Elusive great great grandfather - Rhiw

[nestagj]

Good afternoon fellow rootschatters !!

I found this gentleman's marriage on my very first visit to the archive over thirty years ago and I suspect that my addiction to family history stemmed from seeing the original marriage register signed by their marks by him and his bride.

He is my great, great grandfather.

The marriage is :

19 July 1856  ;  Rhiw Parish Church ;

Bachelor Thomas Prichard (24) a Tailor of Suntur, Y Rhiw father Thomas Prichard, Labourer
and
Spinster Eleanor Owen (33) of Plas yn Rhiw father Griffith Owen, Labourer
Witnessed by Griffith Hughes and William Williams.

Found Thomas' baptism 6 November 1831 parents Thomas and Jane of Sintir
Found his sister, Catherine Thomas' baptism on the same page 5 August 1830.  I think I have his parent's marriage in May 1830.  Then the family disappear ! the next mention I have is the wedding in 1856 with residence Sintir.

Thomas and Eleanor / Ellen Prichard are in LLanystymdwy in 1861 he dies in 1886 and I have his grave, she dies in 1889 - no grave as yet but still looking ! The family is then easily traced through the census and so on to my father and me.

Its that missing 25 years that's bugging me ! I have been through the Rhiw census 1841 and 1851 manually and have found Sintir - have even walked to the house in my time but I can't find a trace of the family; whenever I find a possibility something isn't quite right.

I hope some fresh eyes can help !
Thank you very much

Nesta

[Kay99]

I wonder if this Thomas is worth looking into in 1851

Living at Ty Ycha, Rhiw, Pwllheli  which I think is next door to Syntyr on the next page.    Although Thomas's surname is listed as Morgan on the transcription it is shown as ditto on the image and he is listed as a tailor

Richard Morgan    62 Shoe Maker & Sexton Rhiw, Caernarvonshire
Margered    Morgan 60  Aberdaron, Caernarvonshire
Abraham    Morgan Son     26 Shoe Maker    Rhiw, Caernarvonshire    
Margered    Morgan    Daughter    14    1837    At Home    Rhiw, Caernarvonshire   
Thomas    Morgan Visitor    Unmarried    19 Taylor    Rhiw, Caernarvonshire
William Morgan    Visitor Unmarried    17     Apprentice    Rhiw, Caernarvonshire

[yffor]

There is a Thomas Morgan Taylor, a Visitor at Ty Ycha Rhiw on the 1851 census. Any chance there is an error with the surname?

[nestagj]

Wow - thank you

Yes - that is very interesting - now to find a Thomas Morgan born Rhiw !

Have also found living in 1841 a Jane Jones and Thomas Jones at Pen yr Ogof which is next door - well along the path - to Syntur.

[nestagj]

Hi again

FindMyPast has a Thomas Morgan baptism 1826 son of Richard Morgan & Margaret, shoemaker living at Tyddyn y Graig, Rhiw which is in the same area as Syntur.

N

[Kay99]

Sadly it could be Richard and Margaret's son although he would be a little old but I can't see him in other census years   

Kay

[nestagj]

I know - it would have been perfect ....

Looks like someone made an error with his age - odd though cause the others are correct I think.

Back to the drawing board - that Thomas Jones living with Jane is pulling me in !

If I  could just find Thomas Prichard in 1851 !

The whole family unit Thomas, Jane and the children Thomas and Catherine seem very elusive - I know we could have had deaths and or movements but I would have hoped to see parish burials if nothing else....am looking at FindMyPast and Ancestry.

Thanks very much......
N

[nestagj]

Have just been checking the census' again for Thomas and Eleanor Pritchard and we have some minor differences as to Eleanor's age 

Her age on marriage in 1856 was 33 (i'm pretty sure I have the right baptism in 1821)
He was 25

1861 Census - he is 29  she is 37
1871 Census - he is 40  she is 49
1881 Census - he is 50  she is 49

[Kay99]

I wouldn't completely discount Thomas Morgan with his occupation and Eleanor age might well be an error

Where do you think Thomas Pritchard married in 1830  and what was his wife's maiden name

Kay