Brilliant -so pleased it is encouraging Dad to talk about his family.
Also pleased that it looks as if we are on the correct "trail"
it was not unusual for people to be unable to read and write -even up to early 1900's.
Schoolwork -if they attended school -as they usually had to pay-(for girls education consisted of sewing, cooking etc-the 3R's didn't have much attention paid to as they were considered uneccessary and they didn't have the facilities)
it doesn't mean the person was "dull" -they couldn't learn what they had not been taught.
With the new information from the certificate we can now trace Mary Jones back a little further
(it seems Meredith Powell was named after his grandfather meredith Jones!!!)
This is looks a strong possibility for Mary Jones (before she married)
1861
Llwynawel
address of farm
Nantymynach
John Williams head M 33 Farmer of 113 acres Nantmel Radnor
Mary wife 29 Swansea Glamorgan
John w son 11 Nantmel Radnor
Eliza R daughter 9 Nantmel
Edward son 6 Nantmel
Mary H daughter 3 nantmel
Annie E daughter 1 Nantmel
margaret Owen neice 10 Landovery
MARY JONES visitor U 37 Servant Llwynawel Brecon
Ellen Jones servant U 35 House Servant Lwynawel brecon
John Morris servant U 32 carter Nantmel
John Evans servant U ag lab Cwmdandwr
RG9 4238 22 14
Possibly mary Jones was visiting her (possible) sister Ellen, who was in service to the Williams family
1851
Llanwrthyl brecon
address of farm (looks like?) Ghemrhywsely
Evan Evans Head W 46 Farmer odf 70 acres
John son 12
Evan son 10
Margaret daughter 8
Mary daughter 6
Edward son 3
Rachel Davies sister in law M 51 Visitor
MARY JONES neice U 28 House Servant
Jane Jones neice U 23 House servant
all b. Llanwrthwl
HO107 2494 133 14
So it looks like MARY JONES was living with her Uncle and maybe Jane was her sister??? Maybe rachel davies was some relation too
1841
Llanwrthwl Lower Brecon
Farm address: (looks like -but can't be certain) Genrirog Uchaf
Evan Evans 35 Farmer
Margaret Evans30
Evan Evans 70
Elinor Evans 70
John Evans 2
Evan Evans 1
Rachel Davies 40
Rees Jones 15 MS No
MARY JONES 15 FS
Jane Jones 13 Foster Child (crossed through)
Meredith Jones 10 Foster child (Crossed through)
all except Rees Jones b. in county
HO107 1365 7 9
so it looks like Mary Jones' parents may have died and she lived with her Aunt and Uncle
maybe Rachel Davies was an aunt too?
Possibly Rees, Jane and Meredith (along with Ellen from a previous census) were Mary's siblings?
A post requesting baptisms may confirm this (or otherwise)
There is a submitted entry on IGI (not extracted) -so it should be treated with caution, but it may be a possibility?
Could this be Mary's parents
Merdith Jones b. 1797
christened 24 June 1797
Llanwrthwl brecon
father John Jones, mother Mary Price
Then there is (extracted record -and birth date doesn't match previous) but sounds a very strong possibility for Mary's father
Meredith Jones b.13th oct 1797
died at Geniron Ishaf (sound very similar to address mary was at in 1841 with her uncle Evan Evans)
buried 17 may 1834 Llanwrthwl Brecon
and then this marriage
Meredith Jones
married
Jane Evans b. 1796
on
17 may 1811
so the scenario could be that mary jones (and possible siblings) lived with her mothers brother (Evan Evans)
To find out more about who kept the farms you may find some information in Historical Directories.
It's very difficult with Welsh names being mistranscribed/misinterpreted.
You could try putting the names into a search engine
Try looking at the History of the area.
If you need it I can take another look at the census we have found your ancestors on and look at addresses surrounding.
Sometimes you can find a pub name or street name and their dwelling may be a few houses away -so it can narrow the area from that.
That's something for you to ponder on!!
You are doing really well -certificates are usually well worth their money when reseaching
Suz