Find Ancestors

Hello.

I'm trying to find out more about my ancestors. This is as far back as my mothers side know and I'm desperate to learn more about her as she was a seamstress (like me, my mother, my mother aunt etc).

Theres a story that she worked as a shirt maker for Rhuddlan Hall in N. Wales and fell pregnant by one of the Langfords (Longfords?) with her daughter Sarah (no surname found for her, presuming it would be Griffiths?). However, the dates I have don't seem to add up, as Sarahs daughter Eleanor was born in 1900 (one of seven kids) which seems a bit late?

The reason I have a birth year is because I have 2 of Mary's childhood samplers, with MARY GRIFFITHS AGED 11 :: 1845 neatly cross stitched along the bottom.

Anyway, needless to say I am eager to find out whatever I can about her.

Thank you for reading :)

Eleanor

Have you found her in any censuses? Do you know the town/village where she lived?

The combination of names is quite common and there is more than one possibility. You should also consider that she might have been recorded as Griffith.

1841 Census Household Record
Household Information
Address Llanrhydd Street
Parish Llanrhydd
District Ruthin, Ruthin
Administrative County Denbighshire
Householder 1
Name Morris Griffiths
Age 50
Estimated Year of Birth 1791
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Householder 2
Name Sophia Griffiths
Age 40
Estimated Year of Birth 1801
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation
Birth Place
Birth County
Householder 3
Name Willm Griffiths
Age 20
Estimated Year of Birth 1821
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Householder 4
Name Elizth Griffiths
Age 15
Estimated Year of Birth 1826
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Juvenile
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Householder 5
Name John Griffiths
Age 15
Estimated Year of Birth 1826
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Juvenile
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Householder 6
Name Mary Jane Griffiths
Age 8
Estimated Year of Birth 1833
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Juvenile
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Householder 7
Name George Griffiths
Age 5
Estimated Year of Birth 1836
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Juvenile
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Householder 8
Name Goodman Griffiths
Age 2
Estimated Year of Birth 1839
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Juvenile
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire

Wow... I'm speechless, that certainly a brilliant springboard you just provided me with. It will be so fascinating to see where it leads!

(I'm supposed to be writing essays right now but I'm so engrossed!)

Adeline said:
"Have you found her in any censuses? Do you know the town/village where she lived?

The combination of names is quite common and there is more than one possibility. You should also consider that she might have been recorded as Griffith."

All I know is the family ended up in Dyserth, a small village in Denbighshire. Thats where her daughter Sarah ran the Post Office... But I can't help but think she would have been young/unmarried when she got "caught" and therefore Sarah could have been her granddaughter? Maybe I'm reading too much into this?! It all gets quite confusing!

Do you have Sarah and her daughter Eleanor (+ rest of family) on a 1901/1911 census which you could post? Perhaps we can work back from known facts.

Ages wise it could work out eg.
Mary 1834, Sarah possible 1858 when Mary aged 24, Eleanor would have been born when Mum was 42, not impossible

EDIT - did Sarah marry, what was her surname then?

Could this be the family in 1901 in Dyserth?

Name: Eleanor M Hughes
Age in 1901: 3
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1898
Relation: Daughter
Father's Name: William Hughes
Mother's Name: Sarah Hughes
Gender: Female
Where born: Dyserth, Flintshire, Wales

Civil parish: Dyserth
Ecclesiastical parish: Dyserth St Bridget
Town: Dyserth
County/Island: Flintshire
Country: Wales

Registration district: St Asaph
Sub-registration district: St Asaph
ED, institution, or vessel: 5
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 16
Piece: 5234
Folio: 43
Page Number: 2
Household Members: Name Age
William Hughes 28
Sarah Hughes 28 dressmaker born Dyserth
Thomas G Hughes 5
Eleanor M Hughes 3
William H Hughes 8 Months
Mary Jones 69 b Whitford retired dressmaker mother in law to head of household

The dates could work out fine ...if Mary was 11 in 1845 she may have had Sarah as late as 1860 then Sarah would only have been abt 40 when Eleanor was born....not at all uncommon for the time frame you are searching....

Crossed with Stuart's post...!!

Thats it Adeline, thats my great grandmother who I was named after, she married a John Henry Hodges who was known as Jack.

