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So, I took a look again at the 1871 Census for my George, and found him living at Lake House next to another family, the Davies.

Benjamin Davies 56 Birthplace: Nash
Elizabeth Davies 50 Birthplace: Monkton
Sarah Davies 15 Birthplace: St Mary's

They lived at the same address (Lake House) in 1861.

In 1851, they lived with a George James at "Beehall" (I think)!
Nash, Pembrokeshire
George James Head 59 Birthplace: Monkton Profession: Farmer of 20 Acres
Sarah James Wife 59 Birthplace: Rhosecrowther
William James Son 31 Birthplace: Monkton Profession: Attorney's Managing Clerk
Benjamin Davies Son-in-law 34 Birthplace: Nash Profession: Laborer in H. M. Dockyard
Elizabeth Davies Daughter 29 Birthplace: Monkton
Matilda James Granddaughter 7 Birthplace: Somerset
George Richards Servant 14 Birthplace: St Florence
John Lloyd Visitor 28 Birthplace: Bosherston Profession: Journeyman Blacksmith
James Allen Visitor 13 mo Birthplace: Carew

There's a Sept 29 1850 marriage certificate:
Benjamin Davies Profession: Gardener Residence: Green Father: John Davies Profession: Laborer
Elizabeth James Residence: "Bellevue" (sp?) Father: George James Profession: Farmer

I think this is starting to make a compelling case that Elizabeth Davies is George's sister, and that they share the farmer George James as father. Is there anything else I should look at before reaching this conclusion?

Goodness you're right--their marriage was by registrar's certificate. Seeing as I've found baptism records for everyone in Elizabeth's family, that places the question on George. Their own children were baptized, but perhaps he never was?

I think that it is possible that he was baptized as a child rather than an infant, but the 1826 record makes no indication of this. It does indicate that he was baptized with his twin sister Sarah. 6-7 year old children being baptized together seems very unusual, but not outside the realm of possibility.

As it happens, I found a family tree of a descendant of Sarah James through some extended Googling, but I haven't had success in contacting them to compare notes as of yet.

The 7 Aug 1819 baptism (to John and Elizabeth) is very compelling because he would have been only a week old if his obituary is correct in his birthdate of 1 Aug 1819.

Hello all,

My 3rd great grandfather George James left behind many puzzles, including his birth record. I have pretty high confidence in his 1859 marriage certificate, in which his father is listed as George James.

Other sources that I have which include census returns, newspaper articles, and his death certificate, indicate he was born in Monkton circa 1819.

My relatives identified a Saint Mary of Pembroke baptism record as his, with the date of 7 Aug 1819. Parents listed are John James (laborer) and Elizabeth James of Moncton Lane. The only other possible baptism records are in 1826 in Monkton (parents George and Sarah) or 1820 in Amroth (parents George and Choice).

My family's accepted birth record seems right by the date and place, but I have difficulty reconciling the difference in fathers' names between the marriage certificate and the baptism record. How could George James incorrectly remember his father's name? Or, has my family chosen the wrong baptism record after all?

I have his birth year around 1866. Thomas is in the 1871 census as 5 years old.