Catherine (Cassie) Jane Aston (born Elias)

[Kay99]

The Thomas I posted in 1891 and 1901 is really only a possible without a confirmation of their marriage  cert which sadly doesn't appear to be online.

Will continue to look for return trips but at the moment I can't see them

[cardinalcanary]

Appreciating that some of this is best guess, this is where I have got to on the timeline now:

It seems to work out timewise. Now need to get the evidence.

Cassie Elias timeline

1852 - Thomas Elias (Cassie's father) born in Bedwelty, Monmouthshire

1854 - Mary Hannah Harris (Cassie's mother) is born.

1855 - Cassie's future step mother Emma Matthews born in Rudry, Glamorgan

1861 - father Thomas aged 6 living with family in Rumney near Tredegar

1871 - father Thomas (20) visiting family of Mary Hannah Harris (16)

1873 - Thomas Elias (22) marries Mary Hannah Harris (18) at Eglwysilan on 31st May.

1874 - sister Hannah is born

1875 - Cassie is born

1875 - Elizabeth Ann Matthews (Cassie's future step sister) born in Machen, Monmouthshire

1877 - Isaac Matthews (Cassie's future step brother) born in Machen, Monmouthshire.

1878 - birth of sister Mary Ann

1879 - death of sister Mary Ann (aged 0)

1880 - Cassie travels to America with her mother Mary and older sister Hannah.

1881 - possible death of sister Hannah in America. (No records found to prove this yet).

1881 - probable return to Wales (no passenger records found so far)

1882 - Cassie' s mother dies in Crickhowell when Cassie is 7 years old.

1887 - Cassie's father Thomas (35) marries second wife Emma Matthews (33) in Pontypridd.

1891 - Cassie (16) living at and working as a barmaid at the Castle Hotel, Caerphilly

1891 - Thomas (39) and Emma (36) Living in ... with their children.(Elizabeth Ann Elias 16 and Isaac Elias 14).

1896 - Cassie marries Hiram Aston in Bedwelty, Monmouthshire

[cardinalcanary]

I have shared the story with my family and two of my sisters recall our great aunt Edith (one of Cassie's daughters) telling a horrible story of a child getting too close to a candle and setting fire to her night dress. The poor girl burned to death (when they were in America).

I fear that may have been poor Hannah.

I wonder whether there is any evidence.

My aunt has also told how my grandmother was always terrified of open fires and taught her children how to roll someone in a carpet to put out a fire should their clothes catch fire.

[cardinalcanary]

The Thomas I posted in 1891 and 1901 is really only a possible without a confirmation of their marriage  cert which sadly doesn't appear to be online.

Will continue to look for return trips but at the moment I can't see them

I think the evidence is pointing to Thomas Elias marrying Mary Hannah Harris but I will see if I can order a wedding certificate for them.

I wonder if their is a will for Thomas somewhere?

Thanks for your help.

[Kay99]

Send me a pm with your email and I can email you a copy of the marriage cert for Thomas Elias and Mary Hannah Harris which is online.

The probate  for the Thomas Elias who died in 1905 is online on the Anc National Probate Calander/Index

Thomas Elias of Ty yn y pwll-cottage, Bedwas, Monmouthshire colliery haulier
Death Date - 24 Jul 1905
Probate Date    16 Aug 1905 granted to widow Emma Elias - £8
Registry Llandaff

I think you can purchase the probate https://www.gov.uk/search-will-probate but given the small amount of the estate he may not have left a will

[cardinalcanary]

Dear Kay

Apologies for not getting back to you on this thread before now. Thanks for your help.

My own father was taken into hospital at the time of this thread and died on 30/12. Hence, this thread fell off my radar for a bit.

Cassie grandson Vincent died last week and I was reminded to come back here and follow up.

[Kay99]

So  sorry for your problems and hope things improve for you

Kay

[cardinalcanary]

Dear Kay

Thank-you for your kind comments.

Things are starting to return to normal (or as normal as they can be under the circumstances).

Now, more than ever, I am eager to find out what I can about Cassie (my Mother's grandmother) so that I can tell her what the story of Cassie's life was.

Firstly I'd like to find when she returned from the USA and secondly, did her older sister die in America?

I also need to see if I can find what happened to her between coming back from America and turning up in a hotel as a barmaid when she was 16.

After that, I want to be sure I have her parents details correct. What happened to father Thomas? Did he go ahead of the family to America?

Where did he live in America and when did he come back to Wales?

Lots of questions.

Thanks

[Kay99]

Glad problems are starting to even out a bit.   

I have had a fiddle and sadly haven't found anymore info on passenger lists for the family, their life in USA.   Will continue to look but someone better with the US records may have  more luck. 

Kay