Caernarvon Lookup Request- Robert Jones born C1837

[Gadget]

and it could even be a wrongly spelled/transcribed  Mariah  (how Maria was often pronounced until well into the 20th century )

Gadget

[ceiriog1]

Hello all

I think you are all right about the spelling of Moriah, I think it is more likely to be Maria.  The story of this lady has always been in the family, and Robert Jones's daughter Ann gave her daughter her name Maria Lester Williams (an unusual middle name for a girl).  The story is that Maria was from Ireland and that she ran away with Robert's father who was a master seaman from Carnarvon (although romantic I am very doubtful that it is true).  Another story, which is more feasible, is that Maria Lester (Jones) started one of the first 'schools' (for the working class) in Carnarvon - I use the term 'school' loosely as she apparently taught children in the back room of her house.

I had a thought that maybe there would be information about Robert in a local paper at the time of his death?  It seems that the ship 'Edward Allison' belonged to a ship owner from Angelsey and it's crew would have largely been from the Carnarvon area.  The loss of the ship should have made the local paper in 1887/88/89.

[wendy47]

  He died at sea in 1867 on the Edward Allison

   The loss of the ship should have made the local paper in 1887/88/89.

Sorry. When did he die 1867 or 1887?

Wendy

[ceiriog1]

sorry..a pretty big mistake there - the ship sailed in 1867 - so any references in the newspapers to all hands being lost at sea would be in 1867/68/69

are there any local archives where newspapers are held in Carnarvon that you know of?

[wendy47]

I don't know if these are any use

http://www.n-e-n-a.co.uk/newsarchives.php

http://www.cyndislist.com/wales.htm

Wendy

[Jo Harding]

Hello Cari,

Local papers, I know of the Caernarfon Herald but not sure when it was first published.

You could contact the Record Office in Caernarfon, or the National Library of Wales. I am sure you will succeed in finding more on all this but I doubt it will  be possible online.

Some records are shown at http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/name_search?id  This is a list of holdings at the Caernarfon RO.

I laos saw that they hold deposits from Moriah Chapel, Caernarfon, a Calvinistic Methodist Chapel. Any connection to your ancestor in view of the name?

Did Rober Jones, or his father leave Wills? I should have thought that sea faring folk would be inclined to make them in those days.

Jo

[Gadget]

Hi

The Caernarfon Herald was definitely around in the 1850s. I have a latter written by my 3 x grt grandfather which refers to it.


Gadget

[Jo Harding]

Sorry, I got the link to Caernarfon Archives wrong. It should have been:

http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/search2?coll_id=2763&inst_id=37&term=Aberdaron%20%7C%20Wales

Hope that is the right one!!

Jo

[ceiriog1]

The newspaper leads have been great  - it seems the archives in Carnarvon may have local papers from the time the Edward Allison was lost.

I've got good news - I've found Robert Jone's service number thanks to the 'Welsh Mariners Index'.  I've already applied to the National Archives and the Maritime Museum for copies - these will give me details of previous voyages he took and should give me the actual year and place of birth.  If I'm really lucky his original application may have survived which gives more personal details.  I'll keep you all posted!!

I've also discovered that the archives in Carnarvon provide a research service - which will be useful for the newspaper records.

Does anyone know if you can go and search though the civil records in the registrars office as it would be enormously expensive to order all the birth records for Ann Jones (daughter C1867) particularly as it may not have even been recorded in the civil records?