Have I finally found the right David Jones after more than ten years?

[glenclare]

David Jones gives different birth years and places of birth on various documents. I have, I hope, now managed to work out which David Jones is mine but it is on limited evidence. I was hoping that further information that I have missed may be available, before I send for a possible birth certificate.
To save unnecessary searching, I have all information and certificates from 1862 onwards.

What I know:
He married Emma Holmes (Hulme) 16 Feb 1862 at Escombe church, Durham
Certificate states he is full age. Father is Thomas Jones an iron roller.

On all records David is an iron puddler.

Died in April 1911 age 69, born 1842

Census
1911- born 1843 Merthyr Tydfill
1901- born 1844 Wolverhampton
1891- born 1843 Wolverhampton
1881- born 1843 Wolverhampton
1871- born 1843 Macclesfield Cheshire (possibly an error as that is where his wife was born)

What I need proof for, that I am following the right David Jones :-
1861 Census
David age 19 (b1842) born Bedwellty
living Albion street, Escombe, as nephew of John Jones  (b1826 Merthyr Tydfill)
RG 9; Piece: 3707; Folio: 18; Page: 30
1851 census
All listed as born Bilston Staffordshire (Wolverhampton)
David Jones  7 b 1844
Son of
Thomas Jones 44 engine driver
Martha Jones 44
Siblings
William Jones 24 iron roller
Clara Jones 12
George Jones 11
Harriet Jones 9
Emma Jones 5

Thomas and Martha are in the same place with the same details in 1861 (fewer children)
Are they the right parents for my David?
Using GRO I can cross reference David and Emma to give mothers maiden name of Whatton with Wolverhampton births, and there is a marriage of Thomas Jones to Martha Whatton in November 1825 in Wolverhampton.
BUT is it the right family??

Any help appreciated.

[Girl Guide]

Who were the witnesses on the marriage certificate?  Any of them likely to be related to David?

Is David's occupation given as iron puddler on his marriage cert?

[Jomot]

If I'm looking at the right David Jones in 1861 he says he's born Bedwelty, Monmouthshire, not Merthyr Tydfill, Glamorgan.

Have you traced back the uncle?  Does his marriage provide any clues?

[glenclare]

Hi

The witnesses appear to be Geo Jackson (George?)
and Edward Rivards or Ricards.
The copy I have is a scan of the original register and it is complete with splodges of ink and creases just where you don't need them. The latter name could be Richards as there is a crease through the letter after the "i" that lasts to the start of the "ards".

There is no known link to the families, but ........ ?

Jomot you are right. An error on my part I will change the post

[Girl Guide]

If David was of full age in 1862 then that means he was a minimum of 21 or older.

21 from 1862 gives a birth year of 1841.  It could also suggest that he had had his 21st birthday between 1st January and 16th February 1862.  Or he may have turned 21 the previous year, 1861.

This would then push his birth year back to 1840.

The 1851 census that you mention has Thomas as an engine driver.  An iron roller is someone who worked a machine that rolled iron to form and shape it.  To my mind a quite different occupation from engine driver. 

Have you located Thomas in the 1861 census to see if his occupation is iron roller?

[glenclare]

Thomas in 1861 is listed as engineer.
It is looking more like I have the wrong one again. Back to the searching.

I have gone back to the marriage certificate from Feb 16th 1862.
Confirms David is a puddler.
The full age has a big ink stain through the lower part of the words. But it is possible that it is a crossing out that has been smudged as there is a very tiny 20 just visible by the side of it. That would make it 1842 but if born between Feb and census date he would then be 1843?

[Girl Guide]

I've had a look for a Thomas Jones occupation iron roller in the 1861 census.  There are just three that would fit of the six that came up.  Three of them would be David's contemporaries age wise so they can be discounted.

That leaves these three:-

Archive Ref: RG09, Piece No. 4005, Folio 22, Page No. 6

Archive Ref: RG09, Piece No. 4054, Folio 103, Page No. 38

Archive Ref: RG09, Piece No. 2023, Folio 116, Page No. 31

Check them out, find them in other census records and see what you come up with.

[Jomot]

You didn't answer my earlier question as to whether you had traced back the uncle, John Jones?

From their children's birth registrations his wife appears to have been Margaret Morgan, and the most likely marriage is in the Dec qtr of 1863 in Merthyr Tydfill, although there are a couple of other possibilities.

Tracing John Jones & his father should hopefully lead you to Thomas.

[Girl Guide]

Just out of curiousity I checked the 1871 census and I see that his wife has been given Wolverhampton, Staffs as her birthplace.  So that would mean of the five census records of David and Emma, his birthplace is Wolverhampton for four of them.

I suggest that you follow up on Jomot's recommendation of tracing the uncle John Jones.  That may be the key to unlocking the door as it were!

In the family history journey you have to follow up every little thing, even if you don't think it will go anywhere.