Swansea/Neath/Cwmavon/Cwmbwrla William E Francis and Hannah Wood

[GeorgieG]

Hello Rootschat people, I am hoping you can help me track down some of my mother's family members in the Swansea area. Her paternal Grandmother was Hannah Thomas, born in Waunarlwydd in 1859. At some point she came to London and in 1881 married my great grandfather Richard Wood, from Machynlleth. I have their marriage certificate and it says that her father (deceased) was Thomas Thomas, residence illegible. Unfortunately there was more than one Hannah Thomas born to a Thomas Thomas in the Swansea area in 1858/9 and I have little to go on to work out which one is her. Only that in the 1911 Census Richard and Hannah have a visitor recorded who is William Evan Francis, born 1863 in Cwmavon. I am wondering if he is maybe Hannah's brother in law? I have found a William E Francis, born 1863 in Cwmavon in the 1871 and 1881 census with parents Thomas and Mary; I have him again in 1891 married to Emily living in Cwmbwrla. This is significant because I know that during the war Hannah and her daughter, Myfanwy Wood, stayed with relatives in Cwmbwrla. But honestly its a bit of a long shot! The only other hints that I have are a note about Hannah's family being in 14 Harry Street, Morriston, and Garnllwyd Road, Treboeth, at some point in 20th century, but I don't know how to search for the occupants of specific addresses. If anyone has information about these people or can help with how I can move forward that would be wonderful, thank you,

[rosie99]

Hi

Welcome to rootschat

Her paternal Grandmother was Hannah Thomas, born in Waunarlwydd in 1859. At some point she came to London and in 1881 married my great grandfather Richard Wood, from Machynlleth. I have their marriage certificate and it says that her father (deceased) was Thomas Thomas, residence illegible.

The marriage took place on 20 Aug 1881 at Holy Trinity, Newington - Richard is noted as abode Blackman St -  Hannah's abode  - 'The Same'

[rosie99]

Unfortunately there was more than one Hannah Thomas born to a Thomas Thomas in the Swansea area in 1858/9 and I have little to go on to work out which one is her. Only that in the 1911 Census Richard and Hannah have a visitor recorded who is William Evan Francis, born 1863 in Cwmavon. I am wondering if he is maybe Hannah's brother in law?

I have found a William E Francis, born 1863 in Cwmavon in the 1871 and 1881 census with parents Thomas and Mary; I have him again in 1891 married to Emily living in Cwmbwrla.

This is significant because I know that during the war Hannah and her daughter, Myfanwy Wood, stayed with relatives in Cwmbwrla. But honestly its a bit of a long shot! The only other hints that I have are a note about Hannah's family being in 14 Harry Street, Morriston, and Garnllwyd Road, Treboeth, at some point in 20th century, but I don't know how to search for the occupants of specific addresses. If anyone has information about these people or can help with how I can move forward that would be wonderful, thank you,

The 1939 register is searchable by address on FindMyPast.  Sorry but we are not allowed to do lookups from this register

[GeorgieG]

Yes, thank you Rosie99, there is a well known painting of Blackman Street 1885 by John Atkinson Grimshaw which I found and it was wonderful to think that my Great Grandfather was living there just before it was painted.

[GeorgieG]

Ok I know about Findmypast, so what kind of register would that be for 1939? An electoral register? or a Street Directory of some kind? Thank you for your responses and nice to see your spaniel ID. Maybe I will do the same, I have a black cocker spaniel!

[osprey]

possible from 1861

Wainarlwydd, Swansea Higher RG9/4100 folio 67 pg 1
Mary Thomas head widow 33
Mary dau 11 general servant
John son 7
Elizabeth dau 5
Hannah dau 2
all born Swansea

1851 for possibly the same family
Gorse, Swansea HO107/2466 folio 615 pg 32
Thomas Thomas head 26 collier b. Pentrestill
Mary wife 22 b. Cwmbwrla
Mar dau 11 months b. Cwmbwrla

 

[rosie99]

It looks as though William Evan Francis married a 'Richards'

Children from 1891 census
William R   Francis 1887   
Thomas John   1889   
Mary Emily   1891

FRANCIS, WILLIAM  RICHARD     mmn RICHARDS     
1887  March Quarter
SWANSEA  Volume 11A  Page 756

FRANCIS, THOMAS  JOHN     mmn RICHARDS     
1888  Dec Quarter
SWANSEA  Volume 11A  Page 732
 
FRANCIS, MARY  EMILY     mmn RICHARDS     
1890  Sept Quarter
SWANSEA  Volume 11A  Page 871


Marriages Mar qtr 1885
Francis    William       
RICHARDS    Emily       
Swansea    11a   864

[rosie99]

Ok I know about Findmypast, so what kind of register would that be for 1939? An electoral register? or a Street Directory of some kind? Thank you for your responses and nice to see your spaniel ID. Maybe I will do the same, I have a black cocker spaniel!

The register is of civilians and was taken prior to WW2 for the issue of identity cards etc.  It was used after the war by the NHS until the early 1990's and most women who appeared on it in 1939 and married after that date can be found under both surnames.

The register does not give relationships but lists address, name, Single/Mar/Widowed, date of birth & occupation

Looks like both gt grandparents were in Blackman St   

[osprey]

if the 1861 family in Waunarlwydd is the correct one, I think I've found birth regs for the children leading to the marriage.
From GRO index, there's possibles for
Hannah Thomas june qtr 1858 Swansea vol 11a pg 529 mmn Knoyle
Elizabeth Thomas june qtr 1856 Swansea vol 11a pg 504 mmn Knoyle
John Thomas june qtr 1854 Swansea vol 11a pg 482 mmn Knoyle
Mary Thomas june qtr 1850 Swansea vol 26 pg 599 mmn Knoyle

marriage reg
Thomas Thomas june qtr 1849 Swansea vol 26 pg 827 with Mary Knoyle on the same page

possible death
Thomas Thomas  33 sept qtr 1858 Swansea vol 11a pg 325

But with Thomas being a common name, this could just be coincidence.