My 3rd great grandparents were Elizabeth & Edward Davies, born according to census records in 1833 in Hope, Flintshire and 1836 in Cefn Mawr respectively.
The earliest census I've found them on is 1861, where they are living in Gwersyllt, and they remained in that area for the remainder of their lives, moving locally between Pentre Broughton, Brymbo and Gwersyllt. I've found the headstone for their grave propped up against the back wall of Brymbo church.
Where I've drawn a blank is in tracking down their marriage record, any baptism records or who their parents are. The 1861 census references a father-in-law living with them named John Roberts, perhaps Elizabeth's father, who was born in Buckley, Flintshire in about 1814. However I've not found a record of an Elizabeth Roberts marrying an Edward Davies at the right time in a sensible place, or a baptism record tying Elizabeth to John. I think the 1841 & 1851 censuses for the area have been lost, making it somewhat harder to follow the lines backwards.
To confuse matters further, the 1861 census lists step-sons by the names of John Williams, born in Manchester, Lancashire in 1854 and George Williams, born in Bilston, Staffordshire in 1855. George assumed the surname Davies by 1871, but I believe he died before the 1881 census. In another twist, John is listed on the 1871 census as living with the Edwards family in Llandudno, his relation to the head given as 'relative'. He's back with Edward & Elizabeth Davies in 1881, again listed as a step-son, but returns to Llandudno after that and for the rest of his life. I've also not found a credible marriage record of an Elizabeth Williams marrying an Edward Davies, or an Elizabeth Roberts marrying someone by the surname Williams. Likewise I've not been able to confirm baptism / birth registrations for John & George, given how many people with those names there were mid 19th century in Manchester & the Black Country.
Edward died in 1879, and I learnt from the headstone I found that Elizabeth married again, to Robert Edwards (as if there aren't enough Roberts and Edwards in this story already!) before dying herself in 1888.
I'd really like to discover:
(a) who Edward & Elizabeth's parents were, and obtain the relevant marriage/baptism records
(b) who John & George Williams were and why they were living with Edward and Elizabeth Davies
(c) who John Roberts was, if not Elizabeth's father.
Any help with answering these, or signposts to where I can find more information are gratefully received!
Thanks, Hazel
