I have made family links to Wrexham and Bersham in Denbighshire Wales after a whisper came from my Grandfather that the the Read family originally hailed from wealth in Wales. It took 4 generations back to prove.
My father made a visit to the Welsh coast 1949, as a small child, travelling by train from Prestatyn through Chester and back to Manchester. He remembers my grandfather pointing to a house on the Welsh coast and commenting that it belonged to an earlier Read ancestor who was very wealthy. The village of Ffynnongroew has also been mentioned as a place that continued on for family holidays over the years, and the 2 may be linked.
The family tree has shown that John Read born Wrexham 1802, Cordwainer and Inn keeper in Manchester is a likely candidate. He was Landlord of the Old Blue Lion Public House in Cook St Salford, and employed several staff, shoe makers and a servant.
His Grandson John Read, Railway Inspector , born Salford in 1871, is another possibility.
Is there any advice on making links between a person and a village? Welsh census (that survived) for the earlier years have not revealed any connections with this coastal area.... the Read family children were baptised in Salford and Wrexham at intermittent periods with John obviously travelling/ living between the 2 townships.
I hope to visit the areas in June 2015, and would like to maximise chances of success with research, first. (I have lived in New Zealand since emigrating from Salford in 1970.)
Any advice would be welcomed.
