Hello,
Just thought I would let you all know what has come up so far.
The marriage certificate for a Thomas Thomas and Elizabeth John in 1877 arrived and is the RIGHT one! I almost couldn’t believe it. (Their daughter Mary Ann Thomas was born 10 years earlier.)
I did order a birth certificate for Mary Ann, but it was the wrong one 🙄
The marriage cert gives his father as Stephen Thomas Brewer’s Labourer (which matches what we thought). The bride’s father is William John labourer, which is new information.
I’ve since found William John and his wife Ann in the 1851 census in Hard Dilling (dwelling?), Wiston.
I can see Elizabeth John and Thomas Thomas on the 1871 census, 6 years before their marriage.
Elizabeth is a domestic servant in a Grocer’s house. Thomas Thomas is with his parents (this was already found by one of you).
I can’t see their daughter Mary Ann in the 1871 census. She isn’t with either parent. She would have been 4 years old. I suppose there may be a chance that her surname isn’t Thomas at this point. Or that Thomas Thomas may not be her biological father, but just took his name when her mum married him. I’m not sure how this would have worked at the time.
It is worth noting that both Thomas and Elizabeth are listed as unmarried in the 1871 census and as bachelor and spinster in their marriage cert.
I found a website called ‘Dyfed Family History Society’ which was helpful. I don’t know how I found it!
It had a 1851 census index. It listed everyone by name alphabetically, and just gives their age and folio number.
My Elizabeth John was around 3 in that year. It was very handy to be able to see all of the Elizabeth Johns in the area, and check the ones that were close in age.
My next moves are:-
I have ordered the death certificates of 4 of Thomas and Elizabeth’s children.
I will keep looking for Mary Ann in the 1871 census.
Thank you all for your help.
