Griffiths Family in Glamorgan, Wales.

[genie65]

My gg grandfather was John Griffiths circa 1805-1852 master mason and builder is listed on the 1851 census for Trevethin, Pontypool Monmouthshire, as born in MANTWILL Glamorgan, possibly a transcription error as I cant find it. Notes his father was William Griffiths noted on his second marriage to Margaret Harris DAVIES (1801-1880+). He was  firstly married to Sarah Morris circa 1805 who died in 1842. 

Margaret's first husband was David Davies 1786-1842 both from MARLYBONE London who had been married to Elizabeth Jones (circa 1786-1838) They must have moved to Trevethin Monmouthshire as her parents were there.  Margaret and Elizabeth Davies were listed as Inn Keeper and David  Davies a Brewer who owned the Three Cranes in Crane St Trevethin Monmouthshire on 1841 and 1851 census. Davies children were relocated to relatives on Davids death but not Elizabeth D

There appears a lot of possible connection any help??

[burrahills]

Hi genie56,
Isn’t that strange, I was just commenting to my brother who is an ancestry buff, that I had virtually given up hope of finding my husband Don’s ancestors in Wales.. that is, the Griffiths side.
Have you done your DNA genie56? I have been doing Don’s tree in Ancestry and there are 566 cousins 5-7 generations ago. There are only 4 Griffiths in a closer relationship but 2 can’t be members anymore as they have not replied to my queries. These Griffiths are obviously not in a direct line as they come from Pembrokeshire, Coity, Bridgend, Shropshire and London. Somewhere in the 1700’s there must have been the family which they came from.
Your area sounds right. From the little information I have had from family, they lived above Cardiff area of Wales, and they travelled to and from the Smelters in Swansea. Charles Barber Griffiths jnr wrote his memoirs and he says it is what his father, Charles Barber senior told him. This man migrated as a child with his father John Griffiths, our Pioneer in Burra. They were all stone masons. The story though may be a mix of fiction and fact. One cousin said they lived in the Aron? Valley? John allegedly chopped off his trigger finger so he would not have to go to the Crimean War as he had a young family. He then migrated to Australia in 1855. His 5 brothers all died in the Crimean War except David who was the youngest. It was said he returned to find all his family gone so he went to Burra too but was still suffering from dysentery and returned to Wales where he died????There was also supposed to be 2 young sisters Ruth and Gwendoline but I have not found any of them anywhere!!
I will have a look at the Census you said and explore that area.
If you can help at all that would be great.
Do you live in Wales? We did go to Swansea to see if we could find anyone but we didn’t.
I am writing to a Linda Griffiths in London. We thought it was her late husband who was related but it’s actually Linda and she was an Ahern. I also write to the Jones side in Swansea,,so that is one good thing! Hope to hear from you. Barbara

[genie65]

Hi Barbara it is  a minefield trying to find my Griffiths family But John G was  a master builder and mason an hopefully may fit into your family as his children  all came to live in Wandiligong Victoria Australia about 1857-1867 when Mary his first daughter  married  my ggrandfather Donald Forbes in 1853 Trevethin Pontypool  WALES  and settled there with Marys  sisters and brothers were Sarah 1834, Adeline1836, Marie Louisa 1837 James 1838 and John g 1841 who died four months after Sarahs death  from typhoid in 1842

My gg grandfather John Griffiths circa 1808?-1852 was  listed on the 1851 census for Trevethin, Pontypool Monmouthshire, as born in MANTWILL Glamorgan. I have found a William and Sarah Griffiths as his possible parents from Melincryddan Neath Glamorgan  John G baptized when 10 birth old noted as an 1808 birth All  deaths recorded at St Cardoc's Church Trevethin Pontypool Monmouthshire

John G notes his father was William Griffiths  on his second marriage records to Margaret Harris DAVIES (1801-1880+). He was  firstly married to Sarah Morris circa 1805 who died in 1842 Pontypool possibly born Monmouthshire  maybe to John Morris and Sarah Mysham or similiar

Margaret's johns  second marriage first husband was David Davies 1786-1842 both from MARLYBONE London who had been married to Elizabeth Jones (circa 1786-1838) lived   later ijn Trevethin Monmouthshire . 

Margaret and Elizabeth Jones Davies (Abt 1787-1838) David DAVIES 1784-1840  first wife ) were listed as Inn Keeper and David  Davies as Brewer who owned the Three Cranes in Crane St Trevethin Monmouthshire on the 1841 and 1851 census. Davies children were relocated to relatives on David's death in 1840 but not Elizabeth D who was adopted by John Griffiths and Margaret Carolyn Harris, Davies father John Harris was a tailor in London Harris family from Malhilibad or Goytre  Monmouthshire

To complicate things further Margaret Harris Davies Griffiths then married William Phillips in 1865 a wealthy coal miner and land owner and died after him about 1880 step mother to about 30 children with none her own just her stepdaughter Elizabeth davies
Hope this helps live in Melbourne where are you residing  Happy new year Jeanne

[burrahills]

Hi Jeanne,
I live in Adelaide, South Australia.
We are going to Bright in October this year so might check out Wandiligong.
I don't think your family are my Griffiths, but it is hard to say. I have found out that there are relations all from Coity, near Bridgend in Wales. They are not on my husband's Don immediate line but are related by DNA. There was a William in that lot born 1787 married to Sarah Truman. They were stonemasons and I would say that he was a brother of our great great great grandfather. Can't prove it of course but there would have to be siblings somewhere. The Coity lot had lots of children and some went to WA and some settled in Mt Larcombe near Gladstone in Qld. I honestly am at a loss what happened to our original pioneer's family. They might have all died from typhoid! The maternal side of our pioneer was Sarah Barber Jones and I've since found from DNA that some Jones went and settled in Sebastopol near Ballarat.
Anyway I am happy to keep looking …it’s like a big jigsaw and I've always liked jigsaws!
Happy New Year to you too! Barbara Griffiths