Thomas gwilliam bap 13.11.1811 Goodrich

[middlesbrough]

Just found something very interesting in the Monmouthshire Beacon dated 2nd September 1854.

SUICIDE: An old man nearly 80 years of age, of the William Gwilliam, , committed suicide by hanging himself on Thursday, the 24th August. He was discovered dead in a hedge (on the field side) adjoining the Ross and Hereford Road, not far distant from Peterstow church and about 2 1/2 miles from Ross. The bough to which one end of the cord was tied, was not more than 3 feet from the ground, consequently he effected his purpose by placing the cord around his neck and assumed a sitting or lying posture, thereby causing strangulation. An inquest was held on Saturday last, when a verdict on Temporary Insanity was recorded.
How sad!

Surely this has to be a possibility. So now I will look for a death record in 1854

[janjim]

Wow, that is interesting, very sad.   All I have for William is bap. 1776 Harewood, his parents William Gwillim and Elizabeth Williams.   His Father died 12.4.1814 Harewood.   

So his age in 1851 census is shown as 75 years (I think that is what it reads, looks like a 5!)
but he was living in Monmouth then, and you would think possibly he would be staying in the area.

Wondering anything in the Parish records for him then.

[middlesbrough]

GRO search shows up 3rd quarter 1854. Age given as 79. Ross is only 8 miles from Monmouth. I feel quite confident that this is him.

[middlesbrough]

nothing in the parish registers

[janjim]

Yep, sounds like doesn't it, how sad.   Isn't it a shame that certificates in the UK do not provide as much information as the ones in Australia.    Thomas's death certificate in 1859 does not show too much, no wife information or family.

Was there something in the Parish Records for his son Thomas's death in 1859 about his parents??   The trouble is too, there are so many variations of the Gwilliam spelling.

But looks like it could be him, the age is approximately right.

[middlesbrough]

Nothing on the parish registers I'm afraid.  You're right about the certificates. The Scottish ones are brilliant too. They names spouses and parents, so much more than the English and welsh ones. If there's anything else I can look up for you. let me know.
Julie

[janjim]

Got to think about this, there could be other things I need to find out, but I think we have reached a conclusion on the family really.   That was Thomas Gwillim's young son that died in Monnow Street, and now am pretty sure that must be our William Gwillim who hung himself.

As you say it's only about 8 miles away, not that far to walk really, when you think about it, we walked miles in our youth, and he could have been heading back to his other family back in Goodrich or anywhere around that area.

Whether it is worth getting death certificates for the two of them, I'm not really sure.

Thanks ever so much for all of your assistance.

[janjim]

While we are still on the same track with the Gwillim family, wonder if you might be able to help me with this one.    Our Thomas Gwillim b. 13.11.1811 Goodrich had siblings we believe, John b. 1800, Mary b. 1803, James b. 1814, William b. 1814, George b. ?? and Ann b. 1820 Hentland.   I need to reconfirm all of these issue being from William Gwillim b. 1776 at Harewood.   We believed that he was married to Margaret Matthews.

In the last few weeks, I have had this DNA match with a descendant of John b. 1800, (which would appear to be our Thomas Gwillim's elder brother)  who was sent to Australia in 1832 as a convict, but in their family tree documentation, they say John's Mother was Mary.    Now I am quite confused, as to whether our Thomas Gwilliam's Mother was definitely Margaret Matthews.    It certainly looks like we've got the right William Gwilliam as his father, as we've found him in Monmouth, and  took his life in 1854.

Maybe another thought tank, might help me with this question.  But if we can find the full issue of William Gwilliam b. 1776, that would be absolutely great.



Jan

[middlesbrough]

I see what you mean because there were two baptisms for a William born in Goodrich.
William 21.8.1814  par. William and Margaret
William 27.7.1814 par. William and Mary who lived at Glewston
Very difficult to work out who is who.