Genealogy Chat

Hi everyone - sorry to have been away from this post for a day or two - and thank you to everyone who has contributed.

The witnesses on the certificate are - David and John Evans. I know this probably isnt much help as Evans in Wales are somewhat plentiful!!

As for the miners being recorded, i wasnt sure if they would be recorded as an 'institution' as boat passengers etc. When someone is visiting on the night of the census, they generally seem to be recorded wherever they are, as a 'visitor'. As I do not know (at the moment, anyway) where Lewis would have been mining, locating him at his place of work would have been difficult anyway, so i was kinda hoping that he ought to have been listed at home.

Another thought is that he might have been born 'out of wedlock' so to speak and that the William bit was made up, either by his mother, or by him on the marraige cert. I have considered that he might have been fibbing about his age when he got married too, but the age at death does lend itself to a birth around 1843 anyway.

I have a feeling this may be destined to stay a mystery!!

They'ld be listed at their usual abode. It's not like you can take the dog out for a 10 min walk at 5 min to midnight and avoid getting enumerated.

Actually, it's more problematic for people who were really away from home for more than a day, like long-haul train drivers and fishermen.

Hi Julie,

Who were the witnesses at his marriage, if their surname was also Griffiths it may help.

Chris

Yes, cathy, Im pretty sure that what you have there is our Lewis Luke junior.

:o)

Hi Julie,

So is this Lewis Jnr and his Mother at her parents?

1871 Census
Name: Lewis Griffith
Age: 1
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Relation: Son
Father's Name: Wm
Mother's Name: Thirza
Gender: Male
Where born: Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales
Civil parish: Trevethin
Ecclesiastical parish: Pontnewynydd St Luke
County/Island: Monmouthshire
Country: Wales
Registration district: Pontypool
Sub-registration district: Pontypool
ED, institution, or vessel: 15
Household schedule number: 4
Household Members: Name Age
Wm Chivers 4
Thirza Chivers 40
Ellen Griffith 25
Lewis Griffith 1
Sarah Chivers 13
Eliz Chivers 15

And this must be his birth...
Name: Lewis Luke Griffiths
Year of Registration: 1870
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
District: Pontypool
County: Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 142 (click to see others on page)

Yes, this is the right Lewis! He was just 27 when he died from Typhoid. His wife gave birth to a son just five days later. The baby was named Lewis after his father.

Just wish we could find Lewis seniors' birth and his location on the two earlier census in 1851 and 1861. Its so difficult to find a Griffiths in Wales!

Probably not the right one as he died in 1870....

Name: Lewis Luke Griffiths
Estimated birth year: abt 1843
Year of Registration: 1870
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at Death: 27
District: Pontypool
County: Gwent, Monmouthshire
Volume: 11a
Page: 110 (click to see others on page)

He is a bit of a mystery unfortunately. We cannot find a birth for him, but we know he was 24 when he married in 1869. His father was definitely William but we dont know his mother.

I have tried searching for Lewis, Lewis Luke and just Luke but have had no luck as yet.

As he was a miner on his marriage cert, I thought perhaps this might be why I cannot find him.

Do you know his parents' names?...or where he was born?

Possibly he is transcribed using just one forename.

Gwyn

Does anyone know if the census recorded miners that were underground on the night the records were taken?

I cant find Lewis Luke Griffiths (age approx 16) of the Trevethin area, on the 1861 census and wonder if this is why. Did the mines do their own headcounts? There must have been lots of men underground each time the census was done.

All help much appreciated.