Rees Jones - Stockton

[Jueb1962]

I just cannot find my great grandfather's death.  Rees Jones was born in 1844 in Maesmynis, Breconshire but moved to Stockton with his family about 1875 where my grandfather was born in Sheraton Street 1878, also called Rees Jones.  I have found the family living at 17 Sheraton Street in the 1881 Census.  In 1890 my great grandmother remarried and is down as a widow on her marriage certificate to John Smith.  (I know!  First Jones, now Smith!) 
 
From what I have learnt Ann and Rees had their last child, David Jones, in 1883 in Stockton so Rees must have died some time between 1883 and 1890.

Would appreciate any advice!  (ps this is my first post - please bear with me!)

[CaroleW]

Did his widow re-marry in Stockton?

The only death I can find is this one

June qtr 1889 Rees Jones aged 44 Brecknock 11B 67

If she re-married in Stockton then the death is unlikely

If she re-married in Wales - they may have returned there between 1883-1889

[Jueb1962]

Hi Carole - yes I noticed that record and did wonder.?? Brecknock is not too far away from where Rees used to live.  Interestingly, I've just received a death cert for his mother Elizabeth who died in May 1889 in Breconshire.

Its a long story but I have a theory he may have gone to America.  Rees & Ann had a daughter Mary Hannah in Feb 1880 in Stockton - 1881 census.  After that she disappears.

My dad died last year and in his stuff I found an old photo of him visiting an Auntie in America in 1940s - Aunt Mary and his cousin, Leslie J Griner were handwritten on the back.  I have traced the family in several USA census returns and "Aunt Mary" is Mary H Griner and was born in the north-east of England Feb 1880!!!  Dates of emigration varied between 1886/88.  She couldn't have emigrated on her own so I'm wondering if Rees, her father, went with her???   This is a real puzzle - much appreciate another viewpoint.

[Jueb1962]

forgot to say - his widow Ann remarried John Smith in Stockton.

[CaroleW]

Hi

So I wonder if the 1890 marriage was bigamous??? 

If the story is true and he took Mary Hannah with him and then he died before 1890 -she would have only been 9yrs old so I wonder who looked after her?

Why take such a young child though - it doesn't make any sense

Depending how far you want to go on this - a copy of the (hopefully) Jones/ Griner marriage entry would confirm father as Rees

Is there any trace of Rees on the 1900 US census - I know the 1890 is very sparse

 

[Jueb1962]

I know, I can't find Mary or Rees on the 1890 census at all.  I've tried searching for marriages in Pennsylvania for 1900 as first child was born there 1901 - no luck though.  Not everything adds up on censuses - parents place of birth is down as England and then Scotland, and is a bit ambiguous.  Also date of immigration, when I checked last night, ranged from 1880 to 1888!!!

I might apply for the Brecknock death cert to rule that out first.  I assumed Rees was still alive right up to 1902 as he is not down as 'deceased' on his children's marriage certificates (last one dated 1902).  It was only when I learnt Ann had remarried 1890 that I assumed he'd died by then.

thanks Carole for your help.