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Wales (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Radnorshire => Wales => Radnorshire Lookup Requests => Topic started by: jk22 on Thursday 28 May 09 05:35 BST (UK)

Title: Border villages of Rad and Brecknockshire COMPLETE
Post by: jk22 on Thursday 28 May 09 05:35 BST (UK)
Hello.

I've been here before in attempts to isolate my great great grandmother SARAH WATKINS.

After much searching i found a SW born 18 Feb 1819 in Bryngwyn, Radnor. 

Is this town on the border between the 2 counties as they were then?

On the 1851 England census my Sarah was now living in Essex and raising 3 children.  It is recorded that she came from "Radnorshire, Brecknock".  Confusing eh?!
Sarah now Mrs Green, was married to Robert i 1844 in St Brides London.  On that document she gives her father as William Watkins.   WW is a "Farmer".

That is all i have re her origins.

Any further insights or finds gladly accepted!

Regards
Julie
Title: Re: Border villages of Rad and Brecknockshire
Post by: vic1 on Friday 05 June 09 22:52 BST (UK)
Bryngwyn is  on the border of not only where brecon and radnor  meet or should i said met but on the herefordshire border as well . i would imagine it would have been in  Radnorshire But  as hay on wye would have been nearer the registration districe would be Hay on wye which is Breconshire( or brecknock as my granddad would correct me ) . i have ancestors  who keep havingall three different counties on documents and yet  hardly move at all . luckily i live in the area ( family have been here  since at least 1625)and i concentrate on the county i think its in historically first . so i would use Radnorshire is you want church records and Breconshire after Also remember  there were alot of nonconformists some of whom went  between religions ( my Dad was very indignant when i suggested  he may have chapel folk in his family  even though he married  my mum who was brought up a staunch methodist and married in the chapel.As his family was always  church  problem is so far only found them on chapel records  hope this helps and doesn't confuse you more
Title: Re: Border villages of Rad and Brecknockshire
Post by: jk22 on Saturday 13 June 09 23:20 BST (UK)
Hello 'vic1'

Thanks so much.

Sorry for the delay in response [family illness].

What you say is very interesting and makes sense.

I guess i remain a little confused - with regard to how to approach or which way to go to find  the record of her.

I was excited in a way to learn that Herefordshire was also involved!  Sarah's first child, John, married a girl from Holmer!

It makes me wonder - how much did they travel!!  Was poverty and/or famine the push to leave the area?

I would love to hear the accents - it's been 30 years!

Kind regards
Julie
Title: Re: Border villages of Rad and Brecknockshire
Post by: vic1 on Tuesday 16 June 09 19:07 BST (UK)
They travelled father than we think they did. Holmer is approx 20/ 30 miles away - my great x3grandfather was born near rhayader and married a girl from the village i grew up in  herefordshire  50 miles away .  If i was  you  i would start by looking for her  in radnorshire then try breconshire then herefordshire - however it is possible that as  registration  had not been brought in you may need to look at both church and chapel records and the chapel records may not before the chapel nearest to Bryngwyn - some of my family were christened 5  miles away passing three other chapels to get there - chapels also do not always have complete records and some have an aversion to looking inm them. Watkins is also  quite a popular name  in the area keep looking as one day  the  vital bit of info may come  :)