Mayors of Aberystwyth. Stolen ship.

[miggs 191]

My ancestors lived in Great Dark Street Aberystwyth - Jones and Howells.
I have been told that Catherine Jones ,who had money, inherited because her family were Mayors in Aberystwyth.This would be pre 1860.
Where do I go to research people who were mayors in Aber ?

Also there is a story that a young girl in the family went to the docks taking a ship!
Sounds far fetched but where would I look ?
Thanks for reading this.All ideas gratefully accepted !     

[chempat]

If you try here;
http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CGN/Aberystwyth/
and search for Mayors, you end up with a book containing mayors from the 1450's for Aberystwyth borough

Google search gives such as:
http://www.aberystwythguide.org.uk/history/index.shtml

http://www.aberystwyth.gov.uk/en/council/history-of-the-borough/the-court-leet

etc etc.

But perhaps you have already managed to find something?

Sorry, have to go to work, have not looked up boats - newspapers, court papers - when did it happen, approximately?

[miggs 191]

Thank you Chempat.

[philipsearching]

Also there is a story that a young girl in the family went to the docks taking a ship!

That may not mean she nicked it!  "Taking ship" was a common expression for sailing somewhere as a passenger (such as: 'at Bristol he took ship for Bermuda') so this may have been an innocent sea voyage which has been misinterpreted in the telling over the years.

All the best
Philip

[miggs 191]

Hi Philip,
Thanks,it's obvious when you know! Didn't think it through and it was verbal info from a distant cousin. Around 1870 the family went to Philadelphia where they remained for about ten years before returning to north London. We have always wondered why they went.Maybe it was because an earlier relative had already made the journey. Yet another bit of research to sort! Thanks again.
M.

[petmas]

The museum at Aber. has an exhibition on emigration at the moment.