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Hi I am trying to find a Welsh family prior to 1841. I have had no luck on the LDS site. On one of the marriage certificates they are shown as being married in ’ Sardis Chapel by rites and ceremonies of the Independents ‘ Please can anyone tell me how to proceed with searching for them. Many thanks Tricia

There were several little non-conformist religious sects in Wales. The common link will be that everywhere that was licensed for marriages had to send a copy of every register entry to the local Register Office. If the minister wasn't licensed to conduct weddings the Registrar would have to do the legal part of the ceremony and it would be recorded in a register he brought with him. So there should be a record at the register office, even if a copy never got sent to the General Register Office to go in the quarterly index. There must be a clue in the certificate as to who filled in the register and which registration district the marriage took place in. When the register was full (or the chapel closed) the register should have gone to the register office. The fact that you have a certificate indicates that this particular marriage took place after the start of national registration in 1837. Prior to 1837 any record of a marriage would be in a register maintained by the chapel. That register should have been sent to the County records office or archives. Any help so far? J

Hi John Thanks for your reply. I have traced them without any trouble up to and including 1841. With other lines I am researching I have usually found some of them on the LDS site and will be able to verify the info via parish records. With the Welsh side there is no trace of them on LDS so I will do as you suggest and find and approach the County records office. I assume they are not accessible on line. Regards Tricia

Tricia As John saidalot of welsh communities had indepandent Churches/ Chapels and many others had Methodist Chapels. I googled Sardis Chapel, and one is metioned on Archives Network Wales. You didn't say where you were looking for the family so I don't know if what I found relates to the area you want or not, if it's not tou can ignore it. Reference code(s): GB 0222 BMSS SCM Held at: University of Wales Bangor Title: Sardis Chapel, Malltraeth Records Short Title: Sardis Chapel, Malltraeth Records Creation date(s): 1980's [including copies of originals dated 1863-1960] Level of description: fonds Extent: 6 items Name of creator(s): Sardis Calvinistic Methodist Chapel, Malltraeth The work of building Sardis Chapel in the village of Malltraeth, Anglesey was completed in 1860 and the chapel immediately came under the supervision of the Reverend Owen Owen of Bethel C.M. Chapel, Anglesey. Amongst the ministers that followed in the footsteps of Owen Owen were, W. H. Jones, Valley; J.R. Owen, Carmel; J. Price Williams; J. D. Jones and Arwyn Jones. For further material relating to Sardis Chapel consult the General Collection of Bangor Manuscripts 35997-35999, 36003 , also held at the Archives Department of the University of Wales Bangor. Content: Photocopies of Sardis Chapel Records, such as a register of baptisms, 1863-1954, plans, minutes and a history of the cause written by Robert Thomas.

Hi Lunar Thanks for your reply. They lived in Glamorgan and originated in Monmouth. The marriage cert I have is for 1878 and if they were Calvinists then, I suppose they would have followed that religion all along. I will try contacting the university to see if they can help me and I will also contact the County Records Office. Regards Tricia

hi tricia i was married at sardis chapel,it in the village of kilgetty dyfed my mother in law is the treasurer there bacardi xxx

Hi Bacardi The chapel Enoch Edwards was married in was in Pontypridd, in 1878.I don't know if that is the same as yours, as I am not conversant with Welsh districts. Until I can contact the County Records office and can prove they originated in Monmouth, I will still have suspicions that they were deposited there by aliens...lol cheers Tricia

Try this site for the Sardis chapel at Pontypridd - there is a photo of it http://freepages(.)history.rootsweb(.)com/~glamorgan/welsh-chapels/rhondda-photos-1(.)htm remove brackets Jay