THOMAS 1885 from Llangefni, Anglesey - No trace of birth or parents

[Wood-dweller]

Hello  If anyone can please give me any pointers with this, I'd be so grateful! I've gone round in circles again and again.

My great-grandfather was Owen Hugh THOMAS from Llangefni.

I've found a potential birth record for 1885 but it doesn't give me any other info and I can't find a baptism record for him. https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8912&h=54900919&tid=&pid=&queryId=aafa8a3cf4242b53130eb36a6e4124d4&usePUB=true&_phsrc=9f51796628&_phstart=successSource&_gl=1*imzkjm*_ga*NDU1NDE5NDQ4LjE2NjY3MjM3NDU.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY3Mzc4NTk5OC4xNS4xLjE2NzM4MTY5OTQuMS4wLjA.

The next record I can find for him is the 1891 census. https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/988863:6897?ssrc=pt&tid=177541096&pid=422307935895 Not sure if the links will work?

Details below:

Ellen Thomas (Head) 59 Widow. b. Pwllheli
John H Thomas (Son) 28 Widower. Postman/Letter carrier. b. Llangefni
==> Owen Hugh Thomas (Nephew) 6 b. Llangefni

Confusingly though, Owen's marriage certificate in 1910 lists his father as being John Thomas, a postman.

By the 1901 census, Owen (aged 16) is living with Richard Thomas in West Derby (Liverpool) who is listed as being his brother. Richard appears to be one of Ellen's sons.

From looking at other census records, it looks like there were a great many branches of the Thomas family, with many of them all living around Church Street in Llangefni. The fact that Ellen was born in Pwllheli is helpful in pinpointing her in census records. However, I just can't tie Owen to a definite father or find any trace of his mother. I've looked for marriage records for John Thomas but drawn blanks.

I asked a relative who was Owen's granddaughter and she said he told her that his mother died when he was young, and his father remarried. He didn't get on with his stepmother so lived away from them. I'd assumed it referred to him living with his aunt aged 6 but I'm wondering if Owen was actually the grandson (not nephew) of Ellen and if he was referring instead to moving to Liverpool with his "brother".

I wondered if Owen is either John's son and Ellen's grandson, or if he's an illegitimate child of one of Ellen's daughters. I haven't looked at their ages/circumstances around the time of his birth yet.

My hunch is John as his father but I just can't any trace of baptisms, marriages (1st to Owen's mother, or 2nd to the step mother) or any death record for Owen's unknown mother.

Any help would be gratefully received 

[heywood]

With regard to the potential birth you posted, you can search the indexes here for a mother’s name.
https://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/certificates/Login.asp

You need to register but it is free.

For that birth, it has the mother’s name as Owen.

Your links will only work if people have access to Ancestry. It is best to either transcribe (not just paste) or find the census records on Family Search and post a link.

[Wood-dweller]

Thank you for that info, I'll have a look. Interesting! Good point about the links.

[heywood]

Certainly, John would fit as father with occupation and status in 1891.
The birth certificate would help you though.
In 1901, I think the word ‘brother’ is written over the crossed out word ‘relation’.

[dragonT]

Hi
From a file of birth registrations on Anglesey, Owen Hugh Thomas was born 25 Jan 1885 at Llangefni, the son of John Hugh Thomas and Ann Owen. His brother John Richard Thomas was also born Llangefni 21 Sep 1886.
John Richard Thomas died 28 May 1887 at Llangefni. His death registration describes him as 8 months old, the son of John Hugh Thomas a bill poster.
Anne Thomas died 30 Jun 1890 at Llangefni. She was the wife of town crier John Thomas.

John Hugh Thomas remarried 24 May 1892 at Dinas Chapel Llangefni:
John Hugh Thomas, 29, widower, postman of Church St, Llangefni, son of Hugh William Thomas, independant preacher (deceased) & Mary Roberts, 22, High St, Llangefni, dau of Richard Roberts, platelayer.
I know of two of their children:
Mary Ellen Thomas b. Llangefni 17 Feb 1893
John Richard Thomas b. Llangefni 5 Apr 1894, d. 2 Aug 1894

I believe the following is the birth registration for John Hugh Thomas:
Born 18 Feb 1863, Llangefni - John son of Hugh Thomas and Ellen Jones. The 1871 census for the family at Church St, Llangefni shows a number of John's siblings and his mother Ellen was born at Pwllheli.

[heywood]

Wonderful, dragonT 

[Wood-dweller]

Wow dragonT, this is amazing - thank you so much! Wonderful info!

I did find a very convincing Ann Owen from Heneglwys last night. I think the death date is the same as you mentioned from memory. I was thrown because she was buried under her maiden name but have since learned that was the way things were done. It's only her marriage record that is being elusive now.

I noticed that you're also looking for the Thomas surname from Anglesey. Do you think they're the same ones?

[dragonT]

I haven't found a suitable marriage on Anglesey for Ann Owen/John Thomas either but there is a civil/non-conformist marriage in the Bangor district (O,N,D qtr 1883 Bangor 11b, 888) which could be them.
By the way I think the Richard Thomas you mention from the 1901 census in Liverpool is a brother to John Hugh Thomas, so uncle rather than brother to Owen Hugh Thomas. Richard was born 6 Nov 1867, Llangefni to Hugh Thomas & Ellen Jones.

I looked at this family when I was trying to understand a DNA match I have (with a descendant of Mary Ellen Thomas, Owen Hugh's half sister). I didn't find the connection.

[hanes teulu]

DragonT,
Da iawn!

Cambrian News, & Merionethshire Standard, 19 Mar 1875
DEATHS - Thomas, March 11th, age 52, the Rev Hugh Thomas, Independent Minister, Llangefni

The Welsh language, religious periodical "Y Dysgedydd crefyddol", published September 1875, has an item
"Collections for the widow of the late Mr Hugh Thomas, Llangefni".

It explains that a sum of £87 12s 3d had been collected. Anyone wishing to contribute further should send it to "Mrs Thomas, Glandwr Terrace, Llangefni". This is Ellen Thomas' address on the 1881 Census.

One contributor to the fund was the the church at Great Mersey Street, Liverpool.