James Williams 1868

[squirrelinatree]

My great grandfather, James Williams was born in Tremain, Cardiganshire in 1868. I have found him on all the census records and his parents seem to be David Williams (1839, St Mary Cardigan) and Eleanor (1840). Is researching David Williams in Cardiganshire just a lost cause? Any tips please? Thank you

This is them in 1871
Name:   David Williams
Age:   32
Estimated Birth Year:   abt 1839
Relation:   Head
Spouse's Name:   Eleanor Williams
Gender:   Male
Where born:   St Mary, Cardiganshire, Wales
Civil Parish:   Tremain
County/Island:   Cardiganshire
Country:   Wales
Registration district:   Cardigan
Sub-registration district:   Llandygwydd
ED, institution, or vessel:   4
Household schedule number:   24
Piece:   5542
Folio:   76
Page Number:   5
Household Members:   
Name   Age
David Williams   32
Eleanor Williams   31
John Williams   10
David Williams   9
Benjamin Williams   5
James Williams   2

[rosie99]

WILLIAMS, JAMES       mmn MORRIS     
GRO Reference: 1868  Dec Quarter in CARDIGAN  Volume 11B  Page 13
   
WILLIAMS, BENJAMIN       mmn MORRIS     
GRO Reference: 1866  June Quarter in CARDIGAN  Volume 11B  Page 14

Possible marriage
Dec qtr 1859 
Morris    Eleanor       
Williams    David       
Cardigan    11b   36

[Kay99]

This looks like David, wife and son in 1861 living in Tremain.

David Williams 22 Mason  b  Cardigan, Cardiganshire, Wales
Elinor Williams 21  b Cardigan, Cardiganshire
John Williams 2/12

Kay

[rosie99]

WILLIAMS, DAVID       mmn MORRIS     
GRO Reference: 1862  Dec Quarter in CARDIGAN  Volume 11B  Page 11   

WILLIAMS, JOHN       mmn MORRIS     
GRO Reference: 1861  March Quarter in CARDIGAN  Volume 11B  Page 12

[squirrelinatree]

Thank you, yes that is the marriage suggested by the MMN on GRO. what are my chances of finding the right birth for David though? Or getting back further?

[rosie99]

If you buy the marriage certificate it should name his father

[lizdb]

First step will be to get the marriage cert and see what that says about his father.

As to going back further - if the marriage cert says his Dad was a Labourer also called David Williams, then it may be challenging.  If it says his dad was a Turkish bath attendant called Montmerency Augustus Flavian Williams (for example!) then you may be able to go back with more ease!

Either way you will have got back one more generation with the name of his father!

(Rosie - you say it so much better! )

[rosie99]

I like your explanation lizdb, especially the turkish bath attendant   

[squirrelinatree]

Are there any parish records for the area online? 

(I have had some success with Monmouthshire, London and some of my other areas of research.)