Elusive Mrs Price

[ozlady]

Even after haunting various registry offices on my trip to Wales, I still have a brick wall. Who was the mother of great grandad Richard Price? I could not locate his birth cert at any of the local offices. I know from the marriage cert his father was James Price, deceased, colliery haulier. 1871 census says he was born in Brithdir. !881-1901 says he was born in Pont lottyn. Cannot find mother on any of the above. Cannot find father either. What do I do now?

[AMBLY]

Hi Oz Lady

Background from another topic:
Richard PRICE was born abt 1867.
You have a FreeBMD June qtr birth reg for  1867 in Merthyr Tydfil, but were unable to locate any Cert in any of the local RO's,
He married Lavinia A BRANNAN in April 1893.

For Background I checked the Censii:
In 1901 Census: the couple Richard & Lavinia  are in Gelligaer Glamorgan where Richard is head of the house.
Everyone in the house is listed as born Pontlottyn. - including:
His Sister: Susannah PRICE age 31
His Nephew: David George PRICE age 9
His Grandmother: Margaret WILLIAMS age 76
His Children: Morgan R - 7, Francis - 6,  Annie M - 4, Richard - 2, James C - 1,
A Boarder: Henry BRENNAN age 39 ( his brother in law??)

In 1871 Census, in Gelligaer again, Hamlet of Brithdir.
Head: William WILLIAMS 53, b Radnorshire
Wife Mary WILLIAMS age 47 b Radnorshire
Step Dau: Ann PRICE, age 26, unm, b Gelligaer
Dau Catherine WILLIAMS age 7 b Gelligaer
Step Son: Richard PRICE age 4 b Gelligaer
Step Dau: Susannah PRICE age 1 b Gelligaer
Plus 2 Boarders (an older married couple named JONES)

The 1871 Census enumerator has apparently corrected the family entry to add "Step" to Richard & Susannah - and I think it's a distinct possibility that the Stepdaughter, Ann PRICE is the mother of these 2 children  (who are therefore the step-grandchilren of William WILLIAMS and the grandchildren of Mary WILLIAMS (who has morphed into Margaret WILLIAMS in the 1901 Census).
Ann PRICE may be a widow, despite her status listed as "Unmarried".

This is borne out by the 1881 Census, still in Gelligaer where:
WILLIAM WILLIAM age 61 b Llanddewystwllyn, Radnorshire
Wife: Mary WILLIAMS age 56, b Llanbadarn Fawr, Radnorshire
Grandson: Richard PRICE age 15  b Merthyr Tydfil,
Grandaughter: Susannah PRICE age 11 b Gelligaer

Therefore could be :  Mary/Margaret WILLIAMS, formerly ? is the mother of Ann PRICE nee ?, who is the mother of your Richard.

In 1891, Richard is listed still in Gelligaer, all as born Pontlottyn.
Alfred BLEWETT age 32
Wife: Catherine BLEWETT age 27
Dau; Annie Marie BLEWETT age 3
Dau: Eliza BLEWETT age 1
Son: James PRICE age 8
Lodger: Richard PRICE age 24

Can't find Susannah in 1891?

So best "guess" so far:  James PRICE married Ann........? And possibly James died sometime 1869 to 1871.

Possibly finding instead:
Birth of sister Susannah PRICE - mother's name
Birth of Catherine WILLIAMS, dau of William WILLIAMS & Mary (Mary's  maiden Name)
Marriage of William WILLIAMS to Mary (but see how many there are to choose from  )
or
Birth of his Nephew: David George PRICE abt 1892 - his brother's child? Or is he Susannah's illig son?   Poss:
Sep Qtr 1890 - David George PRICE     Merthyr T.  11a 625
Dec Qtr 1891 - David George PRICE     Merthyr T.  11a 589

Possible FREEBMD (incomplete database)
Mar Qtr 1859 James PRICE  - Merthyr Tydfil  11a 391
To: Ann POLLY or Maria LEWIS
but if it's Ann, and it's Richard's mother she would have to have been possibly only abt 15 years old...? And one would think there'd be more children between 1859 and 1867.

Interestingly. there are 2 marriages on FREEBMD, 1863 and 1864 in Merthyr Tydfil, of a WIlliam WILLIAMS where possible bride is a Mary PRICE - could it have been, Richard's mother was unmarried, and his father name is either 'incorrect' or was a relative or same-name as his mother....... ? I'm sure all this and more, has crossed your mind though!!   

Cheers
AMBLY

[ozlady]

Thanks for that, Ambly. Yes, the more I look at it the more permutations I come up with! Took a punt while in Wales anf tried the archives office at Llandrindod Wells (that covers Llanbadarn Fawr) but no luck. They couldb't find Llandewystwllyn, either. I'm sure I found something when I googled it, I'll have another look. Llanb. Fawr is just a few farms and a church..... and a fab pub with a great menu. Pub "has been serving ale since 1169" according to the sign outside!
 I couldn't find a birth cert for Susannah either, so I'll try one of the other avenues.