hundred pounds or more before fining the correct certificate.

[Morganllan]

Hello 

If you contact the local register office, and specify all the known facts, they should be able to find the correct certificate. Include parent's names, father's occupation, Parish/locality, etc should help narrow down the options.

You are correct that Aberdare was included in Merthyr registration district:
http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/reg/districts/merthyr%20tydfil.html

Best Wishes
Morgan

[Fragorand]

Thank you Morganllan.  Diolch.

[Morganllan]

You're welcome! 

The National Library of Wales has Patagonia Manuscripts which include a document, written in Welsh, "relating to the history of Moriah Aman Welsh Congregational Church, Cwmaman, Aberdâr, 1855-1988, and including references to the emigration of church members to Patagonia, 1874-5." NLW MS 22642E.

http://www.llgc.org.uk/index.php?id=2671

If you could obtain a copy from the library, someone could help translate if, if necessary.

Kind Regards
Morgan