John Edwards from - take your pick!

[Lesleyann]

My great-grandfather was John Edwards, born in 1857/58 and here's where my problem starts. The 1891 census says he was born in Hengoed, Shropshire, the 1901 and 1911 censuses say Rhos-y-Medre, Denbighshire and the 1921 says Oswestry. I know I have the correct man on these censuses because John has his wife, Alice and their daughter, Alice Jane, with him. John married Alice Wicks in 1888 in Nantyglo and the marriage cert says his father was Edward Edwards and John was living in Nantyglo at the time.

I cannot find him attached to an Edward Edwards on any census anywhere. I've entertained the idea that his mother married twice but I've got nowhere with that either. John died in 1931 in Ynysybwl and is buried there. His wife, Alice, died shortly after childbirth in 1891 in Tirphil.

I'd be glad if anyone can suggest how I can progress from here. I can't order a birth cert for him because I really have no idea where he was born.

[CaroleW]

Is any occupation shown for Edward on John's marriage cert?

His wife, Alice, died shortly after childbirth in 1891 in Tirphil

the 1901 and 1911 censuses say Rhos-y-Medre, Denbighshire and the 1921 says Oswestry. I know I have the correct man on these censuses because John has his wife, Alice and their daughter, Alice Jane, with him

You say his wife Alice died shortly after childbirth in 1891 but that the 1901/11/21 censuses have his wife Alice with him??

[osprey]

so this family in 1891
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HM3D-9W2

and daughter Alice J with her widower father in 1901
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X911-CV2

One of the witnesses on the marriage is a David Edwards. Have you tried tracing him?

[Gadget]

Is this his baptism in Hengoed (Gobowen, near Oswestry) in 1856

30 Sept 1856  John Edwards son of  Edward and Elizabeth. Edward is a Labourer in the register.

Gadget

[Gadget]

This could be the family i n 1851, before John was born

Hengoed, house in the field, Selattyn

Edward, 38, Labourer,  b. Llansilin
Elizabeth 36, b. do
David, 8, b. Llanfechan, Montgomery
Mary, 1, b Selattyn


and 1861
Daywell, Oswestry (Daywell near Gobowen}

Elizabeth, 46, widow
Mary, 11
John, 4, b Whittington - not far away from the Selattyn-Oswestry- Gobowen area 

[osprey]

That looks interesting, Gadget!

I'll show my workings -

1911 census
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XW6R-CH5

John is enumerated as uncle. Have you traced the family he is related to?

Births of children in the household
Irene Davies sept qtr 1909 Pontypridd vol 11a pg 605 mmn Edwards
William Edward Davies sept qtr 1907 Llandilofawr vol 11a pg 1257 mmn Edwards

marriage of parents John Davies dec qtr 1905 Pontypridd vol 11a pg 938 with Elizabeth Ann Edwards on the same page. But parish record isn't online to check details.

This 1901 census could be Elizabeth Ann with her mother remarried to Morgan Coomb(s)
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X911-4NN

same family in 1891, David Edwards is head of household - born Llanfyllyn, Montgomeryshire.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HMQQ-NZM

1881 census with a boarder John Edwards of the right age but his birth enumerated as Tredegar.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q27T-N7Z5

[Gadget]

 I know that area well, osprey - home ground 

This could be possible for Edward's burial. Age is a bit out from census but ....

Hengoed 30 Oct 1856  Edward Edwards, 46. Abode - Daywell

[Gadget]

One of the witnesses on the marriage is a David Edwards. Have you tried tracing him?

This would fit with the 1851 - David aged 8 on that.

Add - and your 1891 link

[osprey]

birth reg for youngest Edwards child
Wyndham Rees Edwards march qtr 1891 Merthyr Tydfil vol 11a pg 613 mmn Jones

parish marriage 21 Feb 1870 parish church of Rhymney
David Edwards 25 bach collier Tredegar father Edward Edwards labourer
Mary Jones 19 spinster Tredegar father David Jones collier
witnesses Thomas Thomas & Ann Seward