Needle in a Haystack meets Brick Wall!! Help please!

[welshjo]

Thought I'd ask for help.
I'm trying to research Davies and Evans surnames (hence needle in a haystack - along with Jones, Williams and Thomas - just for good measure) and have hit a brick wall.

Basic details are

Jennet Davies married Walter Roger Evans in quarter ended 1883.

Marriage certificate shows her father to be William Davies.

Tracing her forward into 1901 finds her living with her Hisband Walter Roger Evans in Ivor Street Maesteg and gives and approximate date of birth of 1866 in the Maesteg/Llangynwyd area.

Going back to 1881 I have located the following family which looks like them.

RG11/5327 97 31
175 Bridgend Road, Cwmdu, Maesteg

William Davies 42
Margt Davies 42
Sarah Davies 19
Jannet Davies 14
Mary J Davies 9
Margt A Davies 7
Olive Davies 5
Hannah Davies 2
Gwilym Davies 1m
All born Maesteg.

I have located the grave for this family in the local church yard.

My problem is going back from here.
I can't find a birth certificate for any children so can't begin to locate a marriage for the parents.

I have tried searching for Gwilym - no entries found.
I found one entry for an Olive Mary Davies in Bridgend around 1876 but after ordering the certificate this is not the one.

I am hoping that someone will be able to give a few ideas to attempt to knock a few bricks out of my wall!

[Dave Francis]

Umm.  What about this one?

Jennet Davies
Sept quarter 1866
Bridgend vol 11a page 457

[Dave Francis]

Have you got this?

1871 Maesteg
80 Bridgend Road
DAVIES
William, head, 33, collier
Margaret, wife, 32
Ann, daur, 13, scholar
Sarah, daur, 10, scholar
Elizabeth, daur, 6, scholar
Jennet, daur, 4, scholar
John Jones, boarder, mar, 29, collier
Edwin Jones, son of J Jones, 4

RG10/5414 folio 48 page 39

All born Maesteg

[welshjo]

went to bridgend armed with 1866 ish and Bridgend Road. They couldn't find a Jennet (or any spelling) Davies with William and Margaret as parents - only possible was a David surname. But I'm sure that mine are Davies - grave and census info always uses this spelling.
Even got them to look for Gwilym born 1881 - no joy.

[rhys]

Hi
Possible birth allowing for the 6 week registration period

Rhys

Bridgend district
June Quarter 1881
Gwelliam Davies  11a 562

[welshjo]

That looks a good possibility - thanks.
I'll get onto it straight away.

[Cas (stallc)]

Completely off subject but relevant...

I have one line that started as 'Leyshon David' on marriage and 1841.  then 1851 he was 'David' children were 'Davies', 1861 and 1871 all were Davies.  Internment record he was David again.  His daughter (my line) remained Davies until married.  It is defo the right family no doubt.

The old Welsh patronymic form would be in use. This is when the person is known as son of/daughter of - Leyshon ap David to Leyshon David to Leyshon Davies.  The IGI also has a number of David and Davies in the same families.

Your Davies may also go as David, and vice versa.  Just thought if unable to find you could try looking at the alternative as a possiblity.

Cas

[welshjo]

Thanks everyone - Gwelliam Davies was the right one. Son of William Davies and Margaret Stradling of 175 Bridgend Road.