To LucyS17
Thanks for your contact. Sorry for the delay in replying. Since last year I have been in contact with another researcher, Philip, on another site. He and I had the same problems but were approaching it from opposite directions. I have put together all the information now to hand.
Rather long account I'm afraid but it may be helpful and point in other directions. You have the same information as me about the admission registers.
Here goes!
Hello again Philip.
I have put together a bit of a saga following, as much for my own benefit as well as to concur with your findings. I went through my old research papers and found that I had looked at the
Thomas Thomas (yes, not a typo - really Thomas Thomas - re 1861 census notes) issue some four years ago but did not go further as I was unconvinced as I could not make a connection. However, after you contacted me I realised that your reasoning was pretty compelling and am now inclined to go along with you. I have revisited a number of old lines and whilst nothing very much really new has come up I am pretty sure that what is now on the table is as good as it gets. Unless in the future some other evidence surfaces I believe Rachel will always be an enigma but it is something I am now happy to put to bed.
The (perceived) life of Rachel Gray/Grey
It would appear she was the 6th child of William Grey born 1791 in Llangyfelach, where he died in December 1849, and Sarah Lloyd born 1791 in Carmarthen. They were married on 2nd April 1815 at Swansea St Mary, Glamorganshire in their parish of St Mary SSEA.
Their children were William 1815, Anne 1818, John 1821, Sarah 1826, David 1831 and Rachel 1833.
The only baptism found is for Sarah on 19th June 1826 at the Myndd-Bach Meeting-House recorded on page 26 record RG4/3497 Film no. 0813541.
Myndd-Bach & Bethel Independent was at Llangyfelach & Llamsamlet, Glamorgan, Wales. It would be non-conformist and on-line records could have missed the other baptisms even if they did take place.
1841 Census lists all above except William who at 26 would have most likely married and left home.
!851 Census lists Sarah as a widow age 60, son David age 21 and daughter Rachel 18 both unmarried.
1861 Census draws a complete blank on Rachel Gray but there is a record for Rachel Thomas, the married wife of Thomas Thomas in Pembrey Llanelli Carmarthenshire. There are 2 children, Margaret 2 years born Swansea and William 0 years born Pembrey. Both are of the right ages and birthplaces to tie up with the 1871 Census when Rachel becomes Rachel Gray.
Cannot find any marriage record to Thomas Thomas. Nor can a death record or divorce be found.
There are no birth records for the children to be found again.
Too many co-incidences for it not to be Rachel but there will always be doubt until a connection can be established.
!871 Census shows Rachel Grey in the Llanelli Workhouse with the two children as in 1861 with birth dates and birthplaces the same. There is now a 3rd child recorded as Mary aged 6 years born in Carmarthenshire. Again there are too many co-incidences for it not to be this Rachel but again there is no direct connection to 1861 so there is a remaining doubt.
1881 Census shows Rachel Gray as single with Thomas Owen also single and a daughter Mary of the right age and birthplace. Again there is no definitive link to the records preceding.
From here on their connection to living descendants is proven (My Wife's family.)
Mary Gray married William Davies in 1887 and died in 1908, two years after her Mother Rachel.
On her marriage certificate she names her deceased Father as William Gray, a copper worker but I believe this to be her Grandfather.
One of the witnesses is a William Gray, possibly her brother, but it is a fairly common name.
From all this there are many unanswered questions and possibilities:
1. She never married but took the name Thomas but dispensed with it by 1871.
2. She may always have been known as Gray but the 1861 census used Thomas for convenience or census taker’s error.
3. She married, parted then reverted to her single name for whatever reason. Acrimony?
Criminality? (but no evidence of this found).
4. All the children may have not had the same father but Thomas Thomas could certainly been father to all three.
5. She did not tell the children their birth surname but unlikely as if with the same father Margaret would have been 8 years old when Mary was born in 1865/6 and would have been aware.
My own view is I think her relationship with Thomas Owen is a clue as to the way she lived her life. She was with him for many years but never married nor took his name. Nor did any of her or the greater family seem too good at recording life events.
There is one line of enquiry only touched upon so far.
There were large copper works in Baltimore USA in the 1840s to 1890s. Workman from Swansea and Llanelli emigrated to secure good jobs over there and in turn recruited hundreds of other Welsh smelter workers. Did perhaps Thomas Thomas go abroad? As working in a copper works was very hazardous at that time did he die in America or simply desert Rachel? That might account for why she and the children might have ended up in the workhouse.
If anything should come up in the future I will of course let you know.
I do hope this helps and wish you more success in the future.
Kind Regards
Chris
