Find Ancestors

Hi folks.

I'm trying to trace the ancesors of my GGGG-grandfather, Evan Harris/Harries (his surname is Harries on his wedding certificate, but Harris on all subsequent census records). The marriage certificate, dated 1864, states that his father was Evan Harries, a relieving officer. The marriage took plce at Dihewyd, a small parish in Cardiganshire, West Wales, where bride and groom were both resident.

There appear to be no census records of him proir to his marriage, nor can I find a baptism on the IGI or on FreeREG.org.uk

Can anyone help me? It would be much appreciated.

What was Evan's age when he married and his wife's name?

Oooo,Dihewyd.

I know it well,lived near it for years,just up the road and round the corner by about 10 miles from me now.

And does it give an address that he married from please?
And any witnesses names?

I haven't actually got the certificate - the info was e-mailed to ey by the Cardiganshire Archives, and the bride and groom's ages were not included in the e-mail. However, going from the census, both evan and his bride, Sarah Williams, were around 30 on the wedding day.

The marriage?

Surname First name(s) District Vol Page
Marriages Mar 1864 (>99%)
Harries Evan Aberayron 11b 63
Williams Sarah Aberayron 11b 63

Can you give a census that you have them on please..

The address given for both bride and groom is 'Maesgwyn'. The witnesses were Evan Harries (preasumably the groom's father) and David Davies.

What is Evan Juniors occupation on census and marriage.

I am not seeing him and Sarah on 1881 ,can you give it or another?

I have them on all censuses from 1871 onwards, by which time they had moved to the parish of Llanwonno in Glamorgan. They had their five children, inclusind mu GGG-grandmother, Eleanor (born 1865, Dihewyd) living woth them, in addition to Evan's son (I think) from a previous relationship, and Sarah's mother, Margaret Williams.

1881 for ref.


HARRIS, Evan Head Married F 47 1834 Coal Miner
Cardiganshire
Wales
HARRIS, Sarah Wife Married F 46 1835
Cardiganshire
Wales
HARRIS, John Son Single M 24 1857 Coal Miner
Cardiganshire
Wales
HARRIS, Eleanor Daughter Single F 15 1866
Cardiganshire
Wales
HARRIS, Henry Son Single M 13 1868 Coal Miner Son
Dowlais
Glamorganshire
Wales
HARRIS, Margaret J Daughter Single F 10 1871 Scholar
Dowlais
Glamorganshire
Wales
HARRIS, Sarah A Daughter Single F 7 1874 Scholar
M Ash
Glamorganshire
Wales
RG number:
RG11 Piece:
5295 Folio:
159 Page:
52

Registration District:
Pontypridd Sub District:
Pontypridd Enumeration District:
Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish:
Llanwonno Municipal Borough:
Address:
25, Strand St, Llanwonno County:
Glamorganshire


1871
HARRIS, Evan Head M 38 1833 Cardiganshire (Llangunlla?)
HARRIS, Sarah Wife F 37 1834 Cardiganshire (Dihewyd)

So for reference the family in 1871

Name: Evan Harris
Age: 28 (the image is 38)
Estimated birth year: abt 1843
Relation: Head
Spouse's name: Sarah
Gender: Male
Where born: Llangwnlla, Cardiganshire, Wales
Civil parish: Merthyr Tydfil
Ecclesiastical parish: Merthyr Tydfil
Town: Merthyr Tydfil
County/Island: Glamorgan
Country: Wales
Registration district: Merthyr Tydfil
Sub-registration district: Upper Merthyr Tydfil
ED, institution, or vessel: 18
Household schedule number: 136
Household Members:
Name Age
Evan Harris 28 (the image is 38)
Sarah Harris 37
John Harris 14
Eleanor Harris 7
Henry Harris 4
Evan Harris 2
Margret Williams 72
Rees Lewis 22

Is this him in 1901?

HARRIS, Evan Widr Married M 67 1834
Llongwlle
Cardiganshire


Civil Parish:
Llanwonno Municipal Borough:
Address:
5, Beckett Street, Llanwonno, Mountain Ash

Yes, theese are the right census records. It's trying to find him prior to the marriage to Sarah that's been the problem thus far. If it helps, his occupation on the marriage is noted as 'carrier'.

There are no place names like Llangunlla/o near Dihewyd,in fact that is near Knighton in Powys.

Llangwlle is a mistranscription I would say and I amstill trying to work out what it may be.
Maybe
LLancwnlle?Which is Tregaron way.

