Library search failure for Morgan Lewis born 6 Feb 1877 in Abersychan

[wdytya]

Just back from my local library where I tried to use their online family history search sites but I was not successful. I was looking for census records for a Morgan Lewis born 6 Feb 1877 in Abersychan. I know his parents were David Lewis 1834 and Margaret nee Watkins and Morgan married a Margaret Richards in Cardiff in 1905. I was hoping to find on the census records any of Morgan's siblings. He was in the Merchant Navy. Not sure when, so maybe missing off the census records as he was not at home..??
Any suggestions as to why I struggled to find him to tips for further searches?

[sgf28]

There are a couple of Morgan Lewis' born around 1877. One appears to have William as his father and another on the 1881 Census with parents David and Margaret Lewis.

1881 Census 3, Hedge Hill Row, Trevethin with Pontypool

David Lewis born 1834 Aberdare blast furnace worker, iron
Margaret, wife, born 1844 Aberdare
William, son, born 1873 Trevethin
Mary, daughter, born 1875 Trevethin
Morgan, son, born 1877 Trevethin
Watkin, son, born 1880 Trevethin

 RG11/5252/79/16

[sgf28]

I searched using his name, year of birth plus two years and just the county he was born in, sometimes it helps not to use too narrow a search

Now to see where the family is on 1891 Census using Watkin as a starting point, hopefully a more unusual name to find, so not many of them

[wdytya]

Many thanks for the information you have found. You must be right that I put too much info into the search boxes. I will keep looking on this message in case you can find the family on any of the other census records.
Thanks again

[JJen]

Hi,

1891 -

David Lewis   wid 58
William Lewis   18
Mary Lewis   16
Morgan Lewis   14
Watkin Lewis   11
Jenkin Lewis   9 b. Trevethin, Monmouthshire
Kate Lewis   7 b. Nantyglo, Monmouthshire
Elizabeth Lewis   3 b. Blaina Salem Baptish Chapel, Monmouthshire

Living at 80 Hanill/Harriett? Street, Aberdare.

David is now a widower but there are more additions to the family 

JJ

[JJen]

1901 -

David Lewis   68
Mary Lewis   26
Watkin Lewis   22
Jenkin Lewis   19
Catherine Lewis   17

RG13 Piece 5034 Folio 84 Page 29, 80 Harriett Street, Aberdare.

JJ

[barryd]

Any male of his age not found on the 1901 Census could be:
a. A Soldier in the Anglo-Boer War
b. In the Merchant or Royal Navy
c. Abroad somewhere
d. Hiding somewhere but this is unlikely

[JJen]

Medal card for Morgan Lewis -

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8049539

JJ

[wdytya]

many thanks JJen & barryd for all the information you have managed to find. Looking at the information I have some questions if you do not mind?

On the 1891 census record it shows Elizabeth Lewis being born at Blaina Salem Baptist Chapel which seems strange, perhaps where she was baptised but not born? But why enter that on the census record?


On the medal card for Morgan Lewis, would he have received different medals if he was in the Merchant Navy?  I guess he was at sea when the 1901 census was taken as he is not at home.

I will try and  find David Lewis 1834 and his wife Margaret nee Watkins 1844 who married in 1870 in the district of Merthyr on the 1871 census. Given the advice from SGF22 to enter the minimum information in the search engine any suggestions. I will have to wait until next week to go to the library to access the FH sites so no rush.

Many thanks to you all