Diana Bevan WATKINS

[slewi4]

Can anyone find an adult Diana Bevan WATKINS in or near Hay in the 1841 Census or a Diana Bevan WILLIAMS in the 1851 Census?
The long-winded reasoning is: I'm going out on a limb (branch) that may not even be "mine", but I have an ancestor Diana Bevan Watkins who was born 1839 in Eardisley HEF. Her father was Thomas Bevan WATKINS, born circa 1806 in Hay, and married some time prior to 1837 so no marriage certificate is available, BUT, I couldn't help noticing that a Diana Bevan WATKINS married at Hay in the first quarter 1842, and I suspect that this is his sister. There are 3 possible grooms: John LEWIS, Edward WILLIAMS, and Stepehn WILLIAMS. There is a LDS-member-submitted entry in the IGI for a baptism of a Diana Esther WILLIAMS 1844 in Hay, father Stephen, mother Diana Bevan. If the senior Diana was born in Hay, or living with her parents in 1841, she may provide the necessary link to the previous generation.
Sandra

[rhys]

Hello Sandra
I hope the following may be of some help.
I could find no Diana Bevan in Brecs in 1841.
There was only one  Diannah Watkins.
Only one suitable Stephen Williams .

HAY 1841
HO107 1370/10 F 27 P9
CASTLE STREET
James Watkins 60 sadler y
Diannah Watkins 25 y

HAY 1841
HO107 1370/10 F 8 P 8
NEWPORT STREET
Stephen Williams 30 tanner n
Walter Williams 25 tanner n
Walter Williams 9 n

In 1851
HAY
HO107 2491 F276 P 33
BROAD STREET
Stephen Williams H M 43 Tanner HER Cusop
Diana Williams W M 43 BREC Hay
Diana Wiliams DU 6 BREC Hay
Mary Ann Lewis u 19 servant RAD Llanstephan

If you need details of Thomas Watkins ,saddler in Eardisley in 1841 let me know.

Rhys

[slewi4]

Thanks so much Rhys,
The birthplace and fathers occupation seem to point to this woman being the aunt of 'my" Diana Bevan WATKINS. Its a shame there was nothing further to be found on the IGI
I have seen the entry for Thomas WATKINS in Eardisley in 1841, and also 1851 & 61. Thanks for your offer.
I do have 2 other questions that I hope you may be able to answer:
Was James Watkins still alive in the 1851 Census?
Thomas's daughter Celia/Cecilia (b. 1837) was with him in 1841 & 1861, but not 1851. Can you locate her in 1851? (I'm hoping that she is with a grandparent/aunt/uncle to provide another clue about this family).
Sandra

[rhys]

Hello Sandra
 There is a James  Watkins Sadler aged 84  enumerated as a visitor living in Hay in 1851. He was born Radnor
Clyro. Cannot see him in Radnor or or Brecs in 1841.
Where was Celia born per the 1861 census?
Incidentally where were Thomas and family in 1861?
Cannot find the famly on Ancestry.

Rhys

[slewi4]

Thanks Rhys,
I think that James may be the one I'm looking for.
Thomas and most of his family were in Clifford HEF in 1861. You probably weren't able to locate them because he changed occupation to a grocer, and somehow managed to change his birthplace too. I think Hay is the more likely option of the 2.  Also, I think Celia's birthplace (recorded as Middlesex) is likely to be incorrect. I think it should be BRE, HEF or maybe RAD. Her siblings were baptised in Eardisley HEF, but there is no entry on the IGI for her. She married John Tolly in 1861 and I think she died before the 1871 Census, because her husband appears to have remarried. I have not yet found an entry for her death.

[rhys]

Hello Sandra
Only  Celia i can find in 1851 is a 16 year old servant
born Ross on Wye in Gloucestershire with a Gingell
family

Rhys

[slewi4]

Thanks very much Rhys,
I just checked the IGI, there is a Celia Watkins baptised 16 Nov 1834 in Walford by Ross HEF, daughter of William. I think that this may be the one that you found in GLS.
Maybe the one I'm looking for was in one of those missing parishes or her details were written in fade-prone ink or illegibly.
Thank you very much for trying. I appreciate the lead that you have given me.
Sandra

[slewi4]

I've found some very promising new information via the Cambrian Index http://www2.swansea.gov.uk/_info/cambrian/ that has changed my assumptions:

The death of Diana Beavan WATKINS at the home of her brother TB Watkins in Mar 1840
The marriage of Mr S Williams to Miss WATKINS of Hay in 1842
and the death of Anne WATKINS, wife of James, saddler, at Hay in 1825

Its a great resource, and not limited to the Swansea area - there are events from all over. Try it - you never know what you'll find.

Sandra