Genealogy Chat

I have been searching for the marriage of Richard Roberts to Mary Ellen Evans for years.

I know that they had a son - William Wynne Davies Roberts on 10th April 1902 in Williams Street, Hoole, Chester, which is what gave me his parent's names.

However, I cannot find anything for them marriage wise and cannot find any definates for them on the 1901 census either.

And! I can't find William on the 1911 census. Found a family comprising Richard Roberts, Mary Ellen and 2 children: Thomas John and Rosamund Dilys and they record they had been married for 11 years and have had 3 children one of whom died. I have William Wynne Davies Robert's marriage certificate so know he didn't die.

Richard Roberts is recorded on William's birth certificate as a Railway Porter and I have scoured the 1901 in Hoole for such a man to no avail? Found a possible Mary Ellen Evans though so they could have got married just after that.

Any ideas on this illusive marriage?

Much appreciated, Kate

Thanks for that. It is Mary Ellen rather than Mary Ann but I have been looking for possibles for a long time (I have Ancestry). I thought the key would be to find them as a family on 1911 but that has so far failed me too.

Thanks for your help,

Kate

I have the same problem.My grandmother is on the 1891 census as a nursechild.
In 1901 with the same family as lodger.
Her birth cert has parents as married. Her marriage cert has her fathers name. No sign of either parent married or single.
No deaths .

On the 1911 census she is a servant

Aha! The Welsh 1911 census - yes! That is probably going to do it. I know that William ended up in Surrey as that is where he married and where he lived but of course they could have been in the Welsh regions before then! That is great - thanks.

Kate

Kathryn,

This is the only Richard Roberts I can find on the 1901 census in Chester who is a Railway porter. There is a William Evans visiting !! and he was born in Glan Conway, Derbyshire. Might be a route to follow ....


1901 England Census
Name: Richard Roberts
Age: 18
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Relation: Lodger
Gender: Male
Where born: Heorgord, Shropshire, England

Civil Parish: Chester
Ecclesiastical parish: St John
County/Island: Cheshire
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Chester
Sub registration district: Chester Castle
ED, institution, or vessel: 8
Neighbors: View others on page
Household schedule number: 76
Household Members: Name Age
Sarah Squires 59
Ellis James Carman 12
Mary Gladys Smith 7
Richard Roberts 18
William Evans 27
William Symons 38

Yes - I just found this one. However, I looked for Heorgord in Shropshire - no such place. There is a Hengoed in caerphilly? What do you reckon? Would he not have known which county he came from. Perhaps he had had a bit too much ale on the night of the census!!

Kate

You might be right - Glan Conway can't be found in Derbyshire. Probably Glan Conwy in Wales. Wynne Davies is, I would think, the Welsh connection.

Doesn't really help though does it!!

Perhaps it was his stag night !!

Think they must both be wrong about their counties! Yes - stag night indeed! Wonder if William is Mary Ellen's brother. Problem is - those Welsh names are so common - Evans, Roberts, Davies etc. I knew it would be a tricky one. Kate

Hengoed is near Caerphilly, North West Wales.

Yep - perfect! Found it on Multi-map now. It fits!
Now just need to find that marriage - I have looked again on Ancestry at every Richard Roberts marriage for the correct period and nothing fits. There is just one marriage to a Mary Evans, which would be after William was born so I think it is unlikely although I am no innocent and realise that some folks did it differently.
Anyone know when the Welsh counties will be available on 1911?
Thanks, Kate

Thank you Annie G, Kate

is this a possible? - not too far from Cheshire and railway employees did tend to get moved around

Marriages Sep 1890 (>99%)
EGLIN Frank W. Derby 8b 993 Scan available - click to view
Evans Mary Ellen W.Derby 8b 993 Scan available - click to view
Roberts Richard W. Derby 8b 993 Scan available - click to view
SHEPHERD Lizzie W. Derby 8b 99

Wow - not seen that one before. I suppose it is a possible. I will get the certificate and if he is a Railway Porter - I guess I'm on to a winner. However, it makes my 1901 census Richard Roberts null and void. Thanks for that.
Kate