Hope someone can help
Looking for the children of Joseph Davies and Mary (Bowen), second great aunts of mine who seem to disappear from the census after 1881/1891.
They were all born Pontyberem/Llannon, some of them ending up in Neath in 1891. I am presuming some got married and/or some may have died, but even with this knowledge I still can’t find them. Someone else may have a connection to them and know of their whereabouts and/or have better search skills than mine
They are
Jane Davies (03 Feb 1872) - may have died early as not in 1881 census
Hetty/Esther(18 May 1873)
Rachel (17 Sep 1875)
Mary ann (10 Apr 1877)
Alice (28 Nov 1878)
Maria (27 Apr 1881)
Eliza/Elizabeth (13 Mar 1883)
In 1881 Hetty, Rachel and Mary Ann are with their parents at Tairhod (later known as Wheel Row) in Glyn Hamlet, Llannon (i.e. Pontyberem).
Joseph dies in 1882 and Mary (Bowen) then marries a George Rees Thorburn in Neath in 1890 (Mary was the sister of George’s first wife Emily/Emma/Emiah Bowen)
In 1891 Hetty (now called Esther), Maria and Eliza (now called Elizabeth) are living with Mary and their step father George at 8 Abernant Terrace, Neath Higher with step brothers and sister; Thomas George Thorburn (marries a Mary Ann George) , William Rees Thorburn (marries and Elizabeth George), Mary Ann Thorburn (marries a John Davies) and David Thorburn (marries Mary “Unknown””). (There is also a younger sister Sarah Jane Thorburn (1866), marries a Griffith Rees Hughes, but not living with them).
Their mother Mary dies 19 Aug 1891 (buried Bethel Chapel, Glyn Neath ) and step father George dies 08 Jun 1895 (buried together with Mary and first wife Emily)
With the fantastic help of Sandra, Ciderdrinker, Millepede, Mabel and others I know Thomas (Tom) George Thorburn emigrated to Pennsylvania and that there is reference to him a Welsh newspaper (in Welsh) “Welsh Newspapers online site shows that Thomas George graduated as Bachelor of Music in 1908 - known as Tom, faithful member of Bethel who joined in all activities, especially singing, left Glynneath in 1897. lost his parents when young and care of the family fell on him. In the US is an eisteddfod adjudicator and leads the singing in the Hyde Park church, Scranton (separate brief english version mentions he has Kidwelly roots”
Although the above mentions Tom looking after his younger siblings, not sure if included his step sisters. There is no indication that they emigrated to Pennsylvania with him. Also no indication that they went to lives with srtp brothers or sisters (that I can find), so flummoxed
Happy Xmas
Roy