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Research in Other Countries => Immigrants & Emigrants - General => Topic started by: wilcoxon on Saturday 20 January 24 14:39 GMT (UK)
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I have a Welsh lady who went to Silverdale Colorado in 1891, she died there in 1892.
I know enough about her life but am wondering how she and her gold miner husband would have got there from UK.
Where would they have sailed to etc.
Thanks
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The only way was by sea. You need to check the passenger lists, there are plenty online.
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New York, Boston or Philadelphia. Or possibly New Orleans.
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...and then by railroad
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It is also possible she went by way of Canada so check border crossings from Canada to the US.
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I tried all passenger lists etc but can't find a trace of her.
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Without any names, there isn't much anyone can do with this.
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Louisa Brooks was born on 7 April 1861 in Talwrn and baptised at the end of August that year in Wern Chapel, Minera, she was the daughter of John Brooks a stonemason and Caroline Thomas. Caroline`s father John Thomas was an engineer
By 1881 Louisa had moved away and was a servant in Salford working for a paper manufacturer and 10 years later she married William Willams Jones in Marylebone.
CAMBRIAN STANDARD. 23rd January 1891
Jones—Brooks— Jan. 14th, 1891, at Regent’s Park Chapel, by the pastor, Mr William W. Jones to Miss Louisa Brooks, both from London.
William Williams Jones was born in Llanbadarn, Aberyswyth in 1860, he was the son of William Jones and Mary Williams. His father was a lead miner and later a mining agent. They had a large family.
His sister Ann had married Richard Evans Jones, but she died in 1874, a few years later Richard went to the mines in Columbia. As William isn`t found after 1871 it`s possible that he went out with Richard who returned home and died in 1891.
CAMBRIAN NEWS.
JONES-19th May, at Powell Street, Aberystwyth. Richard Evan Jones, silver mine agent, aged 47 years.
Obituary. On Friday, the 19th May, We regret to announce the death of R. E Jones, of Salem, Penrhyncoch, which took place at the residence of his father-in- law, Captain W. Jones, 9 Powell-street. For about fourteen years, he had been at work in South America and for nine years was engaged as head dresser at the Frias Mine, Tolima. In 1886 he returned home to spend 3 months holiday. He then returned to Columbia as agent for a North American Mining Company, and was engaged for eight months as agent for the Tolima Mines. In the last appointment he was taken ill, and had to retire in December last. He came home in February, suffering from consumption he was 47 age, a widower, and leaves one daughter. Richard was buried with Ann in Salem.
By April 1891 William and Louisa were visiting some people in Cardiff that were from Aberystwyth, William W Jones was a “gold miner”, and the same year left Wales for America. Sadly Louisa died the following year.
Y DRWCH. 22nd September 1892
The Burial of Mrs. W. Jones, the first Welsh woman placed in the cemetery of the place of Silverton, Colorado.
Sep 13 – With deep sadness I attempt to chronicle the history of the death of our dear loved Mrs W.W. Jones, Yankee Girl Mine, who is the first Welsh Woman to be buried in Silverton Cemetery. She lived amongst us for only a little over a year in time and in spite of this showed that she possessed a friendly spirit to everyone and everything that called for help and compassion. She was ready to contribute her greatest part towards this timely calling. When Red Mountain burned completely to the ground a few days ago, causing all the inhabitants to look for lodging in the middle of a cold night, Mrs Jones threw open her doors for them to come in. She opened her cupboards that were full of food for them to eat their fill of everything that was in the house. On the day of the funeral, everyone showed that a good friend had fallen. They conveyed her remains in deep sorrow from Yankee Girl Mine to Silverton Cemetery, being over 20 miles away, and the testimony of all was that they had lost a friend in times of need.
The departed was born in Talwrn Road, Coedpoeth, Wrexham, She has a mother, brothers and sisters to weep after her in the Old Country, and a kindly good natured husband in this place, as well a brother of the grieving husband, who set up home with them here. Louisa Jones was about 31 years old. She was a daughter to John and Caroline Brooks, Coedpoeth, Wales. She married W.W. Jones, son of Capt. Jones, now of Aberystwyth, where he also has brothers and sisters, (apart from brother – Richard W. Jones) in Utica N.Y. They arrived in Siverton a little over a year ago and went to live in Yankee Girl Mine, where he worked since he arrived. They built their own house, deciding to stay a while in the place, but things turned out differently for them:
‘Expecting splendid things to come, when the opposite happens’
She was taken ill about five o ‘clock on Tuesday afternoon and died the following day, Wednesday August 31st about one o’clock in the afternoon. It’s difficult to say what caused her illness, being the fits which caused her sudden death. She was nearing the time becoming a mother, and it is believed that this, together with her illness caused the fits.
