Hi, I'm digging for details to confirm a Jones family of Cysyllte (i.e. Froncysyllte ).
The 1851 Census lists John Jones (Boatman, aged 54), with wife Jane (49), and children Sarah (20), Richard (18), Ellen (14), Ann (14), Mary Ann (10), Margaret (8 ) and Jane (3) - all are listed as born in 'Vron, Llangollen' (i.e. Froncysyllte).
The 1841 Census shows John and Jane, both aged abt 35, with 6 children John (15), Elizabeth (15), Richard (9), Mary (7), Ellen (4) and Ann (2). Also in property appears to be a Rafe(?) Williams (30) and Sarah Jane Williams (12), all born in county.
In the parish register for Glan-Yr-Afon Independent chapel (viewable on Ancestry) of Froncysyllte / Llangollen, there's a baptism for a daughter Elizabeth - "Elizabeth, daughter of John Jones Rocker, in the township of Cysyllte, by Jane his wife, former Williams, was born Feb 1st baptized June 13th 1822 by Wm Williams", this is too old for the Elizabeth in the 1841 census above (though I'm aware the 1841 numbers were rounded up or down), so I'm wondering if she was a child who died in infancy before 1826... or is she a different family (the censuses state John was a boatman, not a rocker- i.e. rockman).
However the 1841 census with the two Williams lodgers hint that John's wife Jane may have been a Williams before marriage? If so, then the Glan-Yr-Afon record seems feasible for their eldest daughter.
There is another Glan-Yr-Afon baptism record for a Mary Jones "Mary, Daughter of John Jones, Cysyllte (Carrier) by Jane his wife (formerly Williams), was born Sept 14th 1828 and baptized Feb 9th 1829 By Thomas Jones." - this time the father's occupation does match, though again it's too old for the Mary mentioned in the 1841 census, which suggest an 1834 birth for their daughter Mary, so another infant death with later born sibling with the same name perhaps?
The Glan-Yr-Afron records do however have exactly matching entries for son Richard ( "Richard son of John Jones ???try ???ian boatman by Jane his wife (formerly Williams) was born January 2nd 1833 and baptised October 4th 1833. by Thos. Jones").
This leaves me with some conundrums -
1) Were the baptisms of two children with matching name, but incompatible birth dates, all the same family? Were the census birth dates just wrong?
2) If these are the correct family, why does the Glan-Yr-Afon set not have baptisms for their other children John, Elizabeth, Sarah and so on? - I've not traced any of their births.
3) Hints point to Jane's family name may be Williams, (Richard's baptism seems to nail it), but I've not found any records clearly confirming their marriage, or a birth for Jane (or for husband John for that matter!)
4) I've not traced the "Rafe" & Sarah Jane staying with them in 1841, were they family, or just lodgers? Was the Sarah Jane the same as the Sarah listed in 1851?
Any thoughts, help with these greatly received!
