Catherine (Cassie) Jane Aston (born Elias)

[Kay99]

A emigration, albeit temporary, could well be the reason the family disappear.

Found them I think on Anc New York Passenger Lists - Mary Hannah Elias  Age 25  Arrival New York 4 Oct 1880 on Ship Arizona  which departed from Liverpool   Also with her were daughters Hannah age 5 and Catherine age 3. 

 Possibly not the same family but on the 1881 USA census there is a Thomas Elias born Wales 1850 and listed as married working as a coal miner in Ohio https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBG-RQQ?mode=g&i=20&cc=1417683

On the GRO Birth Index in addition to birth of Catherine Jane Elias in 1875 with mothers maiden name Harris also lists two more births in the Newport Reg District
Hannah Elias March Qtr 1874 Newport  Vol 11A  Page 249
Mary Ann Elias June Qtr 1878 Newport  Vol 11A  Page 245

Free BMD lists the possible death of a Mary Ann Elias Age 0 March Qtr 1879  Newport Vol 11a    Page173

[Kay99]

Possibly unrelated but FreeBMD lists the death of a Mary Hannah Elias age 28 in Dec Qtr 1883 Crickhowell Reg District Vol 11b  Page 75

[cardinalcanary]

That is very good new info that I hadn't been able to track down.

Poor Cassie.

Assuming Thomas Elias is correct, he must have gone ahead to Ohio with the family following in 1880.

The older sister (Mary-Anne) dies in 1879 (before or after Thomas leaves I wonder?).

I don't know his long Cassie was in America but her mother Mary Hannah Harris dies back in Wales in 1883.

I wonder if Cassie is now an orphan or if her father is still around.

By age 16, Cassie is living at the Castle Hotel, Caerphilly and is listed as a barmaid.

What a life she must have had before she met my great grandfather Hiram.

[Kay99]

Yes - A lot of a young child to cope with - maybe lived with Harris grandparents who were living in Bedwas in 1881.   

I wonder what happened to Hannah and Thomas??  Could Hannah be the child who died in the USA??

[cardinalcanary]

I think this is the timeline (its a starting point).

Cassie Elias timeline

1850 - Thomas Elias (Cassie's father)born.

1854 - Mary Hannah Harris (Cassie's mother) is born.

1873 - Thomas Elias marries Mary Hannah Harris at Eglwysilan.

1873 - Cassie's sister Hannah is born.

1875 - Cassie is born

1878 - birth of sister Mary Ann

1879 - death of sister Mary Ann (aged 0)

1880 - Cassie travels to America with her mother Mary and older sister Hannah.

1882 - Cassie' s mother dies in Crickhowell when Cassie is 7 years old.

1891 - Cassie working as a barmaid at Castle Hotel, Caerphilly (aged 16).

[cardinalcanary]

Yes -A lot of a young child to cope with - maybe lived with Harris grandparents who were living in Bedwas in 1881.   

I wonder what happened to Hannah and Thomas??  Could Hannah be the child who died in the USA??

Yes. I wonder what became of Thomas and Hannah too.

[Kay99]

If the right person the death cert of Mary Hannah Elias might list if she was a widow

[Kay99]

Re Thomas Elias just a thought.  There is a possible Thomas Elias living in Bedwas in 1901 as below.   Although he is younger than your Thomas in the 1901 census - he dies in 1905 and at the time his birth year is listed as 1852?

In 1891 I think the same Thomas and family are in Bedwas also below listed as Ellis.   There is a possible marriage of a Thomas Elias to an Emma Matthews in June Qtr 1887 Pontypridd Vol 11a Page 609.

1901
Thomas Elias 47  Coal miner Rhymney, Monmouthshire
Emma Elias 49  Rudry, Glamorgan
Isaac Matthews    25 Coal Miner Machen, Monmouthshire

1891
Thos Ellis    38  Coal Miner Rhymney, Monmouthshire
Emma Ellis    36 Rudry, Glamorgan
Elizabeth Ann Ellis 16  Machen, Monmouthshire
Isaac Ellis    14 Coal Miner  Machen, Monmouthshire
Elizabeth Gadd    20  Boarder
William Tony 42  Boarder

I can't see this Thomas pre 1891 and in 1861 your Thomas was living in Rumney, Tredeger, Monmouthshire

[cardinalcanary]

Thanks Kay

I think you are right about Thomas coming back to the UK.

I can't find any of them on passenger lists coming back from America to England. That would very useful to track down.

I wonder where sister Hannah ended up?

Will also have to investigate Cassie's step mother and half siblings