His place of birth will help to try and locate him on earlier census.

Evan is Welsh for John and in those days when the English liked everything Anglecised he may have been down as John and not Evan.

There is this man who is a relieving officer ,but in Worcester,so I dont think it is Evan Senior,but putting it here for thought.


HARRIS, John Head Widower M 73 1788 Reliving Officer Rigistrar Of Births And Deaths
Eckington
Worcestershire
HARRIS, Myra A Daughter Unmarried F 29 1832 Schoolmistress Of Day School
Eckington
Worcestershire
HARRIS, Elizabeth H Daughter Unmarried F 25 1836 Dressmaker
Eckington
Worcestershire
HARRIS, Catherine M Daughter Unmarried F 23 1838
Eckington
Worcestershire
RG number:
RG09 Piece:
2104 Folio:
50 Page:
24

Registration District:
Pershore Sub District:
1 Eckington Enumeration District:
4 Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish:
Eckington Municipal Borough:
Address:
Bunn Street, Eckington County:
Worcestershire


Relieving officers were employed to receive applications for relief, and make payments when these had been approved by the Board. They also issued orders to admit people to workhouses.

1871

HARRIES, Martha Head F 29 1842 Cardiganshire (Dihewyd)
LEWIS, Sarah Daughter F 6 1865 Cardiganshire
LEWIS, John Son M 1 1870 Cardiganshire
RG number:
RG10 Piece:
5553 Folio:
4 Page:
2

Registration District:
Aberayron Sub District:
Llandisilio Enumeration District:
1 Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish:
Dihewyd Municipal Borough:
Address:
Maesgwyn, Dihewyd County:
Cardiganshire

Martha is unmarried so maybe the children have been taken in by her.

I can see the possibility of Evan's borthplace being Llancwnlle. I had previously thought that it might be Llangynllo, near Newcastle Emlyn. What do you think?

It could be either,they are different on each census,but neither are that close to Dihewyd.

At least we have the LLAN being consistent,as though that helps Ha Ha..:)

I will keep on with this but have to go out for a couple of hours.

A look up of the local workhouses for its relieving officers in 1861 may be an idea.

Will think on things while I am gone.

Oh.
And John Harris born 1857 may have been born to Sarah before marriage so would be a Williams on 1861 maybe?

I GOT HIM..I would think anyway as how many more Evan Harries Relieving Officers in the LLANARTH / Dihewyd area would there be?

It was ,and is far too small an area to require many R.Os..

1851

HARRIES, Evan Head Married M 39 1812 Relieving Officer
Dihewid
Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Mary Wife Married F 42 1809
Llanllwin
Carmarthenshire
HARRIES, Martha Daughter Unmarried F 15 1836 Sholar
Cellan
Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Sally Daughter F 10 1841 Sholar
Llanarth
Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Henry Son M 7 1844 Sholar
Llanarth
Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Mary Anne Daughter F 5 1846
Llanarth
Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Grace Daughter F 3 1848
Llanarth
Cardiganshire
RG number:
HO107 Piece:
2484 Folio:
282 Page:
8

Registration District:
Aberayron Sub District:
Llandisilio Enumeration District:
2B Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish:
Llanarth Municipal Borough:
Address:
Penybont Gwith, Llanarth County:
Cardiganshire

1841

HARRIES, Evan M 29 1812 (R.O) Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Mary F 30 1811
>>>>HARRIES, John M 7 1834 Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Martha F 5 1836 Cardiganshire
HARRIES, Jane F 3 1838 Cardiganshire
-, - F 0 (5 weeks) 1841 Cardiganshire
RG number:
HO107 Piece:
1375 Book/Folio:
6/6 Page:
5

Registration District:
Aberayron Sub District:
Llandisiliogogo Enumeration District:
Ecclesiastical Parish:

Civil Parish:
Llanarth Municipal Borough:
Address:
Penbontchwith, Llanarth County:
Cardiganshire

Interesting idea about the 1861 records. Definitely worth following up, I think.

I'll run a quick BMD check for John under the Williams name, although I've already found a couple of possibles under the Harries name. I'm still waiting for theArchives in Aberystwyth to check the marriage again and let me know whether the bride and/or groom had been previously married.

Back later to try and follow them through,I am running late now !

The Lampeter/Cardigan Registrar is setting up a website for all the BMDs that she holds.

Things may get easier in those districts to find then.

But she is always so busy that Evan knows when she will get it up and running..