She was buried on the 1st of September in the town’s Free Mason’s cemetery, her husband being a member. She had an excellent funeral in every sense. The service at the chapel and at the graveside was conducted in English by Mr Sam Williams, who carried out his work very commendably. The old Welsh hymn “Bydd myrdd o ryfeddodau” (There will be a myriad of wonders), was sung at the graveside. It is hoped that the widowed husband will have strength to overcome the blow without complaining against He who gives and takes away. As hard as it was turning away from the grave of his wife, and having to return to see an empty home for the first time in a mountainous area like this, hopefully he and his brother, on losing a comfortable home, will have help to live through the rough waters of the death of a wife and sister, while looking forward to a better day when grief is swallowed in victory:
There is a photo of her grave on the web. Parts of the reports are translated from Welsh
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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/126750007/louisa-jones
I have had a lot of help in researching this lady.
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You kindly supplied a lot of facts; thank you for listing the details. I haven’t yet absorbed all of the details; apologies if it was mentioned…
You stated: “…She has a mother, brothers and sisters to weep after her in the Old Country, and a kindly good natured husband in this place, as well a brother of the grieving husband, who set up home with them here…”. Have you searched for and found the brother’s arrival? Again, sorry if you mentioned it.
The first passenger list that I found for a (an incorrect) Louisa Jones was almost impossible to read. I wonder if your Louisa’s list might be in the same condition which could explain why she has not yet been found.
As mentioned, she could have sailed to Canada. Quite a number of folks did sail to Canada even though they intended to live in the states (I’ve read that given the ties between Canada and England, it was “easier” to go that route).
I would imagine that you’ve searched for William’s arrival, but asking anyway.
Don’t discount errors in passenger lists. While looking for my Mumford ancestors, I found a married couple on a passenger list, but their birthplaces were recorded as Ireland rather than England - but, I am almost certain that they were my James and Susanna.
I will continue to follow this topic (later today).
Added: Louisa could have sailed under the name of Mrs. W. Jones, which could hamper the search for her.
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It seems that William Jones may have spent time working at the Frías Mine in Tolima, Colombia before his marriage, or perhaps he just learned about these mines from his brother-in-law. Either way, it might have been his initial plan to seek his fortune in Colombia.
An article on the history of the Frías silver mines indicates that the mines were run by a group of 12-15 European engineers and managers who supervised crews of local miners. Improvements were made to the mining machinery between 1883 and 1891, and the years from 1892 to 1900 were the most prosperous in the history of the mines.
Perhaps William went to Colombia but found that there was no suitable position available for him there and so decided to move on to North America, instead. In that case, he could have traveled to the United States by ship to California or to one of the Gulf Coast ports [New Orleans or Galveston].
“History and Development of the Frias Silver-Mines”
By ARTHUR JAMES RUSSELL, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.
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No satisfactory options were showing up for Louisa, so I took a second look at a damaged passenger list that has a Wm Jones who was a miner from Aberystwyth. Unfortunately it only has “wife” for the next entry and an age that seems to end with “0” …
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939V-RW76-D?i=397 (entries #539 and #540)
Name of Vessel: Etruria
Port of Embarkation: Liverpool & Queenstown.
Date of Arrival: 6 Jul 1891
As this arrival had become the only possibility, I tried to find these people in the UK outward passenger lists, and eventually found a WW Jones and Mrs Jones (30y) departing England on the Etruria on 27 Jun 1891:
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Thanks. It really could be them., the initials are correct and Aberwyswyth is a very good clue.
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Thanks. It really could be them., the initials are correct and Aberwyswyth is a very good clue.
Would the 19 year old Miss M Pritchard be travelling with them.
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Thanks. It really could be them., the initials are correct and Aberwyswyth is a very good clue.
Would the 19 year old Miss M Pritchard be travelling with them.
I know little about passengers lists, but she has the same contract number which I believe indicates that the tickets were purchased by the same person. I could be incorrect; I’m sure someone will come along who would know for sure.
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I should have added additional details. The first nine passengers at the top of the image were recorded with contract numbers
2129
“ [checkmark actually, not “]
“
2135
2518
“
“
“
2549
etc.
This leads me to believe the passengers were not recorded in numerical order, but by their “ticket number”.
Great find, TreeSpirit. :)
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The New York passenger list has a Thos Wm Jones, age 27(?), on the line directly above Wm Jones. Could he have been a brother, cousin or other relative? I have not yet found his name on the passenger list for the ship leaving England. :-\
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The New York passenger list has a Thos Wm Jones, age 27(?), on the line directly above Wm Jones. Could he have been a brother, cousin or other relative? I have not yet found his name on the passenger list for the ship leaving England. :-\
Thomas is on the same page as our couple: Ticket #2629 ... No new info though
BTW there seem to be 4 persons (2 males, 2 females) from Aberystwth grouped together on the New York inward passenger list:
#538 - Thos Wm Jones, 27y, miner (Is he related?)
#539 - Wm Jones. ?1y, miner
#540 - <name?>, ?0y , wife
#541 - <name?>, <age?>, spinster
I’m wondering whether the illustrious Miss M Pritchard might be entry #541 i.e. still listed with the couple on arrival
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Thanks for your help.
There is a Richard W Jones b Cardiganshire. Father William in US passport applications. He might be the Richard with the family in 1861. There are other records in US for him but I'm not too certain as he states he arrived in 1880 and stayed there.
Too many Jones, I might call it a day on this . Thanks again.