But on Eleanors Birth Record there is nothing listed under "mothers maiden name" I'm presuming it's because Sarah might have been illegitimate?

This is really sad I know, but I'm so excited that we're all dressmakers!

I feel like it is a massive connection. I'm almost in tears just reading this info!

Stuart, sorry, I missed your reply.

Sarah Married William Hughes, but is Mary was a Jones when she got married maybe Sarah took that name too? It's blown my mind completely.

FMP Version with occupations, place of birth etc.
One of those places that obviously can come under 2 counties when checking records!! It all helps......

1901 census transcription details for: Rose Massy, Dyserth (Flint), Dyserth

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG13
Piece: 5234
Folio: 43
Page: 2
Reg. District: St Asaph
Sub District: St Asaph
Parish: Dyserth (Flint)
Enum. District: 5
Ecclesiastical District: Dyserth St Budget
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Rose Massy, Dyserth (Flint), Dyserth
County: Denbighshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
HUGHES, William Head Married M 28 1873 Assist Crane DriverBodwrog, Anglesey
HUGHES, Sarah Wife Married F 28 1873 DressmakerDyserth, Flintshire
HUGHES, Thomas G Son M 5 1896 Dyserth, Flintshire
HUGHES, Eleanor M Daughter F 3 1898 Dyserth, Flintshire
HUGHES, William H Son M 0 (8 MOS) 1901 Dyserth, Flintshire
JONES, Mary Mother-In-Law Widow F 67 1834 Retired Dressmaker Whitford, Flintshire

Possible for Mary......A check of her occup.is needed...
Mary Griffith
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1871
Gender: Female
Age: 37
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Birthplace: Whitford, Flintshire
Schedule Type: Household
Registration District: St Asaph
Sub-District: St Asaph
Parish: Dysuth
County: Denbighshire
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Self Thomas Griffith M 76 New Marske, Flintshire
Daughter Mary Griffith F 37 Whitford, Flintshire

Here in 1891 - Sarah has taken the Jones name, but may have married as Griffiths if that was her birth name

1891 census transcription details for: Brynia, Dyserth, Dymeirchion

National Archive Reference:
RG number: RG12
Piece: 4626
Folio: 52
Page: 20
Reg. District: St Asaph
Sub District: St Asaph
Parish: Dyserth
Enum. District: 5
Ecclesiastical District: Dyserth
City/Municipal Borough:
Address: Brynia, Dyserth, Dymeirchion
County: Denbighshire
Name Relation Condition Sex Age Birth Year Occupation , Disability Where Born
JONES, Mary Head Widow F 57 1834 Dressmaker Whitford, Flintshire
JONES, Sarah G Daughter Single F 18 1873 Dressmaker Dyserth, Flintshire

1881.....

Name: Sarah Griffiths
Age (Original): 8
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1873
Birthplace: Wales
Relationship to Head of Household: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: Scholar
Address: Rose Marry
Event Place: Dyserth (Flint), Denbighshire, Wales
Disability:
Record Type: Household
GS Film number: 1342328
Affiliate Publication Number: RG11
Piece/Folio: 5527 / 63
Page Number: 28
Household Gender Age Birthplace
Head William Jones M 61 Wales
Wife Mary Jones F 47 Wales
**Daughter Sarah Griffiths F 8 Wales***

1841 Census Record
Personal Information
Name Mary Griffiths
Age 6
Estimated Year of Birth 1835
Relationship to Head of Household
Occupation Juvenile
Address Coed Llydan Bach
District Llanrwst Union, Llanrwst
Parish Llanrwst
Administrative County Denbighshire
Birth Place Denbighshire
Birth County Denbighshire
Reference Information
Folio 19/5
Page 3
Piece 1403

Stuart ..Can you check the 1871 Census for the occup.of the said Mary living with her father Thomas please...I dont have facility...Thank you.

Erin

Looks like you are right with the 1871.
Thomas is a Carpenter and MAry a dressmaker, so looks like she married after 1871 and pre 1891. Will have a look for 1881

So much information... I don't know how to thank you all for your help with this. It means so much to me, and to find that Sarah was a dressmaker too! Her daughter Eunice was as well... shame it skipped over Eleanor! I think I may have to take a trip back to Dyserth soon. I'm feeling all nostalgic!